Quassy New Wooden Roller Coaster Back On Track

A wooden roller coaster that would replace The Mad Mouse at Quassy Amusement Park in Middlebury, delayed because of a lawsuit, but is back on track and expected to open in 2011.

Construction on the 1,200-foot roller coaster was initially targeted for last fall or this spring, but was delayed by a court appeal from a nearby homeowner who wanted more buffering between his home and the 102-year-old park.

The wooden roller coaster is part of $5 million in renovations and new attractions planned for the park in the next few years. The roller coaster is expected to cost between $1.5 million and $2 million, according to Eric Anderson, a co-owner of the park.

• Pictures: Quassy Amusement Park wooden roller coasters

Anderson said financing for the improvements must still be finalized, but the park is hopeful now that there is no longer an appeal. The appeal focused on town zoning approvals that allowed the renovations.

"If all goes well, we will begin construction in September, to be ready for 2011."

Besides providing more buffering for neighbors, the park agreed to change where some new attractions would be placed, Anderson said.

Anderson said the park decided to push back construction until the fall so it wouldn't interfere with Quassy's summer season.

The Mad Mouse — also known as the Monster — has been a fixture at Quassy since the early 1980s.

Mad Mouse coasters are known for small cars that seat four or fewer people. The cars, which take tight, flat turns, are wider than the track giving the impression that the riders are hanging off the sides.

Quassy decided to retire The Mad Mouse because it wanted a marquee wooden coaster to attract more visitors and remain competitive with other amusement parks.

The coaster will be dismantled and possibly sold. Anderson said he has received calls from interested buyers — mostly amusement parks — that might want to buy the steel roller coaster. He declined to name who has made the inquiries.

Quassy caters to families with kids under 12. The coaster is designed so parent and child an easily ride side-by-side.

"This is intended to be a child's first roller coaster ride," Anderson said. "This is not a super-duper roller coaster. This is a family roller coaster."