Doug Hemphill Appointed General Manager of Lake Compounce
(eap) U.S. amusement park Lake Compounce (located in Bristol, Connecticut) has a new general manager at its helm: effective immediately, Doug Hemphill (photo) is taking over the vacant position to support leading the park and with it its owner and operator Palace Entertainment to further strategic growth. With more than 40 years of experience in the amusement industry, Hemphill, who most recently served as Corporate Vice President of Food & Beverage at SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment, brings solid industry and leadership expertise and an extensive network to his new role at “America’s oldest amusement park”. This year, Lake Compounce runs its 177th season.
“I am thrilled to join the team at America’s First Amusement Park. The park has so much to be proud of as it ramps up for its 177th season. I am looking forward to leading the park through a fantastic next chapter, beginning this season, as we reintroduce live concerts on a new state-of-the-art floating stage and continue to elevate our guest experience, retail and food and beverage operations,” said Doug Hemphill, who also held positions with the Six Flags group for 15 years, including the executive role as Corporate Senior Director of Food & Beverage Operations.
Mark Pauls, Group Manager of Theme Parks at Palace Entertainment, welcomed Doug Hemphill to the team, “We are pleased to welcome Doug to our growing Palace Entertainment team. We know that through Doug’s leadership and invaluable experience, he will be undeniably successful in leading Lake Compounce to success and growth for many years to come.”
Lake Compounce, which also includes a water park, counts a total of over 45 rides and attractions. Among the latest novelties is the overhaul of the popular “Boulder Dash” wooden roller coaster, a track section of which has been replaced with a Titan Track from Great Coasters International. The operating group Palace Entertainment currently manages 25 major theme parks and edutainment centers in the USA and Australia. Recently, Bonnie Sherman Weber joined the group, which is organized as a subsidiary of the Spanish Parques Reunidos group, as Chief Operating Officer. ■
