Winter has finally come to a close and temperatures are finally beginning to warm up.  Warm weather means outdoor fun and soon people will once again be heading out to enjoy their favorite warm weather activities.  The coming of spring is especially welcome to roller coaster and amusement park enthusiasts who’ve been holed up indoors during the long winter months. 

With several world class theme parks, residents of the frigid northeast are surely looking forward to opening day at their favorite local amusement park.  Here are opening dates for some of the area’s most popular amusement parks:

Connecticut

Lake Compounce, Bristol, CT

This historic park dubs itself “New England’s Family Theme Park” and reopens for the summer on May 14th.  The park opens for special “Education Days”, with limited park access, certain weekdays in May and June.  With a wide variety of rides and attractions for the whole family, Lake Compounce is a must for families looking for a great day of enjoyment.  Check out the park’s website below for more details.

Quassy Amusement Park, Middlebury, CT

Ride the all new Wooden Warrior coaster in the historic park’s 103rdyear.  The park opens April 23rdfor weekends only and regular operating hours begin on June 24th.  Check out Quassy’s website below for more.

Maine

Funtown USA, Saco, ME

Enjoy over 45 rides and attractions at this family-themed amusement park beginning Saturday, May 14th.  The park will be open weekends until opening for regular daily hours on Saturday, June 11th.  Check out their website below for more.

Massachusetts

Six Flags New England, Springfield, MA

This Six Flags opens its 2011 season with an extended spring break calendar beginning April 16thto the 24th.  Enjoy great rides on Joker’s Wildcard, Superman: Ride of Steel, Thunderbolt and more.  Check out their website below for details.

New Hampshire

Canobie Lake Park, Salem, NH

This summer, Canobie Lake unveils its newest “Untamed.”  Take a ride if you dare, beginning weekends April 30thand every day starting May 26th.  See Canobie’s website below for more.

Santa’s Village, Jefferson, NH

This unique holiday themed park opens for weekends May 28thand daily operating hours begin on June 18th.  See their website below for details.

Storyland, Glen, NH

This family fun park opens for the season Memorial Day Weekend, May 28ththrough 30th.  For more, visit their website below.

New Jersey

Morey’s Piers, Wildwood, NJ

Morey’s Piers is a seaside collection of fantastic water attractions and thrilling rides.  The various attractions vary by opening, but most begin operations weekends beginning April 16thand daily starting May 27th.  Take a look at the Morey’s Piers website below for details.

Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson, New Jersey

Great Adventure opens for weekends on April 9th with a 9-day stretch from April 16thto the 24th.  Take advantage of jump starting your summer 2011 roller coaster riding on such great coasters as Kingda Ka, El Toro, Bizarro, Nitro and more!  After April 24th, the park resumes its regular spring weekend-only schedule until beginning its normal summer hours of operation in May.  See Six Flags’ website below for more details.

New York

Darien Lake, Darien Center, NY

This upstate New York theme park opens weekend beginning May 14th, with extended weeks in early June and full time for the season starting on June 16th.  This park features great thrill rides such as Boomerang, Predator, Ride of Steel, Twister and much more.  Check out the park’s website below for more.

Rye Playland, Rye, NY

Westchester County’s historic park on the Long Island Sound opens weekends beginning May 7thand regular operating hours begin on May 21st.  See their website below for more information.

Six Flags The Great Escape, Lake George, NY

Enjoy thrills and chills at New York’s only Six Flags outlet, beginning weekends May 21stand all week long starting on June 1st.  Check out the park’s web page below for more details.

Park Websites:

Canobie Lake Park

http://www.canobie.com/index.html

Darien Lake

http://godarienlake.com/

Funtown USA

http://www.funtownsplashtownusa.com/

Lake Compounce

http://www.lakecompounce.com/

Morey’s Piers

http://www.moreyspiers.com/

Quassy Amusement Park

http://www.quassy.com/index.asp

Rye Playland

http://ryeplayland.org/default.htm

Santa’s Village

http://www.santasvillage.com/

Six Flags Great Adventure

 http://www.sixflags.com/greatAdventure/index.aspx

Six Flags New England

http://www.sixflags.com/newEngland/index.aspx

Six Flags The Great Escape

http://www.sixflags.com/greatEscape/info/parkInfo.aspx

Storyland

http://www.storylandnh.com/index.html

Source:

http://www.themeparkcity.com/USA_index.htm