Skates, hot chocolate and warmth from a bonfire served up by Brownstone. Make your Winter vacation days filled with family fun!

The park will be open Feb. 18 – 26 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, and don’t forget the First Annual Ice Fishing Derby will be held the second weekend (Feb. 25 & 26) of the Rock & Ice Festival.

Admission is $28 per person, and includes all activities. Spectator passes are available for $9.

Keep in mind … although we are hoping for ice, the Ice Fishing Derby will become a Fishing Derby – with all the events and prizes – if we don’t have ice on the quarry.

Connecticut Outfitters will be providing free instruction on ice fishing to the novice, and also will be demonstrating ice fishing equipment and new technology on both days. Complimentary gear will be available, so this is a great event for families and friends to enjoy the day, try a new sport and even try some ice rock climbing! You don’t need a thing – just dress in warm layers!

There will be $1,500 in cash and prizes available during this inaugural event!

Native fish in the quarry include largemouth and smallmouth bass, perch, crappie, carp and catfish. Prizes will be awarded, although no prize could match the thrill of catching Brownstone’s SEVEN FOOT LONG catfish!

The Ice Fishing Derby runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Feb. 25 & 26, and is held the second weekend of our Rock and Ice Festival. Admission is $28 per person, and includes all activities. Please register in advance below! Spectator passes are available at the gate only for $9.

Fire Department Rescue Presentation on Saturday and Sunday
On Saturday and Sunday starting at 10 a.m., local fire departments will be demonstrating in-water and ice rescues, as well as high-angle rescues off our quarry walls. These presentations are actual training drills for local departments.

The Cromwell Fire Department will be with us on Saturday demonstrating on the water/ice and will be meeting with attendees to answer questions and review ice safety. The Portland Fire Department and Canton Fire Department will join us Sunday for high-angle rescue demonstrations using litter rescue baskets.

Update: Visit with Pucky the Whale from the Connecticut Whale on Saturday at 11 a.m.

2012 Ice Fishing Derby Event Rules

Your 2012 Ice Fishing Derby Guides

Capt. Blaine Anderson

Captain Blaine Anderson is one of the few year round guides in CT. He earns a living fishing saltwater, freshwater and on the ice. Whether its northern pike and spring run stripers on the Connecticut River, bluefish, trophy stripers, false albacore on Long Island Sound or walleye, pike and crappie on the ice, he has developed the reputation for getting his clients onto fish. He has appeared on TV shows, radio interviews and has several published articles and photographs to his credit. When not on the water, Blaine presents seminars to clubs and sportsmen’s shows throughout New England. In addition to several rod, reel, lure and line sponsors, Blaine is a member of Skeeter’s Factory Salt Water team and will again be running their top of the line ZX24Bay in the 2012 season.

As a lifelong outdoorsmen and Connecticut native, Gary Brummett cut his teeth fishing for Carp and Bullheads, and harassing Bullfrogs and Turtles in a backyard pond and shooting Woodcock, Ducks, and Rabbits while a young teenager.  Pheasant, Goose and Duck hunts with his dad soon followed. Hiking, Camping, White Water Canoeing, and Rock Climbing consumed most of his time in late teens and twenties. Later, the demands of college, career and a young family kept him away from the woods and water way too much.  In October of 2003, he walked away from his 27 year career and purchased Connecticut Outfitters (The former Hartford Club Sports), then a tiny Sportsmen’s shop on Wethersfield Ave in Hartford. With business growing, a new, larger home for CT-Outfitters was found on the Silas Deane Hwy in Wethersfield in March of 2009.

In addition to being Owner and General Manager of CT Outfitters, Gary is currently a member of The Glastonbury Sportsmen’s Association, a certified Connecticut Aquatic Resources Education Instructor, an avid “Pointing Dog Guy”, proud owner of Maxwell the Brittany, and Jameson the English Setter.  He fishes hardwater in winter and open water from his G-3, hunts Deer, Turkey, Pheasant and Waterfowl. A recent member of the Better Business Bureau, Wethersfield Chamber of Commerce, National Rifle Association, CT Fisherman.com, and a founding member of a politically active CT Tackle Retailer’s Group. He also volunteers his time for the benefit of the Appalachia Service Project, Boy Scouts of America, Wethersfield Parks and Rec, and the New England Paralyzed veterans of America.

Please Register for the Ice Fishing Derby Below
After you have registered, you will be redirected to purchase your ticket. 

On March 17, we’re hosting our third annual event to raise funds for the kids at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center in Hartford. Registration begins at 11 a.m. and activities begin at noon with a Pee-Wee Plunge for kids 10 and under. The beach plunge takes place at 12:30 p.m. and the Cannonball Competition is at 1 p.m. You can register online now (below) and start collecting pledges.

The person who raises the most money during this charity event will win a one hour spot as a DJ on WCCC The Rock!

Admission is $25 for plungers and just $9 (at the gate on the day of the event) for those who’d rather watch people freeze their polar tooshies off. You can purchase spectator passes at the gate the day of the event. Jump or plunge as an individual or a team.

Our number one fans, Rocky from the Rock Cats and Pucky the Whale from the Connecticut Whale will be huddled among our other celebrity judges to award prizes for teams and individuals that raise the most money. Rocky will even be handing out tickets during the event and winners will receive free Rock Cats game tickets! Don’t forget to doll up. There’s also an award for the best costume and of course for the best cannonball!

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to get breaking updates!

Note that if you would like to donate directly to Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, you can click here to support the foundation’s efforts! Click here to download a Polar Plunge Pledge Contribution Sheet.

Plunge Sponsors

Interested in becoming a sponsor? Click here for details.

Registration is Now Open

After you have registered, you will be redirected to purchase your ticket. 

Last year was a record year for Brownstone’s attendance, and we’re gearing up for another busy season. As incentive for employees, you get to “play” for free at the park and your immediate families receive some incredible discounts. We don’t believe in all work, no play – we work hard and play hard!

Those interested in becoming certified for lifeguarding or belaying can take our Get Certified to Work Event and attend classes from April 16 – 20. Applicants who complete training classes and are hired at Brownstone Park are eligible for a refund up to $75 on full certification courses once you’ve worked at the park for three months.

We’re not just the coolest place to hang out in Connecticut in the summer, we’re also the coolest place to work!

Up for a little more adventure? Our 2012 Wakeboard Rail Jam is rockin’ this year. Want to master that ever elusive Double S Bend to Blind? Or how about just learning to get upright? This is your day. For the first time ever, you can train with the pro’s for the day.

That’s right, pro’s are putting “teams” together. Then you and your other team members will work on your individual goals. At the end of the day, teams compete to see which team mastered the most individual goals. Remember, judges aren’t looking for the level of difficulty they’re just looking to see what team nails the most individual tricks. Bring it!

Brand new this year is our beach and volleyball area. If you’re looking for a little action on the beach, this is your place. Spiking, setting, lunging….it’s all here. If chilling in a chair is more your style, our new beach and expanded waterfront picnic areas are calling your name. Kick back and watch all the action.

And to keep your energy up and belly full, we’re offering a buy one, get one half off all our sandwiches and combo meals off our new enhanced menu available with our special coupon. To receive coupons and special offers, sign up for our newsletter.

And finally our 2012 gear and clothing preview. Check out the latest “must haves” for wakeboarding, rock climbing, swimming and scuba diving.

This is a once a season opportunity – don’t miss it.

You’ll have plenty of time to explore everything new at the park including our ziplines (there’s now 12) including our new triple racing lines, a new beach area with volleyball, two new additional overhead wakeboard cables, a 70’ cargo net climb, expanded picnic areas, Guts & Glory obstacle course, new walking trails that lead to all activities within the park and our new cliff top picnic area with panoramic views of the park.

For the fifth year in a row, we’re holding our Mentoring in Motion day and donating 50 percent of our gate fees to help raise awareness for Connecticut children’s mentoring programs including Nutmeg Big Brothers Big Sisters, True Colors, the thirteen DCF one-on-one mentoring partners across the state and the Governor’s Prevention Partnerships which include 160 programs statewide. These are amazing groups so the more folks that come out and play, the more we’re able to donate to these great charities that are here to support Connecticut kids.

Can’t come early, that’s OK, you can now save 25 percent on our second shift entry fee available from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.

We’ve got our old favorites including the Top Dog Hot Dog eating contest and new this year our volleyball and Guts & Glory challenge course competitions. Prizes will be awarded for all competitions.

Bringing a group to Brownstone Park on July 7? Groups of ten or more receive a 20 percent discount (reservations required).

Check out our list of new attractions this year: increased ziplines (there are now 12) including triple racing lines, new beach area with volleyball, two new additional overhead wakeboard cables, 70’ cargo net climb, expanded picnic areas, Guts & Glory obstacle course, new walking trails that lead to all activities within the park and a new cliff top picnic area with panoramic views of the park.

Also new this year, every Saturday the park will remain open until 10 p.m. Guests can enjoy the free movie under the tent or try the thrill of night time ziplining. “Second shift” entry will be available from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. every Saturday all season long at a 25 percent savings.

To receive special offers and coupons, ensure you register for the Brownstone Park Newsletter.

Remember, we do the work, you do the fun!

Tough Mudders have nothing on Guts & Glory Quarry Challengers. We’re doing this Brownstone style, in full support of Connecticut Special Olympics. That means quarry swims, 70’ cargo net cliff climbs, racing zip lines, log carries, 30’ cliff rope climbs and a 3K run for good measure.

We’re giving early notice this year so you can start training early. We’ll even have a series of weekly training events throughout the season on the actual course. Training sessions are $10 per week, and will be held Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. starting July 5. During these sessions, you’ll have access to the course (only) within the park. Hang with us during these sessions, and we promise, by event time you’ll be in the best shape of your life.

Event registration is limited, and challengers are encouraged to sign up online early.

If you’re still on the fence about whether to try the challenge, here’s a hint for success. Train hard. For those that don’t we have some challenges with multiple options for completion, although points are deducted if you choose the easy route.

Proceeds benefit Special Olympics Connecticut (SOCT) – changing attitudes and lives through year-round sports training and athletic competitions for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

By the way, the 2011 participants felt both relief and empowerment when they completed the Guts & Glory Quarry Challenge. You in?

Registration will open soon!

Sponsors