February 2010
In 2010, the Thomas Town portfolio will expand to six, as Six Flags America in Washington DC opens what is set to be the largest Thomas Town to date in partnership with HIT Entertainment.
Gold Reef City in Johannesburg will mark the football World Cup in June with the opening of a new water ride. The ride’s boats will be themed by Clostermann Design. Gold Reef City is located just a stone’s throw from the Soccer City stadium, which will host the opening and final match of the World Cup.
According to Mack Rides managing director Christian von Elverfeldt, “Several large projects are currently prepared,” as the German ride manufacturer prepares for a promising 2010. “Highly appreciated German quality standards” mean Mack has resisted moving production abroad.
The Italian ride manufacturer Technical Park is to build a rollercoaster for a park in the US. The ride will be a Rock ‘n’ Roll model with no inversions.
Funtime Handels of Austria is to build its biggest Star Flyer to date at the Prater in Vienna – the park where the original debuted in 2004. The new construction will stand 130-metres tall and is expected to open in 2011. The biggest existing Star Flyer (at Tivoli in Copenhagen) stands 80-metres tall.
Zamperla had much more than the Barnyard on display at IAAPA Attractions Expo in Las Vegas. “At this show we are starting to be viewed as a serious contender for upcoming coaster projects by well-know parks,” confided Zamperla’s Ramon Rosario. “We are broadening our line of coaster products. Our Motocoaster is now gaining a lot of attention, and we are developing a high-speed looping coaster.”
UK amusement park Adventure Island in Southend is to build a brand new £1 million ($1.6m/E1.1m) family entertainment centre. The old Lucky Strike arcade is being demolished to create the new attraction, which will be more than twice the size of its predecessor and packed full of all the latest games and redemption machines. The icing on the cake will be a rollercoaster on the roof (the park’s existing Mega Mini coaster).
