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- Back Issues » 2009 » August
Rich Allen becomes S&S CEO
Following recent management changes this summer, S&S Worldwide has announced the appointment of Rich Allen as its new president and chief executive officer. Kevin Rohwer, meanwhile, becomes vice-president of sales and marketing.
Freestyle Music Park - Steve Baker speaks
In February, FPI-MB Entertainment bought the former Hard Rock Park, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, for $25 million (€18m). Built at a cost of $400 million (€285m), the park costs its original investors dear after it went bankrupt last September. But now, FBI-MB president Steve Baker and a team of leisure professionals think they can make a fresh start. Here Baker (pictured right) shares some of the challenges he faces at Freestyle Music Park.
Beatles Story gets bigger!
In an effort to catch more tourists, The Beatles Story in Liverpool, England, has opened a second outlet just a stone’s throw from its existing site at the Albert Dock. Constructed at a cost £10.5 million ($17m/€12m), The Beatles Story Pier Head can be found inside the Mersey Ferries terminal building on the city’s renowned waterfront.
Augmented reality arrives in Asia
The first installation of Total Immersion’s Interactive Live Show (ILS) is due to open any day now as part of a new visitor attraction in Incheon, South Korea.
Peter Petz unveils solar-powered carousel
Peter Petz’s first solar-powered carousel was created in 1989, a simple three-seater construction. But now the German rider manufacturer has produced this new 7-metre diameter ride accommodating 52 passengers on 16 moving horses, four rotating balloons and additional seating.
Correcaminos Bip Bip!
Road Runner has arrived at Parque Warner Madrid. Correcaminos Bip, Bip is the name of the park’s new family coaster from Mack Rides, themed around the adventures of Road Runner and Wile E Coyote.
Sylvan Beach unveils new additions
Sylvan Beach Amusement Park, located along Oneida Lake in Sylvan Beach, New York has added a Super Himalaya, Rotor and the Sylvan Beach Screamer Speedboat, a turbo powered boat that whips and zips up to 38 passengers across Oneida Lake at mind-blowing speeds.
Chimelong expands hotel offering
Chimelong Resort in Guangzhou, China, has opened a new hotel and convention centre. The 1,100 Chimelong Hotel is underpinned by an ecological theme with stylish touches to remind guests of their location close to the resort’s Xiangjiang Safari Park.
Disneyland Hotel to renovated
California’s Disneyland Hotel this month embarks on a renovation project that will include major improvements to its guest rooms and considerable changes to the exterior of the property.
Simworx creates 4D simulator for Disney film
The British-based simulation and effects theatre manufacturer Simworx recently completed a mobile Morphis simulator equipped with 4D technology to promote the Disney movie Race to Witch Mountain.
Fabbri starts new coaster division
The Italian Fabbri Group has established a rollercoaster division called Giant Coasters, kicking off with designs for three new rides.
Vekoma I-Ride
Vekoma Rides Manufacturing is partnering with Brogent Technologies of Taiwan to develop an advanced motion platform called the I-Ride.
King Kong 3
Huss Park Attractions has announced that its third King Kong ride will open at China Dinosaur Park in Changzhou.
Vivaldi Ocean World
Located on the slopes of Mount Palbongsan, Ocean World is part of the Vivaldi Park ski resort in South Korea. The Eygptian-themed waterpark recently completed a 50,000 square metre expansion project when it opened a package of new attractions from WhiteWater West.
KMG's new deliveries
Fresh from unveiling its High Swing tower recently in Antwerp (see here), the Dutch manufacturer KMG continues to deliver a number of its popular Speed and Inversion rides.
Gorilla bowl!
The Curse of the Silverback, a CanonBowl waterslide from Proslide Technology, is now open at Enchanted Forest/Water Safari, Old Forge, New York. The attraction is the first new ride at the waterpark since the installation of the Shadow in 2002, and gives guests an exhilarating adventure.
Cliffhanger is back!
America’s only rollercoaster on the side of a mountain has reopened at Ghost Town in the Sky, Maggie Valley, North Carolina.
Wilderness Resort adds new attractions
The Wilderness Hotel & Golf Resort, Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, has unveiled several new attractions, including an 18-hole Jurassic themed outdoor mini golf course from Halloween Productions and Lost World Go-Karts from Johnson Karts (pictured).
Sacoa India
Sacoa, the leading provider of wireless debit card and point of sale (POS) systems for amusement parks and FECs, has opened a sales and support office in India.
Morey's moves rides
Morey’s Piers has introduced a number of upgrades this year across its four piers in Wildwood, New Jersey.
Fisherman's revamp
Macau’s Fisherman’s Wharf development is to undergo a string of improvements as part of a revamp costing a reported three billion Hong Kong dollars ($387m/E272m).
Maya Tal
TAA (Theming and Animatronics) Industries recently completed a large installation at Heide Park in Soltau, Germany, where it rethemed the Maya Tal (Maya Valley) area. The area was previously known informally as “Huss Land” thanks to the large concentration of rides by the German manufacturer.
Kernels - August 2009
BRC Imagination Arts has been chosen to conceptualise, design and produce the show content for the USA Pavilion at Shanghai World Expo 2010. Ground breaking took place on June 17.
The UK’s Amusement Device Inspection Procedures Scheme (ADIPS) has announced the appointment of Luke Ditchburn to the newly created position of general manager. Prior to joining ADIPS, he was facilities and operations manager for Northumberland County Council. “I’ll be working closely with ADIPS members and clients to ensure they are provided with the best possible service and that we continue to run a scheme that is the envy of the industry in many other countries around the world,” says Ditchburn. He joins the organisation at a time when reported incidents on amusement rides in the country are at their lowest level for many years.
Bombay Amusement Rides (BARPL) is to build a 25-metre Ferris Wheel inside a shopping mall/entertainment centre near Mumbai. The ride will span three floors of the mall and be built up against a glass wall, allowing riders to see both inside and outside the building. The project is expected to open in the next 18 months.
Monster Mansion
Conventional wisdom says you don’t pour new money into an old attraction. But when your old attraction is Monster Plantation, the beloved dark boat ride at Atlanta’s Six Flags Over Georgia, you think again...
Gillian's Funland
Gillian's Funland in Sea Isle City is the only new amusement park to be unveiled in the United States this year. Paul Ruben travels to New Jersey to meet owner Jay A Gillian, who also operates Gillian’s Wonderland Pier just 10 miles down the shore in Ocean City.
MinitaliaLeolandia - Zamperla's new showroom!
Zamperla’s product range is such that no single factory, showroom or trade show is large enough to show it all. That’s why the leading Italian ride manufacturer recently established a relationship with a park just 90 minutes from its Vincenza headquarters. Owen Ralph visits MinitaliaLeolandia to discover the raft of changes that have been made the last two seasons.
Trollfallet at Hunderfossen
To celebrate its 25th anniversary, Norway’s third largest amusement park has added a €2 million attraction called Trollfallet. Located at the top of the park’s spectacular castle building, the new addition continues the park’s tradition of fairytale and folklore and fuses a freefall tower with a walk-through preshow.
What is a better strategy for profit, charging for car parking or encouraging more attendance by not charging?
Will Koch (pictured), Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari, USA: It depends on the park’s business model. Ours is based on delivering an exceptional visit to the guest. Hitting them with lots of add-ons during the day doesn’t make sense for us. We don’t charge for parking, in fact free parking is one item on a long list of things we provide for free.
Mad About Monsters
This was to be a special day for me. Earlier in my park-going career, in March of 1981, I attended the media preview of a quirky new dark boat ride at Six Flags Over Georgia, Monster Plantation. It was Disneyesque in quality, the first dark ride of this calibre outside of a Disney park.
Madame Tussauds Hollywood
The largest Madame Tussauds to date opened last month in Hollywood. The $55 million (€35m) attraction is the ninth Madame Tussauds to open worldwide and fourth in the USA, joining sister attractions in New York, Las Vegas and Washington DC.
Neverland - Michael Jackson's playground
Over a 15-year period from 1990 to 2005, entertainer Michael Jackson operated a personal amusement park on his California ranch with a ride arsenal that, at the time, would have been the envy of several smaller park operators. He also had a zoo, petting zoo, reptile barn and alligator pond to entertain guests. Park World takes an exclusive look at Neverland Valley.
Coney Island plan approved
New York City's ambitious plan to transform Coney Island into a year-round entertainment complex complete with high-rise hotels, restaurants and retail stores has been approved by the City Council.
Merlin scares rival operator into out-of-court settlement
Merlin Entertainments is to receive a “substantial” compensation payment from the London Bridge Experience (LBE) following objections about tactics used against its nearby scare attraction The London Dungeon.
TEA in Vienna
The Prater park in Vienna, Austria, formed the backdrop for a gathering of the TEA’s (Themed Entertainment Association) European members on June 18 and 19. This two-day get-together was, says Gerd Gügel, real value for money!
Asian Attractions Expo
As it continues to move around the continent, Asia’s largest amusement industry trade show arrived in Seoul, South Korea, where it took place at the COEX exhibition and convention centre from June 9 to 12. Owen Ralph reports from IAAPA’s latest Asian Attractions Expo.
