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- Back Issues » 2010 » April
Cedar Fair terminates Apollo deal
Cedar Fair and affiliates of Apollo Global Management have agreed to terminate their previously announced merger agreement.
Freestyle Music Park ‘unlikely’ to open
According to the Myrtle Beach SunNews, the owners of the $400-million Freestyle Music Park missed a court-ordered deadline to make a debt payment, meaning the venue is unlikely to open this season.
Five years for Etheredge
Wild West World founder Thomas Etheredge has been sentenced to five years in prison – 30 times longer than his park survived – for defrauding investors.
Whale Adventures - Splash Tours
What could possibly be the world’s first whale watching-themed attraction opened last month at Europa-Park near Freiburg, kicking off the German park’s 35th anniversary celebration.
Sonic Spinball
This season Alton Towers guests can also enjoy a new look coaster called Sonic Spinball. Previously known as Spinball Whizzer, the spinning coaster from Maurer Söhne has been rethemed in tribute to computer game hero Sonic the Hedgehog.
Skull Rock 4D at Land's End
The English county of Cornwall is well known for its pirating heritage but now, for the first time ever, visitors to Land’s End can enjoy swashbuckling adventures in 4D form thanks to a Simworx Effects Theatre.
Legoland Discovery Centre Manchester
The latest Legoland Discovery Centre opened last month in the English city of Manchester, marking Merlin Entertainments’ first new attraction in the UK for almost a decade. Owen Ralph reports.
Nickelodeon Universe
Located undercover inside the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, Nickelodeon Universe is the first-ever stand-alone theme park dedicated to the kids TV network. Paul Ruben pays a visit.
Sparky's Abu Dhabi
Located on the top floor of the Khalidiyah Mall in Abu Dhabi, Sparky’s Family Fun Park is the first leisure project in the United Arab Emirates for the Al Hokair Group.
Rollercoaster Construction Services
Often amusement parks engage the services of local engineering firms and steel contractors to assemble rollercoasters. Spotting a gap in the market, German ride operator Max Eberhard founded RCS (Rollercoaster Construction Services) in 1999 to offer a turnkey solution to park operators and ride manufacturers. Here he reveals exactly what it takes to construct a coaster
DEAL 2010 - education to play key role at Dubai show
Set to take place from April 25 to 27, this year’s DEAL (Dubai Entertainment, Amusement and Leisure) event will offer visitors an unprecedented range of educational opportunities alongside the main exhibition.
Six Flags - not just chicken tenders anymore!
In the last four seasons, Six Flags parks across the United States have gone through a dramatic transformation. We are especially proud of the improvements we have made in our food locations.
Year to Volunteer
Recently I was at Florida's Walt Disney World as the Disney launched a promotion to celebrate the spirit of volunteer service called Give a Day, Get a Disney Day. The aim is to inspire families to volunteer in their communities by rewarding them with a free one-day admission to a Disney park in the United States.
BALPPA urges politicians to Take Tourism Seriously
Members of BALPPA, the British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers and Attractions, gathered in London on March 15 for their annual general meeting, followed by a parliamentary lunch at the House of Commons.
Space Fantasy launches at Universal Studios Japan
Guests at Universal Studios Japan are invited on a mission to save the sun. Replacing ET Adventure, and housed inside the same building, Space Fantasy – The Ride is a spinning coaster in the dark with an interstellar storyline.
Robotland promised for 2013
Scheduled to open in 2013, subject to funding, Robotland is a one-of-a-kind theme park planned for the South Korean city of Incheon, less than an hour from Seoul.
Sum of all Thrills
Located within the Innovations pavilion of EPCOT at Walt Disney World in Florida, Sum of all Thrills allows guests to custom-design their own thrill ride using mathematical tools, touch-screen controls and a robotic simulator.
Three Maurer coasters for China
Maurer Rides is building two SkyLoop coasters (as pictured) and an X-Car Launch Coaster for China.
Kolmården SAFARI
After celebrating its best year ever in 2009, Scandinavia’s largest wildlife park is to open a first-of-a-kind attraction in time for the 2011 season. SAFARI will be an open gondola lift that brings people up close and personal with Kolmården’s many wild animals.
Star Flyer soars to new heights
The world’s tallest Star Flyer is currrently taking shape at the Prater in Vienna.
Networking and park visits announced for Asian Expo
Several familiar IAAPA faces and a number of leading local attractions will be taking part in the education programme, social events and park visits planned during July’s Asian Attractions Expo (AAE) in Kuala Lumpur.
How confident are you about the economy this season, and have you delayed adding a new attraction as a result?
Jerome Gibas, Kennywood, USA (pictured): It's been our experience the economy will always fluctuate, but weather continues to be a more defining factor in any given summer. In preparation for the 2010 season, we have already invested millions of dollars in our new launch coaster, Sky Rocket, which will be ready this summer.
Morgan's Wonderland - accessible for all
Located in San Antonio, Texas, Morgan’s Wonderland transforms an abandoned rock quarry into an outdoor oasis for those who suffer from cognitive and physical challenges.
Merlin expands Blackpool operations
Blackpool Council has taken the British resort's landmark tower and Winter Gardens into public ownership, and appointed Merlin Entertainments to run a number of associated attractions.
Ferrari World - opening confirmed
The wait is almost over. Ferrari World Abu Dhabi will open to the public on October 28, three weeks ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Chance gives Nickelodeon BrainSurge
The first Unicoaster from Chance Morgan has opened at Nickelodeon Universe inside the Mall of America, Bloomington, Minnesota.
Bondholders to own Six Flags
Six Flags Inc junior bondholders will own the bankrupt theme park operator under a settlement reached on March 19, ending a two-week long trial.
Tuff-Tuff Tåget at Gröna Lund
One of Sweden’s leading parks is promising big thrills for its young guests this coming season in the shape of a new kiddie coaster from Zamperla.
ProFun to manage Shanghai Expo pavilion
The Information and Communication Pavilion at Expo 2010 in Shanghai will be operated by the ProFun Management Group, the California firm has confirmed.
Adventureland
In the 1970s, in the wake of Six Flags Over Texas' success as the first non-Disney theme park, every American market that could squeeze out enough potential patrons saw a “theme park” spring up. The open pastures of Altoona, Iowa, just west of Des Moines, may have been more of a gamble than most, but Jack Krantz proceeded with guts and determination. Gary Kyriazi catches up with his surviving family to trace the development of Adventureland.
10 years of the London Eye
The London landmark that started a Ferris Wheel renaissance celebrated 10 years of operations on March 9.
KMG unleashes a Monster
KMG was granted German TÜV approval earlier this month for its second XXL swing ride. The mammoth machine, named Monster, is due to be delivered to Swiss showman HP Maier.
Mauro Ferrari
The president of Italian ride manufacturer Preston & Barbieri, Mauro Ferrari passed away recently at the age of 63. His funeral took place in Reggio Emilia on March 5.
Mack lands IAAPA Europe advisory role
Europa-Park and Mack Rides director Michael Mack has been appointed to the IAAPA Europe advisory board.
