Merlin Entertainments has bought the London Aquarium from County Hall Entertainment. The move makes perfect sense for Merlin, as not only does the operator own the largest aquarium brand in the world – Sea Life – but also the London Aquarium is located next to the London Eye, the group’s iconic observation wheel on the South Bank of the River Thames.

Tripsdrill, the Germany family park near Stuttgart, this week ramped up the thrill factor when it unveiled Mammut – the first all-German wooden coaster to be built in living memory and the park’s largest investment to date.

Nickelodeon Universe has opened at the Mall of America, Bloomington, Minnesota. Formerly Camp Snoopy, the re-branded seven-acre indoor theme park features 24 rides, 18 of which are Nickelodeon-themed.

Based in Carlsbad, Legoland California has unveiled a brand new area and its first-ever dark ride.

The Disneyland Resort, Anaheim, California, recently announced that Michael O’Grattan (pictured) has been promoted to senior vice-president of operations.

The new entrance area to the Prater in Vienna was due to be opened to the public on April 25. The Riesenradplatz (Giant Wheel Square) is the most visible part of the park’s ongoing regeneration and features new service and infrastructure facilities, new attractions and fresh food and beverage offerings.

Welsh park Oakwood, Pembrokeshire, has been sold by owner Paddy McNamara to the Spanish group Aspro.

The Dutch design company Jora Vision has been contracted as designer and architect for the new look Wuhan Zoo in China. The winner of an international tendering process, Jora Vision presented a detailed plan to rebuild the zoo to Wuhan City representatives at the end of 2007.

Lake Winnepesaukah Amusement Park, Chattanooga, Tennessee, has added a new interactive play area. Runaround Playground, part of the Stay & Play Hideaway, is designed and constructed by Playcore, a Chattanooga company.

Having now got a few 3D/4D projects under its belt, UK supplier Simworx is integrating a number of the technologies into its simulator rides, the area in which the company is traditionally known.

Over 115 million people visited a Disney theme park in 2007, according to a definitive new report (download it here), placing the operator above all other international amusement park/attraction chains.

Despite an agreement reached back in February, it now looks uncertain if the Weeki Wachee Springs mermaid attraction in Florida will actually receive State Park status, and thus secure its future.

Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson, New Jersey, is preparing to introduce Glow in the Park, a new nighttime parade by Gary Goddard Entertainment. Transforming the park into a fantasyland of light and sound will be a cast of drummers, puppeteers, singers, dancers and kinetic stilt walkers.

MagiQuest, a technology-based live-action fantasy game, debuted for the first time outside North America when it opened to enthusiastic crowds in late March at the Lagunasia theme park in Japan.

The new TEA/ERA Attraction Attendance report is published elsewhere on this website, revealing the world’s top parks and waterparks from 2007. A new entrant in the Top 20 list of waterparks – storming in at joint third with 1.4 million guests – was Chimelong Water Park near Guangzhou, China. 

SeaWorld Orlando is planning a new major attraction that will be part rollercoaster part animal attraction. Although the cost has not been announced, it is expected to become the Florida park's single most expensive attraction.

The Wonder Wheel at Deno's Wonder Wheel Park, Coney Island, New York, will be celebrate its 88th anniversary this August. Unlike some properties at Coney Island, Wonder Wheel Park has not been sold to developers and this will not be its final season.

This summer waterpark guests in Chongqing, China, will be able to experience the country’s largest and most spectacular waterplay attraction. The new Haichang Caribbean Park, which opens in July, will debut a 15,000 sq ft playground by SCS Interactive.

The TEA (Themed Entertainment Association) has confirmed details of its second European members meeting, which will be held at Disneyland Resort Paris on June 5 and 6 (Thursday and Friday).

Merlin Entertainments’ reputation as a private equity darling was confirmed recently when it won an award for achieving the fastest growing profits in the sector.

Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit is technology-packed new coaster planned for next season at  Universal Studios, Orlando.

Coney Island's Astroland Amusement Park and the classic Cyclone rollercoaster opened on Palm Sunday, March 16, the traditional start of the season. Could this be their last, asks Paul Ruben?

BALPPA (the British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers and Attractions) tabled a report recently to the UK Treasury calling for a cut in value added tax (VAT).

A new conference for people working or looking to invest in the Chinese leisure industry has been announced for June in Shanghai and Park World will be an official media partner.

The Association of Play Industries (API) is to stage a new exhibition for buyers of sport, play and leisure equipment at Stoneleigh Park near Coventry, England, this coming July.

Legoland Windsor near London opened its gates ahead of Easter with the completion of a brand new zone.

In the coming months, Reverchon will supply a compact spinning “mouse” coaster to a showman in Ireland. The ride will be the fourth attraction to be built by the French manufacturer since a low-key restart in 2007.

Offering a “moving experience at every turn,” the Singapore Flyer officially became the world’s newest tallest Ferris Wheel when it opened to the public on March 1.

Suzhou Giant Wheel Park is one of several new amusement parks opening this season in China. Located in the city of Suzhou, about two hours from Shanghai, the new facility has been designed by the Sanderson Group.

Guests visiting Morey’s Piers, Wildwood, New Jersey, will this season find a major transformation of a favourite coaster, two new rides and numerous upgrades and refinements.

Italy’s number one amusement park – Gardaland – was due to reopen on March 19 with an exciting new attraction that brings a flavour of the Arctic to the shores of Lake Garda.

Madrid-based design company TAA Industries has revealed that it has undertaken all theming and fitting out at the new Legoland Discovery Centre opening next month (May) in the German city of Duisburg.

The fate of the new Mtatsminda Park in Tbilisi, Georgia (Eurasia), continues to look uncertain following the death of its founder, Badri Patarkatsishvili.

The ASTM International Committee F24 on Amusement Rides and Devices will celebrate its 30th anniversary this year.

Following a trial last year at Walygator, the former Walibi Lorraine park in France, American ride DVD specialist CDRide is expecting further work in Europe this coming season.

Pacific Park on California's Santa Monica Pier will replace its Ferris Wheel with a new 90f-tall $1.5 million version from Chance Morgan featuring computer-generated special effects lighting using 160,000 LEDs.

As the 2008 season gets underway, two parks will be debuting new Star Flyer rides (pictured) by the Austrian manufacturer Funtime Handels, namely Allou Fun Park in Athens and Plopsa Telecoo in France.

Technical Park has sold a Pegasus ride (pictured) and a Balloon Tower to Power Park in Finland, as well as a Typhoon swinging pendulum ride to Fun Village in Chioggia near Venice.

Merlin Entertainments has announced an major expansion of its operations in the United States, rolling out five new attractions in the next two years, including America’s largest Ferris Wheel.

Stockholm city centre park Gröna Lund celebrates its 125th anniversary this season with the addition of three new attractions and some retro-futuristic theming.

Six Flags is the latest big name to announce it will create a dedicated amusement park at Dubailand, United Arab Emitrates. As part of a strategic alliance with Dubailand developer Tatweer, Six Flags will create its first new park outside the US since its ill-fated foray into Europe.

Busch Entertainment Corporation (BEC) is to develop its first theme parks outside of the United States, bringing its full Worlds of Discovery family of parks to The Palm Jebel Ali in Dubai. This will also be the first time Busch’s four park brands – Busch Gardens, SeaWorld, Discovery Cove and the new Aquatica waterpark – appear together in one location.

One of Britain’s best-known marine life attractions, the Weymouth Sea Life Park, is to expand this coming season with the addition of four children’s rides. The £1 million package is one of the highlights of a series of planned developments at Merlin Entertainments’ Sea Life centres across the UK, including a brand new outlet at Chessington World of Adventures near London.

HIT Entertainment is to open a family attraction as part of Dubailand. Named the Little Big Club, opening is scheduled for the end of this year.

A fun fair will appear for a second year on the site of former Pleasureland amusement park in Southport, England. Norman Wallis of Dreamstorm International tells Park World that the rides and attractions at “New Pleasureland” will be open in time for Easter.

Members of the European amusement equipment suppliers’ collective EAASI could withdraw their support for a number of industry trade shows if organisers do not take steps to exclude manufacturers that blatantly copy rides.

Members of the European amusement equipment suppliers’ collective EAASI could withdraw their support for a number of industry trade shows if organisers do not take steps to exclude manufacturers that blatantly copy rides. That’s the threat made in a statement issued by EAASI concerning infringement of intellectual property rights.

Golden Horse Amusement Equipment will deliver its first ever rides to the UK this spring. The Chinese manufacturer had developed a new attraction called Shark Fight Island, in which guests fire water cannons at a central feature as they circle it in flipping gondolas.

Morgan RV Resorts has acquired Indiana Beach Amusement Resort in Monticello, Indiana, for an undisclosed price. The purchase includes the northwest Indiana resort’s entire operation and makes sense for Morgan when one learns the extent of the camp facilities within it.

Celebration City, Branson, Missouri, will introduce its biggest expansion to date this spring. Roaring Falls, a $2 million water adventure ride by OD Hopkins, takes riders through fast-moving rapids and features a 5-story, 55-degree angle drop for an enormous splash finale.

Jim Pattison Entertainment has formally acquired Guinness World Records from HIT Entertainment. For over a decade its sister company, Ripley Entertainment, has held the global rights to develop and operate Guinness World Records museums and attractions.

John Davies from OmniTicket Network (pictured left) is the new chairman of the British Amusement and Leisure Equipment Suppliers association, ALES-UK.

Dale Kaetzel (pictured) has been named the general manager and senior vice-president of Hard Rock Park, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Kaetzel has more than 30 years experience in senior management, as well as live entertainment, sports and music marketing. 

Leading UK amusement park Pleasure Beach, Blackpool, is to impose a compulsory admission fee starting next season (2009), bringing to an end its reign as the “UK’s favourite free tourist attraction.”

IAAPA, the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, is to stage a Middle East Safety Conference later this month. Aimed at local operators, developers and government officials interested in achieving excellence in safety, it will be the first event of its kind.

Cedar Point amusement park/resort, Sandusky, Ohio, will introduce Skyscraper in the Challenge Park activity complex this May.

Silverwood Theme Park, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, is adding a Vekoma Giant Boomerang, the largest, most expensive rollercoaster it has ever purchased.

Which were the world’s most visited amusement parks in 2007? For a second year Park World is distributing the TEA/ERA Attendance report (more details here) – the single most respected and referred to source of global amusement park attendance figures.

Representatives of the Mall of Arabia in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, have signed a contract with Maurer Söhne to deliver a spinning coaster as part of the shopping centre’s themed entertainment area, due to open August 2009.

A new Ripley’s Believe It or Not! will in London's Trocadero FEC this coming August. The museum will occupy approximately 25,000 square feet of the Trocadero, spread over five levels.

Six Flags Over Texas, Arlington, will introduce a spinning coaster from Gerstlauer for its 47th season in 2008. The new addition is one of several coasters across the Six Flags portfolio to be themed after the skateboarder Tony Hawk.

Crealy Great Adventure Park in Devon, England, boosted its online ticket sales by almost 84% last season.

The River Rapids ride is one of the Fabbri Group’s most popular water rides, and is now available in several different shapes and sizes. Pictured here is a custom-themed ride produced for the Window on China park in Taiwan. More River Rapids are now on order for parks in China, as well as two in the US.

Valerio Mazzoli, head of the eponymous Italian design studio, revealed to Park World recently that his company is currently engaged on a number of projects around the world, including a number of exciting projects in his native land.

Leading Italian people mover specialist Dotto Trains has taken on a fun line of road trains and plans to offer them with green credentials to suit operators in locations where noise and fuel emissions can be a problem. The cartoon-styled Circus, Coast to Coast and Coast to Express appear alongside Dotto’s existing Mississippi rail loco in the Fun Trains range.