The owners of Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach in England are working on plans for a £35 million (E44m/$69m) development called The Edge. The Pleasure Beach is one of four concerns bidding for a casino licence in Great Yarmouth and, if successful, would combine it at The Edge with activities including bowling, a restaurant and 800 car parking space. “This will extend both the season and the so called Golden Mile,” Pleasure Beach managing director Albert Jones tells Park World. “Like a lot of resorts we have lost the night-time trade.” In the meantime, plans are mooted to bring a 60-metre Ferris Wheel to the park later this 2008 season.

Mack Rides is to supply a YoungStar junior coaster to Märchenpark, Neusiedlersee, Austria. Measuring 480-metres in length, the ride will have the same theme as the original Pegasus version at Mack’s own Europa-Park in Germany. Märchenpark celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2008.

Avail Corporation, the organiser of two China Themed Attraction Summit events in Shanghai, is to stage a similar conference this summer in Macau. Dates are July 14 and 15, immediately before the IAAPA Asian Expo also planned for Macau. See www.availcorp.com for more details. Meanwhile a new event called the Asia Tourism Property and Attraction Summit will take place in Shanghai in June.

Mondial, the Dutch flat ride manufacturer, has a full order book for the rest of the year and plenty of interest in a number of new ride concepts that could make their way onto the market in 2009. “People are willing to pay for quality again,” notes salesman Theo van Zweiten. This season two more Jet Force rides will leave the company’s premises in Heerenveen, one for a French customer and one for Germany. The attraction is one of the most compact Mondial has ever built, but still boasts the same high specifications and sturdy construction.

After enjoying a “phenomenal year” in 2007, UK-based activity equipment supplier Innovative Leisure is looking forward to a number of new installations in the early part of 2008 – and not just in the amusement industry. More Depth Charge explosions systems are due to be fitted to a number of Water Wars games for various UK parks and event organisers. A mobile climbing rock for a youth project in South Wales was due to be handed over in January, while a similar attraction is due to go to a sports college in April. A stationary rock, meanwhile, is destined for a scout camp outside London.
Shooting gallery manufacturer Pan Amusements is to diversify and offer a range of theming services after pushing its set design and scenery-building skills at IAAPA last November. “Our extensive experience in the techniques required to build our shooting galleries has given us excellent all round skills which are appropriate for set building and installation,” remarks the company’s Paul Whittaker, “but this is not always apparent to buyers unless you really promote it hard which we did.”
A Half Pipe ride from Intamin has opened at the Wet ‘n’ Wild waterpark on Australia’s Gold Coast. The 30-metre high attraction seats 12 riders at a time on two spinning gondolas mounted on a surfboard. Water effects complement the ride pattern. “We’ve made an ongoing commitment to be the home of Australia’s biggest selection of water rides,” says Warner Village Theme Parks COO, Steve Peet. Wet ‘n’ Wild is part of the Warner Village resort in Queensland.

Herschend Family Entertainment (HFE) is to takeover the management and ownership of two aquariums operated by Steiner + Associates – Adventure Aquarium in Camden, New Jersey, and Newport Aquarium in Newport, Kentucky.

Atlantic Pier Amusements has gained a one-year extension to its lease with the Trump Taj Mahal and will operate the Steel Pier in Atlantic City, New Jersey, for the 2008 season. The pier is due to kick of its season with a fourth annual Easter Egg Hunt in late March and is currently booking corporate events, family reunions and project graduations.

Mondial, the Dutch ride builder, has opened a new factory building at its premises in Terband near Heerenveen, Holland. The new building will be shared with sister company Roodberg, a producer of cranes and marine lifting equipment.

Parks America, based in Santa Monica, California, has decided not to buy Wild West World, Wichita, Kansas. Dale Van Voorhis, Parks America's president, has turned his attention to buying another theme park. With no other bidders appearing, the park's rides are now expected to be sold individually, confirming the park's demise. The ride sales will be cash only, with no financing or equity participation available. Getting the rides sold and out of the park is the immediate priority. The park cannot afford to prepare the rides for the coming winter. Once the rides are gone, the park's metal buildings will be sold, and then the land will be put on the market.

Meg Crofton, president of Walt Disney Resort, will present the keynote address at this year's the General Managers and Owners Breakfast at IAAPA Attracions Expo in Orlando. Her topic will be “Creating The Year of a Million Dreams and the Future Disney Park Experience.” The event takes place at 8.30am on Wednesday, November 14, within the Orange County Convention Center, and space is limited. More details, including how to book, appear at: iaapa.org/expos/attractions/

As from January 2008, Disney-MGM Studios at Walt Disney World in Florida will be called Disney's Hollywood Studios. “Now we can say that Hollywood is literally our middle name,” notes Meg Crofton, president of Walt Disney World Resort. New attractions planned for the park in 2008 include Toy Story Mania!, Block Party Bash, Playhouse Disney-Live on Stage!, Disney High School Musical 2: School's Out!, and Meet and Greet Adds Handy Manny. “This is easily one of the most ambitious attractions rollouts in the 18-year history of the park,” Crofton adds.

Richard Rodriguez has smashed the Guinness World Record for the longest rollercoaster marathon, riding the Pepsi Max Big One at Pleasure Beach, Blackpool, 6,300 miles and nearly 8,000 rollercoaster rides. He broke the record at 00:01 on Monday, August 6 – and then chose to carry on for another week to make his new record a really tough one to beat! Richard was originally going head to head with 2 challengers at Freizeitland Gieselwind in Germany, but they dropped out early on due to medical reasons.

A seasonal employee at Loudoun Castle theme park in Scotland died in July – just as the summer season was about to take off. Eighteen-year-old Mark Blackwood was working on The Rat (a Maurer Wild Mouse) on Sunday, July 15, but fell from the ride after grabbing hold of a car. He later died at Crosshouse Hospital in Kilmarnock. Park owner Henk Bembom told Park World he was devastated by the incident. “The staff here are very close,” he remarked. As a mark of respect, the park remained closed on the day of the funeral. The Health & Safety Executive is continuing its investigation.

A new amusement park being planned in New Zealand has met with predictable complaints from local residents. The Crystal Mountain theme park in Swanson, West Auckland, will be much smaller than the country’s existing and moderately-sized Rainbow’s End but has nevertheless received objections from 212 of 216 people that made submissions to Waitakere City Council. We can assume then that thousands of those that made no submission at all are happy to see the park built. Including a mini rollercoaster, rapid river and tea cup ride, the council insists the park's design minimises environmental impact and noise limits will not be breached.

Efteling, the famous Dutch park in Kaatsheuvel, hopes soon to begin adding more overnight accommodation. In 1992 the park opened the Efteling Hotel, but slow planning decisions have stopped it building anything else until now. However, “now we see that most of the traffic lights are on green and we hope to lay the first brick next year,” confirms the park’s Henk Groenen. The new development will comprise a series of bungalows to the south of the park, close to the wooden coaster Pegasus.

Following the two-year masterplan handed over last October, the Prater in Vienna, Austria, is to get a new entrance plaza celebrating the city’s golden era. Local supplier Explore 5D has been awarded the contract to develop the 16,000 square metre area which will carry the theme “Vienna in the 1900s.” Up to four new attractions, including a cultural exhibit, as well as shops and restaurants, are believed to be part of the plans. All will be designed and built by Explore 5D or one of its international partners. “The concept is content driven, which means that we have created a strong storyline which will run throughout the experience,” says Dr Gerhard Frank, Explore 5D’s CEO and also head of research & development. It is envisaged that the new area will fold seamlessly into the existing Prater.

Creative Kingdoms LLC is now the sole owner of MagiQuest Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, having bought out Burroughs & Chapin Company’s 50& stake. MagiQuest is a three-dimensional, interactive fantasy game that uses advanced computer-powered technology to allow multiple players to compete simultaneously. Representatives from Creative Kingdoms recently closed a $3.2 million deal with Great Wolf Resorts Inc, which could lead to the opening MagiQuest outlets in more of the group’s indoor waterparks.

Loudoun Castle Theme Park in Scotland got off to a great start this season, spurred on by the addition of its new ‘Barnstorner’ S&S tower ride and some magnificent weather. “April is particular was fantastic, we were up by double,” says park owner Henk Bembon, “I think the message has really got across that Loudoun Castle is a decent place to go.” Since taking the park over from Raymond Codona, Bembom has added a wealth a new rides and split the park up into a number of themed areas.

According to its president George Laibe, International Amusement Alliance (IAA) has moved its Arizona company headquarters, at the same time becoming western United States and international sales and marketing representatives for waterpark supplier Professional Parks (PPI). IAA has also formed a new division and reinstated The Coaster Works under a new name The Coaster Works International. The company specialises in the design and construction of wooden coasters, elevated wooden go-kart tracks and big timber projects. IAA shall also offer install services.

Russian ride supplier Pax Design is to equip a complete park in Egypt. Located in coastal resort of Hurghada, the new medium sized facility will open 2008 or 2009 and is being developed by Russian owners. ”Lots of cities want a park,” notes Anna Novikova of Pax’s international department.

Following the success of two events in Europe, the World Waterpark Association (WWA) is to further reach out to its international membership by staging a symposium next year in Dubai. The exact timing has yet to be agreed upon, but WWA president Rick Root concedes dates immediately before or after the DEAL trade show may attract a better attendance.

Bombay Amusement Rides (BARPL) has been contracted to supply a 70-metre Ferris Wheel to the Khaled A Al-Rajhi group in Saudi Arabia. The Indian manufacturer, which has its own production facilities in Mumbai, is in talks with established manufacturers from Europe about a possible design.

To celebrate its 15th anniversary, Disneyland Paris is adding Crush’s Coaster, a ride with special effects based on the Finding Nemo movies. The coaster opens in June, along with another Paris-only attraction called Cars Race Rally, which is designed for young children. Toon Town at Walt Disney Studios will offer meet-and-greet opportunities with movie characters ranging from Donald Duck to Remy Rat.

John Morris has joined Morey’s Piers, Wildwood, New Jersey, as operations manager. He will be responsible for the safe and efficient operation of the Mariner’s Landing Pier, one of three seaside amusement piers operated by the Morey Organization. He comes to Morey’s Piers from DS Distribution where he was facility manager for the last seven years.

Robert F Ott, former president and board chairman of Dorney Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania, passed away March 3. Aged 88, he retired in 1985 from Dorney Park after 43 years of service.

Kings Island, outside Cincinnati, Ohio, will celebrate its 35th anniversary this year with the addition of a 14th rollercoaster, Firehawk. A Vekoma flying coaster, it operated for the past six years as X-Flight at Geauga Lake, Aurora, Ohio. It will be located at Kings Island behind the Flight of Fear in the park’s Coney Mall.

The Sea World Eye, a 60-metre observation wheel from Ronald Bussink Professional Rides, will stay at the Australian park until May 17. The ride offers unparalleled sweeping views of the Gold Coast and Sea World’s Broadwater surroundings and passengers are given facts about the area courtesy of the on-board sound system in each of the 42 air-conditioned gondolas. The Sea World Eye is free to ride as part of the normal park admission price.

In late April, Six Flags St Louis, Eureka, Missouri, will introduce a spinning coaster from Gerstlauer of Germany, identical to the ride opening this season at Six Flags Over Texas in San Antonio. The new addition will be called Tony Hawk’s Big Spin, themed after skateboard superstar Tony Hawk.