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Alien Abduction
This new creation is proposed as an iconic 75 feet-tall structure for waterparks, employing the theme park concept of a pre-show, main show and post-show experience.
Krush KushioNZ
Originating from New Zealand and now avaialble for use with a wide range of “Aktion AttraktioNZ” devices, Krush KushioNZ landing technology means no harnesses or other safety gear is needed, hence the name “sans” gear.
Bajazzo
Bajazzo, a new ride proposal from ABC in Switzerland, features two mini Ferris Wheels, one attached to either end of a giant beam, which sways from side to side as the centre tower rotates.
Echols Ice Shaver
These high-speed ice shavers from popcorn specialist C Cretors & Co are ideal for making sno-cones.
Cyber Jet
The Italian SBF/Visa Group has debuted a new space age version of its popular children’s jet rides, the Cyber Jet. The six vehicle ride carries up to 18 passengers (three per car) and occupies a 6-metre diameter footprint.
Shuttle Launch Experience
The success of the Shuttle Launch Experience at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida will be confirmed this March when it scoops Outstanding Attraction Achievement at the annual Thea Awards. As Visitor Complex numbers begin to rocket, Nick Towle talks to the Launch Experience’s creators.
Thomas Land
It’s been a busy winter at Drayton Manor. The English amusement park has ditched its entire children’s area and replaced it with a new one – Thomas Land. On behalf of the park, Andrew Mellor gives Park World an exclusive peak during construction.
Funtown Splashtown USA
It all started with a fast food restaurant. The awesomely energetic 75-year-old Ken Cormier (pictured) turned a drive-in into an FEC, then an amusement park. Gary Kyriazi meets the man that keeps the family at the heart of everything he does. And he’s still dreaming...
Disney Dining Success
Several times now I’ve written about promotional plans for dining, including the packaged dinner that was offered for a while in Disney’s Animal Kingdom and a similar type of plan that was offered at Universal Studios.
Mermaid Mania
Six months after discovering America, Italian explorer Christopher Columbus, sailing near the Dominican Republic, reported seeing three mermaids, and described them as “not half as beautiful as they are painted.”
Kernels
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.
Mall of Arabia chooses Maurer
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.
Ripley's comes to London
Ripley's Ripley
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.
Tony Hawk arrives at more Six Flags parks
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.
Online success for Crealy
Crealy Great Adventure Park in Devon, England, boosted its online ticket sales by almost 84% last season.
Fabbri Rapids
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.
Mazzoli magic!
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.
TraXters
TraXters are a range of new battery-powered children’s vehicles from Formula K designed for the 4 to 12-year-old age group.
Dotto goes green
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.
Waterpark wars in Ottawa
Le Groupe Village Vacances Valcartier has announced the construction of a $50-million waterpark resort outside Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Meanwhile, Rick Hunter, owner of ProSlide Technologies, plans a rival waterpark nearby.
What caught your eye at this winter's trade shows?
Curtis Parks, PARC Management, USA: LED lighting really caught my eye. There are some fantastic lighting products that can dramatically change the visual elements in a park. For instance, take an icon like the Ferris Wheel. You can change your lighting package (through a programming script) to match a particular theme for an event or holiday. If the park is celebrating Fourth of July, your Ferris Wheel is red, white and blue with fireworks. If it’s Halloween, your Ferris Wheel is themed with orange pumpkins and spooky bats. LED theming can really add some razzle-dazzle to any park environment.
Efteling’s leap year gesture
Guests staying at the Efteling Hotel in Kaatsheuvel, the Netherlands, are being offered an extra night in a themed room for free – if their birthday falls on February 29.
Beto Carrero dies
Beto Carrero, who built Latin America's biggest amusement park, passed away Friday, February 1, while undergoing heart surgery. The 70-year-old park creator, whose given name was Joao Batista Sergio Murad, died of heart problems at Sao Paulo's Sirio Libanes Hospital.
Martin's takes Flight
Martin’s Fantasy Island, Grand Island, New York, will add two new attractions for the 2008 season, including a Zamperla Vertical Swing (pictured).
Thorpe Park’s 2009 Rollercoaster
Planning permission has been granted for Thorpe Park’s fourth major rollercoaster. Construction on the new ride, a Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter, will begin on site in May of this year, ahead of a 2009 opening.
Movie Park's rush release
Movie Park, Bottrop, Germany, has brought forward plans to expand its Nickland kids zone and will unveil eight new and two refurbished attractions by late April/early May.
Compagnie des Alpes parks success
Compagnie des Alpes (CDA), the owner of various European amusement parks including the Walibi properties, saw park revenues rise 23.3% in the final quarter of 2007 to €27.6 million.
Euro Attractions Show
It was nice to be in Nice. Once IAAPA announced it was to stage a second Euro Attractions Show (EAS) in Munich later in the year, some wondered if the planned January event on French Riveria would be worth bothering with at all. Happily, reports Owen Ralph, it wasn’t a waste of time.
Six Flags looks east
For the first time since its unsuccessful European experiment, Six Flags is to consider expanding outside the USA. The park chain is said to be considering opening new theme parks in the Middle East, India and East Asia, and may consider selling two or three of its existing properties to raise capital.
Kelley says so long to Sally
After 22 years as president of Sally Corporation, Howard Kelley has retired. He joined Sally in 1985 after serving as vice-president and general manager of an American network television station and corporate director of strategic planning.
IAAPI Trade Show 2008
The Indian Association of Amusement Parks & Industries (IAAPI) will stage its eighth annual trade show this February in Mumbai. Nick Towle looks ahead to the three-day event.
Europa-Park smashes 4 million
For the first time during its 33-year history, Europa-Park, Rust, Germany, has attracted over 4 million guests. The Mack family welcomed the season’s 4 millionth visitor on December 30 during the winter opening period and awarded them a 2-day stay at the park’s new Santa Isabel hotel.
Ocean Park hotel plan
Proposals to build three hotels within Ocean Park have been agreed in principle by the Hong Kong SAR Government.
Eco accommodation for Cornwall’s Crealy
Crealy in Cornwall, England, is to invest £1.5 million (€2m) by building luxury eco-lodges within its grounds.
Splashwater Kingdom debuts BulletBowl
Making a huge splash this May at Splashwater Kingdom, part of Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom, Louisville, Kentucky, will be Mega Wedgie, an entertaining waterslide.
Hong Kong Disneyland
Hong Kong’s School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) has revealed the results of its latest survey into resident’s views of the Hong Kong Disneyland theme park.
Darien Lake to debut MotoCoaster
Darien Lake, Darien Center, New York, will unveil the world's first MotoCoaster from Zamperla this coming May. With riders sat astride a motorbike ride vehicle, the attraction will provide a new and different thrill, one that American coaster riders have not yet experienced.
Cedar Point spends $5.2m
For the 2008 season, Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio, plans to spend $5.2 million in capital improvements in and around the amusement park. Planet Snoopy, the park’s newest children’s area, will be a highlight of these plans.
Coney Island plans scrutinised
According to Business Week, the New York City Planning Department and New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) have unveiled a proposed zoning plan for Coney Island that could require developer Thor Equities to scale back its plans for a massive hotel and entertainment complex in the Brooklyn neighbourhood.
Conny Gasser
The Swiss amusement park Conny-Land will start the 2008 season without its founder. Conny Gasser (pictured), who died in Zurich on December 17, 2007, at the age of 69, was one of the leading showbusiness characters of Switzerland.
