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.

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).

With several more big projects announced in recent weeks, all eyes are back on Dubai as the emirate forges ahead with plans to become one of the world’s top tourist destinations. Against this backdrop, organisers of DEAL 2008 (Dubai Entertainment, Amusement & Leisure) are hoping for a bustling show this April.

The Russian Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (RAAPA) stages its 10th exhibition this month in Moscow. Park World previews RAAPA 2008.

Riding a suspended or inverted rollercoaster, one in which the rider is seated in a vehicle that hangs from track above rather than below the train, always feels a bit like flying. No track or visible support below enhances the excitement of a coaster ride. As a result park guests have come to enjoy these varieties of rollercoaster, which have grown in popularity in recent years. For a fast and thrilling experience, says Paul Ruben, it all depends on the angle of the dangle.

The history of one of the world’s most famous landmarks takes on a sinister twist at the London Bridge Experience and London Tombs – the newest attraction to hit central London. Rowan McIntyre visited ahead of the Easter holidays …and returned to tell the tale.

Flamingo Land theme park and zoo in England is adding no fewer than six new attractions this season, plus a new entrance. Park World dropped by during the run-up to opening.

Located in Tongeren, the oldest city in Belgium, Ooit Tongeren was created as a sister park to Het Land Van Ooit in Holland. “Ooit” is the Dutch word for “ever” (or “once”) but ironically both parks closed down last year when the operating Taminiau family encountered financial difficulties. In the case of the new facility at Tongeren, that was less than three months after opening. Park World talks to the man trying to find a new operator.

When an accident occurs, a patron complains of improper treatment or an employee lodges a complaint against your park, it is important to obtain witness statements, documenting what employees and other witnesses know about the incident or allegation.

The new TEA/ERA Attendance report – now available here – is filled with Top 10 lists. What a great idea! It seemed like time to compile my own Top 10. But of what? I could offer my own Top 10 list of parks, Top 10 waterparks, Top 10 dark rides, even a Top 10 of terrific, tried and tested alliterations.

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.

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.

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.

Keylime Cove, a new indoor water resort in Gurnee, Illinois, opened its doors to the public on February 29. Offering a “cruise-ship-on-land” experience, the project is the brainchild of Dave Anderson, founder of Famous Dave’s Legendary Pit Bar-B-Que and Rainforest Cafe restaurant chains.

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.