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Catching up with Gary Goddard
Since its founding in 2001, Gary Goddard Entertainment has established itself as one of the leading design sources for themed attractions and destinations across the globe. Goddard has built his career on creating attractions that form emotional connections with their audience. He recently took time to discuss his current projects and some emerging trends with Park World.
A night out with Bob Masterson
To say that Bob Masterson is the modern version of the adventurous Robert Ripley would be an understatement, writes Jim Seay of Premier Rides. Here he shares his recollections of a memorable night out with the Ripley Entertainment chief and outgoing IAAPA chairman.
ZipRider at Wildcat Mountain
Wildcat Mountain in Pinkham Notch, New Hampshire, is one of America's most prominent ski resorts, but now guests can fly down the mountainside without snow – all year round. Paul Ruben takes a ride.
Splash Over
The Dutch ride builder Mondial recently completed two new Splash Over attractions. The 40-seater rides are built to the company’s usual sturdy specifications and incorporate a number of unique features. Park World visits the Mondial premises near Heerenveen in northern Holland to bring you these exclusive shots.
OCT East
It started with a fairly straightforward request; create a theme park based around the earth. Make it an ecological theme park, a park with a focus on the harmonious balance with the environment, which teaches conservation and ecological discovery to all its visitors. David Edmonds of Falcon’s Treehouse explains the processes involved in designing one of OCT Tourism’s newest resorts.
OCT Group
The OCT Group is the operator of mainland China’s most popular theme park, part of a growing chain that will soon take in the cities of Shenzhen, Beijing, Chengdu and Shanghai. But Happy Valley is only part of the story. Park World profiles the nation's largest amusement operator.
Darrell Metzger
Starting his career at Disneyland in California, for the last two decades Darrell Metzger has served a number of high profile roles in leisure industry in Asia and the Middle East. The incoming IAAPA chairman shares his plans for the association, and his views about the amusement industry in general, with Park World.
Interschau-Technofolies
The organisers of Interschau-Technofolies have announced a new name for the exhibition following the latest event in Stuttgart, which attracted around 3,500 visitors. As from next year, when the show takes place in Genoa, Italy, the exhibition will be known as Amusement Expo Europe.
Barnyard
The Barnyard is a new ride concept from Zamperla, aimed fairly and squarely at kids and families. The attraction simulates a farmyard barn caught in a storm and has obvious similarities in both concept and size to the company’s popular Rockin’ Tug.
Roller Ball
Following the success of its Traffic Jam ride, the SBF/Visa Group has released a new ride called the Roller Ball.
Oslo
The latest bumper car from this Italian manufacturer features, as well as a new shape, LED lighting and hence lower power consumption than previous models.
Climbing Wall Panels
The UK-based supplier of active family attractions, Innovative Leisure has added a new product to its range, a modular panel system that offers a flat climbing wall solution to suit almost any specification.
IAAPA Attractions Expo
What will you be doing the third week in November? Well over 20,000 of you will be visiting Florida for the amusement industry’s largest annual get-together, IAAPA Attractions Expo in Orlando. Park World previews the week’s events.
How's business been this season?
Rudi Rasschaert, Bobbejaanland, Belgium: 2008 has been a really strong season for Bobbejaanland. Our most recent attraction, the Banana Battle, and our efficient marketing and sales strategy have contributed highly to that success. April was however catastrophic due to extremely bad weather and Easter Holiday came exceptionally early this year, when it was raining and snowing in Belgium. Some of our water attractions even had to remain closed due to frost and ice! May and June brought us back to an acceptable level, but it was the summer months that really did it for us: During July and August, Bobbejaanland welcomed over 316,000 visitors – 7% up on last year.
An industry on the brink of boiling point
In 2006 Liu Jingwang, now chairman of the Chinese Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (CAAPA), voiced concerns about the “overheating” of the domestic industry. Two years on, he tells Park World the situation is about to reach boiling point.
Burn Baby Learn
The 2008 season was full of disasters for coastal parks in the UK and on both coasts in America.
Mtatsminda Park
Plans are moving forward to reopen Mtatsminda Park in Tbilisi, Georgia, which was famously seized by the authorities last November after just nine weeks of opening.
Suzhou Giant Wheel Park
A new park is taking shape in the Chinese city of Suzhou, about two hours from Shanghai. Taking its name from one of its star attractions, the Giant Wheel Park will also feature a world-first rollercoaster.
Scandinavian 3
An Intamin ZacSpin coaster, the world’s first Free Fly coaster from S&S and a Vekoma family coaster will all be unveiled next season at parks in Sweden thanks to a SEK150 million (€15.2m/$20m) investment being made by the Parks & Resorts Scandinavia group.
Introducing Wheels of Excellence
Visitors to the recent Euro Attractions Show (EAS) in Munich can’t failed to have noticed the 50-metre giant Ferris Wheel erected outside the Messe München exhibition centre (seen here). The “R50” ride is one of the latest attractions from Ronald Bussink Professional Rides of Switzerland and is destined for a site in Perth, Australia – if no one else takes it first.
Inflatable pioneer dies
John Tom Scurlock, a plastics specialist who invented the Space Walk, the inflatable toy that in its various forms has become a fixture of countless events and attractions, passed away September 27 in New Orleans. He was 83.
Huss soars!
Huss Park Attractions has sold its first Flying Theatre rides. The new media-based attractions are a radical departure for Huss, which has partnered with Hollywood-based production company Super 78 to produce a dedicated ride film.
Herschend makes new appointments
Jane Cooper (pictured) has been promoted to president of Herschend Family Entertainment’s (HFE) attractions division, responsible for all regions and properties except those within the Dollywood Company.
Meet the Mob and feel the Falls!
Niagara's Fury is a new attraction bringing to life the story of the evolution of the thundering Niagara Falls. Now open at Table Rock adjacent to the Horseshoe Falls, Ontario, it has been developed by the Niagara Parks Commission.
Fly Me To The Moon
The 3D film Fly Me To The Moon, produced by attraction specialist nWave, is now on general release at movie theatres in 37 countries and at the time of writing had grossed over $22 million.
Rocket takes off over St Petersburg
The owners of Divo-Ostrov in St Petersburg, Russia, have made several bold statements since the park opened a few years ago and their latest came this summer when they added a world first by Funtime.
Fly By Wire for sale
New Zealand inventor Neil Harrap of Fly by Wire International has reached retirement age and is offering to sell the patents that protect the Fly by Wire concept, a 200ft-high extreme ride capable of speeds over 95 mph.
Kids' New Years Eve
Always on the lookout for a new shoulder season promotion, Legoland California in Carlsbad has had a great idea. Midnight at the park will strike at 6pm when it celebrates the earliest New Year’s event in the area, Kids’ New Year’s Eve.
Sally markets Goosebumps attractions
Sally Corporation has signed an agreement with Scholastic Media to design and market interactive dark ride attractions based on the scary but funny kids’ franchise Goosebumps. The company is due to showcase two Goosebumps ride concepts during the imminent IAAPA Attractions Expo in Orlando.
Spring Kong
Huss Park Attractions has revealed that both of its planned King Kong attractions will now open in the spring. As readers may be aware, the original ride scheduled to open this summer at Bobbejaanland in Belgium was delayed.
Gateway to Atlantis
Gateway Ticketing was responsible for complete ticketing, access control and even dolphin encounter reservations at the new Atlantis The Palm resort in Dubai.
“The only thing we didn’t provide was the hotel reservations,” notes Gateway’s Michael Turner.
Truth in Advertising
Whether print, television, radio or web, parks must always consider disclosures in their advertising. Promotions usually have limitations on time or quantity available. Legally, without disclosures of such restrictions, you may be bound to honour your advertising promises long after you intended a promotion to expire.
Kernels
IE Park is due to supply a 12-metre themed carousel to the F1 theme park in Dubai. Two small coasters are due for customers in Jordan and India, while a transportation system will be provided to Santa Cruz Beach in California. The Italian manufacturer is also working on a number of ride packages for various new parks in India. IE Park is offering a new model of bumper car. Available in both junior and medium sized versions, the first fleet is due to be operational over the Christmas period with the Gambado play centre group near London.
For the 2009 season the Great Escape & Splashwater Kingdom, Lake George, New York, will add Sasquatch, a drop ride from S&S Worldwide. Comprising two independent steel towers standing 192ft tall, the attraction will be the tallest ride at The Great Escape.
Dollywood, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, has decided to delay construction of its giant Adventure Mountain rope course and interactive play attraction, citing the downturn in the economy and cost of basic building materials like steel and concrete. Originally scheduled to open this coming spring, Adventure Mountain is now expected to debut March 2010.
ABC busy in Scandinavia
Following successful installations in London (pictured) and Hamburg, the Swiss manufacturer ABC is to supply a freefall tower to Merlin Entertainments’ Edinburgh Dungeon. A similar ride, but with a very different theme, will go to Hunderfossen near Lillehammer in Norway.
Inversion x6
KMG recently supplied its third Inversion ride to the German showman Thomas Weber, pictured here. A fourth will go to Holland, a fifth to Austria and a sixth to Australia, where a Speed propeller ride has also been sold. The original, now travelling in Holland, is pictured here.
Fresh Fabbri deliveries
The Fabbri Group was due to deliver its second Sky Tower (the first is pictured here) to a customer in France any day now.
Fresh Fabbri deliveries
The Fabbri Group was due to deliver its second Sky Tower (the first is pictured here) to a customer in France any day now.
Over The Hill and full of thrills!
British seaside park Adventure Island, Southend, recently unveiled a new look dark ride just in time for Halloween.
Reverchon goes bump
Reverchon International Design, the French bumper car specialist, has ceased trading after more than 80 years in business. The firm shut the doors at its premises in Samois, about an hour from Paris, earlier this year, citing “adverse trading conditions in the amusement business.”
Back to the 1920s!
Disney’s California Adventure has opened the Walt Disney Imagineering Blue Sky Cellar to give guests an exclusive preview of what is in store for the expansion of the Disneyland Resort.
Count's Splash Castle
Next Spring Sesame Place, Langhorne, Pennsylvania, will introduce the largest new attraction in its history, Count’s Splash Castle. This multi-level interactive waterplay attraction will span over 38,000 sq ft and feature over 90 play elements including a 1,000 gallon tipping bucket.
Halloween Horror Nights
Guests surveys at Universal Orlando show that this year’s Halloween Horror Nights rated highly with the park’s fearless visitors. “Last year’s event was so popular it broke attendance records and gained national recognition,” notes Mark Kupferman, director of consumer insights. “This year’s survey results show that guests like this year’s even better.”
Simworx lands Drayton deal
After a two-year courtship, Simworx has finally concluded the sale of a 4D effects theatre to Drayton Manor park in England. Due to open at the beginning of the 2009 season, the 152-seat attraction will be housed inside in an existing building.
China's first woodie
Martin & Vleminckx Rides LLC (MVR) is currently building the first wooden rollercoaster in China at Happy Valley Shanghai.
Celebration City closes
Due to “a shift in business strategy,” Herschend Family Entertainment (HFE) is closing Celebration City in Branson, Missouri. The park, which featured 30 rides and attractions, opened in 2003 as an afternoon and evening alternative to HFE's nearby Silver Dollar City.
Magic Mountain adds 16th Coaster
Six Flags Magic Mountain, Valencia, California, will add a new wooden rollercoaster for the 2009 season. Terminator: The Coaster will be the park's 16th coaster.
New ride at Flamingo Land? Mumbo Jumbo!
The first S&S El Loco coaster in Europe will debut next summer at Flamingo Land in England. Named Mumbo Jumbo, it will feature a 96ft 125-degree drop – thought to be the steepest in the world.
EAASI makes a stand
During the recent Euro Attractions Show in Munich, the European suppliers’ association EAASI took action against a Chinese exhibitor on behalf of four Italian ride manufacturers whose products were displayed without their consent in one of the company’s catalogues.
Solid Steel Networking
Maurer Söhne, the Munich-based manufacturer of rollercoasters and bridge protection systems, trades off its reputation for “Innovation in Steel” yet surely one of the biggest achievements was to transform a cavernous steel warehouse at its Munich headquarters into a party venue for the night. Yet that’s what it achieved on Monday, September 29, when it held its latest Rollercoaster Event to coincide with the Euro Attractions Show.
Zip-A-Dee-Do-Ride
At a height of 6,288ft, Mount Washington in northern New Hampshire is the tallest mountain in the eastern United States. Its motto, "home of the world's worst weather," seems apt. On the balmy summer day I was there the temperature at the top was just above freezing with gusty winds. During the winter it is in a deep freeze with frequent blinding hurricane force snow storms.
EAS Munich
It might have come only eight months after the last one, but the recent Euro Attractions Show (EAS) in Munich nevertheless attracted over 5,000 visitors to the Messe München exhibition centre – roughly the same amount that turned up at the start of the year for the same event in Nice, France. Owen Ralph reports.
Interschau-Technofolies
The organisers of Interschau-Technofolies in Stuttgart have announced some of the exhibitors confirmed to take part in the show in just a few weeks’ time. Included are well-known Italian names such as Bertazzon, Zamperla, Moser Fabbri and Sartori, as well as Germany’s own Huss Park Attractions and Dietz.
Märchenpark expands
After a successful jubilee season, in which the park attracted more than 300,000 guests for the very first time, Märchenpark in Austria has announced further expansion plans for 2009.
New York City invests in Coney Island
New York City has purchased an acre of Wonder Wheel Park from Ward Realty Corp for $11 million as part of Mayor Bloomberg’s plan to preserve the historic character of Coney Island.
We came, we Saw, we screamed…
Thorpe Park near London has announced the name of its new EuroFighter coaster from Gerstlauer. Based on the most profitable horror franchise in movie history, the attraction will be called SAW – The Ride.
Halloween UK
Although relatively new to the UK, the haunted attraction sector is continuing to grow in Great Britain and now even has its own web community (www.hauntedattractions.co.uk).
Warner Bros undercover!
The operators of Warner Bros Movie World (WBMW) in Australia are marketing the venue as “the only all-weather theme park on the Gold Coast,” following the launch on October 10 of a new 4,000 square metre roof.
Robocoaster 4D
Kuka, the German robot manufacturer, has added a new dimension to its Robocoaster ride by offering a 4D Simulator version. The attraction includes a new enclosed “bubble” capsule.
Welcome on board!
Roland Mack will become the first German to join the board of directors at IAAPA (the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions), when he is made third vice chair during the upcoming IAAPA Attractions Expo in Orlando.
Wheel Simple
Mondial of Holland is currently preparing a 55-metre tall giant Ferris Wheel for the Dutch showman Arthur Harms. Despite its size, the main structure will pack onto just three trailers, with minimal transport required for the cars thanks to the collapsible design you see here.
Europarks appoints new chairman
Colin Dawson, the chief executive of the British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers and Attractions (BALPPA), has been elected president of Europarks, the European lobbying group for the amusement park industry.
MIT replaces L&T
A new company has been formed by the Preston & Barberi group to handle the product range formerly offered by L&T Systems, which ceased trading this summer at its premises in Reggio Emilia, Italy.
Merlin bolsters ‘Midway’ team
Merlin Entertainments plans to continue the aggressive growth of its short stay attractions following the reorganisation of its “Midway” division and the appointment of a new site search and acquisitions director.
Efteling Bosrijk
Efteling has announced details of a major new hotel development. The importance to parks and attractions of on-site accommodation such as this is highlighted by the fact that the Bosrijk project will be the Dutch park’s largest investment to date.
Hard Rock park bankrupt
The owner of Hard Rock Park, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and the 55-acre park has closed for the rest of the season. The attraction will reopen in 2009, however.
