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ITPS Amusement INdustry News
April 7, 2008
No where else can you find more news covering the amusement and leisure industry! When news hits, you can be certain that will deliver it to you.
ITPS has proudly served the leisure industry since 1983. Visit http://www.interthemepark.com for more information.
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Amusement/Theme Park News
Roller coaster clears final hurdles AGAWAM - Six Flags' $7 million Dark Knight indoor roller coaster has cleared what park officials believe are the last local hurdles, but some city officials continue to question safety requirements. The Zoning Board of Appeals on Friday voted unanimously to accept new plans submitted by Six Flags. This means that the amusement park will apply for a building permit and resume work on the new ride as soon as possible, Six Flags New England President Larry D. Litton said.
New Jungala a land of surprises The multilevel, interactive, 4-acre Jungala attraction is estimated to have cost upwards of $40 million. That cost includes site preparation of $16 million, according to planning documents filed with the city of Tampa.
Great Adventure opened Sat JACKSON — It will be more than a decade before 3-year-old Conner Ulozas obtains a driver's license or a credit card, but the little township resident already has one card in his wallet: an American Coaster Enthusiasts membership card. So today is a big day for the little thrill-seeker. For months, Conner's parents have been telling him that, no, he could not go to Six Flags Great Adventure because the park was closed for the season. But not anymore.
TOURISM & TRAVEL Crotty says 'tourism is king' Last week's grand opening of SeaWorld's new Aquatica water park was one more hopeful sign to Orange County Mayor Rich Crotty that tourism is helping keep the Central Florida economy afloat. Crotty noted the recent increase in bed-tax collections (up 8.8 percent in February from a year earlier) and said that building-permit activity also is up.
SeaWorld San Antonio celebrates 20th birthday Plans include celebrities, giant Shamu cake SAN ANTONIO – In the same year that Bobby McFerrin sang "Don't worry, be happy," San Antonio found its own way to make people smile. Sea World of Texas, later renamed SeaWorld San Antonio, opened. The date was April 15, 1988. Now the world's largest marine life adventure park is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a big splash.
Busch tickets sold on eBay invalid JAMES CITY - Police are investigating a Newport News couple in connection with a Busch Gardens ticket scam. Mike Spearman, of the James City Police, said that the scam involved the purchase of tickets on a payment plan. Instead of the passes being paid off, they were sold on eBay, an Internet auction website.
Super safari park in doubt ZOO management has said no to a $220 million plan for a large-scale theme park at Werribee, despite support from key stakeholders. Entertainment giant Village Roadshow yesterday announced plans for the park, to be known as African Safari World, winning the support of the State Government.
Universal Studios theme park soon to rise in RP The arrival of a Universal Studios theme park in the Philippines is creating a huge buzz after the Genting Berhad Group secured the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.(Pagcor)’s nod for its proposed project within the Las Vegas-like Bagong Nayong Pilipino-Manila Bay Integrated Tourism City. Pagcor chairman and chief executive officer Efraim Genuino said the Genting Group has committed to develop 35 hectares of the 90-hectare prime reclaimed land facing Manila Bay into a world-class tourist destination.
Things starting to heat up for Bible park After almost a year of waiting, the past week saw the first government action on the proposed Bible Park USA in the Blackman community. The first two public hearings on the proposed theme park were held Wednesday and Thursday, and both supporters and opponents came out in full force.
Man accused of setting fire to church, amusement park ballroom LINESVILLE, Pa. - A Crawford County man has been charged with setting fire to a historic building at Conneaut Lake Park and a church this year. State police on Friday arraigned 19-year-old Nickolas Dean Pope of Hartstown on charges of arson, burglary and criminal trespass.
'Small World' is finally looking at big changes Disney's ride needed a makover, but should still retain its classic nature "It's a small world" at the Disneyland Resort is set to be remodled in the near future. And I know most people, if this is breaking news, will be screaming "Thank God!" or "Who cares?" I care, and just to clarify, it isn't because I love the ride or that I frequent the Disneyland parks like it is going out of style - and it is.
City to hear Storybook proposals Canada Rooftop beehives, straw bale offices, community gardens and a pet sanctuary adoption centre should replace the "outdated" state of affairs inside Storybook Gardens, says a London environmental group. A zero-waste Eco Village, holding lectures on climate change and offering discounts to visitors who arrived by bike, foot or hybrid shuttle bus is the vision London's Council of Canadians has for the money-losing theme park.
Disney, we are not amused California Adventure has fizzled, proving that consumers don't like to be taken for a ride The first question about Disney’s California Adventure was so obvious that it seemed downright stupid: Why would anyone pay Disneyland prices to go there? When the park opened seven years ago, its deficits were clear even to the children who visited. One fabulous ride -- "Soarin' Over California" -- was buttressed by a small array of standard county-fair attractions, albeit given a Disney gloss: the ubiquitous flume ride, a Wild Mouse coaster, centrifugal-force swings, a giant Ferris wheel. Compared with Disneyland, where delights are tucked into every corner, California Adventure seemed barren, low on rides and big on restaurants and souvenir shops.
Magic Kingdom not for faint of heart A military family's training comes in handy when finding the magic at the second happiest place on Earth. The maps have been cross-referenced against the shuttle times, show times and park hours. Our plan, carefully conceived over the past two months, seems infallible. Both my children and my parents lace their Nikes. Though my bag is crammed with sunscreen, water and snacks, I still have a sense that one can never be truly prepared for spring break at the Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla.
Row over Birmingham woman 'too big' for Drayton Manor Park funfair ride BULKY Kirsty Warrilow threw a giant wobbly after being kicked off a theme park ride - for being too fat. The 18-year-old, a size 22, says she was told to get off the Pandemonium ride at Drayton Manor Theme Park when attendants couldn't bring the safety bar down.
Waterpark News
New indoor water park opens near Centralia Great Wolf Lodge resort caters to families It's 10 a.m. on a 42-degree Saturday morning in late March. Before the Honda heads north I'm scouring the garage for the two items necessary to make it through a wet weekend in Washington. There, under a nest of mud-flecked boots and shoes, I uncover them: a forlorn pair of sandals, whose soles haven't known Pacific Northwest pavement in nonsummer months since the day they escaped the Nordstrom Rack bag.
Stockholders demand performance, other reviews at Great Wolf Resorts A group of stockholders upset with the performance of Great Wolf Resorts is trying to drum up support for three nominees to the Madison company's board of directors and is calling for a thorough review of the company's finances and compensation packages to executives.
Aquarium/Zoo News
Sprucing up Happy Hollow Elisa Freeman knew there was one stop she just had to make when she flew back to San Jose from Maryland to visit relatives: Happy Hollow Park & Zoo. When she was growing up in San Jose, her family took her there many times. And on Friday, she visited Happy Hollow with her own little one, daughter Anna, 2 1/2.
New aquarium backers still swimming upstream to reach their goal What happened to plans for a new Cleveland aquarium? The plans remain afloat, though little progress has been made since a nonprofit group called Cleveland Aquarium Inc. was formed in 1999.
Trip to aquarium to cost a bit more The South Carolina Aquarium just opened its new Camp Carolina exhibit, but if you want to see it after today, it's going to cost you an extra buck or two. The nonprofit, the area's most-popular attraction, is raising ticket prices tomorrow: Adult rates will increase from $16 to $17, a 6.3 percent bump; senior tickets will go from $14 to $16, a 15 percent nudge; and kids tickets (ages 2-11) will increase from $8 to $10, a 25 percent jump.
FEC/LBE/Museum News
B&C chief sees the future in real estate MB fixture looks beyond the beach to regional options Burroughs & Chapin Co. Inc., one of the most historic and influential companies in the Myrtle Beach area, is dramatically shifting the focus of its business, aiming to reposition itself as the premier developer in the Southeast, company officials said. CEO Jim Rosenberg, who took the reins of the company in August, will lead the transition. Rosenberg replaced Doug Wendel, who transformed the company in the 1990s from a largely dormant landholder to a developer of real estate, retail and amusements.
Indoor Mini Golf in Phoenix Entertains Families, Regardless of Weather Outside For families who are forced indoors due to weather discomforts such as extreme heat, cold or rain, the enjoyment of the outdoors is set aside. Families are forced to remain indoors and find ways to entertain their children, which can prove to be a challenge at times.
Other News
Northeast Pa. carousel, hand-carved in 1909, to be auctioned DALLAS, Pa. (AP) A hand-carved 1909 carousel that graced a Luzerne County amusement park until 1984 has been put up for auction, but locals hope to raise money to keep it in northeast Pennsylvania. Mary Ann Wintersteen, who co-owns the brightly painted carousel with her son, decided to sell the family heirloom when she could not find a civic group in the area to take it.
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Shawn M. Haas
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International Theme Park Services, Inc
2195 Victory Parkway
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513-381-6131 Phone
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http://www.interthemepark.com
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25 Years...
Through the good, the bad and the ugly, International Theme Park Services, Inc. (“ITPS”) continues to provide the industry with its skilled services internationally.
ITPS celebrates its 25th year in 2008 and has served over 450 projects in over 40 countries! Considered a leader in the industry by the many companies who have used ITPS’ services, ITPS is still growing and offering its knowledge and experience to every continent. Dennis Speigel, President of ITPS, is a past president of the IAAPA and remains active on their Board of Directors. He is called upon by people throughout the industry to advise and recommend on projects. A leader today and for the future, ITPS is there when you need assistance.
Feasibility, design, pre-opening planning, business audits, on-site training and management…ITPS is still leading the industry into the future.
Leisure Capital Resources
International Theme Park Services provides merger, acquisition, financial, and strategic advisory services to public and private entertainment companies that wish to acquire or sell a business, raise equity capital, raise or restructure debt, or sell real estate.
Contact: Dennis Speigel at 513-381-6131 or Howard Kahn at affiliated Leisure Capital Resources in New York at 516-621-5183.