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ITPS Amusement INdustry News
January 14, 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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Waterpark
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Check our our blog for news updates that happen after the news is sent. We will post afternoon updates if there is anything of excitement. We'll also provide insight and commentary on the news.
Amusement/Theme Park News
Village extends Sydney Attractions offer Village Roadshow Ltd has again extended the closing date for its $142 million takeover offer for Sydney Attractions Group Ltd. Village, which now owns 40.34 per cent of Sydney Attractions, extended its offer by one month until February 14, 2008 as it awaits more information on Sydney Attractions' operations.
Hong Kong wants Disney to bail out struggling park Hong Kong - Seventy per cent of Hong Kong residents believe that the city's troubled Disneyland theme park should expand to draw more visitors, a survey found Monday. However, the same percentage believe that Disney and not the Hong Kong government should pay for the expansion of the park, which has had disappointing visitor numbers.
Owner set to sell Siam Park Engineers move in to check cause of accident The owner of Siam Park has announced he wants to sell the 28-year-old amusement park after the latest accident, in which a broken water slide injured 28 children. On Saturday, a joint in the Super Spiral broke loose, tossing young children off the slide. Some children plunged about five metres into the edge of the slide's pool.
Carbondale man wants to see Legoland Park in Jackson County CARBONDALE, IL — A Carbondale man wants to see the United States’ second Legoland theme park constructed in Southern Illinois. Dennis Smith recently sent a letter to the Lego Corp. after seeing its California theme park on the Internet. Lego, the manufacturer of the popular children’s building block toys, operates amusement parks in California, the United Kingdom, Denmark and Germany.
Ocean Park plans three themed hotels Ocean Park is hoping to attract 25 percent more visitors after it opens three differently themed hotels starting in 2011. A proposal put to the financial secretary by Ocean Park planners last week met tentative approval, according to a source.
Quassy Proposal Sparks Concerns From Residents MIDDLEBURY - Quassy Amusement Park on Route 64, celebrating its 100-year anniversary this year, was the subject of a Thursday, January 3, Planning and Zoning Commission public hearing. Quassy co-owner George Frantzis II, in attendance at the hearing, is proposing the addition of two rides.
A family-friendly park, yes; a place to park kids, no The great State Fair of Texas. The Fort Worth Livestock Show and Rodeo. The Main St. Arts Festival. Texas Rangers baseball games. Six Flags Over Texas/Hurricane Harbor. Mayfest. North Texas has a plethora of great family entertainment opportunities. But as they say on Sesame Street, one of these things is not like the others. The patrons at the Six Flags-owned parks can't buy beer.
Ride operator says she couldn't hit emergency stop button in time LOUISVILLE, Ky. --A 16-year-old who was working at an amusement park ride when a girl's feet were severed last summer said she and another operator weren't able to stop the ride before it injured the girl. The operator said in a deposition taken in a lawsuit against Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville filed by the girl's family that she "heard something snap" as the Superman Tower of Power climbed to its peak.
Salt water leaks from SeaWorld Orlando into aquifer Salt water from 2 parks has seeped into aquifer Salt water from some of the giant pools and related plumbing at SeaWorld Orlando and neighboring Discovery Cove has been leaking into the aquifer, beneath those theme parks, in some cases for seven years or more, according to state environmental records.
Donations sought for John Henry theme park WV The John Henry Historical Park Steering Committee is asking for donations to help with the development of the planned 26-acre, family-oriented theme park. Committee member Bill Dillon, who also serves as president of John Henry Days, says the park, which to be located in Talcott, will feature a replica of the town’s old train depot as well as a museum with historical information about Henry, who is said to have won a race with a steam drill during the construction of the Great Bend Tunnel in 1872.
Leasing out public park to Wonderland was illegal The lease of Gulshan Central Park to a private commercial company to develop Wonderland, an amusement park, has been made violating rules, says the report of a committee formed to review the lease contract. Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) leased out three children's parks on commercial basis including a portion of Gulshan Central Park, Shamoly Shishu Park and Swamibagh Shishu Park through a contract signed on February 19, 2002.
Waterpark News
Great Wolf Drops As Analyst Cuts Target Great Wolf Resorts Slips As Analyst Trims Price Target on Economic Concerns NEW YORK (AP) -- Shares of Great Wolf Resorts Inc. fell Friday afternoon, along with the broader market, to a new 52-week low as an analyst cut his price target on economic concerns.
Quebec company jumps into Ottawa water fight With two new parks in the works, how much wet and wild fun can the region support? Another developer has unveiled a grand plan for Ottawa's water park thrill seekers, but with another park closer to the city already set to begin construction in a few months, many are wondering whether the plan has been thought through carefully enough.
Sandusky boasts the largest indoor water park -- for now SANDUSKY, Ohio -- Sarah Cable hopped onto a single water ski and surfed around on a giant, man-made wave inside the Kalahari Resort water park. The 20-year-old Sandusky resident darted left and right, showing off her skills on one of the park's most popular attractions.
One-tank trip: Water park is a taste of summer in winter NIAGARA FALLS, Ont. — With the holidays behind, and spring far off, most Western New Yorkers feel the grind this time of year — especially those with kids who are climbing the walls (the parents, not the little darlings). So when the going gets tough, why not trade in cabin fever for a night at a lodge — the Great Wolf Lodge, as I did with my sister and her kids Emma and Sawyer.
Aquarium/Zoo News
Zoo exhibit to spotlight Big Darby Creek Zoos typically showcase the exotic: rare or unusual species that people generally would never encounter. But a meandering central Ohio creek will be the focus of a new Columbus Zoo & Aquarium exhibit and first-time partnership among local organizations.
Sharks help zoo set attendance record The Indianapolis Zoo set an attendance record in 2007, with 12.5 percent more visitors than the year before. The zoo topped the old record, set in 2005, of 1.1 million, by 6 percent. The total attendance for 2007 was 1,164,400.
Aquarium’s WAVE Foundation gives to shark, penguin and turtle organizations Newport, Ky. –- ’Tis the season for giving to those in need. And thanks to the generous Greater Cincinnati community, animals are getting help they need year-round.
Free download 'WolfQuest' lets gamers follow call of wild The Minnesota Zoo developed "WolfQuest" with Eduweb, an educational software developer in St. Paul, on a $508,253 National Science Foundation grant. Other partners include the National Zoo in Washington, the Phoenix Zoo, Yellowstone and the International Wolf Center in Ely.
$1 million to fund downtown aquarium The University of West Florida will announce a $1 million gift to name the Ocean Aquarium Exhibit at the planned Vice Admiral John H. Fetterman State of Florida Maritime Museum and Research Center. UWF officials said in a news release the gift is from "a family with strong Pensacola roots."
24-Foot Snake Staying at Columbus Zoo COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Fluffy, a 24-foot python billed as the largest snake in captivity, is staying put to lure visitors into the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. The zoo paid $35,000 to the snake's breeder in Oklahoma to keep the reticulated python on permanent display.
FEC/LBE/Museum News
Orlando-area dinner theaters face stiff competition for audiences Dinner theaters were once part of the Florida mystique, places where busloads of retirees would file into pastel-colored auditoriums for an evening of rubber chicken and a reheated Broadway musical. Times and tastes have changed, and so has the concept. Today's dinner theaters are big on action, replete with simulated combat, roaring audio tracks and racing horses.
MagiQuest Opens at Funplex in East Hanover, NJ EAST HANOVER, N.J., Jan. 11 --Representatives from MagiQuest, a live-action interactive game that immerses players into a world of fantasy propelled by sophisticated technology, today announced they opened a new location at Funplex in East Hanover, NJ.
Museum gets boost from aquarium Pacific Grove: Worker will help keep facility open five days a week The Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History, despite losing two full-time staff members to financial belt-tightening, will remain open five days a week, thanks to a helping hand from the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The aquarium agreed to provide one of its staff members each day to the museum under a six-month agreement designed to give the city time to come up with a long-term operating plan for the museum, officials said Friday.
Discovery Place Paints the Town Red, White and Blue with New Exhibition Rockwell’s America: Celebrating the Art of Norman Rockwell Rockwell’s “The Saturday Evening Post” covers come to life in 3-dimensional, interactive exhibition
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Contact:
Shawn M. Haas
Vice President of Retail, Operations and Information Technology
International Theme Park Services, Inc
2195 Victory Parkway
Cincinnati, OH 45206
513-381-6131 Phone
513-381-2756 Fax
http://www.interthemepark.com
shawnhaas@interthemepark.com
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ITPS Services
ITPS provides a full spectrum of services to all types of attractions no matter the size, small to large.
Below are some of the services that ITPS' experienced team of experts can provide:
- Acquisitions / Mergers / Property Valuation / Due Diligence
- Feasibility Analysis
- Facility Audits
- Concept/Design / Masterplanning
- Business Plans
- Planning/Development
- Project Management / Construction
- Financial Development
- Maintenance Programs
- Executive Search
- Marketing / Group Sales / Sponsorship
- Executive/Employee Training / Manual Development
- Loss Prevention / Safety/Security Programs
- Entertainment Programs
- Long-Range Planning
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Operational Planning
Attractions Development - Ride Bid/Negotiation / Ride Procurement
- General Management
Call 513-381-6131 for more information on how ITPS can assist your facility!
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.