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ITPS Amusement INdustry News
March 24, 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
Nice weather, cheap tickets draw crowds to Six Flags Lots of people have been shaking off the winter blahs with a spin on a roller coaster. So many that Thursday, Six Flags Over Texas had to turn people away at the gate and stay open an hour later than usual, then open 30 minutes early Friday. The dense crowds extended past the full parking lots to clog traffic on Texas 360.
Extreme Halloween planned for Dorney A more adult haunted house is added for weekends in the fall. HalloWeekends, Dorney Park's long-running Halloween-themed attractions, will get a major -- and more scary -- upgrade this fall, including a new 3,200-square-foot haunted house. Charles Hutchison, public relations manager for the park, says HalloWeekends, which has been running for the past 11 years, will now be called The Halloween Haunt at Dorney Park.
Geauga Lake coasters may be auctioned off It’s looking as though Geauga Lake’s Big Dipper and two other wooden coasters will wind up on the auction block along with the rest of the park’s remaining rides and equipment. Orlando-based Martin & Vleminckx Rides LLC has been trying to sell the 83-year-old Big Dipper as well as the Villain and Raging Wolf Bobs coasters for Geauga Lake parent company Cedar Fair since November.
Prof to lecture on Florida's Holy Land An MTSU English professor will share his views today on his recent visit to the Holy Land Experience theme park in Florida. Bill Levine will present "Manufacturing the Religious Sublime in the Holy Land Experience Biblical Theme Park" at 11:30 a.m. in room 100 of the James Union Building on the MTSU campus.
The thrill season Carowinds now open weekends Attention thrill seekers: The 2008 Carowinds season has begun. The amusement park straddling the N.C.-S.C. border opened Friday and will operate weekends only until after Memorial Day. Those who like a steady dose of something new in their amusement parks also will have to wait until May, when the newly expanded Boomerang Bay water park opens.
Universal Orlando will open new roller coaster in 2009 Theme park coaster crazies are buzzing that 2009 will be their year in Orlando. With Universal Orlando set to open its big Harry Potter attraction at Islands of Adventure, rivals need to keep up. Sea World is quietly building its second coaster and Walt Disney World is talking about giving its 33-year Space Mountain an overhaul like one done on its sibling at Disneyland, according to respected theme park blogger Jim Hill.
Weather keeps rollercoaster shut A rollercoaster at a Surrey theme park, which broke down with passengers on board, has remained closed because it is too cold to test it. The 98ft (30m) Colossus ride at Thorpe Park was halted automatically on Friday after a fault developed, which a spokeswoman said was "very minor".
Wood Coaster Grips Riders in Real Horror A wooden roller coaster at Everland, the country's largest outdoor amusement park, lost power and left frightened riders stranded for about 10 minutes last Saturday. While the ``T Express'' was climbing the track, the machine came to a sudden stop and 36 riders had to cling on to their carriages, 50-meters above ground, for 10 minutes.
Great Escape closes eatery as illness cases grow Official says source of gastrointestinal ailment hasn't yet been found; nearly 200 have been sickened QUEENSBURY -- Officials at the Great Escape amusement park closed a restaurant Friday as the number of people who reportedly became sick after visiting a lodge at the park in the last two weeks continued to rise.
Waterpark News
Great Escape reacts to illness outbreak QUEENSBURY - The NY State Health Department is now looking into 200 reports of illness from people who stayed at the Great Escape Lodge and Indoor Waterpark. For the first time since the news broke, someone from the Waterpark spoke with us on camera Friday. Not only is this the first time someone from the Waterpark spoke to us but it's the first time since the outbreak of this illness that Newschannel 13 cameras were allowed inside.
Construction of Alottawata Water Park on track for June 2009 opening OTTAWA The latest entrant in the Ottawa-area water park battle is the $30 million Alottawata Water Park south of Barrhaven. With the majority of the water park’s site cleared in February and early March, construction of Alottawata is on track for its June 2009 opening, Rick Hunter, president and CEO of Proslide Technology Inc, said in a statement.
FEC/LBE/Museum News
Pyramid Future Remains Unknown Despite Bass Pro Exec Visit The head of Bass Pro Shops picked an interesting day to visit Memphis. Bass Pro President and CEO Jim Hagale held a series of private meetings Downtown Thursday with city and county government leaders. The meetings came within an hour of a private luncheon a few blocks away in which Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton announced he is resigning effective at the end of July.
Other News
Disney Co. could regain Disney Stores Children's Place is in talks to return the retail chain to the entertainment giant. NEWARK, N.J. - Children's Place Retail Stores Inc. is ready to let the Walt Disney Co. take back control of about two-thirds of the 335 stores in the Disney Store chain. About 115 remaining stores were expected to close. Disney handed ownership of the chain to Children's Place in November 2004 with an agreement that Children's Place would pay royalties after two years.
Site of Tulsa State Fair gets overhaul TULSA, Okla. (AP) _ Workers have completed the first of six projects in a major overhaul of the Expo Square area where the Tulsa State Fair is held. A religion workshop this week will be the first event hosted inside the new Central Park Hall, and officials say 18 more organizations have booked shows ranging from dogs to guitars to be held there this summer.
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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
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- 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.