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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 | Waterpark
Aquarium/Zoo | FEC/LBE/Museum
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UPDATE - DATE CHANGE - CNN is planning a segment on Theme Parks in 2008 and the Economy.    Airs between 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm on FRIDAY. 

http://money.cnn.com/news/specials/americas_money/2008/

OC parks bills have smooth ride Passage doesn't guarantee local approval  OCEAN CITY -- State lawmakers passed legislation that would allow elected officials to grant tax credits to resort amusement parks. Sponsored by Delegate Jim Mathias D-38B-Worcester, the bills specifically were written for Trimper Rides & Amusements and Jolly Roger Amusement Park. They would allow the Worcester County Commissioners and the Ocean City Town Council the authority to establish criteria in how tax credits, if any, may be administered, Mathias said. If Gov. Martin O'Malley signs both bills into law, they will take effect June 1.

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Hard Rock Park comes to the Grand Strand — to the tune of $400 million  MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. --Little is permanent here, but much is reused. That point will be made - with a loud ka-raaaang - April 15 with the opening of Hard Rock Park. The Southeast's first new amusement park in nine years is rising just west of the Intracoastal Waterway, partly on the long-dormant Fantasy Harbor entertainment complex and partly on the rubble of the failed Waccamaw Factory Shoppes.

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Universal Orlando spending big bucks  That slow period for Universal Orlando capital improvements spending is officially over.  According to the companies latest 10K report, reporting on the fiscal year ending Dec. 31, 2007, the company plans to spend in the range of "$275 million to $310 million" on capital improvements and license fees between now and when the Potter land opens in summer of 2010.

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Injuries at Six Flags in dozens each year  A visit to the local theme park doesn't always have a happy ending. Six Flags Over Texas has averaged about 50 guest injuries a year since 2005, ranging from small cuts to dislocated knees and neck strains. At Six Flags Hurricane Harbor, the water park has reported about 20 guest injuries per year in the past three years.

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New Schatze’s Central Park Interactive Kids’ Area Premiers in 2008! New area includes playful fountains, squirting fire hydrants, spraying park sprinklers, a kid-friendly car wash, pint-sized slides and a Schatze mascot magical meet n’ greet.

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Chlorine poisoning lands 25 Russian children in hospital  ST. PETERSBURG, March 27 (RIA Novosti) - A criminal investigation has been launched after 25 children were hospitalized with chlorine poisoning at an aquapark in St. Petersburg, a local prosecutor spokesman said Thursday. The spokesman said the children were admitted to local hospitals after visiting the park, adding their condition was described as "moderate to satisfactory."

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Finding employees to staff hotels could be a challenge Opening date for Great Wolf Lodge resort, indoor water park moved up   KANNAPOLIS - With five new hotels scheduled to open along Concord’s Bruton Smith Boulevard by March of 2009, Cabarrus County tourism officials are discussing ways to develop the hospitality workforce. The full-service, 409-room Great Wolf Lodge resort and indoor water park has moved up its opening date by several months to better capitalize on schools’ spring break schedules, said DeSales Wagster, president and CEO of the Cabarrus County Convention & Visitors Bureau.

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Legislation to give counties authority to levy Detroit zoo tax  LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Governor Jennifer Granholm on Thursday is scheduled to sign legislation allowing voters in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties to decide on a property tax to help fund the Detroit Zoo. Zoo officials have been struggling to close an $8 million funding gap left when Detroit, which owns the zoo, transferred operations to the Detroit Zoological Society.

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Chef brings new options to Brookfield Zoo   When people visit the zoo, they often grab a hot dog, hamburger or nachos for a quick bite. But Robert Ares, executive chef at Brookfield Zoo, said zoo food can be as exotic and interesting as the animals themselves.

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If funds for KC Zoo go, will convention follow?   Uh oh. This is starting to look like a trend. If the city doesn’t back off deep funding cuts for the Kansas City Zoo, the national Association of Zoos and Aquariums may cancel its 2013 annual convention it just booked here two weeks ago. “Any time we hold a conference, we want to make sure (the local zoo) has a commitment and city support,” said association executive director Kris Vehrs on Wednesday. “That’s important to us to hold a successful conference. We would certainly have to consider (city budget cuts) as a factor.”

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You'll Putt Around The Jungle  PORT RICHEY - Break out the pith helmets: A family-style "African adventure" is coming to town. Drivers along U.S. 19 may have noticed a construction site where, instead of concrete blocks and steel beams, earthen mounds and log towers have been rising. They are components of the newest Congo River Golf, set to open in May, north of Jasmine Boulevard near Gulf View Square mall.

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The Row's big show: Giant-screen IMAX theater set to open  It's not your typical movie experience. A filmstrip for each eye, a screen 65 feet high in a room stacked with 40 high-definition speakers and soundproofing a foot thick. It's IMAX, and it's opening soon on Cannery Row.

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Pyramid stirs commission conflict  Proving that any decision involving The Pyramid can be contentious, the Shelby County Commission debated for an hour Wednesday about appointing a member to a committee that must scrutinize offers from Bass Pro Shops and theme-park proponent Greg Ericson.  In a 6-2 vote, they ended up naming Commissioner Deidre Malone, but not without taking swipes at each other's agendas, ethics and the Zippin Pippin roller coaster.

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To send attraction and facility press releases, e-mail Shawn at the address below.

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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