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ITPS Amusement INdustry News
March 3, 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.
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Amusement/Theme Park News
Wild West World may sell for just $2 million A Tulsa carnival company has signed a letter of intent to buy Wild West World for $2 million. Spectacular Attractions, doing business as Murphy Brothers Exposition in Tulsa, also plans to spend $4.2 million to reopen the bankrupt park with about 35 mobile and permanent rides.
New exhibits on display at Epcot pavilion Changes continue at Epcot's Innoventions pavilions. W alt Disney World has opened a new corporate-sponsored, interactive-technology display that strips away the myth of the "garbage fairy" and has announced another exhibit that will help people to prepare for severe weather.
New resort not a threat: Six Flags CEO Tourist draw to Gurnee 'benefits both parties' GURNEE -- There are now two 800-pound family entertainment gorillas staring across Grand Avenue at each other, but Six Flags President and CEO Mark Shapiro said he doesn't view KeyLime Cove as a threat in a marketplace dominated for years by Great America and Hurricane Harbor.
Wonder when we'll see Mickey Mouse in Dubai? Tourism pundits who aren't worried that Dubai could one day seize Orlando's title as the theme park capital of the world, take note. It could happen. Here's why: Orlando is most at risk for continuing to lose market share among Europeans, a group that has traveled to the United States in far fewer numbers since 9-11 as a result of increased hassles at the border.
New owners scurry as Beach season nears Since Morgan RV Resorts acquired Indiana Beach about a week and a half ago, owners of the New York - based campground interest have been scurrying to ready the Monticello amusement resort for the 2008 season. With just eight weeks to go until the May 3 opening, there is still plenty of work to do to spruce up Indiana Beach as well as incorporate some changes.
Six Flags shines light on new Dark Knight Coaster The Dark Knight is on his way to Six Flags Great America this spring, and the Illinois theme park has released animation giving a glimpse into its first indoor "dark coaster."
Lim ask owners of Ocean Park to allow poor youths to enjoy the park for free Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim will personally make representations with the owners of the newly-opened Manila Ocean Park (MOP) so that the underprivileged youths of Manila will get the chance to enjoy the theme park free of charge.
Disney is main backer of resort district group The company has given $2.1 million to Save Our Anaheim Resort District. The organization's officials say their goal happens to coincide with the amusement park's. Disney has worked hard not be the public face of a coalition of businesses and community groups fighting for a housing-free Anaheim Resort District. But behind the scenes, Disney is the coalition's checkbook.
Playland site needs razing The El Paso County Commissioners Court on Monday will look at the cleanup of the former Western Playland amusement park site at Ascarate Park. The 17-acre site requires demolition as well as removal of asbestos and other possible hazards left behind in the buildings that sit vacant at Ascarate Park.
Teen creating some magic with his Six Flags museum VALENCIA - The purple fur of the troll costume was matted and the plastic eyes were scratched, but 19-year-old Brandon Bruce eyed it as a piece of local history and the building block he needed. The refurbished King Troll, with his gold cape and bead-studded crown, is the centerpiece of Six Flags California's Magic Mountain's new museum, under construction within the theme park's landmark tower and set to open this month.
Magic Mountain Offers Perfect Purim "Our goal is to use Magic Mountain as a great resource, which provides us the ultimate setting for our carnivals," said Rabbi Mark Blazer of Temple Beth Ami, who organized Sunday's PurimFest carnival and celebration. "Because of this holiday, it is the only day of the year that the park will serve Kosher food throughout the park. We want to get Jewish people out to the park and enjoy Kosher food on this day."
LeSourdsville Lake's rides continue to thrill Former amusement park's rides sold to other parks around the country. MONROE — LeSourdsville Lake has been closed for nearly six years, but the park's fans can still get the experience of the park piecemeal — if they're willing to drive. Many of the rides at LeSourdsville Lake, also formerly known as Americana, have been sold and have popped up at amusement parks around the country, most recently at the Kokomo Family Fun Center near Saginaw, Mich., which is installing the Serpent, the steel roller coaster that used to be near LeSourdsville's entrance.
Harley bike rally moves to theme park Hard Rock Park will roar into its first Myrtle Beach bike week. Harley-Davidson will hold its events during this year's spring bike rally in the theme park's parking lot - instead of the Myrtle Beach Convention Center. The city is working on replacing the popular bike event with other motorcycle-related vendors.
Waterpark News
Famous Dave now cooking up a waterpark chain Co-owners of the resort: Planning Design Build of Madison, which has built and designed several waterpark resorts in Wisconsin Dells; Virchow Krause Capital, a wholly owned subsidiary of Virchow Krause & Co., which specializes in private placement of debt and equity; and Morrissey Hospitality Cos., a leading hospitality management company in St. Paul, Minn.
SeaWorld Orlando's Aquatica is awash with thrills Dang, those dolphins are adorable. Just don't bank on admiring them during the descent on Dolphin Plunge, the main attraction at Aquatica, SeaWorld Orlando's water park, which opened to the public Saturday. For months, the black and white dolphins have been featured in the pre-opening advertising blitz frolicking amid park guests zipping by in clear tubes.
Upgrades are part of plan for big year at Big Splash The owners of Big Splash Water Park are spending about $1 million to upgrade the park, including $125,000 to fix a ride that collapsed last year while an 11-year-old girl was on it. "We're going to revamp everything here that needs to be revamped and have everything up to about new or the equivalent," said the park's co-owner, Jerry Murphy.
Conway Water Park Re-Opens With Conditions CONWAY, N.H. (AP) -- Splashing and sliding has resumed at an indoor water park that found itself in hot water with the town of Conway, New Hampshire.
Hollister Waterpark resort ground breaking to be followed by cinema complex The Feb. 29 groundbreaking ceremony for Hollister’s Wilderness in the Ozarks Waterpark Resort is the first major step in the development of the Hollister Interchange Entertainment District (The Interchange). Another major step will be the building of a 60,000 square foot entertainment center containing a movie complex, bowling alley, food court, and a restaurant.
Mom: Kids got chemical burns at CoCo Key Water Park MA MIDDLETON — A New Hampshire mother says a group of children who spent the day at CoCo Key Water Park ended up in the hospital with chemical burns caused by the chlorine, a claim the owners of the new attraction deny. The children spent two days and one night at the Sheraton Ferncroft Resort in Danvers with a group of friends on a Girl Scout trip.
Aquarium/Zoo News
Police cite S.F. zoo patron accused of taunting rhino SAN FRANCISCO -- A man accused of throwing acorns at a rhinoceros at the San Francisco Zoo has been cited for misdemeanor animal taunting. Police detained and cited Juan Zuluaga, 26, Thursday afternoon after officials received a report that he was tossing acorns at a male black rhino named Mashaki.
Visitors flock to Kansas City Zoo on a springlike opening day Saturday looked and felt like spring — finally. Temperatures topped 60 degrees. Birds chirped. People shed their coats. And in the metro area, there was hardly a more popular place to go outdoors than the Kansas City Zoo.
FEC/LBE/Museum News
Railroad-themed center laying track Family entertainment center will boast world's largest indoor model train layout. A unique attraction is taking shape in the 80,000-square-foot building. The creators of Entertrainment Junction, a $10 million, railroad-themed family entertainment center expected to open in June, say it will be an immersive experience that they expect will become a regional — even national — attraction.
Big changes at the Tulsa Fairgrounds 120-million dollars worth of improvements and expansion are underway at the Fairgrounds. There are hundreds more parking spaces and that's just the begining of new things to see on the site.
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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:
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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.