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ITPS Amusement INdustry News
March 7, 2008
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Amusement/Theme Park News
National City goes after $40K from Conneaut Lake Park National City Bank has filed suit in Crawford County Court of Common Pleas seeking a judgment against Conneaut Lake Park for more than $40,000. The bank is seeking judgment for $43,992.98 for money it is owed from a revolving line of credit account set up April 20, 2001. The line of credit was established for $50,000 and the above balance is what has been left unpaid.
Appeal snarls Six Flags plan AGAWAM - An appeal contesting a special permit granted by the Zoning Board of Appeals for Six Flags New England's $7 million "Dark Knight" indoor roller coaster is complicating the park's attempt to have a stop-work order lifted on the project, officials said yesterday. "Our position is that we're entitled to our day in court, and that they don't have a final decision on the special permit because it's been appealed," Springfield lawyer Joseph M. Pacella said.
Bill for tougher ride regulation advances FRANKFORT, Ky. — The Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee this morning unanimously approved a measure aimed at improving the safety of amusement park rides. Senate Bill 203 is a response to the accident last June at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom where 14-year-old Kaitlyn Lasitter had both feet severed on the Superman Tower of Power ride.
Hard Rock Theme Park brings hope to small businesses When people drive by the former Waccamaw Pottery area in Myrtle Beach, most eyes probably go towards the Hard Rock Theme Park. But there are several businesses just outside the theme park who hope the attention the park gets will rub off on them. Some of these businesses have been around long before the Hard Rock Theme Park was ever announced. But there are also a few that moved into the area when news of the attraction broke.
Busch Shows Off Jungala TAMPA - Busch Gardens officials gave a sneak preview of the park's newest attraction, Jungala, a 4-acre, zoo-style attraction with very close encounters with orangutans, Bengal tigers and a kind of Asian crocodile. At a cost of about $16 million, the development is the most expensive in the history of Busch Gardens in Tampa, and it sits in a tightly packed area of the park formerly called Congo.
Legoland California to debut Land of Adventure Construction crews continued to work on the finishing touches of Legoland California’s four-attraction Land of Adventure themed area in advance of an employee preview on March 7 and public grand opening on March 10. During an advance tour today of the Carlsbad kiddie park’s newest land, I walked through the 10-scene Lost Kingdom Adventure dark ride as workers tested laser blasters on 80 targets, adjusted black lights and touched up florescent paint.
HRP Myrtle Beach Holdings, LLC Issues Current Report MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - (Business Wire) HRP Myrtle Beach Holdings, LLC (“HRP”) announced today that it posted a current report on the company website (www.hrpusa.com). The current report is being furnished pursuant to the Indentures governing the Floating Rate Senior Secured Notes due 2012 (the “Senior Notes”), the 12½% Junior Secured Notes due 2013 (the “Junior Notes”) and the 14½% Senior Pay-In-Kind Notes due 2014 (the “PIK Notes”), and the Equity Participation Agreement relating to the Class B shares of HRP PIK Corp. (“PIK Corp.”).
Waterpark News
CoCo Key's water woes could end today MIDDLETON — Top CoCo Key Water Resort brass cited a lack of leadership as the reason for numerous complaints from guests of skin rashes, breathing problems and coughing fits that have surfaced this past week after they splashed in the park's pools. Local and state health officials found too much chlorine in the indoor pools and spa and ordered the $20 million indoor water park closed Wednesday.
Fun . . . you'll be soaking in it at Aquatica. Here are tips to make a visit a watery success. Before dipping your toe into Aquatica, check out these hints and tips about SeaWorld Orlando's water park, which began its "soft opening" last weekend. It's all wet, but in a good way. Dolphin Plunge, the park's signature attraction, is near the front gate. That tower with the Aquatica sign is the launching area for the twin tracks that hurl you through the dolphin tank.
Aquarium/Zoo News
Zoo hopes kids get in touch The Stingray Bay exhibit, which opens this weekend, offers close look at gentle but potentially dangerous sea creature DALLAS -- The Dallas Zoo's latest hands-on exhibit features animals like the one that killed the beloved Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin. Indeed, the Dallas Zoo is encouraging children to rub the velvety backs of stingrays, and if they're lucky, to feel the nibbling of a stingray mouth.
Oakland Zoo's renovation grows, draws opposition The last big component of the Oakland Zoo's plan to expand into a major East Bay attraction has grown more elaborate - and more costly - than envisioned in a master plan completed more than a decade ago, and has as a result generated new opposition. The zoo is embarking on the final, $42 million element of its expansion, which will transform an undeveloped piece of the city's Knowland Park into a California animal exhibit and support facilities for the zoo.
Science center zoo ahead of the herd GREENSBORO — The city's small, urban zoo took an elephant step Thursday when the Association of Zoos and Aquariums accredited the Natural Science Center. The center is the only institution in the state to be accredited by both the American Association of Museums and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Sea World penguins get new home SEA World will today open a new state-of-the-art fairy penguin exhibit, a year after 26 of the birds mysteriously died at the Gold Coast theme park. Penguin Point will initially be home to 11 fairy penguins from Sea World and Perth Zoo.
FEC/LBE/Museum News
Public Officials Move Cautiously With Would-Be Pyramid Backers The main financial backer of the proposal to put a theme park and other attractions in The Pyramid said in a letter this week that calls by some elected leaders to show them the money have already been answered. Michael Burgess, managing principal of Prosperity International LLC, represents the major source of funding and financing for the Ericson Group's proposal. That proposal is competing with a proposal by Bass Pro Shops to build one of its retail outlets, a hotel and other attractions in The Pyramid.
Parents pay plenty for birthday bashes FOR gosh sake, when are these excesses going to stop? Some parents are giving their kids birthday parties that cost as much as my first good car! On a Saturday afternoon, I watched staffers hustling around the Bettendorf Family YMCA with balloons. Missy Wahlheim was overseeing the setup of a child’s birthday party. It would begin after 6 p.m., when the Y closed for the day. This was going to be big birthday fun, with lots of kids, streamers, swimming, the gym, pizza and cake.
New pitch for aid to Mall of America The Mall of America is renewing its quest for public financing to pay for part of the $2 billion cost of an expansion that would more than double the size of the Bloomington mall. It's the third time the mall has made a pitch to the Legislature.
Other News
Lego wants to build business with girls BILLUND, Denmark -- Nine-year-old Ida Fraende, who likes to play with Lego bricks, is not so unusual in Scandinavia but globally speaking she is not typical: Jorgen V. Knudstorp hopes to change that. The Chief Executive of Europe's largest toymaker, who has brought the once-troubled group back to profit and renewed its growth ambitions, has a keen eye on the market where Mattel and Hasbro of the United States are the mom and pop.
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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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Operational Planning
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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.