Friday, August 31, 2012

Review of the News: Thursday August 30, 2012

Six Flags made an announcement regarding new additions to their parks in 2013.  Here is the video of the announcement, along with links to news articles for those attractions not mentioned in yesterday's blog.  The highlights include hybrid coaster Iron Rattler at Six Flags Fiesta Texas (mentioned yesterday on the blog here) and the launched, looping coaster Full Throttle at Six Flags Magic Mountain (see below).



Thursday, August 30, 2012

Review of the News: Wednesday August 29, 2012


California’s Great America, Santa Clara, CA
California's Great America is hoping to strike gold with roller coaster enthusiasts come spring with its forthcoming attraction: Gold Striker, which will open in spring 2013 and will reportedly be the tallest and fastest wooden roller coaster in Northern California.
Mercury News

Cliff’s Amusement Park, Albuquerque, NM
Lesser charges and no jail time wrapped up the case of an elementary school teacher caught taking pictures up young girls' skirts at an amusement park in 2007.
KRQE

Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, FL
The summer vacation season draws to a close this weekend, but that means it’s almost time to book those winter vacations and spring break trips to Disney World (DIS) and that helps explain the unbreakable theme park business, one piece of the magic of Disney.
YCharts

EPCOT, Lake Buena Vista, FL
Park-goers can now access the Internet on their smartphones, tablets and other wi-fi enabled devices by connecting to the “Disney – Guest” network.
Orlando Business Journal

Hong Kong Disneyland, Hongkong, Hong Kong
Hong Kong Disneyland has reported a six-fold rise in the number of corporate customers booking the theme park’s Halloween experiential events.
MICE BTN

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Review of the News: Tuesday August 28, 2012


Dorney Park, Allentown, PA
A Brooklyn, N.Y., man was drunk Aug. 16 when he scuffled with lifeguards at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom in South Whitehall Township, police said.
Lehigh Valley Live

Legoland, Johor, Malaysia
Legoland Malaysia, which is upbeat about significant growth of Asia's first Legoland Theme Park in Nusajaya, Johor, is seeking up to 10 marketing partners to offer enriching and joyful experiences.
Bernama

Legoland, Johor, Malaysia
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare (GSK) has signed an agreement with LEGOLAND Malaysia to make available Ribena as a fruit beverage of choice at the theme park.
Business Times

Oaks Amusement Park, Portland, OR
A large plume of gray smoke brought Portland Firefighters to the Oaks Amusement Park area Tuesday evening around 7pm.
NWCN.com

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Santa Cruz, CA
T
he amusement park Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, one of the oldest in the United States, announced that it will open a new Maurer Söhne spinning roller coaster in 2013 named Undertow.
News Parcs

Shirahama Adventure World, Osaka City, Japan
Shirahama Adventure Land located south of Osaka City, Japan has upgraded its facility with a new sound system from One Systems and its Japanese distributor M and N Co., Ltd. M and N Co, Ltd designed the system, led the project and Toyo Giken Co., Ltd installed the One Systems 106IM and 103IM speakers.
AV-iQ

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Review of the News: Monday August 27, 2012


Quassy Amusement Park, Middlebury, CT
The 21st Annual Oktoberfest Celebration Sept. 29 & 30 at Quassy Amusement Park will feature entertainment and great ethnic food as the lakeside facility starts to wind down its 104th season.
Hartford Courant

SeaWorld, Orlando, FL
The long-running, Polynesian-themed luau dinner show Makahiki Luau will say its final “aloha” on Sept. 30.
Orlando Sentinel

Universal Studios Japan, Osaka, Japan
Universal Studios Japan has announced they will be converting a portion of the theme park into a zombie-infested Raccoon City this fall as a part of the Halloween Horror Nights event.
Rocket News 24

Monday, August 27, 2012

Review of the News: Sunday August 26, 2012


Kings Island, Mason, OH
The third annual Kings Island for the Cure campaign to raise money in the fight against breast cancer ended Saturday with more than $180,000 raised at the amusement park.
WDTN News 2

Legoland, Johor, Malaysia
Thousands of excited and curious visitors have been visiting Legoland Malaysia to take photographs and admire the exterior although the park is only scheduled to open on Sept 15.
The Star Online

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Santa Cruz, CA
Getting one last ride on Sunday were 40 members of American Coaster Enthusiasts, men and women who traveled from as far as Canada to say farewell to the Hurricane - a Boardwalk attraction since 1992.
Mercury News

Seabreeze Amusement Park, Rochester, NY
Norma Harris Curtis celebrated her birthday on Sunday by taking a ride on the Jack Rabbit at Seabreeze Amusement Park.
WHEC News 10

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Review of the News: 8/19/12 - 8/25/12


Here is our weekly review of the news.  After this post we'll be bringing you daily updates, at least until the end of the season.


Sunday August 19, 2012

Busch Gardens Tampa, Tampa Bay, FL
You won’t find it listed on the park’s website, but a few times a year guests can go behind the scenes and into the savanna on an exclusive tour to capture some great wildlife photography.
Orlando Attractions Magazine

Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, FL
"Bistro de Paris" French restaurant in Epcot has closed to make way for a renamed and less formal eatery that will open by mid-December, and the Beauty and the Beast themed “Be Our Guest” in the Magic Kingdom Fantasyland expansion will begin accepting reservations Aug. 20.
Orlando Sentinel

Joyland, Wichita, KS
In wake of a recent fire, impersonators claiming to represent the closed park have been going door asking for funds to help re-open the park.
KSN 3

Walabi Belgium, Wavre, Belgium
True to its pioneering reputation, the theme park at Wavre in Blegium is about to launch a new app that enables Facebook users to share their favorite rides with their friends in real time.
Internet Retailing

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Roller Coaster DataBase



Started in 2006 by Duane Marden, the Roller Coaster DataBase (RCDB) is the most comprehensive site for information on roller coasters throughout the world.  RCDB has entries for currently operating coasters, as well as those that are standing but not operating and those that no longer exist.

Monday, August 20, 2012

Review of the News: 8/12/12 - 8/18/12

This will be a reoccurring feature here on the blog.  We'll bring you a weekly recap of amusement park news and articles from around the world.

August 12, 2012


Fun Spot America, Orlando, FL
Formerly known as Fun Spot Action Park, the Orlando based park broke ground on a GCI designed wooden coaster.
Bay News 9

Nashville Shores, Nashville, TN
Former Six Flags executive Kieran Burke is excited about the upgrades to the Nashville water park.
The Tennessean


Saturday, August 18, 2012

Kentucky Kingdom Timeline

In light of Louisville businessman Ed Hart's recent bid to re-open Kentucky Kingdom (story), we thought we would look back at the history of this troubled park.


May 23, 1987 - The park opens to the public.  Located on 10 acres of land leased by the nearby Kentucky State Fair and Exposition Center, the park opens with four themed areas and several rides, including a Schwarzkopf Jet Star II steel roller coaster named Starchaser.

1987 - The park closes before the end of the season.  The Texas based company who owns the park files for bankruptcy and all rides are auctioned off, including Starchaser even though it remains on site and is later re-purchased.

1988-1989 - Kentucky Kingdom remains closed.

Friday, August 17, 2012

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Enjoy the ride.