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



August 13, 2012


Cedar Point, Sandusky, OH
The park announced its planned addition for 2013:  a B&M designed wing rider coaster named Gatekeeper for the front of the park.
Cedar Point

Land of Make Believe, Hope, NJ
A two hour power outage at the New Jersey park prompted several complaints from customers.
The Star Ledger


August 14, 2012

Valleyfair, Shakopee, MN
A power outage hit the Minnesota park causing several rides to stall.
The Sacramento Bee



August 15, 2012

Kentucky Kingdom, Louisville, KY
Louisville businessman Ed Hart is trying once again to re-open the park he once owned in the 1990's.
Louisville Courier-Journal
(See our recent timeline on the history of Kentucky Kingdom here.)

Knott's Berry Farm, Buena Park, CA
The mechanically plagued Perilous Plunge shoot-the-chutes ride will close after Labor Day.
Orange County Register

Marineland, Niagra Falls, ON, Canada
Former staff members allege animal neglect at the Niagra Falls, ON park.
Toronto Star

Santa's Village, Dundee, IL
The Chicago based park entertains guests with its whimsical theming.
The Chicago Tribune

Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen, Denmark
The second-oldest amusement park in the world has been entertaining guests for nearly 170 years.
NPR's All Things Considered


August 16, 2012

Bay Beach Amusement Park, Green Bay, WI
The new home of the Zippin Pippin has been named has been named a "Top Elvis Attraction" by travel website TripAdviser.
1360 WTAQ

Land of Make Believe, Hope, NJ
A New Jersey man is in police custody after allegedly videotaping boys in the park's showers.
CBS News

Rye Playland, Rye, NY
Three Democratic members of the Westchester County Board of Legislators called for an independent audit of Playland, the 280-acre County park and National Historic Landmark, because of troubling inconsistencies and omissions in the data regarding the park’s attendance and revenue figures being reported by the Astorino Administration.
New Rochelle Voices

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Santa Cruz, CA
The park announced Wednesday that the final day of operation for the Hurricane roller coaster will be Sept. 3, and the new ride to replace it will be revealed Aug. 27.
Register-Parjaronian



August 17, 2012

Canobie Lake Park, Salem, NH
A Hollywood film crew recently visited Canobie Lake Park to shoot a scene for the upcoming Jason Reitman film Labor Day.
630 WPRO

Coney Island, New York City, NY
Guests continue to enjoy the unique charm of this classic seaside boardwalk.
Voice of America

Dreamland, Margate, Kent, United Kingdom
A project is underway to open a new amusement park on the site of historic Dreamland in the UK.
The Guardian

Kalahari Resorts, Wisconsin Dells, WI
The Wisconsin-based Kalahari Resorts is eying the site of the historic Inn at Pocono Manor for a new indoor water park, convention center, and hotel.
The Times-Tribune

Kentucky Kingdom, Louisville, KY
Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear is pressuring the State Fair Board to decide whether the Kentucky Kingdom property should be a theme park again.
Louisville Courier-Journal
(See our recent timeline on the history of Kentucky Kingdom here.)

Worlds of Wonder, New Delhi, India
U.S. illusionist Franz Harary performed at Worlds of Wonder in order to celebrate the launch of the largest man-made lake in North India.

India Today


August 18, 2012

Coney Island, New York City, NY
Sideshows continue to stun and amaze crowds, much as they have for more than a century.
Voice of America

Centreville Amusement Park, Toronto, ON, Canada
For the first time since Centreville opened during Canada’s centennial, in 1967, the city, which owns the land on which the park sits, has decided to put the Centreville site up for public bidding. 
National Post