July/August 2008
Village Roadshow, owner of the Warner Brothers Movie World, Wet ‘n’ Wild and Sea World parks on the Gold Coast in Australia, has acquired Aussie World on the Sunshine Coast and plans to turn it into a waterpark. Village will spend between AUS$60 million and $70 million (€37-43m/US$57-67m) in upgrading the 24-hectare site. Up to 10 new rides could open as early as September 2009.
Vekoma Rides Manufacturing has designed an indoor coaster for the new Power Park in Qingdao, China. The ride will feature a custom layout running across several floors and incorporating two lifts.
Merlin Entertainments has taken full control of the Blackpool Sea Life attraction, having bought out Leisure Parcs, its partner of 18 years. “We enjoy very successful joint venture relationships at a small number of sites, including Blackpool,” says Sea Life director James Burleigh, “usually with a developer or operator involved with a number of attractions on a particular site. In each case, however, Merlin remains responsible for the development and management of the attraction – and of the Sea Life brand.” Leisure Parcs and its subsidiaries are the owners of Blackpool’s three piers, tower and Winter Gardens. The company will remain as landlord to Merlin at Sea Life.
Three new attractions have been added at Coney Island, Cincinnati, Ohio, for the 2008 season. The Euro-Bungy Dome is a gravity-defying romp in the park’s shaded bungee dome. Riders are harnessed between two bungee chords atop an air-spring trampoline. River Runner, by SBF in Italy, is a canoe-themed Pirate Ship, while Turtle Parade, a Hampton ride, is aimed at guests five and under.
Kings Dominion, Doswell, Virginia, has introduced its 14th rollercoaster, Dominator. This 4,210ft steel ride by Bolliger & Mabillard is the longest floorless coaster in the world and has the largest rollercoaster loop. The ride first operated at Batman Knight Flight at Geauga Lake, Aurora, Ohio, beginning in 2000 and was moved to Kings Dominion following the closure of the park last season.
Waves of Fun is a new waterpark located in Sandwich, Illinois, due to open early next year. As a central feature of the 72,000 sq ft indoor attraction, SCS Interactive is to create a tropical themed waterplay structure. Other attractions at Waves of Fun are set to include Surfstream, the first standing wave surf machine in the US, four water slides, a wave pool, lazy river and an elevated hot tub.
Dollywood’s Splash Country, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. is now welcoming guests to its new $1 million SwiftWater Run ride. This CannonBowl attraction from ProSlide offers double or single-passenger tubes that take riders through a 54-inch diameter tunnel and into a large bowl.Village Roadshow, owner of the Warner Brothers Movie World, Wet ‘n’ Wild and Sea World parks on the Gold Coast in Australia, has acquired Aussie World on the Sunshine Coast and plans to turn it into a waterpark. Village will spend between AUS$60 million and $70 million (€37-43m/US$57-67m) in upgrading the 24-hectare site. Up to 10 new rides could open as early as September 2009.
