May 2009
According to an interview in the Dutch newspaper Financieele Dagblad, Efteling is looking at the possibility of setting up a second establishment abroad. Director Bart de Boer told the publication that any other attraction would match the original theme park in being family-focused with a fairytale theme: “That is what we are good at and where we have little competition,” de Boer said.
Guests at the Pleasure Beach in Blackpool, England, were this Easter treated to guest appearances by costume character versions of Angelina Ballerina, Fifi, Flowertots, Spongebob Squarepants and Peppa Pig. The park’s newest permanent attraction, meanwhile, is a dancing fountain show. Set to music including classical, rock and pop, the jets of water reach as high as the Big One rollercoaster and after dark are illuminated for added effect. This season the park has dropped free entry is favour of a wristband-only pricing structure, with deals available from £15 for those booking online. “We had an extremely encouraging start to the year and enjoyed a good Easter weekend,” reports a Pleasure Beach spokesperson.
Cliff’s Amusement Park in New Mexico is going cashless. The Albuquerque park has contracted with Core Cashless to implement the system. Pre-loaded Cliff’s Fun Cards will be used in place of cash to purchase rides, games, food and retail in the park. According to owner Linda Hays, the park has added new bathrooms and a new ride, the Fire Ball from Larson Manufacturing.
Named after the mythological beast sometimes called Big Foot, Sasquatch will open in early May at The Great Escape, Queensbury, New York. A combo tower ride from S&S Worldwide, it combines a Turbo Drop and Space Shot and formerly operated at Six Flags New Orleans as the Sonic Slam and Bayou Blaster before the park was shuttered by Hurricane Katrina in August 2005. Sasquatch is the first new thrill ride at The Great Escape since 1999.
Named after the mythological beast sometimes called Big Foot, Sasquatch will open in early May at The Great Escape, Queensbury, New York. A combo tower ride from S&S Worldwide, it combines a Turbo Drop and Space Shot and formerly operated at Six Flags New Orleans as the Sonic Slam and Bayou Blaster before the park was shuttered by Hurricane Katrina in August 2005. Sasquatch is the first new thrill ride at The Great Escape since 1999.
The Redemption Report (TRR) is a new online newsletter for the ticket and prize redemption industry. The monthly service begins this month (May), and will be edited by leading authority on redemption games, Frank ‘the Crank’ Seninsky. The newsletter will be distributed via e-mail courtesy of Kevin Williams/KWP, the man behind the Stinger Report.
Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington welcomed a record number of college kids when the park witnessed its largest one-week attendance during Spring Break back in March. The park extended hours all week long for headline entertainment including live and local performances featuring more than 25 bands. Attendance was driven by the popular online “Everyone Pays Kid’s Price” offer and the sale of season passes.
Martin’s Fantasy Island, Western New York, introduces a Mega Disk ’O’ Coaster for 2009. The Zamperla ride combines a dual rocking/spinning motion on a U-shaped track and reaches a height of 50ft providing the sensation of weightlessness and g-forces as the platform spins along the track.
The Attraction Services Company, an engineering and fabrication company with 35 years’ experience in themed environments and special effects, has expanded into a new 30,000 sq ft facility in Valencia, California, and announced two new appointments. Terrence Miller joins as a senior project manager, forming a strategic relationship with consultant David Aion of The Aion Company as director of business development. “The Attractions Services Company has experienced an upsurge in business, and we’re very pleased to have these two expert hands join us and enhance our marketing presence and company identity,” says president Melissa Townsend.
