February 2009
Italian theme park Gardaland is to make a number of modest investments for 2009 including new Vekoma trains on its Corkscrew coaster and a total refurbishment and conversion of its King’s Valley dark ride.
A new indoor attraction is set to open in time for Easter at Crealy Great Adventure Park in Devon, England. Construction is already underway on GoWild – a canopy adventure of aerial walkways, tunnels, bridges and climbing walls – within the park’s Dina’s Lost World play area. The new high level play zone has been designed and constructed by Western Log Group, one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of timber-based themed play areas. In 2009 this, the original Crealy park, celebrates 20 years of family fun.
The English park Lightwater Valley is to offer guests a new water ride for the 2009 season: Wild River Rapids. The ride is a travelling model built by Reverchon and on loan from James Mellors Amusements, operators of the Funderworld “mobile theme park.” It replaces a Pinfari coaster removed over the winter.
The EnterTRAINment Junction FEC in West Chester, Ohio, will welcome Thomas & Friends for a month-long event throughout February.
Perfectly in line with the park’s premium offering, Discovery Cove in Orlando is offering a range of Valentine’s promotions for February. Guests will be able add-on chocolate, roses, champagne and private cabanas, while enjoying the usual pursuits of swimming with dolphins, snorkelling with rays and tropical fish, and relaxing by fake beaches and tropical rivers.
The Amusement Device Inspection Procedures Scheme (ADIPS) has announced the resignation of its part time chief executive, Geoff Robson. “Geoff’s commitment to the scheme has been beyond anything that could have been expected of him and for this we give him our thanks,” says ADIPS chairman Adrian Mahon. On the day Robson resigned, the UK Health & Safety Executive (HSE) announced that the reported incident rates relating to the industry had decreased this year to an all time low and had showed a consistent decline since ADIPS was formed. The organisation does not envisage a direct replacement, although a new full time office manager is expecetd to take over some of Robson’s duties.
Taylor Made Designs has been named as the preferred supplier for uniforms for Merlin Entertainments. Based in Devon, England, Taylor has been providing uniforms to a number of Merlin attractions for many years, but the new deal means it will now be providing them for all the group’s UK attractions, including Alton Towers, Thorpe Park, Legoland Windsdor, Chessington World of Adventures, various Sea World and Dungeons attractions, plus the London Eye. Taylor also supplies uniforms to a number of Merlin’s overseas attractions too.
