OCT GOES OTT! - Welcome to neilmead

www.parkworld-online.comFront GateParkPatrolEveryday scenes through the operator’s eye1 2 3This picture brings together a lot of what makes Kennywood the great park that it is with the mix of the old and thenew. The picture is taken atop our Noah’s Ark, the last remaining walk-through attraction at Kennywood and nowthe only remaining Noah’s Ark in operation anywhere in the world.1) The famous Thunderbolt wooden coaster is a classic hybrid of the old Pippin double-dip coaster and newThunderbolt. In 1974, the New York Times called it, “the Ultimate Roller Coaster.”2) In front of the Thunderbolt is a classic art deco structure called the “Lucky” refreshment stand.It’s a building that has been around for over 50 years selling the best in funnel cakes andcorndogs. In between this building and the Thunderbolt are the world famous Potato PatchFrench Fries!3) The gothic looking mansion-style building in the upper right is Ghostwood Estate. It’sone of our newer interactive dark rides, built in 2008.Jerome Gibas, Kennywood, PennsylvaniaKernelsMarty Keithley, vice-president and general manager ofKnott’s Berry Farm near Los Angeles, has retiredafter 35 years at the park, replaced by Raffi Kaprelyan,whose old role at Canada’s Wonderland near Torontohas been filled Norman Pirtovshek.The Doctor Who Experience, created by Sarner, hasbeen given a three-month extended run at Olympia inLondon, where it will stay until early 2012. Over155,000 visitors have passed through the doors sinceFebruary.Dark ride and animatronics producer Sally Corp hasselected David Ciciora as its new director of ridesystems. His career in the park industry includes stints atLegoland California, Morey’s Piers, Hard Rock Park andUniversal Studios Hollywood.According to local newspaper reports, plans are back inplace for the development of a Wild Wadi waterparkin Jordan. The National in Abu Dhabi reports that anunnamed company is injecting DHS881 million(US$240m/€171m) to restart a tourism project in theRed Sea city of Aqaba. The Saraya project, which wasstalled almost three years ago, would also includehotels managed by the Jumeirah Group and StarwoodHotels & Resorts, as well apartments, villas and aconvention centre. Jumeirah already runs Dubai’s WildWadi waterpark in the shadow of the Burj Al Arab andJumeirah Beach Hotel.NOVEMBER 20117