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MARCH 2012King CobraComing soon to Six Flags!75 years of BALPPAKemah BoardwalkSocial Media+ more!

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P8MARCH 20125 Front GateSetting the agenda for the month ahead6 Park Hoppin’Paul Ruben’s bear necessities7 Park LawResolving claims for less6-15 Park NewsYour monthly update15 KernelsBite-sized news“I think we have evolved from beingfairgrounds at the sea to amusement parks,and now we are adding theming, but theyare not true theme parks as you might see in”some other placesGary Smart and others discuss the British park industry asBALPPA celebrates 75 years, P24P1616 The SwarmRide preview20 King CobraWaterpark news22 Conference ReviewNFAN (UK farm attractions)23 Show PreviewsRAAPA (Moscow) and DEAL (Dubai)24-28 Q-Lines75 years of BALPPAP3030-31 Kemah BoardwalkPark Profile32 Galveston Island Pleasure PierPark Preview34 Old TownPark Profile36 Social RollercoasterSocial media37 Show GuideExhibitions and networking for amusement professionals38 Web GuideOnline resources for the amusement industry“Using mobile phones, visitors are alreadydocumenting their day out at your park,rating the experience and sharing it withfriends – and the entire online world – as ithappens. So keep your ear to the ground!Klaus Sommer Paulsen on social media, P36P36”MARCH 2012King CobraComing soon to Six Flags!75 years of BALPPAKemah BoardwalkSocial Media+ more!THIS MONTH’S COVER SHOT: Following its debut last summerin Turkey, Polin Waterparks & Pool Systems is to install a furthereight King Cobra slides this year across the globe – including itsfirst ever in North America. See page 20. www.polin.com.tr.com

www.parkworld-online.comParkWordMarch 2012It was encouraging to learn of the Koch family’splans to take over the former Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom(see page 14).The operators of Holiday World and Splashin’ Safari have built upconsiderable goodwill in Santa Claus, Indiana, with a family friendlyoperation renowned for its friendliness and cleanliness. Where other parks“nickel and dime” their guests from the parking lot onwards, the Kochsbelieve their offer of free parking, free soft drinks and free sunscreencontribute significantly to guest satisfaction. As you’ll read from Dan Koch’sresponse to the ‘Big Question’ on page 5, they have also resistedimplementing a ride reservation system for similar reasons.This may sound a bit too worthy, but don’t let the homely image fool you –this is a park now exceeding one million in annual attendance. Combinedwith a programme of sustained investment; visitor numbers, in-park spendingand length of stay have all increased since free soft drinks were introduced in2000.The Kochs now intend to bring these same values to Louisville, Kentucky, ifthey are successful in reopening Kentucky Kingdom as Bluegrass Boardwalkby May of next year. First they must secure $15-$20 million of financing.Opened in 1987 as an extension to Kentucky State Fair, the park survivedjust one initial season. It was resurrected by local businessman Ed Hart in1990, who ran its successfully until 1997, before selling out to Premier Parks,where it would soon become part of a burgeoning Six Flags portfolio. Hartwas at the helm of one of six companies that expressed an interest in the parkfollowing the departure of a somewhat leaner Six Flags in 2010, yet ultimatelyhe failed to reach an agreement with the State Fair board.With high profile corpses such as Six Flags New Orleans and HardRock/Freestyle Music Park still blotting the US landscape, it would be tragicto see another abandoned park turn to rack and ruin. The Koch family has14 months to bring the amusement to Louisville. I look forward to raising aglass of free “soda” when it does.Owen Ralph - EditorEditor Owen Ralph (+44 161 438 2934)parkworld@btopenworld.comNorth American Editor Paul Ruben (+1 585 381 1012)parkw@rochester.rr.comContributors this issue Heather Eichenbaum, Gary Kyriazi,Klaus Sommer-PaulsenSales Manager Mark Burgess (+44 1622 699124)parkworld@datateam.co.ukPublishing Director Paul Ryderpryder@datateam.co.ukManaging Director Parvez Kayanip.kayani@datateam.co.ukPublication Secretary/ Jennifer York (+44 1622 699109)Subscriptions parkworld@datateam.co.ukHead OfficeMARCH 2012ISSN: 1462-4796© Copyright 2012. All materials in thispublication remain the copyright of DatateamBusiness Media and no part of it may bereproduced without the written permission ofthe proprietors.A request to insert an advertisement isdeemed to be an acceptance of DatateamBusiness Media Ltd’s conditions of trading,copies of which are available on request.Datateam Business Media LtdLondon Road, Maidstone,Kent, ME16 8LY, UKTel: +44 1622 687031Fax: +44 1622 757646www.datateam.co.ukMember of:@ParkWorldMag MARCH 2012

www.parkworld-online.comFront GateBigQuestionDo you offer a ‘fast pass’ or ride reservation systemat your park?Todd Hougland, Ocean Park, Hong Kong: We are currentlyevaluating queue management systems options with the intention ofimplementing one in the very near future. We believe it is a service thatmany of our guests are looking for. In fact, they have indicated they arewilling to pay for this premium service, and therefore it would be anadditional revenue stream for the park. A similar “Privilege Ticket” hasalready proven itself at our popular Halloween Bash event, where ticketssell out quickly each year.John Hildebrandt, Cedar Point, USA: We are introducing severaloptions. Fast Lane will avoid lines on all of the park’s most popular ridesall season long. Fright Lane will offer quick access at all of the hauntedhouses and the CornStalker fright zone during our HalloWeekends. Wewere able to gain experience with this concept last season at our sisterpark Kings Island and it was very popular, especially with guests who havetime constraints. These passes will be available for purchase online and inthe park, and daily quantities will be limited. We will continue to offer ourVIP Tour option for guests who want a personal escort throughout their day at Cedar Point,including the ability to skip ride lines.Hannes W Mairinger, Heide Park, Germany: In 2011 weintroduced an electronic ride reservation system, which we call the "ExpressButler" [by Lo-Q] to replace the previous paper pass. The Express Butler is aguest service which allows guests to plan their day, view waiting times,make ride reservations and avoid spending time physically waiting in thequeue line. In the meantime, the guest can visit other attractions andproceeds to a separate ride entrance at the reserved time. This new system[€8 per Express Butler device and then €10 per guest] has been very wellreceived and increased guest satisfaction.Dan Koch, Holiday World & Splashin' Safari, USA: We havechosen not to go in this direction. We see the park as the great equalizer,where everyone has the opportunity to enjoy our rides, shows andattractions equally. We work hard to keep lines short, and moving, and weplan to continue in this direction as we grow.324.9924 26Figuresof Fun502038British pounds – costs of knight’s helmet,the best selling item of merchandise atGulliver’s theme parks in the UK14number of decks on Disney Fantasy, thelatest ship in the Disney Cruise Lines fleet,launching March 3160metres – height of Divertical, the world’stallest water coaster, opening this summerat Mirabilandia, Italy1,600number of individual Lego models “inresidence” at new Legoland Hotel inWindsor near London100,000US dollars – average revenue peremployee at a large American amusementparkProduced in association with AECOM.www.aecom.com/economics2841Ups &DownsDisney Jobs Boost - Walt DisneyParks & Resorts will create 10,000 jobsthis year around the world according tochairman Tom StaggsTower Tragedy - A 14-year girl fell to herdeath last month from the “Eiffel Tower” droptower at Hopi Hari in São PauloOut of Werk - The operator of theRingºWerk theme park/FEC at theNürburgring race track has had itscontract cancelled by the GermangovernmentFlags Payback - Six Flagsshareholders are due atenfold increase in quarterlycash dividends from ¢6 to¢60 per shareTower Treat - Visitors to SeaWorldOrlando can now ride the Sky Tower forfree. Guests were previously asked for a$4 upchargeMARCH 20125

Park Newswww.parkworld-online.comParkHoppin’with Paul RubenBear NecessitiesLast summer I travelled to Canobie Lake Park in New Hampshire toreport on Untamed, their new Euro-Fighter by Gerstlauer. The onlyrollercoaster of its kind in New England and one of only four in theUnited States, the ride was custom-designed to Canobie’sspecifications with an “Untamed” Grizzly bear theme.The coaster’s cars, which hold eight passengers each, feature aroaring Grizzly on the front. The station and surrounding area aredesigned in a rustic “Adirondack” style with 64 carved bearsthroughout the loading area. Some of the bears are large, somesmall, but the one pictured here (on the right) is the most cuddly. Thatis, if a carved wooden bear can be cuddly. Even the coaster’s tracksupports are painted to resemble birch trees.We all know that Disney offers themed rollercoasters. Universaloffers themed rollercoasters. Herschend Entertainment offers themedrollercoasters. But do you recall manyfamily-operated parks, at least in NorthAmerica, offering a heavily-themedrollercoaster? Before the appearance ofUntamed I do not, except for the GoldenNugget, a Wild West themed coaster/darkride on the former Hunt's Pier in NewJersey. That ride has now been moved toKnoebel's, where it has been re-themed asa coal mine tour called Black Diamond. Atrend in the making?Most coaster stations are functional.Form follows function, with few decorativetouches. But Untamed has more than thebear necessities. The station is gorgeous,a feast for the eyes. Once aboard, guests are treated to a vertical liftcoaster. It features an initial climb that takes riders 72ft into the air.From there, riders plummet into a 97 degree drop that elicited plentyof screams before they zoom through a series of loops, twists andzero-gravity rolls over 1,184ft of track.Untamed is the largest coaster to come online in New Englandsince 2002 and the first to be added to Canobie Lake Park’s line-upof four rollercoasters in two decades. The park’s other rollercoastersinclude the Corkscrew Coaster, Dragon Coaster and the YankeeCannonball, one of the most popular and historic wooden coastersin New England, marking its 76th birthday this year.While visiting Canobie Lake Park, I couldn't resist a ride on theirbumper cars, appropriately called the Dodgems. The originalDodgem was a rear-steering monstrosity invented in 1922 by Maxand Harold Stoehrer of Methuen, Massachusetts, just seven milesaway from the park. During my ride one guest was steeringparticularly erratically, which got me thinking, Can a person bearrested for drunken driving on bumper cars? Less than an houraway by car, Boston area parks such as Whalom Park, Paragon Parkand Revere Beach all had Dodgems, too, but like the Dodgemcompany are now part of history. Fortunately, Canobie Lake Park liveson and flourishes.Big splash!Mirabilandia’s record-breakingwater coasterStanding almost 200ft (60 metres) tall, Divertical will become the world’s tallestwater coaster when it opens this season at Mirabilandia. The Intamin attraction,now under construction at the park near Ravenna/Rimini, will also becoe Italy’stallest rollercoaster.Showzam! brightens upwinter in BlackpoolThanks to its annual illuminations, the British seaside resort of Blackpool enjoysa season longer than most – right through until the beginning of November.But now the season starts earlier than ever too, and a relatively new event isproviding people with another reason to visit over the winter.A 10-day celebration of circus, magic and variety, Showzam! takes place atvarious venues around the town during the “half-term” school holidays eachFebruary. This year a record 20,000 visitors descending on the festival hub,Showzam! Central at the Winter Gardens (pictured below), to see an intriguingselection of fairground side shows, live acts and curiosites.Elsewhere in the town there was a full programme of fringe shows, streettheatre and events including Variety by the Sea, Circus Bollywood and aBurlesque-style Carnival Ball at Blackpool Tower. Behind-the-scenes tours wereoffered at the the Tower, Pleasure Beach and Grand Theatre, while Carnesky’sGhost Train provided a chilling twist to half-term.Now in its fifth year, Showzam! grew out of a 2007 project called AdmissionAll Classes, which looked to revive and celebrate Blackpool’s proud tradition ofpopulist entertainment. The event is curated by Professor Vanessa Toulmin fromthe National Fairground Archive at the University of Sheffield. Research collectedat this year’s event suggests Showzam! is becoming a nationally recognisedfestival, also attracting overseas visitors from as far a field as the USA.6MARCH 2012

www.parkworld-online.comPark NewsThe ride will feature a vertical launchsystem similar to that on Pilgrims Plungeat Holiday World (USA) – currently theworld’s tallest water coaster – followedby an extended track layout including twosplash sections.Passengers in each of 11 boats willtravel at speeds of up to 110kmh duringthe 2 minute 40 second experience.Dubbed, “the Formula One of the Seas,”the attraction will feature a motorboatracing theme and is set for a June 2012debut.“Divertical will be not only be thehighest water coaster in the world, butthanks to its imposing size and itsinnovative concept will also become anicon of the park,” notes MirabilandiaCEO Riccardo Copo.Part of Parques Reunidos group, Mirabilandia is Italy’s second most popularamusement park (behind Gardaland), entertaining around 1.5 million guests ayear. Divertical will join in a thrill ride line-up that also includes the Intaminlaunch coaster iSpeed and B&M inverted coaster Katun.Cartoon Networkwaterpark for ThailandConstruction has begun on the world’s first Cartoon Network-themedwaterpark, which will open next year in Thailand.Located on the east coast of the country in idyllic Bang Saray, close toPattaya, Cartoon Network AMAZONE will feature the licensed properties Ben10, The Powerpuff Girls, Johnny Bravo and The Amazing World of Gumball.The waterpark will incorporate an Amazon Rainforest theme and featuresignature attractions including a gigantic family wave pool, a windingadventure river, speed-racing slides, family raft rides and one of the world’slargest interactive water play fortresses for kids.“At Cartoon Network AMAZONE families can step into our vibrant world ofanimation and vacation like never before,” says Sunny Saha, senior vicepresidentand managing director of Turner Broadcasting Asia Pacific. “We arevery proud to have Thailand as the spectacular backdrop for the world’s firstCartoon Network-themed waterpark.”Turner will develop the waterpark together with local attraction and resortsoperator Amazon Falls Co Ltd. Creative design is being handled in-house bythe team at Cartoon Network Asia in Hong Kong, with equipment supplied byPolin Waterparks & Pool Systems. Phase one is already under construction.When complete it will cover 14 acres of coastal plains and attract a projected800,000 visitors a year.“Thailand has excellent tourism credentials, a vibrant culture with a vasthistory and also the most welcoming people in the world,” notes Amazon Fallschairman Liakat Dhanji. “Cartoon Network is a global household name, andwe have no doubt that by welcoming our guests to meet their favouriteCartoon Network heroes, it will be a great draw for our park.”Bang Saray retains its charm as a fully functioning fishing port yet is inclose proximity to leading golf courses,resorts and some of the best seafoodrestaurants in Thailand. With over fivemillion tourists a year to the surroundingChonburi province, it is one of thecountry’s most popular touristdestinations. The Thailand Board ofInvestment has pledged has pledgedto offer, “as much assistance asrequired” to the project.Park Lawby Heather M Eichenbaum EsqResolving Claims forLess CostClaims for personal injury are inevitable in the amusement industryand usually culminate in lawsuits. Those lawsuits are public recordand, therefore, available for all to discover. Alternative DisputeResolution (“ADR”) is one way of resolving claims more quickly,confidentially – and for considerably lower cost.A typical ADR pre-lawsuit will cost about a quarter of the cost oftaking a claim through a lawsuit and trial. ADR may take the form ofmediation, binding arbitration or non-binding arbitration.A mediation is, simply stated, a meeting with a neutral mediatorwhose job it is to try to resolve the dispute by each side coming to acompromise. The parties to a claim can agree to mediate a claim at anytime – before or after a lawsuit is filed. The parties can agree to conductdiscovery and exchange expert reports before the mediation or not.The mediator essentially acts as a go-between or negotiator.Generally, the mediator will request written submissions thatsummarise each party’s position before the mediation and then workwith the parties, together and separately, to reach a resolution on theday of the actual mediation. That resolution can be confidential byagreement of the parties.A binding arbitration is a private (out of court) mini-trial which is afinal definitive resolution to a claim. A non-binding arbitration is thesame except that either party can reject the arbitration outcome andfile a lawsuit or appeal. An arbitration is more involved than amediation but less formal, time-consuming and expensive than a trial.As with mediation, parties to a claim can agree to either form ofarbitration before or after a lawsuit is filed. Parameters for thearbitration and lead in to it (conducting discovery) can benegotiated and agreed upon by the parties and reduced to a writtenarbitration agreement. Usually only the parties, and maybe a factwitness or two, will testify at an arbitration, reducing the cost ofexperts, whose opinions can be submitted by reports.Arbitrator(s), who are usually local attorneys or retired judges, willrequest written submissions that summarise each party’s position andthen conduct the mini-trial and issue a written decision on the claim.The parties can agree that decision will be confidential.As trials can be extremely costly, and usually not the only way aclaim can be resolved, Alternative Dispute Resolution should beconsidered as an alternative by all amusement venues and claimshandlers, both pre-suit and once a lawsuit is filed. Because theparties can agree to the terms for ADR in a written contract, there isoften more flexibility than in a lawsuit. Not only will ADR save youconsiderable time and expense, it will also avoid unnecessary publiccommentary and media attention regarding the claim.Heather Eichenbaum is a member with Spector Gadon & Rosen PC,practising in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. In addition to defendingamusement venues, she also handles and provides training in crisismanagement. Legal counsel to and a board member of the NationalAssociation of Amusement Ride Safety Officials in the United States, she isalso a member of IAAPA, NJAA, OABA and the IISF. Should you need legalassistance, reach Heather at: +1 215 241 8856 orheichenbaum@lawsgr.comMARCH 20127

Park Newswww.parkworld-online.comAngry Birds LandApp meets amusement park in FinlandSärkänniemi Adventure Park in Tampere, Finland, is toopen a new zone based around the computer gameAngry Birds. Set to open this summer, Angry Bird Landpromises an “interactive entertainment experiencewhere the physical and virtual world combine.”Developed in association with the Finnish softwaredeveloper Rovio Entertainment, the new addition tothe park will feature design from Bruce D Robinson ofCincinatti. Details of the planned rides and attractionswill be released later this spring.Since it was released for the iPhone in December2009, Angry Birds has it become the biggest-sellingpaid “app” ever in both Apple’s UK and US AppStores. The game has now been downloaded morethan 700 million times across all platforms.“We wanted to create a unique themed areaassociated with a strong brand,” says SärkänniemiCEO Miikka Seppälä. “The Angry Birds characterswere born in Finland but are known worldwide bypeople of all ages. This is a perfect fit for our park.”According to Rovio’s executive vice-president oflicensing and merchandising, Harri Koponen, thenew addition at Särkänniemi will be, “the first ofseveral Angry Bird parks around the world” with thegoal being “to motivate the fans, both adults andchildren, to exercise and enjoy the outdoors.”Särkänniemi’s 2012 season starts on April 28.SärkänniemiKernelsLo-Q has signed a three-year deal with PalaceEntertainment/Parques Reunidos to introduce a virtualqueuing system at Splish Splash waterpark inRiverhead, New York. Guests will be able to rent a Q-band waterproof wristband, enabling and reserve a"virtual" place in line at the park's most popular slides.A troupe of Mexican Olympic high divers will be thestars of a new show opening this summer atPleasure Beach, Blackpool, England. LaQuebrada will be performed in a purpose built arenain the shadow of the Big One rollercoaster. The park’slive entertainment offer will receive another boost inJuly when the 75th edition of the IAAPA Big E Awardwinningskating spectacular Hot Ice opens at thePleasure Beach Arena.Professional simulation specialist Cruden has movedinto new premises in Amsterdam to handle increasedorders from customers in the motorsport, automotive,attractions and training markets. The new facility is just15 minutes from Schiphol airport and two minutesfrom the Amsterdam ring road.Ninja Turtles take overNickelodeon UniverseTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Shell Shock is one of three Gerstlauer attractionsopening this season in North America. The 72-ft-tall SkyFly attraction isdestined for Nickelodeon Universe at theMall of America.The ride features a giant arm with 12single seat gondolas. During theexperience, passengers are free to flip“wings” by their side in order to completebarrel rolls in the sky.The new ride is one of three SkyFlysopening this season around the world, theother two going to Nigoland in France andLegoland Deutschland. The indoor park inMinnesota already boasts a GerstlauerEuroFighter and spinning coaster.Legoland Windsor HotelGuests at Legoland Windsor nearLondon will be able to enjoy the“ultimate sleepover” at the world’s firstpurpose-built Legoland Hotel.At the entrance is a clock towerfeaturing a 6-metre smoke-breathingLego dragon, while featured in thelobby is a floor to ceiling exploding toybox mobile and a reception wall madefrom 6,000 mini Lego figures. A teamof six children have been appointed as“junior concierges” for the officialopening on March 17.With this addition to the park,operator Merlin Entertainment has nowrebranded the property LegolandWindsor Resort.8 MARCH 2012

Park Newswww.parkworld-online.comGreece Frightening!House of Fear opens in AthensAlllou! Fun Park in Athens has openedGreece’s first scare attraction. TheHouse of Fear was created by theUK’s AtmosFEAR! EntertainmentGroup (AEG), and will open year round.Eleven performers keep intrepid visitors on theirtoes across 13 individual horror environments.Special effects, illusions, lights, chilling soundtracksand vile smells combine with Hollywood stylecostumes and make-up to create the chilling Houseof Fear.“Creating the first scare attraction for Greece hasbeen an interesting journey for the AEG team,” sayscreative director Jason Karl. “With no obvious culturalbenchmark or point of reference we had to develop atheme which the Greek audience could relate to.After exploring several ideas we decided we wouldchallenge guests to endure a series of disconnectednightmares featuring claustrophobia, total darkness,demonic possession, blood sacrifice, being burnedalive, cannibalism, murder and inanimate objectscoming to life.”This fun for all the family experience was launchedthis winter with a nationwide media campaign, whichgenerated queues of over three hours on busy nights.Three casts of performers (33 in total) have beenrecruited and underwent special training at a threeday“Scream School” in Athens. The attraction hasbeen designed with a variable throughput to allow forhigh to low season operation."Each environment is vaguely related to itspredecessor which creates cohesion, but we canadapt and add different scares, environments andcharacters as the attraction evolves to keep it fresh,”adds Karl."The AtmosFEAR team worked tirelessly to createthe attraction in only a few weeks,” notes Alloucommercial director Vaya Klingou. “They did anAtmosFEAR’s Jason Karl with Nikos Venierakis, VayaKlingou and Stratos Drimalitis from Allou Fun Parkexcellent job in training the scare actors and makingThe House of Fear the talk of Athens."Allou! Fun Park welcomes more than three millionguests a year. The House of Fear represents the 47thscare project for AtmosFEAR in its 11 year history, butits first outside the UK or Ireland. Its regular Halloween“haunt” is Scare Kingdom in Lancashire, England.Coney Island comebackcontinuesNew York City's new look Coney Island ispulling in the tourists. Central AmusementInternational (CAI), the Zamperla-backedcompany that operates Luna Park andScream Zone, has revealed that thenumber of out-of-town visitors to thesetwo parks more than doubled in 2011,up from 22,500 to nearly 58,000.“When we opened Luna Park in 2010, we helped to reintroduce the ConeyIsland brand to the world,” said CAI president Valerio Ferrari. “News has spreadthat Coney is back, and now people want to experience it firsthand.”Total attendance in 2011 at Luna Park and Scream Zone was 644,000. Overthe last two seasons, CAI has invested more than $30 million in the parks,equipping them with a large selection of Zamperla attractions. This summer, thecompany will introduce more amusements, as well as a revitalised Boardwalk.Additional Coney Island amusement outlets include Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park.SpongeBob gets weton Gold CoastThe world of Nickelodeon has arrived at Sea World Resort & Water Park on theGold Coast in Queensland, Australia.At SpongeBob SplashBash, guests can join everyone’s favourite bright yellowsponge and his nautical friends in a water playground packed with fun featuresincluding a giant tippingbucket. A musicalfountain show lights upthe attraction after darkwith special LED effects.Meet and greetopportunities withSpongeBob SquarePantsand other Nickelodeoncharacters are availablein the resort’s lobby.10 MARCH 2012

Park Newswww.parkworld-online.comDisney dreamsNew hotel and cruise ship launched in FloridaThe newest ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleetlaunches later this month. The family-friendly DisneyFantasy makes its maiden voyage from PortCanaveral in Florida on March 31.The entertainment line-up on board includes twoBroadway-style musical stage shows, Wishes andAladdin, a detective adventure game featuring theDisney Fantasy at the shipyard in GermanyNew report examinesUS parks/FECs marketThe United States amusement park and family entertainment centre (FEC)industry produces annual revenues of around $16 billion, according to areport published in February by the company Research & Markets. The marketis also highly concentrated, with 85% of the revenue from the nation’s c.3,000individual amusement outlets generated by the top 50 companies.This capital intensive industry relies on strong marketing of new attractionscombined with a healthy economy stimulate demand, says the report. Theindustry is also labour intensive with average revenue per employee standingat about $100,000 for large parks or half that for smaller operations such asFECs.Amusement parks get about 55% of their income from admissions and about30% from food, beverage and merchandise sales, continues the report. Theremainder is made up from a mix of parking fees, commission income fromthird-party exhibitors, advertising and fees for hosting parties and other events.The report, entitled Amusement Parks & Arcades, is available for $129 viaresearchandmarkets.comMuppets, princess makeovers at the Bibbidi BobbidiBoutique and regular pirates nights. Meanwhile theThea Award-winning Animation Magic is a newdinner show in Animator’s Palate restaurant thatbrings guests’ cartoon drawings to life. After dark, theEuropa entertainment district will come alive with itsmany bars and lounges.Built for 4,000 passengers, the Disney Fantasyoffers seven-night Caribbean cruises, including a stopat Disney’s private island in the Bahamas. TheGerman-built vessel is 1,115ft (340m) in length andweighs 128,000 tonnes.Meanwhile a new resort hotel is due to open atWalt Disney World near Orlando. Disney’s Art ofAnimation Resort features wings with dedicatedfamily suites themed around classic Disney or Disney-Pixar films – Finding Nemo, Cars and The Lion King –with a fourth wing featuring standard guest roomsdedicated to The Little Mermaid.‘Eye do’Little Mermaid room at Disney’s Art of Animation ResortPixilated patterns and wavy ribbons of colourdecorate the hotel’s exterior, while pencil drawings ofAriel, Lightning McQueen, Nemo and Simba adornthe entryway. A chandelier composed of animationstoryboards enhances the lobby.The property, situated adjacent to Disney’s PopCentury Resort, will open in phases beginning in lateMay 2012. The 1,120 family suites include twobathrooms, a kitchenette and three separate sleepingareas that can sleep up to six. Some 864 standardrooms sleep up to four each.Local girl Sharon Fullerprovided a great PRopportunity for BlackpoolTower when she chose tomake a leap year proposalto her boyfriend from thetop of the UK seasidelandmark.Taking advantage of thespecial date – February 29– the 31-year-old popped the question to her partner of six years, SimonDunkerley. Over 500ft down below, the words “Marry Me!” were written inthe sand on Blackpool’s famous beach. Simon said yes.Blackpool Tower was relaunched by Merlin Entertainments and BlackpoolCouncil last September, complete with a “Eye” branded glass flooredobservation deck and Blackpool Tower Dungeon.12 MARCH 2012

Park Newswww.parkworld-online.comBluegrass BoardwalkKochs come to the rescue in KentuckyThe former Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville,Kentucky, is moving closer to reopening following adeal between Bluegrass Boardwalk Inc and theKentucky State Fair Board. Bluegrass Boardwalk is apartnership of four members of the Koch familyfrom Santa Claus, Indiana, where they operate thesuccessful Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari themepark/waterpark.The Fair Board has granted the Kochs leaseapproval on the 57-acre, amusement park andwaterpark in Louisville. The family must now secure$15-$20 million of financing, including incentivesfrom Kentucky’s tourism cabinet, if they are toreopen the park for May 2013.“We can’t wait to get started,” said Dan Koch lastmonth. “We’ve got a lot of work to do to get thepark reopened in just 15 months, but we’ll get itdone. We’d like to thank the Fair Board for puttingtheir faith in us and the community at large for theirtremendous cheers of support.”Dan Koch is Holiday World president and formsBluegrass Boardwalk together with his sister NatalieDoing it by the book in CaliforniaIn 1960 plans wereannounced for BibleStoryland, a $15-milliontheme park inCucamonga, California,which its creators hopedwould rival Disneyland.Judged to beblasphemous by local clergy, the projectwas abandoned.Bible Storyland may be gone, but it’s notforgotten. The park is the focus of a newdocumentary film, and it’s a hoot. It tracks art dealerHarvey Jordan, who acquired over 50 originalconcept drawings for the park prepared by BruceBushman, a former Disney artist. Complete withdream sequences, animation and even a curse, thefilm plumbs the depths of Bible Storyland and itsaffects on the compulsive Jordan, his marriage andhis family.The 60-acre theme park would have featuredBible-themed rides and attractions. The project wasconceived by showman Nat Winecoff who hadpreviously helped sell Disney’s park to investors.Backers of Bible Storyland included yo-yo promoterDonald Duncan and actor Jack Haley, who playedthe Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz.As envisioned, the park would have been heartshaped,“symbolic of God’s love for humanity.”Divided into six areas, including Babylon and theGarden of Eden, each would have had rides,bazaars, restaurants and dioramas. Awaiting parkgoerswould have been such enticing experiences aschariot racing in Rome, a ferry ride across the RiverStyx or a “Ride To Heaven.” There were even plansto sell “lion burgers,” reversing the old biblical taleof Christians being fed to the lions.Bible Storyland The Movie is available now on DVDfrom biblestorylandmovie.comNew onMorey’s PiersThis attractive boat ride is one of three newattractions opening in 2012 at Morey’s Piers inWildwood, New Jersey. Named Riptide, the ChanceMorgan ride will open on Mariner’s Landing Pier,replacing the Sea Dragon. Meanwhile on Morey’sSurfside Pier, a Zamperla Happy Swing called HappyFeet will debut together with a 16-seat Kang ‘A’Bounce.Koch, their cousinKathy Kamp, andher husband, Michael Kamp, who is HolidayWorld’s general Manager. Dan, Natalie and Kathyare grandchildren of Holiday World’s founder, LouisJ Koch, who opened the Indiana park in 1946.“We’re bringing our business model ofexceptional safety, cleanliness, friendliness andvalue for families,” says Natalie Koch. “That meansfree soft drinks, free sunscreen and free use ofinnertubes.”Winter work atDrayton ManorThe British company Severn-Lamb proved it’scapable of doing more than just building peoplemovers when it completed a number of jobs thiswinter at local amusement park Drayton Manor.This included refurbishment of the gondolason one of the park’s oldest rides, the Chairlift(pictured). The Buffalo coaster also came in forsome attention, while a new engine and sterndrive were fitted to the Drayton QueenMississippi riverboat, which Severn-Lambsupplied new to the park back in the 1980s.Other work included a full refurbishment of thepark’s Drayton Queen train and maintenance ofthe back-up systems on various rides andattractions, including the G-Force coaster andThomas Land’s trains.“There has always been a very goodrelationship between Drayton Manor and Severn-Lamb, which goes back to the early 1970s whenthe company supplied our first Rio Grande train,”notes park operations manager David Bromilow.“This kind of service is part of our preventativemaintenance programme, and is particularlyimportant in these days of longer seasons andoperating periods. We feel extremely confident inwhat Severn-Lamb does, it is really like havingour own off-site maintenance team.”*Park World was sorry to hear of the passing ofMichael Severn Lamb on February 7 and sendscondolences to the family and all Severn Lambemployees past and present. Obituary next issue.14 MARCH 2012

www.parkworld-online.comPark NewsMack makes personnel changesKurt Mack-Even has retired from Mack Rides after 35 yearswith the German ride manufacturer. The company has nowappointed a new executive board comprising Christian vonElverfeldt as managing director/CEO, Thorsten Koebele,handling sales and marketing, and chief technical officerGünther Burger.“Since the seventies, Kurt Mack-Even was always MackRides’ face to the customer,” the board notes in a recentKurt Mack-Even statement. “We are more than glad we can count on hisadvice even in his post ‘retirement’! Kurt will continue consulting our salesdepartment and be available for his clients.”Koebele meanwhile boasts 13 years’ experience as a design engineer andproject manager and head of Mack Rides’ development department.Bob Gurr advisesProducers GroupLegendary ex-Disney Imagineer Bob Gurr has joined theboard of advisors at The Producers Group.A winner of the prestigious TEA’s Thea Award forLifetime Achievement in 1999, he is one of the elite few toBob Gurrreceive his own window on Main Street in Disneyland.Based, like Walt Disney Imagineering, in Glendale, California, TheProducers Group is headed by joint CEOs and executive producers BobChambers and Edward Marks. Its portfolio includes lots of work for Universal.conference programmetakes shapeThe conference topics have been confirmed for October’s Euro AttractionsShow (EAS) in Berlin. The event will also feature exclusive behind-the-scenestours to local attractions including Tropical Islands and Filmpark Babelsberg.Some of Europe’s leading industry experts will participate in educationsessions on Halloween events, emerging markets, waterparks, social media,new technologies, sustainability, safety, and food and beverage trends. ParkWorld will reveal some of the confirmed speakers in due course.The conference programme takes place on Wednesday and Thursday,October 9 and 10, with a special FEC/Indoor programme set for October 11in addition to the three-day IAAPA Institute for Attractions Managers fromOctober 7 to 9.The main EAS trade show – now firmly established as Europe’s premierevent for parks and attractions industry – will take place from October 9 to12 at Messe Berlin. Situated on the edgeof the German capital, the venue is nearmany hotels and restaurants and alsoenjoys excellent public transport links bothto the city and its new airport.More than 350 exhibitors are promisedand organiser IAAPA Europe isanticipating more than 7,000 visitors,including several newcomers from EasternEurope thanks to Berlin’s location.iaapa.org/easMARCH 201215

Park Newswww.parkworld-online.comThe SwarmCoaster crashes into Thorpe ParkKernelsThe Dollywood Company is to bring a major familyentertainment centre (FEC) to Nashville. The companyhave entered into a memorandum of understandingwith Gaylord Entertainment for a 50/50 joint ventureadjacent to the Gaylord Opryland Resort &Convention Center. Phase one of the project is slatedfor a summer 2014 debut and would consist of anapproximately $50 million water and snow park.Following the launch season of Raptor atGardaland in Italy, Thorpe Park near London isabout to launch Europe’s second – and tallest –Wing Coaster from Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M)The Swarm features stark theming including thewreckage of a plane and fire truck. Ahead of itsofficial launch on March 15, the park invited formerfighter pilots to test the attraction. The ex-RAF (RoyalAir Force) and Red Arrows pilots, who together formaerobatic display team The Blades, reached speedsof up to 100km/h during the intense thrill ride.Built on its own island, The Swarm features aninverted first drop of 127ft and several exciting nearmisses (or near hits!). With cars suspended either sideof the track, all 28 riders are left completely exposedwith nothing above or below them and thanks tocar’s massive “wingspan” of almost six-metres, eachtwist in the track produces a spectacular effect.“I am a self-confessed adrenaline junkie but evenas a pilot used to G-force there were some gutwrenchingmoments,” reports Blades team leader,Mark Cutmore. “I have to admit the near misselement is eye-watering – you really do feel as if youare going to crash into the structures.”The Swarm is Thorpe Park’s second B&M ride,joining the inverted coaster Nemesis Inferno.Additional Wing Coasters will open this season atDollywood in Tennessee (Wild Eagle) and Six FlagsGreat America near Chicago (X-Flight).The sale of the German theme park Fort Fun hasfallen through following revelations that would-bebuyer Matthäus Ziegler had been convicted of fraud.The park will remain under the ownership ofCompagnie des Alpes for the 2012 season.BRC Imagination Arts has presented preliminaryplans for a theme park in Braunschweig-Wolfsburg,Northern Germany. The park is one of more than 100projects proposed as part of a masterplan for theregion. “This is the first time we have been asked towork on a tourism offer for an entire region,” BRCEurope’s Bart Dohmen tells Park World.Paultons Family Theme Park in England is to openan SBF-Visa Drop ‘n’ Twist tower called Magma. Theride will feature theming from RMA and is due to openin time for Easter.Greg Pearn has been appointed the new operationsmanager of Madame Tussauds Blackpool,England, moving from Merlin Entertainments’neighbouring Sea Life attraction. Matthew Titheringtonremains as Madame Tussauds’ general manager.Premier Rides president Jim Seay has been re-elected aschairman of ASTM Committee F24 on AmusementRides and Devices. The 500-member collective isresponsible for global safety standards that coverdesign, manufacturing, maintenance, inspection andoperations for amusement rides, water-related ridesand devices, plus and special rides and attractions.The Safari Railroad at Toldedo Zoo, Ohio, will featurethree new look CP Huntington locomotives when itresumes operation this spring. The Ohio zoo recentlypurchased one new loco from Chance Morgan whilerefurbishing two 2003 models it already owned.Theming and Animatronic Industries (TAA) hasappointed two new project managers. Jim Cassideyjoins the German company after 22 years in sales withSally Corporation, but also boasts strong technicalskills including welding, pneumatics and fabrication ofrobots. Meanwhile Frenchman Christophe Batista isan expert in rockwork theming, having themed zoos inMorocco and Hamburg.

www.parkworld-online.comProduct NewsGOLD MEDALThe revolutionary Auto Shutoff feature that changed small poppers isnow available in kits for up to a 14 oz. kettle size, including thedurable, workhorses Citation and Pop-A-Lot Poppers. (Its standard onthe #2656 Ultra 60 Special, #1866 Ultra P-60, and the #2552LSPopMaxx Value Line Popper.)Operators can rest assured knowing their machine will automaticallyturn off after 15 minutes of idle time, and it re-sets each time a batch offresh corn is popped.Additional benefits of the Auto Shutoff kits include reduced energycosts, extended kettle life, simple to operate and no experiencenecessary.For more information contact Gold Medal Products Co.today at 800-543-0862!

Waterpark Newswww.parkworld-online.comKing Cobra bites!Polin slide planned for eight parks worldwideFollowing its debut last summer in Turkey, PolinWaterparks & Pool Systems is to install a furthereight King Cobra slides this year across the globe –including its first ever in North AmericaThe eye-catching duellingwaterslide will make its debut thissummer at Six Flags GreatAdventure’s Hurricane Harborwaterpark in New Jersey, AqualandFrejus in France, Shandiz IndoorWaterpark in Iran, plus furtherinstallations in Italy, Turkey, Beijing,Thailand and Indonesia. Severalother potential sites are also undernegotiation.The Six Flags order represents amajor coup for the Turkish supplieras it pushes into the NorthAmerican market, and the parkgiant is hoping the attractionbecome a guest favourite in New Jersey.“We are thrilled to work with Polin on this landmarkproject,” confirms Six Flags Great Adventure presidentJohn Fitzgerald. “We are confident that King Cobra’sintense ride experience and unparalleled design willmake it one of our most popular and entertainingwater attractions.”Launched last year at MAXX Royal resort in Turkey,and also Djubga Waterpark in Russia, King Cobrafeatures a pair of parallel slide paths. Waterparkguests race against one another as they twist, turn andultimately fall prey to the fearsome snake.The encounter begins inside a spiralling tunnel slidebefore riders plunge 8 metres and accelerate up to of51 km/h as they hurtle into the cobra’s mouth. Thisone-of-a-kind attraction boasts tremendous spectatorappeal – as well as being a heart-pounding experiencefor riders.“At Six Flags, together with special effects like fog,sound and lighting, King Cobra will feature a customdesigned,themed tower,” reveals Polin sales managerKubilay Alpdogan.Located in Jackson, New Jersey, Hurricane Harbouris the sister waterpark to one of the busiest amusementparks in the Six Flags chain, featuring more than 20high-speed thrill slides, a water playground, a milliongallonwave pool and a half-mile-long lazy river.polin.com.trAqualandexpands again!Operated by the Aspro group,Aqualand is Europe’s largestchain of waterparks, with 13properties in France, Portugaland Spain. Polin will be supplyingno fewer than five of these withnew attractions this summer,following the success enjoyed lastseason withnew slides atAqualandBassind’Arcachonand AqualandSt Syr Sur Mer.The newadditions for2012 includea King Cobrafor AqualandFrejus, a tropical-themed waterplay structure (as pictured) forAqualand Cap d’Agde and,coming to Aqualand St Cyprien,Polin’s Uphill Navigatour watercoaster and a tunnel body slidewith patented natural lighteffects. There are newattractions too for Aqualand StCyr Sur Mer, which gets atropical-themed Aquatower,while Aqualand Bassind’Arcachon is set for a minipirate slide.All the new slides will open inthe summer and feature Polin’ssignature RTM (Resin TransferMoulding) finish, meaning theyappear shiny on both the insideand outside.aqualand.fr20MARCH 2012

Conference Reviewwww.parkworld-online.comThe English amusement parkDrayton Manor welcomedoperators from a smaller butburgeoning sector of theattractions industry.Owen Ralph reports fromthe annual conference of theNational Farm AttractionsNetwork (NFAN)Adam Henson (centre) presentsthe award for attraction over75,00 attendance to Andrew andAnna Wolfe of Willows FarmUK FarmAttractionsof the YearThe winners of theNFAN Farm Attractionof the Year Awards for2011 have beenrevealed as MarshFarm in Essexwinning (venueshosting between20,000 and75,000 guests) andWillows FarmVillage in Hertfordshire (over75,000). Find out what makesthem special atmarshfarmcountrypark.co.ukand willowsfarmvillage.comDrayton Manor Hotel, host venue forthe conferenceFARM MEETS PARK!Attraction owners meet at Drayton ManorLeft to right: NFAN chairman Matt Heast with Adam Hensonof Cotswold Farm Park and Ian Russell from Wroxham BarnsNow in its 12th year, the conference wasextended to a two-day fixture for 2011. NFANmembers enjoyed tours of White Post Farmnear Nottingham and Sacrewell Farm and CountryCentre in Peterborough on February 7, followed bydinner in the Drayton Manor Hotel. The next day a fullconference programme was staged inside the hotel,while in the Hamilton Suite a small exhibition featureda diverse range of companies keen to tap into or buildtheir presence within the sector.By general consensus, farming is a challengingindustry in 21st Century Britain and so it’s no surprisethat many farmers have chosen to diversify beyond thebusiness that many of them were born into.Established in 1996, the NFAN now boasts over 205members and there are estimated to be around fourtimes as many farm attractions in the UK. Whatbegan as farm shops or pets corners have, in somecases, developed into quite elaborate operationsoffering everything from tractor rides and corn mazesto large Halloween spectaculars.And how many visitors do such attractions entertain?An indication was provided by the conference’saccompanying award ceremony, with two categories forFarm Attraction of the Year: Under and over 75,000.That’s not enough to cause major headaches to thelikes of Drayton Manor, which now entertains over amillion guests a year, but as families increasingly seek“authentic” days out, farm parks have a loyal set of fansand are perfectly in keeping with the zeitgeist.The conference programme began with a keynotesession from Adam Henson, owner of Cotswold FarmPark. What was a rare breeds centre (“they are rarebecause you can’t make any money from them”)developed by his father had grown organically underAdam’s watch before receiving a massive boost whenhe landed roles as a television presenter on the BBC’sCountryfile and Lambing Live. Renaming the parkAdam Henson’s Cotswold Farm Park to capitalise onsuch TV exposure, Adam and his business partner hopeto develop a nationally recognised brand and havealready launched spin off products and events includinga beer and a Food and Farming Festival. Above all,“honesty and integrity” are key to “AH” brand.A panel session followed, with contributions fromAdam Henson, Tim Rollings of Fishers Farm Park,David Taylor of Taylor Design & Play, and Paul Sharpefrom Kids Play. New revenue streams,pricing/discounting and marketsaturation/consolidation all came up for discussion.On the latter topic, David Sharpe noted that, “Mostfellow play centre operators want to be farm parksand most farm parks are putting in play barns.”Following a presentation on customer service fromJonathan Winchester of Shopper Anonymous, IanRussell from Wroxham Barns revealed how he hadused food and drink to widen the visitor demographicand stimulate trade outside traditional peak times. Inthe process his farm had gained a reputation higherthan many local restaurants and hotels.A five-mute annual general meeting precededlunch. If only all trade associations were so efficient!The afternoon programme began with an update onthe industry code of practice with David Coackleyfrom the Health and Safety Executive, followed by asession on collecting membership income by directdebit with Andrew Wolfe from Willows Farm Villageand David Blower from Hatton Country World. Theday’s business came to a close with the presentationof the Farm Attraction of the Year awards (see panel).From suppliers of toys, play equipment andclimbing walls to providers of insurance and marketresearch, around 40 companies provided tradestands.“This was the first time we exhibited at the NFANevent,” revealed Helen Ede of mascot companyRainbow Productions. “The day presented a perfectopportunity to meet many existing clients and helpedraise our profile with farm park operators. We arealready working with an increasing number of farmattractions across the UK, supplying official personalappearances by famous children’s characters such asPeppa Pig and Shaun the Sheep.“Sponsors of the event included Davies & Co(chartered surveyors), Marsh & Company (insurance),S Gregory (insurance), Agility Marketing and theFarmer’s Guardian.farmattractions.netExhibitors were keen to target the farm attractions market22MARCH 2012

www.parkworld-online.comShow PreviewsRAAPA ExpoOrganisers are promising this month’s RAAPA Expo will be 50% biggerthan last year’s event in the Russian capital.This, the 14th international exhibition from the Russian Association ofAmusement Parks and Attractions (RAAPA) will consolidate its position asthe biggest industry event for Russia and the CIS (former Soviet)countries. Support for the event has been pledged by the Moscowgovernment and International Association of Amusement Parks andAttractions (IAAPA).Around 150 companies from over 20 countries, including Russia,Belarus, Italy, China, Great Britain, Turkey, India, Switzerland and theNetherlands, will participate in the three-day exhibition.Ahead of this, RAAPA will hold its 17th conference examining“Prospects of amusement industry development in Russia” on March 19and 20. Topics to be addressed on thisoccasion include raising the profitability ofamusement parks, economic efficiency offamily entertainment centres and safety ofkiddie rides. For a second year, the Italianpublisher Facto Edizioni will also hold aspecial edition of its Golden Pony Awards,on March 21.RAAPA Expo 2012 takes place at the AllRussia Exhibition Centre (VVTs) Moscowfrom March 21 to 23. See raapa.ruDEAL 2012Over 200 exhibitors from 30countries are confirmed for thelatest edition of DEAL (DubaiEntertainment Amusement andLeisure), the Middle East’s premiertrade show and meeting place forthe theme parks and amusementindustry.“Last year contracts worth millionsof dollars were signed at DEALindicating renewed confidence in the region’s leisure sector,” notesAbdul Rahman Falakna, chairman of exhibition organiserInternational Expo Consults. “This year visitors can attend dedicatedseminars, see technology at its innovative best, network with industrypeers and develop profitable business relationships.”Following a record attendance set in 2011, more than 5,000visitors are expected at the show, which is now in its 18th year. Thesewill include key players from the Middle East, Africa, Mediterraneanand Asia.Exhibitors will include international names such as FalgasIndustries, Rainbow Productions, Sega, Triotech and Zamperlaalongside local suppliers and distributors including AmusementServices International (ASI) and Warehouse of Games.DEAL 2012 takes place from April 17 to 19 at the Dubai World TradeCentre, United Arab Emirates. See themeparksdubai.comMARCH 201223

Park PeopleQ LinesBALPPA 75 YEARS OF FUNThis winter the BritishAssociation of LeisureParks, Piers andAttractions (BALPPA)reached its 75thanniversary. Following acelebratory dinner thenight before, Park Worldeditor Owen Ralph satdown at EAG Expo inLondon on January 24day with a group offormer/future BALPPAchairmen to share theirreminiscences about theassociation and the Britishparks industry in general.Our panel includescurrent BALPPA presidentJohn Collins OBE (ex-Barry Island PleasurePark/Tussauds Group),John Bollom (MumblesPier), Gary Smart(Harbour Park,Littlehampton) andMarshall Hill (Funland,Hayling Island).What would the industry in Great Britainhave been like 75 years ago?John Bollom (JB) – It was very much families andindividual members, not corporations.Marshall Hill (MH) – A lot of them were showmenoperating at the seaside.John Bollom (JC) – Yeah, Billy Butlin was a showmanwasn’t he? He had all the hoiday camps and was oneof the founder members.JB – George Booth from our company AmusementEquipment was also a founder member and thenwhen dad [Stan Bollom] took over the firm, he joinedthe BALPPA committee in about 1950, or the AAPP asit was in those days. Leonard Thompson fromBlackpool Pleasure Beach was always the guidinglight of it really; whatever he said went. My fatherreceived a phone call from Leonard: “Bollom, youdon’t come to the meetings do you?” “Well no MrThompson, we are concessionaires of yours atBlackpool and we don’t think it’s right that the hareruns with the hounds,” dad replied. “Nonsense,you’ve got your own parks at Alexandra Palace andSouthend. There’s a meeting tomorrow, come andpick me up at Claridge’s at 9 ‘o’ clock.” It was a bitof a scary meeting. The first item in the agenda was toelect a chair. Leonard Thompson said, “Well we’vegot Bollom here now; he’ll take the chair.” So the firstever meeting my father attended he was elected thechair! He actually became the association’s longestservingmember, and chairman twice, once in the ‘50sand then again the ‘70sWhat were some of the early challenges forthe association?JC – It was formed as a reaction to the governmentwanting to tax games of skill, midway games.JB – That’s right, they called it the “coconut tax”!There were big regional differences among prizepayouts in those days. The idea was to create a singlevoice for the industry.JC – There were also huge problems in the early ‘50sduring the Festival of Britain. Festival Gardens atBattersea was way behind schedule and the LCC[London County Council] appealed to the industry forhelp. Leslie Joseph came in from Porthcawl and reallysorted it out; it opened on time and that ultimately iswhy Leslie was knighted, for saving the embarrassmentof the government.What are the benefits of BALPPAmembership?JB – What’s great about this association is theexchange of information and knowledge. A lot of newmembers when they come in really don’t understandthe openness between the members. From Merlindown to a little guy like me in Mumbles, there’salways something you can learn from somebody else.MH – You’ve got to be in it to win it, and if you don’tgo to any of the meetings you are not going to findanything out. I had a conversation with one of mypartners and he said it’s a waste of money, so I toldhim we’d just got a £25,000 rebate on rates andplanning. Where does he think I hear about thesethings? If it weren’t for us sharing information asmembers we would never know about all these issues.Gary Smart (GS) – Then there’s the trade associatemembers. On a summer meeting, a supplier gets towork a coach load of operators. They can sit and talk,and it’s just a nice relaxed way of meeting peopleover several days.Why are piers a special part of the industryin Great Britain?GS – Piers are a great icon of the seaside, there’s asort of British quirkiness about them.JC – Most of them were built at a time when Britainreally set the standard for worldwide engineering, andthey are very unique structures, whereas in NorthAmerica many of them have been replaced withconcrete jetties.MH – You don’t see many piers in mainland Europedo you?JB – Most British people have a soft spot for them, butwe have been losing one or two piers a year in recenttimes. The exception to the rule was Weston-super-Mare and that was only because the individualinvolved had the wherewithal to do it.Beyond parks and piers, how has BALPPAwidened its membership over the years?JB – The only exclusion that we used to have waslocal authorities, although Southport Corporation wasone of the founding members, presumably becausethey were operating Pleasureland.In conversation (from left to right) are John Bollom, OwenRalph, Marshall Hill and John Collins. Gary Smart has hisback to the camera24MARCH 2012

www.parkworld-online.comPark PeopleJC – As Alton Towers developed and other inlandparks started appearing, it seemed reasonable towelcome other types of visitor attractions, whetherthat’s museums like Beamish or more recently farmparks.How did the emergence of inland “themepark” Alton Towers affect you as seasidepark operators?JB – I think you have to give credit to John Broomefor creating what was the first UK theme park assuch. It raised the bar generally, and John was thefirst one to bring American standards of operating tothe UK. I remember you would go up there and hehad pavement-scrubbing machines to get rid ofchewing gum. I didn’t even know these things existed!GS – He did things properly. But it was all about theCorkscrew [looping coaster]! He spent the previoussummer touring round looking at all these things,came back, put the Corkscrew in, and that was AltonTowers. That ride was in all their marketing.JC – It was actually Geoffrey Thompson [BlackpoolPleasure Beach] who brokered the deal on theCorkscrew. I was with Geoffrey when he introducedJohn Broome to Roland Koch, the German operator.Overnight he created the opposition to his own park,but that’s how kindhearted Geoffrey was. TheRevolution [looping coaster] came soon after at thePleasure Beach.Would you accept the proposition thattheme parks have never really caught on inthe UK?JC – I think “theme park” is a very overused phrase.I think there are very few true theme parks in theworld, and certainly the UK.MH – Look at the American Adventure, it just didn’thappen did it? And they threw enough money at it.JC – I have to say I was a real idiot at Barry Islandbecause I tried to take on the theme parks by puttingin a jungle boat ride …in South Wales. I must havebeen nuts!GS – I do think a certain theme should run throughBALPPA chairmen past and present pictured at January’s 75th anniversary dinner. From left to right:John Collins OBE, Gary Smart, Adrian Mahon, David Cam, Richard Pawley, Colin Dawson, JohnBollom, Roland Mack (IAAPA chairman) and Tim BatstoneAAPP to BALPPAFormed in November 1936 by a handful of 11families, the Association of Amusement ParkProprietors (AAPP) became the BritishAssociation of Leisure Parks, Piers andAttractions in 1986.Today the association represents interests ofover 180 operating members, in addition toover 100 trade associate members. The currentBALPPA chairman is Merlin Entertainments’Adrian Mahon, while former BALPPA andIAAPA chairman John Collins OBE serves asthe association’s president.Well regarded within the corridors of power,BALPPA has been said to ‘punch above itsweight’ when it comes to lobbying activities.Currently on the association’s agenda is afight to reduce the level of VAT (tax) ontourism and an appeal for ‘daylight daving,’which would bring the UK into the same timezone as the rest of Western Europe and givemost BALPPA members and extra hour ofdaylight in the evening. A continuing source ofinterest to the membership are the UK’sgambling regulations, reflecting theimportance of coin-operated gaming revenueto operators on the coast.As well as its political activity, theassociation provides a social programme,including get togethers at various trade showsand events, an annual dinner in London, andtours to parks at home and abroad duringBALPPA’s summer meetings and autumnregional meetings.There now follows a list of the 11 founderAAPP members, proving just how strong theindustry’s roots at the seaside are:•Leonard Thompson, Blackpool PleasureBeach•Oliver Dalton, Brighton Palace Pier•HFB Iles, Dreamland, Margate•Cyril Bertram Mills, Olympia Circus & Fair,London•FE Williams, Kursaal, Southend•William Butlin, Butlin’s Holiday Parks•GE Booth, Amusement Equipment Ltd•Robert Parker, Blackpool Tower•Alderman Wood, Southport Corporation•DF Warren, Merrie England, Ramsgate•E Kingsman, Clacton Pier•Albert Hargreaves, Fleetwood PierMARCH 201225

Park Peoplewww.parkworld-online.com“I thinkyou have gotto give creditto JohnBroome forcreating whatwas the firstUK themepark as such[AltonTowers]. Iremember hehad machinesto get rid ofchewing gum.I didn’t evenknow thesethingsexisted!John Bollom”Blackpool Pleaasure Beach c.1937.Leonard Thompson was a founderAAPP member and his son Geoffreya leading light within BALPPAImage as used in the book BlackpoolPleasure Beach – More Than Just AnAmusement Parkyour park. There is nothing wrong, because we are atthe seaside, with giving our restaurant a bit of amaritime theme, putting in few ship’s anchors etc.JB – It’s more branding than theming isn’t it?MH – We are trying not to make things look so muchlike a fairground anymore, so we’ve got rocksaround things, flowers, landscaping.GS – I think we have evolved from being fairgroundsat the sea to amusement parks, and now we areadding theming, but you are right they are not truetheme parks as you might see in some other places.Did the arrival of Disneyland Paris makemuch of an impact in the UK?JB – I don’t think that it has really had the impactthat anyone expected. I remember going to theopening with dad and we all thought this was goingto be the be all and end all for Europe and it hasn’t,for whatever reason. I don’t know if it’s the cost orthe weather, but people I speak to all say the same:they’d rather go to Florida.GS – I think the inland British parks have had farmore impact than Disneyland ever did.What was the reason for the formation ofEuroparks?JC – It was formed by BALPPA together with theGerman association VDFU as a way of gettingtogether to have a say in what might or might nothappen transpire within the European Union (EU).GS – What we worried about was legislation comingout of Brussels without any monitoring whatsoever. Itserved its purpose very well and we did actuallychase down a few threats, but now IAAPA Europe hastaken over and carries a lot more weight.How has industry changed in Britain inrecent times?GS – There’s been an enormous social revolution inthe last 20 years. Tastes have changed, there’s moreBPB c. 1937The Corkscrew at Alton Towers, pictured here in 1981, reallyput the park on the mapImage courtesy National Fairground Archivedisposable income, people are travelling moreoverseas.MH – We mustn’t forget Sunday shopping, that’saffected us. Sunday used to be our day.JB – We used to be the only game in town; we’re notnow.MH – Now Saturdays are better days because of allthe divorces, you get all the weekend dads down.JC – I don’t think we want to be encouraging divorcesnow do we!MH – And then at half-term you get all thegrandparents bringing the grandkids, because theirparents are all out working.GS – The grey market has become quite a keymarket, however when the education act came in theearly ‘90s, stopping trips to the seaside, we lost theschool groups almost overnight. There used to be ahealthy trade with coaches coming down to the coastfrom South London, you’d be very busy in June andJuly; every Monday to Friday you’d be packed. Thattrade has basically gone. I have no idea, but I amguessing the Olympics will not be good for us thissummer either.A lot of British parks have closed in the lastdecade. How do you survive at the seaside?MH – Margate, Rhyl, Redcar, Spanish City; it seemslke every year we loose one don’t we? Becausepeople are sitting on property that’s worth a lot ofmoney, they sometimes have to make quite a harddecision.JB – I think there is now a genuine spark ofrecognition of the importance of our industry toseaside economies. In a lot of seaside towns we arethe major employer, and when an attraction goes theaffects are huge.MH – The typical seaside park is 5 acres, but we’vegot a lot of big parks around us – Thorpe,Chessington, Legoland – and we simply can’tcompete with them, so we target families.GS – We know though that if we have good weather– sunshine – then when the kids are off school we will26 MARCH 2012

Park Peoplewww.parkworld-online.com“You willsee morebranding inthe next 10yearsdefinitely; thenewgenerationare used tobrands ineveryday lifeand we havegot torecognisethat. Thisindustry hasgot a recordof being ableto spot thesocialchanges andadaptGary Smart”Peppa Pig World at Paultons Park,part of a growing trend in recentyears for branded attractionsget them and they will come to use rather than goinland.What progress is the association making onongoing issues like VAT and daylightsaving?GS – I think the issue of VAT is one we must keepchiselling away at, because if you look around the EUthere are others that have an advantage over usbecause of their lower tax rates. We can’t be blind tothat. Daylight saving may happen. We got so far withit, but I’m afraid it gets mired in the Union (UK)politics, which are all up in the air at the moment.We’ve also been able to ward off several otherthreats. Last year’s Machine Games Duty (MGD), forexample, would have been particularly serious for ourmembers had it not been for the exemption wesecured on non-monetary prize machines.JB – Yes we have done very well to get the prizeexemption. My concern with VAT is that whatever rate itcame in at, it would not be the same in a few years. Iactually remember when VAT was 5% – for everything– but I’ve only ever know it go up, not down.Explain why London remains such animportant meeting place for BALPPAmembers each JanuaryJB – It all goes back to the old Amusement TradesExhibition (ATE), which started at the Horticultural Hallaround 1936 I think. A few years after the war itmoved to Alexandra Palace, then onto Olympia andEarls Court as ATEI, before the show was sold aboutfive or six years ago. It was a different era back then,it used be called meeting week; the BALPPA dinnerwas on Monday night, the Fellowship on Tuesday andthen the BACTA [British Amusement Catering TradesAssociation] on the Thursday night.GS – We have always held our AGM in January tobecause everyone was here in London anyway, andthe dinner is a bit of a legacy from that.JB – Now we have EAG Expo at Docklands, but Ipreferred it when we were at Olympia, and I thinkthat’s why Euro Attractions Show (EAS) was a bigsuccess last September at the same venue. One yearat ATEI we had a European rides show in Earls Court2 and there was at one time a vision of doing a jointATEI/IAAPA European show in London on an annualbasis.JC – We were dreaming even further, thinking therewould probably only be two or tree such showsaround the world – IAAPA in the States, London andthen one in Asia or the Middle East. The first EAS wasin London, organised by ATEI.What are some of your fondest memories ofBALPPA’s summer meetings and events?GS – We always used to have one year in the UK andthen one on the continent somewhere. Geoffrey[Thompson] suggested Torquay, he said it was reallynice and recommended a hotel. When we got thereand it was just like Fawlty Towers, I don’t thinkGeoffrey had actually stayed there since the 1950s –they really hadn’t touched it since!JC – When we used to go to Europe you’d have quitea fair itinerary, two or three parks a day. We’d be onthe coach all day and then suddenly Geoffrey wouldspot a signpost. “Oh look, a model village! Shall wego and do that?” So off we all went to the modelvillage…JB – You talk about memories, but it’s all about thepeople really. People like Geoffrey, and Pat Evans whocould really make you laugh in a very strange way. Iremember a German trip where we were in Munichand a reception had been arranged for us. We wereall stood there drinking champagne when the mayorcame over. “Ah Mr Evans, have you been to Munichbefore?” he asked. “Only as a bombsite!” Pat alwaysspoke his mind – and more besides.Where will the British parks industry be in10 years’ time?MH – I think we will see more Thomas Lands andPeppa Pig Worlds appear, that’s for sure.GS – Yeah more branding definitely, the newgeneration are used to brands in everyday life and wehave got to recognise that. This industry has got arecord of being able to spot the social changes andadapt.JC – Looking from the outside to a degree, I think youwon’t find three better examples than those peopleand families sat around this table. When they are soinvolved with ownership there are ways and means ofbucking the trend or moving that little bit faster in themarketplace.GS – My boys have just come into the business in thelast three years and they bring new thinking thatchallenges the old thinking, and that’s entirely right.balppa.org28 MARCH 2012

Park Profilewww.parkworld-online.comKemahBoardwalkFun ’n’ food in TexasGary Kyriazi traces the development of this classicwaterfront amusement park, one of several Texasattractions operated by the Landry’s restaurant,hospitality and entertainment groupAviatorIt’s simple: the mystic, infinite attraction of water. It’shuman: we’re drawn to water. It’s worldwide: onany body of water – lake, river, or ocean – youerect a pier, a wharf or a boardwalk, and as humanbeings we flock there. It’s our nature.As amusement parks proliferated and prospered inthe early 20th Century, wherever there was a body ofwater, there was an amusement park. The water wasfirst, the amusement park second. Trolley companiesbuilt their tracks from the cities to the water, theweekend crowds hopped on the trollies and went tothe water, where they swam and spent their money onfood and amusements.Today, those traditional waterfront parks that havebeen spared the wrecking ball and not replaced bycondominiums continue to thrive on this basis, be itCalifornia’s seaside parks, New York’s Coney Island,New Jersey’s seashore, Blackpool Pleasure Beach inEngland or the few other remaining oceanside, riversideor lakeside parks. The industry adage is “you can’t gowrong with water.” You go in the water, stroll theboardwalk, wharf, pier or promenade, and theamusements are secondary, albeit necessary.“In our case, we tell people to come to KemahBoardwalk to have a great meal, stroll the boardwalk,and then the amusements are third,” says 43-year-oldJames Doering, general manager of amusements atthe Kemah Boardwalk, south of Houston, Texas. Jimhas spent all his life in the amusement industry, startingat 17 as a ride operator for Six Flags St Louis (SixFlags Mid-America at the time) and spending 25 yearswith Six Flags, the last eight with Six Flags Fiesta Texas,until his transfer in 2011 to Kemah Boardwalk. “FromSan Antonio, Texas, to Kemah was an easy move forme and my family. And then again,” he adds with asmile, “there’s the attraction of the water.”Restaurants and RidesKemah Boardwalk is essentially a small, regionalpark, though it manages to get its share of visitors toInverterThe Boardwallk comes alive after dark with its restaurants and rides30MARCH 2012

www.parkworld-online.comStingray Reef Aquariumthe state of Texas. Its marketing is generally in thenearby greater Houston area, with print advertising inSan Antonio and Dallas, and occasional Louisianatravel guides.“Our restaurants are the real magnet,” Doeringexplains, “for locals and for visitors. They’re allarranged along the boardwalk, and all tables haveviews of Galveston Bay (off the Gulf of Mexico). Evenin our hotel, every room faces the bay.”It’s a draw that is not only timeless, but encouragesthe “stay-cation” that is replacing “vacation” for mostfamilies in today’s economy. The Boardwalk isaffordably drivable from the greater Houston area, andthere’s enough diversity of amusement to satisfy theentire family. There’s no gate fee, and the family canpick and choose their pleasures between therestaurants, food stands, games and rides, topped bythe Boardwalk Bullet – a wooden coaster from theGravity Group – and Boardwalk Beast, a speed boardthat thrills 138 happily-soaked passengers on a wild25-minute tour of Galveston Bay.Kemah’s growth was essentially through acquisitionand expansion. Landry’s Seafood House opened in1990, joining other high-level restaurants along thewaterfront. Landry’s methodically began purchasingthe other seafood and steak restaurants which includedThe Flying Dutchman, Saltgrass Steak House, theChart House, Lighthouse Buffet and Red Sushi HibachiGrill. By 1997, Landry’s owned all the largerrestaurants and smaller eateries, and proceeded tobuild the 52-room Boardwalk Inn Hotel, complete withretail. Landry’s opened the Stingray Reef Aquarium in1998, its main attraction allowing guests and childrento pet and feed a tankful of stingrays. In 2001, thepedestrian boardwalk was built along the water, alongwith three rides from Chance – a Ferris Wheel,Carousel and CP Huntington train – and the KemahBoardwalk as an amusement park was born.Ferris Wheel (obviously)As with any water-locked amusement park, space isan issue, but Kemah Boardwalk is meeting thechallenge. For Kemah’s major wooden coaster in 2007,the Gravity Group had its work cut out, and necessarilydesigned a twister to end all twisters, a triple-layer, tightlybanked ride that includes 42 track crossovers. AfterHurricane Ike of 2008 damaged much of the park, itreplaced its original carousel with a space-savingbouble-decker carousel, again from Chance.“We’re pretty much maxed out on our horizontalspace now,” Doering concedes, “so the creative juicesare flowing on how to grow.”Yet since Kemah Boardwalk’s fine restaurants are itsmagnet, they are not locked into a public expectationof requiring a new thrill ride every year.“We’re in a good position,” Jim Doering smiles,“and we have a strong foundation. We’ve got thewater, the restaurants, the boardwalk and the rides. Butwe’re not complacent either, we can’t be. This is theamusement industry after all, and we’re alwaysthinking and planning, taking it one season at a time.”kemahboardwalk.comGary Kyriazi is author of The Great AmericanAmusement Parks, and the writer/producer of AmericaScreams, the first pictorial history and television specialabout American amusement parks. He has been aresearcher and historian on American amusementparks for more than four decadesBoardwalkrides andattractionsAs at other Landry’s amusementoutlets, Chance rides featurestrongly in the line-up of ridesand attractions at KemahBoardwalk:•Boardwalk Bullet (GravityGroup wooden coaster)•Drop Zone (Larson drop tower)•Boardwalk Tower (Chanceobservation tower)•Ferris Wheel (Chance)•Double-decker Carousel(Chance)•CP Huntingdon Train (Chance)•Wipeout (Chance)•Aviator (Chance)•Inverter (Chance)•Balloon Wheel (Zamperla)•Pharoah’s Fury (Chance pirateship)•Boardwalk Bouncer (Mosertower)•Boardwalk Beast (speedboat)•Stingray Reef & RainforestBoardwalk BulletSights and SoundsSubsequent growth was rapid, and today KemahBoardwalk is artfully crammed with 40 rides, games andattractions. At every location, guests are met with thesights and sounds of a classic waterfront amusementpark, the sound and smell of the water meshing with thescreams from the rides. The train winds throughout theentire park, with railroad signals, gates on the walkwaysand many crossings. Guests who may not take a singleride will enjoy exhilaration similar to the thrill-seekers.A general viuew featuriung the observation tower, Drop Zone, Aquarium and Boardwalk BulletMARCH 201231

Park Previewwww.parkworld-online.comDrawings on its expertise atKemah Boardwalk, Landry’sis moving ahead with a newmulti-million dollaramusement outlet in TexasFish & funFrom family-friendly offeringslike the Rainforest Cafe andBubba Gump Shrimp Co to theupscale McCormick & Schmick’sor Oceanaire, if you’ve eveneaten in one of these placesyou’ve been a guest of Landry’s.The restaurant, hospitality andentertainment group isheadquartered in Houston,Texas, and boasts a portfolio oraround 30 restaurant brandsspecialising in seafood andsteak, with outlets across theUnited States.As well as its amusementparks – Kemah Boardwalk andthe soon to open GalvestonIsland Historic Pleasure Pier –Landry’s also operates fourDowntown Aquariums, somewith rides, in Denver(Colorado), Nashville(Tennessee), Kemah andHouston (Texas). So whether youwant to marvel at a fish or eatone for dinner, Landry’s has itcovered.landrysinc.comPleasure returns toGalveston IslandThe 1,130ft-long (350m) Galveston Island HistoricPleasure Pier will open this May, featuring 16 ridesincluding a rollercoaster, log flume and Star Flyer.In the late 1940s, Galveston’s original Pleasure Pierwas the largest of its kind in the United States.America’s top dance bands routinely filled themammoth Marine ballroom and visitors watchedmotion pictures in an open-air stadium as shipspassed in the Gulf of Mexico. A wide variety of ridesand midway concessions were featured along thepier, together with a designated fishing area. Fordecades, the venue was a popular family destination,until it was destroyed by Hurricane Carla in 1961.Four years later the Flagship Hotel opened on theproperty, gaining the title of the only hotel in NorthAmerica built entirely over the water. In 2008, it toowas wiped out by a hurricane.Landry’s chairman and CEO Tilman Fertitta hopesthat the new Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pierwill capture a special place in people’s hearts, in thesame way as Santa Monica Pier in California orChicago’s Navy Pier. The nostalgically themedattraction will be reminiscent of another localhistorical landmark, Galveston’s Electric Park.“Much of our plans for redeveloping the pier areinspired by the people and places that defineGalveston’s rich heritage,” says Fertitta, a native ofthe island. “We intend to perpetuate that vision withPleasure Pier and create a lasting legacy for futuregenerations. We have a proven track record forprojects of this magnitude and complexity, andunderstand what is required to convert today’sbattered pier into a world-class venue.”Situated on Seawall Boulevard at the junction of25th Street, the rebuilt structure will hold between6,500-7,000 people at a time. Traditional rides willinclude a 36ft (11m) Chance Morgan double-deckercarousel with ride-on sea creatures, horses andchariots. The Galaxy Wheel will be a 100ft-tall (30m)Chance Morgan Ferris Wheel acting as a beacon forthe pier with bright LED lighting. Pier Pileup is thename of the park’s Bertazzon bumper car trackfeaturing antique and classic cars. The Italiancompany will also supply a Wave Swinger called GulfGlider.Iron Shark will be a Gerstlauer EuroFighter coasterwith a 100ft vertical lift and beyond vertical drop,followed by four inversions including a diving loopand a backstretch that cantilevers over the water. Theride will feature 1,300ft (400m) of track and reachspeeds of up to 50mph (80kmh). Pirate’s Plunge willbe a twin-drop log flume by the Anglo-French supplierInterlink, featuring both a 22ft and 42ft drop. TexasStar Flyer will be a 200ft-tall (60m) Funtime Star Flyer,billed as the tallest tower swing ride in Texas.A Frisbee-style Revolution ride by Chance Morganwill swing out over the water, as will a Sea Dragonpirate ship by the same manufacturer. Sky Shooter,an SBF-Visa Airborne Shot Sky Shooter will let riderscontrol the “fly-out” feature of the arms, while the60ft-tall Cyclone (Fireball) by Texas’ own LarsonInternational will travel both forward and backwardinside a giant loop. Another Bertazzon attraction willbe a Musik Express called Rock & Roll. Children’srides will include an S&S Frog Hopper drop tower,Zamperla tea cups and SBF Visa big-rig truck ride.In addition to Texas’s first ever Bubba GumpShrimp Co restaurant, the pier will offer seven quickservice food and beverage outlets, a gift shop, candystore and entertainment stage. Entry will be $10 foradults or $8 for children 4ft (1.2m) and under, withall-day ride passes costing an additional$15.99/$11.99.With the Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier,Landry’s hopes to reignite interest in the area,promote tourism, economic growth and bolster civicpride. Here’s hoping there are no more hurricanes onthe horizon.www.pleasure-pier.comTrack under construction at Gerstlauer factory in Germany for the pier’s Iron Shark coaster32MARCH 2012

Park Profilewww.parkworld-online.comGary Conroy and theAMPventure ropes courseOLD TOWN25 years of Central Florida funNow in its 25th year, Old Town remains anaffordable alternative to Central Florida’s bigtheme parks. Park World takes a look at whatmakes this Kissimmee amusement outlet uniqueSince opening on December 12, 1986, OldTown has retained its allure as a typical smallAmerican town from the 1950s or early ’60s. Infact, were it not for the introduction of new rides andattractions, you might almost have thought time hadstood still in this little corner of Central Florida, justoutside Orlando.Originally designed as a place for families to relax,dine and shop after a day at the area’s large themeparks, notably at Walt Disney World, there’s somethingelse at this Kissimmee venue that hasn’t changed overthe years – the entry price; it’s free.“Many perceive the ’50s and early ’60s as an erawhen the heart of America was small communities, andtimes were good,” notes Gary Conroy, the park’spresident. “That loyalty and sense of belonging iscaptured in Old Town because of the passion anddedication of the shop owners and various communitiesthat help create the atmosphere guests love.”Conroy is under no illusion as to the opportunityoffered by his neighbour with the big ears: “We seeDisney as an asset to our business model because itprovides us with a customer base,” he tells us.“People enjoy coming to Old Town after spending theentire day at the larger, crowded theme parks. Weoffer less hustle and bustle, less chance of standingin long lines and, more importantly, fewerrequirements to empty your wallet. Yet we sillmaintain a theme park feel. That is what our guestsappreciate and why they keep coming back.”In 2010, all of Old Town’s amusement assets wereacquired by Brothers Entertainment ManagementGroup, which has overseen operations of the parkfor over a decade.To celebrate the 25-year milestone, Old Town’sowners are inviting visitors past and present to sharetheir memories by posting photos on the park’sFacebook page. The photo with the most “likes” willearn its owner an Old Town family pack. Many ofthose images could come from customers of the OldTown Portrait Gallery, one of Old Town’s originalmerchants, where customers dress in periodcostumes.“We chose to open our business here because ithad a community that felt like family,” remembersCharlotte Thompson, whose late husband John wasthe gallery’s original owner. “Despite some shopschanging over the years, that underlying feeling stillexists.”Another draw for families has been Old Town’srenowned classic and muscle car cruises, the longestrunning, weekly automobile events in the world. Partlybecause of these cruises, Friday and Saturday nightsare the busiest times of the week for the park.“You’ll often see the same people out there everyweekend,” notes Dave Dean who has brought hisclassic cars to Old Town for 22 years. “It’s a niceplace to gather where people are friendly and canrelax.”In recent years new attractions have included thePepsi AMPVenture Experience ropes course, howeverConroy insists, “We are committed to Old Town’sidentity as a small town community from a nostalgicera. We will continue to focus on raising the standardso that we provide all the dynamics of a theme parkin a small environment.”Several special events are planned for 2012,including an American Hero Fest, as well as newstores. Next time you’re in Orlando, take a detourfrom the well-trodden tourist path and check out OldTown for yourself.myoldtownusa.comRides andattractionsOld Town features around 20rides and attractions includingthe 1,437ft-long Windstormrollercoaster by Zamperla,Century Ferris Wheel byChance, Carousel, Larson Tilt-A-Whirl, ARM Flying Dutchmanand Super Shot tower ride,Fajume Wacky Worm coaster,bumper cars, go-karts,children’s rides and activeattractions like the AMPventureropes course, zip line, climbingwall and laser tag.A SUPERventure wristbandallows a day’s unlimited use of12 attractions for $24.95,while the $34.95 AMPventurealso includes zip line, rock walland ropes course. A value packof 30 ride tickets is availablefor $25, or 45 ride tickets for$35. Individual tickets sell for$1.25 each. Children’s ridesrequire two tickets each, whilemost attractions range from 4to 6 tickets each.But don’t forget, Old Townadmission is free!34MARCH 2012

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Social Mediawww.parkworld-online.comThe Social RollercoasterHarnessing the power of the ‘outernet’Do you remember when the internet wassomething you used simply for marketing a newride or selling tickets? And do you rememberwhen the only way your guests could access theweb was from computers in their homes oroffices? Now that it’s possible to be online all ofthe time, Klaus Sommer Paulsen asks howattraction operators can harness the power ofsocial media within their facilitiesThings have changed, and will keep on changing.The internet has gone outdoors – becoming the“outernet” – and our mobile phones have beentransformed into computer terminals providing infiniteinternet access. Using such platforms, visitors arealready documenting their day out at your park, ratingthe experience and sharing it with their friends – andthe entire online world – as it happens. So keep yourear to the ground!“You have to think mobile first,” comments LanceHanish in the digital newsletter Media Notes Canonical(sophis1234.tumblr.com). “We live in a digital age,and an age of transition. There is nothing superficialabout it; it changes marketing, communication andbrand experiences to the core.”First you mustaccept that that thecommunicationoverload – or“communi-chaos” asGrey New York’s PerPedersen once calledit – has reached alevel too high for itsown good. Every dayin the Western WorldA search for “theme parks” onPinterest produced thiswe are exposed tomore than 5,000brand signals. Sowhen you can’t get the interest and the time fromcustomers by shouting at them liked you used to withtraditional marketing, what can you do? You becomepart of the discussion online.This doesn’t just mean Facebook or Twitter. Newsocial networks are emerging all the time. For examplethe virtual “pin board” Pinterest is becoming apowerful force as users share the things they love withpotentially millions. Its popularity is increasing so fastthat from writing to publishing this article, the numberof users lept from 10 to 12 million. Take a look athttp://pinterest.com.Tracking the conversationIf you’re worried that you can’t keep track of whatpeople are saying about you across social media andthe web in general, fear not, you certainly aren’t thefirst with such concerns. That’s why there now areseveral tools for tracking what is being said onlineabout you or your company. Spiral16’s monitoringsoftware, for instance, will let you know if you aregetting the good or bad wrap, and even helps yourecognise who influences most with their opinion. Yetas with any other tool, it its most effective whenwielded by those who understand it so, as with all yoursocial media activity, you should assign the rightpeople to the job, even if that means working withsomeone from outside your organisation.To engage audiences online consider offeringunique digital experiences related to your park orattraction, such as games or other entertainment. Thispresents a challenge to the attractions industry. Youmay find yourself competing with sponsored productsfrom established brands, but equally you have a greatopportunity to extend your own brand in the digitalarena, building loyalty and stimulating interest amongthe paying guests of tomorrow.As we design the next generation of theme parkattractions, we should be thinking not only about howthe public relations or marketing department canfollow social media, but how such features can bebuilt into the experience from the very beginning.Create something of value for your visitors, and theywill simply have to tell others about it!Enriching the experienceOne way of doing this is by providing enrichingexperiences that can only be enjoyed at your venue.Offered by the Dutch company of the same name,TapeMyDay (TapeMyDay.com) combines facerecognition technology with a network of cameras totrack visitors as they make their through a park orattraction. Those that opt in will be able to relive theirentire day on video – and share it online. This bespokeservice is also a wonderful viral marketing opportunityfor attraction operators. Several other video and photosystems are available, providing images that can beuploaded instantly to your guests’ chosen social mediaplatform.Whenever there is an extra dimension to the guestexperience, people will spend more “dwell time” inyour facility. This of course is the holy grail forattractions operators: a state where people find areason to stay beyond a specific purpose The longerthey stick around, the more money they spend.Correctly integrated into a ride or attraction, socialmedia is one way of achieving this.The term “information technology” (IT) may evokememories of nerdy types tinkering away on computersin darkened rooms, yet thanks in large part to theinternet we are all engaging with IT every day. Acrossthe world, millions of people of all ages are collecting,processing and distributing data – and enjoying it – asthey share their experiences, good and bad, with othersonline. Parks and attractions need to wake up to thisreality and develop a cohesive digital strategy ratherthan simply offering a website or a Facebook page.Two-waytrafficWhere onceparks andattractionspumped outthe marketingmaterial andhoped it wouldreach potential guests, now theycan reach then them directly viasocial media – and they canreach you.If you used to keep your fansat arms length, consider thatyou could foster a newgeneration of brandambassadors by respondingdirectly to their Tweets,Facebook posts etc.It helps to have someone onyour staff who is a proficientuser of social media themselves.Stay “on message” of course,but in the spirit of the honest,open social internet, be naturaltoo. No one likes a PR robot.“To be frank, we used to keepthe fans at a bit of a distance,”Efteling CEO Bart de Boer toldPark World a couple of yearsago before his social mediaconversion. Now he’s anenthusiastic Twitter user(@drsbartdeboer), and regularlyhosts events to keep fansabreast of new developments.They of course then tell all theirfriends online.This time of year is of coursea great time for postingconstruction updates, photos etcahead of the new season. Armedwith such information, fans willfeel up to speed with all that ishappening at your park andhopefully they – and all theironline friends – will show uponce the gates are open.Based in Denmark, Klaus SommerPaulsen is an award-winning directorof digital media, and member ofThemed Entertainment Association’sEurope and Middle East Divisionboard. As founder of CNA CreativeNetwork Agency (www.cnagency.dk)he aims to bring new media,marketing and experiencedesign together tocreate enriching visitorexperiences. Klaus canbe reached atksp@cnagency.dkor on Twitter:@klauspaulsen36MARCH 2012

Calendarwww.parkworld-online.comShowGuideExhibitions and networking for amusement professionals• March 21TILEzoneLondon Transport Museum, UK+44 1885 846181tile@andrich.comwww.tileweb.org• March 21 to 23RAAPA ExpoAll Russia Exhibition Centre (VVTs), Moscow, Russia+44 1905 360165raapa@raapa.ruwww.raapa.ru• April 17 to 19DEAL 2012Dubai World Trade Centre, UAE+971 4 3435777jacob@iec.aewww.themeparksdubai.com• May 2 to 7HauntconMonroeville Convention Center,Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA+1 877 467 5786info@hauntcon.comwww.hauntcon.com• May 10ScareconNorbreck Castle Hotel, Blackpool, UK+44 7712 440361info@scarecon.co.ukwww.scarecon.co.uk• May 14 to 16AALARA ConferenceCrowne Plaza, Surfers Paradise,Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia+61 7 3807 3508info@aalara.com.auwww.aalara.com.au• June 5 & 6WWA 1st Asian SymposiumHong Kong, China SAR+1 913 599 0300kelly@waterparks.orgwww.waterparks.org• June 6 to 8Asian Attractions ExpoHong Kong Convention & ExhibitionCentre, China SAR+852 3796 2568alee@iaapa.orgwww.iaapa.org/exposMore events at www.parkworld-online.com

Web GuideOnline resources for the amusement industryB UMPERC ARSM AZESR IDEST HEMING AND D ESIGNwww.candsrides.bizC ASHLESSS YSTEMSMAZESwww.amazenmazes.comPARENT & CHILDB ATTERY R IDESwww.prestonbarbieri.comwww.wiegandslide.comwww.jaravision.comT HEMING AND D ESIGNwww.embedcard.comC OIN H ANDLINGE QUIPMENTwww.worldofrides.comP EOPLEM OVERSwww.pax.ruT RADEwww.sarner.comA SSOCIATIONSwww.cumminsallison.co.ukwww.dottotrains.comwww.ridesandfun.comwww.alesuk.orgD ARKR IDESwww.sbfrides.comT ICKETINGwww.sallycorp.comE XHIBITIONSwww.severn-lamb.comP LANNING& DESIGNwww.technicalpark.comwww.accesso.comwww.hauntcom.comwww.forrec.comwww.mack-rides.comwww.gatewayticketing.comFAMILY/CHILDRENSENTERTAINMENT C ENTRESwww.whitehutchinson.comwww.kcc.beP LAY S TRUCTURESwww.intaminworldwide.comwww.nationalticket.comwww.omniticket.comH IGHWAY66 COINO PERATED S CALED D OWNB OWLING S OLUTIONSwww.iplayco.comR EVIEWS AND I NFORMATIONwww.vekoma.comS HOWSV ISITOR V IDEO S YSTEMwww.tapemyday.comwww.amusement.qubicaamf.comI NTERACTIVE P ROJECTD ISPLAYR IDESwww.falconshow.com4 D A TTRACTIONS &S IMULATORSW ATERR IDESwww.Interlink-lg.comwww.eyeclick.comwww.simworx.co.ukW ATER R IDES & PARKSI NTERACTIVER IDESS NOW& ICEwww.proslide.comwww.trio-tech.comwww.gerstlauer-rides.comwww.snow.bizwww.vanegdom.nlL EISUREE NGINEERINGwww.mondialrides.comS PECIALIST P RINTINGwww.whitewaterwest.comwww.garmendale.co.ukwww.tschu-tschu.dewww.syndicateprinters.comwww.wiegand-maelzer.de38MARCH 2012