Outlaw Run charges into Silver Dollar City - Amusement Today

28 AMUSEMENT TODAY April 2013CONTINUING COVERAGE | SUPERSTORM SANDYPopular arcade reopens, repairs continue apaceLong Beach Island eager for revival of Fantasy Island fun parkSTORY: Dean LamannaSpecial to Amusement TodayBEACH HAVEN, N.J. —Fantasy Island AmusementPark faced nightmarish realitylast October when SuperstormSandy steamrolled over thistown and the adjoining stringof tight-knit communities thatcomprise slender Long BeachIsland, turning streets into ragingrivers, destroying homesand dislocating residents.Spanning three blocksbetween the beach and thebay, the Victorian-flavoredfun spot — with 19 rides anda cavernous year-round arcadesurrounded by ornatebrick walkways, old-fashionedlampposts and cozy oakbenches — somehow managedto endure a tidal surgepossibly exceeding sevenfeet deep. The park remainedmostly intact even while sufferingthe type of costly damagecaused by water.“Our arcade was floodedand we lost all of the carpeting,and a number of the machineswere affected,” said DianeFrey, Fantasy Island’s marketingdirector. “But there waslot of devastation throughoutLong Beach Island, so we arebeyond grateful that it wasn’tworse at our location.”Frey noted that Sandydefeated most of the familyownedoperation’s pre-stormefforts to elevate its normallevel of winterization. “Wedidn’t anticipate that it wouldbe as bad as it was,” she said.“We raised things up higherthan usual, but you whenthe water comes up to sevenor eight feet, it doesn’t makemuch of a difference.”Due to mold concerns,most of the 28-year-old park’sbuildings had to be gutted,and the general cleanup — dependenton the availability ofalready-overworked contractors— took several months.Yet Fantasy Island’s rides willreopen as normal the weekendof May 18.Frey pointed out that itwas critical to Long Beach Island’srecovery that contractorsfocused on repairing andrebuilding the resort’s manydamaged and lost homes. “Ifthere’s no one on the island,there’s no need to have businesseshere,” she said. “It’simportant to us that the islandcomes back in its entirety.”Meanwhile, an all-out effortwas made to clean up,repair and re-carpet FantasyIsland’s arcade, which benefitedfrom being built aboutnine feet above ground level.The park reopened the fullyenclosed and heated space forregular winter weekend operationon February 16.“Customers have beenchecking in with us constantlythrough our Facebook page— sending letters and prayersand well-wishes,” Frey said.“The most beautiful reactionhas been from children, whichhas just melted our hearts.Growing up and going to theSuperstorm Sandy damagedbuildings and equipmentthroughout Fantasy IslandAmusement Park. After thestorm, an unknown local residenterected a hopeful handmadesign at the base of theFerris wheel. And followingmore than three months ofintensive cleanup and repair,the property’s newlyre-carpeted coin-op arcadereopened February 16.COURTESY FANTASY ISLANDAMUSEMENT PARKshore is a lot more than justan arcade machine or a ride;it’s all the memories that thesekids have.”Fantasy Island’s proprietorsand staff will always rememberthe recovery effortsof the first responders, variouscommunity members and theNew Jersey Amusement Association.“We are very fortunateto have such a strong associationto work with,” Frey said.“It’s hard to put intowords how close everybodybecame after this devastation,”she acknowledged.“People just want to returnto enjoying the beauty of theisland. And we want to helpboost the community’s moraleby continuing to providehappy moments for families.”Shore-ing up the Garden StateNEW JERSEY SHORE — Just how important is it to get the New Jerseycoastline back into shape for the summer 2013 season?According to a study conducted last year for the New Jersey AmusementAssociation (NJAA), tourism along the Jersey shore — with its mix ofamusement piers, boardwalks restaurants, lodgings and casino resorts — isthe foundation of the state’s $38 billion leisure and hospitality industry.NJAA’s study found that 312,000 people, accounting for $9.6 billion inwages, are employed by Jersey shore tourism. The number rises to 486,000,or nearly 10 percent of the state’s total employment, when jobs indirectlyrelated to tourist spending are counted.The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found that leisure and hospitality isthe third-largest employment source statewide after trade, transportationand utilities; and professional/business services.SF Great Adventure fetes storm reliefJACKSON, N.J. — Six Flags Great Adventure (SFGA) kicked off its 2013season March 23 with a Superstorm Sandy benefit concert. Grammy AwardwinningMotown Records artist Ne-Yo and MTV stars Vinny Gaudagnino fromJersey Shore and Andrew Jenks were among the celebrities who appearedonstage.The event was both the culmination and a celebration of a spring breaktimedstorm relief initiative called Spring Fix, sponsored by MTV, mtvU.comand United Way to help rebuild impacted communities along the coast. Fiftycollege students from around the country who successfully applied to participatein the volunteer effort earlier this year were transported to the New York/ New Jersey area by MTV, which recorded their activities.The concert was free with SFGA admission. A portion of the park’s openingday ticket sales directly benefited United Way.