PG03 Front Gate Final 3/27/07 1:41 pm Page 3
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BigQuestion ParkPoll
What caught your eye at this winter's trade shows?
Recent results from
Cees Kikstra, StarParks, Europe: A few things caught my attention.
parkworld-online.com
First, and it's not quite new, interactive computer projection - smoke
curtains, water curtains etc that you can walk through. I think these can
Is Nice the right
be manipulated in a lot of ways and offer some very interesting
choice of venue for the
possibilities. Then there's the development of the Mountain Glider. My
colleague Bill Muirhead [StarParks CEO] signed up for the first one when
2008* Euro Attractions Show?
he was at Walibi Belgium. This allows you to fly for 60-metres without
supports, and that's really new for parks. Finally, the Splash Battle has
been a real breakthrough. What visitors want is
YES NO
interactivity and water play, and this has it both. It's now available in a new
trackless version I believe.
36% 64%
Dick Knoebel, Knoebel's Amusement Park & Resort, USA:
Nothing jumped out at me, but I was visiting the show [IAAPA] on a
restrained budget because of our flood and other commitments. We need
*A second Euro Attractions Show will
to complete our Flying Turns ride.
take place Sept/Oct 2008 in Munich
Thomas Etheridge, Wild West World, USA: The Wild West World
Turnstile image (above) courtesy OmniTicket Network
rides, many of which were on display at IAAPA, such as those from Moser
Rides, SBF, Rides-4-U, and IE Park. To me, they were the most exciting
rides we've seen at the IAAPA Attractions Expo and I am sure guests will
love them when our new park opens in May.
Kernels
Javier Almándoz Ríos, Port Aventura, Spain:
Kings Island, outside Cincinnati, Ohio, will
It's difficult to say, we see the same manufacturers at
celebrate its 35th anniversary this year with the
each show and there are not a lot of novelties. It is left to use to take a
addition of a 14th rollercoaster, Firehawk. A
basic ride or attraction and develop our own story. There have been a lot
Vekoma flying coaster, it operated for the past
of 4D film attractions over the last few years, but other than that it's a quiet
six years as X-Flight at Geauga Lake, Aurora,
time right now. Although there are ideas, no one wants to have the
Ohio. It will be located at Kings Island behind
prototype…
the Flight of Fear in the park’s Coney Mall.
The Fabbri Group’s first Flying Swinger will
Dan Aylward, Magic Springs & Crystal Falls, USA: The Airballs
go to the Freij Entertainment Group in
attraction from Skytrack seemed to be an innovative new piece. Overall
Dubai, it has been revealed. The Italian
the manufacturers are evolving their existing products in innovative ways.
manufacturer’s interpretation of the tower
And it's always good to see old friends.
ride swing concept is available in either 30
or 50-metre-tall versions.
Image courtesy
Ups &
Psyclone Goes - Psyclone, a clone of the
Maurer Söhne
famous Coney Island Cyclone, has been
Downs
dismantled at Six Flags Magic Mountain as the
park goes for a more family-friendly approach
Cyclone Stays - Astroland
might have been sold, but
the famed Cyclone coaster
Kansas Park Closing? - Joyland
will continue operating at
Amusement Park, Wichita, Kansas,
Coney Island under a lease
could soon be given over to
deal with New York City
commercial use if potential buyers for
the 58-year-old attraction get their way
Rides, Camera, Action! - European Disneyland Defeats Housing Plan -
parks are bracing themselves for fresh A plan to allow new homes across from
secondary spend opportunities as at California’s Disneyland, on land that
least two DVD ride systems go into could be used for a third Disney park, has
operation this season been defeated by Anaheim City Council
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