PG10 Park News Final 3/26/07 4:02 PM Page 10
Park News
www.parkworld-online.com
Vikings come to
Kernels
Legoland Windsor
The Sea World Eye, a 60-metre observation wheel from Ronald
Water ride anchors new
Bussink Professional Rides, will stay at the Australian park until May
17. The ride offers unparalleled sweeping views of the Gold Coast
area at London park
and Sea World’s Broadwater surroundings and passengers are given
facts about the area courtesy of the on-board sound system in each
of the 42 air-conditioned gondolas. The Sea World Eye is free to ride
Legoland Windsor near London will this summer unveil its biggest as part of the normal park admission price.
investment to date, a 400-metre-long rapids ride by the name of Vikings’
River Splash. Supplied by ABC Rides of Switzerland, it will be the highlight In late April, Six Flags St Louis, Eureka, Missouri, will introduce a
of the park’s new Land of the Vikings area. spinning coaster from Gerstlauer of Germany, identical to the ride
Up to 1,300 guests an hour will be taken on a wet and wild journey, opening this season at Six Flags Over Texas in San Antonio. The new
coursing through interactive water-features like the Troll Wash, where addition will be called Tony Hawk’s Big Spin, themed after
buckets of water will be emptied from the top of a four-metre high mast. skateboard superstar Tony Hawk.
Water in the ride will be recycled and filtered continuously.
Both Vikings’ River Splash Jora Vision is to supply a themed, Mechanical Minigolf installation to
and the Land of the Vikings a new FEC (family entertainment centre) in Molenheide, Belgium.
will be themed around the The new facility will make use of a converted old factory building.
Lego Vikings toy range. Owners of the FEC will receive operational guidance for the golf
Guests will access the new course from Center Parcs, which worked with Jora Vision to develop
area via a pathway leading the original Mechanical Minigolf at a number of its outlets in
down from the top of the Holland.
park. Families will be able
to travel through a fantasy The Fabbri Group is to supply a 50-metre Giant Booster to a
Viking world featuring over travelling showman in Holland, as well as Spinning Madness rides to
60 detailed Lego models, customers in Holland, Switzerland and Spain.
sea serpents, Viking
warriors and a dragon Crealy adventure park, Devon, England, got off to a positive start to
nursery. Land of the Vikings 2007, enjoying its busiest February for three years. "The half-term
is expected to boost overall holiday in particular was very popular,” says Crealy managing
park capacity by 15%. director Angela Wright. “The indoor attractions were particularly
Meanwhile Legoland enjoyed during the sometimes damp holiday.” Since November,
Windsor’s famous hedge Crealy has been open Thursdays to Sundays, before resuming its
maze, created by the world- daily schedule April 1. New attractions ready for Easter will include
renowned labyrinth the FUNambulist Challenge, Water Wars and King Henry's Treasure
designer Adrian Fisher, will Hunt.
also get a Nordic
makeover for 2007, when Dutch theming specialist Jora Vision has established a joint venture
it will be re-launched as with a factory in China to produce its fibreglass mouldings. A new
‘Loki’s Labyrinth’ as part of park in Malaysia will be one of the first venues to benefit.
the Viking homestead.
Private equity deal for Parques Reunidos
The Spanish-based animal, waterpark and amusement park operator Parques Reunidos changed hands back in January in a deal believed to be
worth more than €900 million. The buyer was, you’ve guessed it, a private equity house: Candover in London.
A minority investment will also be made by the Bourne Leisure, also from the UK, and the management team including Richard Golding, Jose
Diaz and Pedro Cortes will all re-invest in the new equity structure.
Parques Reunidos currently operates 22 venues in six countries: Spain, Italy, France, Belgium, Norway and Argentina. The group, which is
headquartered in Madrid, reported pro forma revenues of €193.5m in 2006 and entertained over 9.2m visitors.
The management team is led by chief executive Richard Golding and general manager Jose Diaz. Both have been at the forefront of European
consolidation having led the growth and international expansion of the group since they joined in 2003, buying properties such as Bobbejaanland
in Belgium and Mirabilandia in Italy. Their growth strategy of acquiring and integrating under-performing regional attraction parks will remain a
core focus for the group going forward.
“We are very excited to have Candover's backing and access to their collective expertise in the leisure sector as we seek to continue building our
portfolio of attraction parks across Europe and possibly further a field,” says Golding.
10 APRIL 2007