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Park News
www.parkworld-online.com
Fisher’s fresh approach Meet the next TEA
Maze maestro makes comeback
president . . .
Maze designer Adrian Fisher has set up a new company together with his wife Steve Thorburn, principal of AV entertainment specialist
Marie. Adrian Fisher Design Ltd will provide a “personal and attentive service” Thorburn Associates, has been voted in as president
providing mazes of all kinds, hands-free action adventures, landscape design, elect of the TEA (Themed Entertainment Association).
public art and urban planning. "The TEA presidency demands vision, leadership and
The slimmed down company, which replaces Adrian Fisher Mazes, will commitment,” says sitting president Nick Farmer.
concentrate on the design of such attractions, contracting experienced “Steve Thorburn has all three.” Farmer will formally
professionals to bring them to fruition on a project to project basis. pass the president's gavel to Thorburn this November
Named by The Guardian in Orlando, during the TEA members' meeting at
Steve Thorburn
newspaper as one of Britain's top IAAPA Attractions Expo.
50 designers, Adrian Fisher is an A TEA member for 15 years, and treasurer for the last four years, 46-year-
international garden design gold old Thorburn has served as project manager and engineer on more than
medallist and boasts six Guinness 2,000 projects, several of which have won Thea Awards. As a lecturer, he has
World Records to his name. Since logged more than 40,000 student hours.
1979 he has created 500 full-size “I believe I can make substantial contributions in several areas,” says the
mazes across 30 countries, man himself, “especially in TEA's current efforts to grow the association and
including 25 mirror mazes. As diversify its membership. And with four years' experience as TEA treasurer, I will
well as his work within the also help keep us fiscally responsible."
attractions sector, Adrian also
devises regular puzzles for a
number of newspapers and
magazines.
All aboard for
Adrian Fisher: back in business www.adrianfisherdesign.com
EnterTRAINment junction!
Believed to be the world’s only train-themed FEC, EnterTRAINment Junction
has opened in suburban Cincinnati, Ohio. The new, $10 million project
includes the world’s largest (25,000 sq ft) indoor train display. Youngsters can
also enjoy a children’s play area, railroading museum and train ride.
EnterTRAINment
Junction is the fulfilled
dream of owner Don
Oeters, a Cincinnati
Remember the excitement of being taken to the seaside? businessman and train
Remember the amazing sight of the amusement park,
enthusiast. His vision
the flashing lights, the smell of the candyfloss – and
the joy of being allowed “just one more” ride?
was to create a one-of-
a-kind FEC that would
Perhaps no amusement park in Britain sums up the English summer of our
entertain, educate and
youth more than Dreamland in Margate.
promote railroading
No longer in use, the site includes a Grade II Listed Scenic Railway, a and the associated
Grade II* Listed Cinema and various other buildings in different
hobby.
states of repair.
Permission exists for amusement park uses on the site, and
expressions of interest are invited for operators wishing
to take up the leasehold of all or part of the site for Hong Kong Disneyland offers
development and operation of an amusement park,
including the Scenic Railway, to the best modern
standards.
Chinese a ticket to ride
Those who are interested in living the dream
The recent announcement that residents of Shenzhen in Mainland China will be
will be asked to provide details of proposals
allowed to visit Hong Kong Disneyland without a domestic Exit-Entry permit has
for all or part of the site, a business plan, angered Hong Kong’s long-established Ocean Park, which now also wants to be
and certificate of qualification and
included as part of the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) scheme.
insurance to run the park.
“I just hope that there's a level playing field," Ocean Park chairman Allan Zeman
told the press recently.
Under the CEPA scheme, visitors to Disneyland will be abel to enter and leave
In the initial instance, if you are
interested in discussing the
Hong Kong through specified immigration control points if they travel as part of an
opportunity, please contact Ross organised group. Only a handful of groups will be allowed each year.
Stewart on 0118 929 0720/0700 by
1st October 2008
According to the state-owned China Travel service, Disneyland enjoys a good
reputation in the mainland and has spare capacity to host more visitors. While
financial secretary John Tsang Chun-Wah has defended the deal with the park, he
did stress that it is only a pilot scheme that it may be expanded to cover other
destinations.
14 SEPTEMBER 2008
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