News Archive - August 2011

Giraffe born at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

Animal is the second born to his mother at the theme park.

Police arrest 15 at Playland in dispute over Muslim headwear

Posted | Contributed by Lankster

Park says ban is a choking safety concern.

Disney's Aulani resort opens in Hawaii, time-share sales halted on insufficient fees

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

Hotel rooms now open, but company set initial time-share fees too low to cover costs.

Ouimet appointed to Cedar Fair board, seeks a ninth member

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

Unitholders will be able to nominate members at 2012 annual meeting if proposal is approved.

Zippin Pippin a summer blockbuster

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

Green Bay roller coaster more than doubles the expected ridership in its first year.

Indiana Beach 2011 pictures added to Negative-G

Posted | Contributed by Paul Drabek

Paul and Bond spent a couple of days at Indiana Beach in July.

Relocated roller coasters provide thrills at a fraction of the cost of new rides

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

Closing parks and poor economy make used rides an attractive alternative.

Carowinds announces Windseeker

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

The Charlotte theme park will add its own 301-foot tower swing ride for 2012.

Unused German nuclear plant used as theme park

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

Plant never ran due to protests, but the cooling tower and reactor are now used for amusement rides.

Boy falls from Excalibur spin ride at Camelot

Posted | Contributed by Rick_UK

Injuries described as not life-threatening, cause of accident unknown.

Local company will guarantee up to $20 million of Hart's investment in Kentucky Kingdom

Posted | Contributed by Jason Hammond

Hart still has rights to open the park, and this deal could make it happen for 2012.

Despite recent accidents, amusement industry says overall injuries down

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

Amusement park riders describe incidents as "freak accidents."

Royal Caribbean expanding partnership with Universal Orlando for cruises

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

Companies will offer stays at the theme park resort with cruises out of Tampa.

Seabreeze has been in the family for six generations

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

Owners of the park have been in the business for more than a hundred years.

CoasterBuzz Podcast #209 posted

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

Heat, Silverwood, Iron Wolf, Zippin Pippin, Disney financials, the economy, Legoland Florida, the pretties, Deja Fu, Canada's Wonderland, Cedar Point fail, lightning strike, tennis.

Mast breaks on Morey's Piers pirate ship, sends teen to hospital

Posted | Contributed by 67440Dodge

Police said the center mast snapped and fell just before 9:15 p.m. Friday.

Former Indiana Beach workers protest park for safety

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

Ex-employee says there are "possible unsafe" conditions at the amusement park.

Six Flags Magic Mountain removing Deja Vu roller coaster

Posted | Contributed by kRaXLeRidAh

Ride will be moved to Six Flags New England for the summer of 2012.

West Edmonton Mall adds three new water slides

Posted | Contributed by greatwhitenorth

World Waterpark has replaced its aging speed slides with two speed slides and a vertical-looping waterslide.

Roller coasters cause some to scream, some to thrill

Posted | Contributed by OhioStater

Psychology of riding varies from person to person

Florida teachers can score free annual passes to Legoland Florida

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

With proper ID and certificate, teachers will receive a standard annual pass to the theme park, which opens in October.

Cedar Point announces animatronic dinosaur attraction, new Soak City slides

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

The park will retire Paddlewheel Excursions as it adds the new up-charge attraction.

Cedar Point changes haunt attraction names associated with mental illness

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

Park says it's responding to sensitivity complaints.

Alabama Adventure considering sale

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

Low attendance at the amusement park this summer prompts owner to explore options.

Canada's Wonderland announced Leviathan, a 306-foot B&M roller coaster

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

New $28 million ride will make its debut in May.

New York releases report on Darien Lake roller coaster death

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

Report describes interaction with guest services, says victim declined a brochure for disabled guests.

San Francisco writer loves Gilroy Gardens

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

<i>Chronicle</i> writer asks why no one told him about the park sooner.

Lightning strike at Discovery Cove sends eight to hospital

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

Three guests and five employees were taken to local hospitals.

Six Flags New England ready to reveal Giant Inverted Boomerang

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

Park will give details about the "new" ride on September 1.

Merlin CEO enthusiastic about Legoland Florida

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

Theme park boss discusses the research and trade-offs with building at the former Cypress Gardens site.

Fun Spot continues to expand, despite tough economy

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

Park recently added a roller coaster, and it isn't done yet.

Conneaut Lake preservationists gather to celebrate the park

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

Fans visit the park, stay in the hotel, eat at the restaurant.

Screechin' Eagle roller coaster removed from LeSourdsville Lake

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

Classic John Miller coaster is finally razed, citing safety concerns.

Cedar Point fire burns games warehouse

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

Johnny Rocket's restaurant sustains smoke and water damage.

New Orleans mayor calls for bids to develop former Six Flags property

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

The subject of many photo essays, the abandoned amusement park has sat idle since Hurricane Katrina.

Silverwood granted rezoning request for future expansion

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

Company says it will wait for highway improvements before developing the land.

Disney donates classic train to museum from California Adventure

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

Western Pacific Railroad Museum will receive the train piece, which was previously used as an ice cream stand.

Legoland Florida about two months from opening day

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

The former Cypress Gardens theme park begins coming together with its new theme.

Taiwan considers lifting ban on outside food at theme parks

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

Government agency complains that markup on some food can exceed 60%.

Disney beats earnings and revenue estimates on ad rates and theme parks

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

Theme park revenue was up 12% for the quarter.

California's Great America sued for gay slur on-ride photo

Posted | Contributed by Alexatucla

Suit says park employees added a caption to a photo of a couple and then put it on display.

Zippin Pippin starts night rides, over a thousand gather for the late opening

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

Donated lights allow the Green Bay roller coaster to stay open after dusk.

New Children's Museum will take residence at Playland

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

Officials approve $1 annual lease in exchange for renovations to historic bathhouse at the park.

Little A-Merrick-A owner Lee Merrick dies at 92

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

Park will carry on, according to its general manager.

Enchanted Forest celebrates 40 years

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

People thought owner was crazy to build the park when it originally opened.

Six Flags Great America announces removal of Iron Wolf

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

Facebook page says last day for the B&M stand-up roller coaster is September 5.

Universal Orlando sets 12-month attendance record

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

Wizarding World of Harry Potter attractions drive the theme park resort attendance to new highs.

Ark Encounter theme park gets 75% cut on property tax

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

City and county give the Bible-themed attraction a discount on taxes for 30 years.

Disney does't have the only castle anymore in Central Florida

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

Harry Potter's Hogwarts, a new castle at Legoland, and even two new properties at Magic Kingdom add to the castle charm.

Alton Towers allegedly tells woman with one leg to get doctor's letter to prove disability

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

Newspaper says the park denied her special access without the documentation.

Winter Haven officials want to keep Legoland guests in town

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

Difficult traffic and easy out to Orlando make the town a hard sell for visitors of the forthcoming Lego theme park.

Flying Crow zip line opens at Indiana Beach

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

Attraction is part of the Adventure Point area of the park.

Busch Gardens Tampa worker accused of stealing brass brake plates from park

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

The accused was allegedly caught selling the brass for scrap.

Freestyle Music Park mortgage holder buys park out of foreclosure, wants to open it next year

Posted | Contributed by KEVINM80

After several owners and false starts, FPI US LLC hopes to change the park's fate next year.

Steel Pier operator buys pier from Trump Entertainment for $4.25 million

Posted | Contributed by Agent Johnson

The Catanoso Family leased and operated the pier for 20 years.

Golden Gate Bridge facade comes down at Disney California Adventure

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

Fake bridge was part of the original theme of Disney's second theme park in Anaheim.

Felony charge added for Elgin cop after alleged incident at Michigan's Adventure

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

Additional charge comes from alleged fight with guards in the jail after arrest.

Holiday World announces Mammoth, the longest water coaster in the world

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

The $9 million ride will be 1,753-feet long, displacing the record of its own Wildebeest.

Cedar Fair attendance and revenue up in second quarter

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

Attendance in July up 5%, net revenue for quarter up 3%.

Hershey announces Skyrush for 2012

Posted | Contributed by delan

After months of anticipation, Hersheypark revealed its next project, a 200-foot roller coaster.

Dolly Parton apologizes for "gay" T-shirt incident at Dollywood

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

Park says they are reviewing policies around dress code.

Cedar Fair buys 61 acres next to Carowinds

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

Company keeps an eye on expansion at the Charlotte park.

Amusement parks offer ways to skip lines, for free or for a fee

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

Virtual queueing and outright line skipping is becoming an option at virtually all amusement and theme parks.

Six Flags, 50 years later

Posted | Contributed by onceler

What started as a little piece of Texas Americana has gone international; a short history of the Six Flags amusement park chain and how it started.

CoasterBuzz Podcast #208 posted

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

C4K for GKTW, Ouimet, Windseeker, Markey, Darien Lake lawsuit, Harry Potter, Kennywood, California Adventure, Geauga Lake, discrimination, stuck slingshot, bad cop, Six Flags results, "gay" shirt.

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