PIGEON FORGE, TN

​When coming up with its 2019 changes and additions, Dollywood's Splash Country kept guest requests in mind.
Splash Country employees focused on two areas of guest comfort at the Pigeon Forge water park: shade and line speed, according to Dollywood Senior Public Relations Manager Wes Ramey.
The changes include additional shaded areas, a new dining option, upgraded retreat areas and new entertainment in July and August.

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HERSHEY, PA

Saquon Barkley played his high school football in the Lehigh Valley, and then spent three years playing college football at Penn State, so even though he's spending his pro days in New York, the 22-year-old has plenty of Pennsylvania roots.
Which is probably why Barkley is headed to every Pennsylvanian's favorite in-state theme park, Hersheypark, for a Q&A session — oh, and a rollercoaster ride with two extremely lucky fans.


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SANTA FE, NM

Imagine a theme park where, in place of cartoonish familiarity, you encounter a strange, even cosmic, unpredictability – a sort of “alt Disney”.
Vince Kadlubek, co-creator of The House of Eternal Return, and chief executive of the art collective, Meow Wolf, that runs it, describes the park as “a fantastical multiverse”, “totally whacked-out” and “psychedelic”.
It’s like being “inside of a science fiction novel”, he tells RN’s Big Ideas. But it’s also serious business. The commercial theme park is bankrolled by Game of Thrones‘ George RR Martin, who has invested millions in it.


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NEW ORLEANS, LA

​The mayor of New Orleans says the city's derelict Six Flags theme park is closer to being torn down.
Mayor Latoya Cantrell announced Wednesday that the city is figuring out how much it would cost to demolish the old Six Flags and Jazzland location in New Orleans East.
“Right now, I have my sights on the Six Flags site, which we are now running numbers for demolition as I speak," Cantrell told WWL.

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 Six Flags Entertainment (NYSE:SIX), the world’s largest regional theme park company, and Atari®—one of the world’s most iconic consumer brands and interactive entertainment producers—today announced a licensing partnership that will feature real-world Six Flags content in the smash hit RollerCoaster Tycoon® Touch™ mobile game. The Six Flags content will include the company’s world record-breaking roller coasters and attractions, plus its popular restaurants, retail stores, and signature landmarks. The selected properties will serve as special content for RollerCoaster Tycoon® Touch™ players, giving them the unique opportunity to design and manage their own theme parks via their mobile devices.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here:https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190530005197/en/
“We are thrilled to partner with Atari on this carefully curated and very special in-game content," said Six Flags President of International Development David McKillips. “Our strategy of extending the Six Flags brand—virtually in RollerCoaster Tycoon Touch, and with our branded theme park destinations worldwide, is very exciting. This platform is a great way to offer theme park and gaming fans the ability to interact with the world’s largest and most well-known regional theme park brand, taking the experience anywhere, anytime.”
“When you think of amazing theme parks and incredible rides, Six Flags immediately comes to mind,” said Tony Chien, Vice President of Marketing, Atari. “Atari could not be more excited to collaborate with Six Flags to bring together the world's best known regional theme park brand and RollerCoaster Tycoon, the world’s most popular theme park simulation series.”
The partnership includes several installments of additional Six Flags branded assets delivered as periodic content updates, as well as promotion across Six Flags’ in-park Media Networks and via both companies’ social channels throughout North America. RollerCoaster Tycoon® Touch™ is available now on iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, as well as Android devices.

JACKSON TOWNSHIP, NJ

​A popular roller coaster at Six Flags Great Adventure exposes some patrons to the risk of “whiplash type injuries,” says a lawsuit for a physician who claims his ride led to spinal surgery.
Dr. Christopher Fabricant of Red Bank, Monmouth County, contends he suffered “severe and permanent damage to his neck and spine” during a painful ride on Kingda Ka, which the park describes as the “fastest roller coaster in North America.”
The lawsuit in Camden federal court contends park employees did not warn the 6-foot-2 doctor that a person of his body size “was not a candidate for safely riding (Kingda Ka).”

It claims a rider on Kingda Ka risks whiplash from the coaster’s “extreme speed and torqueing forces” if most or all of the person’s head extends above the rear of the seat.
And the suit alleges the seat’s safety harness can cause “crushing injuries” for taller patrons.

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BRISTOL, CT

​Q&A talks with Jerry Brick, general manager of Lake Compounce, ahead of the amusement park’s summer tourism season.
Q. As Bristol-based Lake Compounce heads into its busy spring and summer season, what’s new at the park in 2019? How important is it for the park to introduce something new each year as it tries to remain relevant?
A. While parks do not need to introduce new attractions every year it remains important that we continue to change and grow. Whether it is improvements in retail, food service or our entertainment programs, it is quite important for us to improve upon and introduce new and exciting things to our guests. This year Lake Compounce has redesigned a few of our gift shops, food stands, introduced new events, and added metal detectors to our main gate area.

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ARLINGTON, TX

Six Flags Over Texas, the Thrill Capital of Texas, has unleashed a “devilish” attraction with the opening of the world’s tallest loop coaster— El Diablo. The park’s 14 th coaster has added a sinister spin to the Spain section of the park.
El Diablo, the 14th coaster at Six Flags Over Texas, is a staggering 100 feet tall and has a fiery red and orange theme. The ride uses a pendulum style takeoff to swing riders back and forth, completing several 360 degree revolutions.
“The Six Flags brand is synonymous with innovation at the highest level and we are excited to welcome another record-breaking attraction,” said Park President Steve Martindale. “This super-sized loop coaster features six inversions and the most hang-time of any coaster in the park. El Diablo packs a wicked punch and gives our Members and Season Pass Holders yet another new thrill to experience with family and friends.”

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RYE, NY

​The would-be manager of Playland amusement park filed for bankruptcy yesterday, one day before Westchester County planned to kill the company’s contract to run the park.
Standard Amusements said in a Chapter 11 filing that without the contract it would lose its only source of revenue. It's asking the court for a stay during reorganization that would block the county from terminating its deal "or otherwise taking steps that would frustrate SA's preservation of the Agreement."
The company was supposed to take over management in November, but County Executive George Latimer announced in April he was ending the deal.
Nicholas Singer, the head of the company, said in a declaration filed with federal court that the reorganization filing was necessary after “exhausting all other alternatives, because of the unjustified, bad faith efforts” of the county.

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ORLANDO, FL

A service-dog-in-training met Star Wars‘ famous Wookiee, Chewbacca, at Walt Disney World in Florida, and photos of her adorable, aww-worthy reaction are going viral on Instagram.
Sparrow is an American Golden Retriever living in the United Kingdom and training to become a service dog. Her owners recently took her on a trip to Disney World for a training program, and took photos of Sparrow at a meet-and-greet with Han Solo’s loyal friend at the theme park.


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