WILLIAMSBURG, VA
Due to an outpouring of public criticism, the James City County Board of Supervisors decided to hold off on a decision regarding a height wavier for an attraction at Busch Gardens Tuesday. SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment LLC, which owns Busch Gardens, requested a height waiver for a project not to exceed 355 feet in height above finished grade, or 435 feet above sea level, according to a staff report. Kevin Lembke, president of Busch Gardens, cast the new attraction as a critical need for the park, which has to innovate to keep up with competing amusement parks. “This is a very critical decision going forward for our park,” he said. “This is the first major step to realize that development in future years.” But supervisors decided to table its decision, owing to criticism of the project by Kingsmill residents and a desire for further study of the attraction’s noise impacts. The board intends to revisit the application June 11. FULL STORY
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ORLANDO, FL
Universal Parks and Resorts is planning to add Nintendo-themed areas to its theme parks in Orlando and Hollywood, California. The company recently filed a patent application for a ride system effect that could be used for Nintendo attractions, possibly even a Mario Kart ride. The patent titled "Speed Simulation Effect" describes technology that uses techniques to give riders the feeling they are moving at high speeds even if the ride vehicle slows down. FULL STORY MASON, OH
Forty years ago, the phenomenon known as The Beast debuted. The ride’s opening in 1979 shook the roller coaster world to its very foundations, breaking all existing records as the longest, the fastest and, well, just plain baddest ride in the world. In roller coasters, there had been nothing else like it anywhere and it took riders to a place they’d never been before, delivering the next level of big thrill, adrenaline-pumping excitement. For sheer size, speed and thrills, The Beast stood alone in a class by itself. The record-breaking features of The Beast included a 7,359-foot long track (1.4 miles) and ride time of four minutes, 10 seconds; vertical drops of 135 feet (at a 45-degree angle) and 141 feet (at an 18-degree angle); a 125-foot long underground tunnel at the bottom of the 135-foot drop; eight banked turns, some to 45 degrees; a massive, 540-degree helix tunnel near the end and speeds up to 64.77 miles per hour. So where did it begin, this idea to build The Beast? It actually began as a dream of recreating one of the Midwest’s most popular old roller coasters. FULL STORY UPPER MARLBORO, MD
If you work for Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department, you could be one of the first people to ride Six Flags America’s newest rollercoaster, “Firebird,” when it opens Thursday. Six Flags America is offering firefighters, medics and civilian members- and their families- to be the first to ride the coaster on Thursday, May 16. The “Firebird” will be the only ride open that day and Six Flags will provide those who attend with complimentary passes when the amusement park is fully open. FULL STORY WEST MIFFLIN, PA
"A special delivery came in over the weekend." That was the announcement from Kennywood Park on their Instagram page Monday. The cars arrived for the new Steel Curtain roller coaster, which when finished, will set a state record for the tallest roller coaster, and national records for most and tallest inversions. The Steel Curtain and Steelers Country will open at Kennywood Park later this year. FULL STORY PIGEON FORGE, TN
Dollywood again solidified its place among the nation’s premier family destinations as Dolly Parton today officially opened Wildwood Grove, the largest expansion in park history. Parton opened the fascinating new land to visitors ready to enjoy its 11 thrilling new experiences. During an early morning media event, Parton shared the inspiration and dreams that led to the creation of Wildwood Grove, calling the area the new standard for Dollywood. At $37 million, Wildwood Grove is Dollywood theme park’s largest capital investment ever and is the first new area added to Dollywood since Wilderness Pass in 2008. The biggest adventure in Dollywood’s history provides guests of all sizes unique experiences to enjoy together as a family. “When I was a little girl growing up in the hills of the Smoky Mountains, I’d often let my imagination just run away—something I still do now—dreaming these big dreams about what it’d be like to venture off with a family of bears in to the woods or how fun it would be to hitch a ride with the butterflies and dragonflies,” Parton said. “All us kids would splash and play in the creeks and ponds around home and have these daydreams about the world around us, and that’s what’s so special about Wildwood Grove. We’ve been able to create a new area to allow families to experience some of those exact dreams we all had when we were little. FULL STORY The 2019 Golden Ticket Awards is the most entertaining way to see behind the scenes of several aspects of the amusement industry and to recognize the Best of the Best! Connect with insiders and colleagues while gathering new insights and perspectives.
The Golden Ticket Awards registration is open only to industry professionals. A weekend awaits of incomparable opportunities. Make plans to attend this don’t-miss event. Registration is now open. The star attraction of the event is the awards ceremony itself. New for 2019 are some fresh new categories, which will be combined with favorites from the past two decades. What will take Best New Ride, Best Innovation, Best Wooden Coaster and Best New Show? What Legends will be recognized? Attendees will be the first to see and hear the winners revealed. FULL STORY ORLANDO, FL
A 29-year-old Daytona Beach man was charged with carrying a concealed firearm when he brought his gun in his backpack last week to the Magic Kingdom, records show. Disney security found the 9 mm handgun in a holster and two loaded magazines during a bag check area at the park’s Ticket and Transportation Center, according to an arrest affidavit from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. In an interview, Terry Bruce, who was charged with a third-degree felony, said he understood the seriousness of bringing his gun “in a place where families and children are.” “It was an honest mistake,” Bruce said when contacted Monday. Bruce said he normally keeps the gun in his trunk or his glove compartment but left it in his backpack because he and his girlfriend kept switching which car to drive to Orlando. “I completely forgot the firearm was in my bag," said Bruce, who isn’t licensed to carry a concealed gun. FULL STORY MASON, OH
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton is again giving back. He and his wife, Jordan, will treat 35 area families to an all-expenses-paid day at Kings Island on Saturday. It's a part of his community outreach program benefiting seriously ill and physically challenged children and their families. The Daltons will foot the bill for a day at the Mason, Ohio, amusement park, offering Fast Lane passes, lunch with the Daltons, soft drink wristbands and special shirts. FULL STORY PIGEON FORGE, TN
Local icon Dolly Parton is back in East Tennessee. She's in Pigeon Forge for the opening of $37 million expansion called Wildwood Grove at her Dollywood theme park. This is the largest park expansion ever and the first new themed area added since 2005. In all, there are 11 new attractions for the Wildwood Grove area. Part of the new expansion includes a roller coaster, a giant swing and a treetop tower. FULL STORY |
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