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There's another aspect of excitement in the world of thrill rides. There's the excitement of the latest announcements of upcoming rides from an industry as secretive as the military at times, and the excitement of all the latest happenings at parks around the world. Sometimes the news is good, sometimes the news is bad, but our aim is to bring you the fairest, timeliest, most accurate details on everything that concerns you. COASTER-net's team of journalists is hard at work around the clock to bring you the in-depth scoop!
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Disney may strike deal with Brazilian government
Brazilian government offers Disney 432 acres for next 30 years
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© Disney
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Rumors have been spreading for a while that Disney is looking to build their next theme park in China, India, or South Korea- yet the next Disney park may not even be in the western hemisphere.
According to the Brazilian newspaper journal De Brasilia the Brazilian government is in negotiations with Disney to build the first theme park in Latin America.
The government of Brazil’s Distrito Federal, a tiny part of the country which contains Brasilia, or the capitol of Brazil, has offered Disney a 432-acre plot of land which is currently a nature reserve; however, the act which designated the area as a nature reserve also stated it could be used as an amusement park.
According to De Brasilia, Disney has “responded positively” to the deal which would lease them 432 acres of land for 30 years.
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Council approves 2007 Dollywood ride plans
Official announcement for new coaster expected in June
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© Dollywood
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Continuing with the current trend at Dollywood of adding a new thrill ride almost yearly, the Pigeon Forge planning commission has approved plans for the park's 2007 attraction.
On Tuesday, the Pigeon Forge Planning Commision returned a unanimous vote giving the park permission to forge ahead with their preliminary work for Dollywood's new 2007 
© Dollywood
| | Artwork of Dollywood's 2007 attraction shows off the ride's theme concept. The ride is said to be part of the park's largest expansion yet. |
attraction and what is said to be the largest expansion in the history of Dollywood. Apparently this expansion will exceed the park's 2004 Thunderhead Gap addition in size.
The park is releasing very few details on the new ride. The only details that have been made public at this point are that the ride will be carry passengers 121-feet above the ground and then send them plummeting vertically over a simulated broken trustle.
Dollywood spokesperson, Pete Owens, would not reveal any more details on the ride. An official announcement is expected to be made in July since the ride is a 2007 attraction.
This season, the park will unveil Timber Tower, the centerpiece thrill ride in a $6.5 million expansion.
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Year-round water park resort planned for NY
$30.6-Million-dollar project will become state's first
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Construction is about to begin for central New York’s first ever combined water park and hotel. Greak Peak Ski Resort has their answer to staying open year-round: a $30.6-million expansion.
The concept is one of the hottest trends in the industry, which is what persuaded private lenders to sign off on the project, said Al Kryger, president of Peak Resorts Inc. and a managing member of HLI Management LLC.
The new area is planned to hold six slides, many pools, and many more under cover attractions.
"I've been in the ski business 48 years," Kryger said. "What do you do at a ski area in the summer to make it profitable? Golf courses seem to work, but not without real estate."
This is planned to be similar to the Six Flags Great Escape Lodge, opened in February in the Lake George area. Many great things are planned for the new area to Greek Peak.
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Big changes on the way for small southern park
Visionland gets renamed, receives multi-million-dollar expansion
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© Visionland
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The owners of Visionland, Southland Entertainment, announced today that the park will no longer be named Visionland. The park will now be known as Alabama Adventure and will have a new tagline, "The New Name For Fun."
Not only is the park getting a new name, Southland Entertainment also announced that Alabama Adventure will also be adding a hotel with an indoor water park, an animal park, a sports complex, RV Park, a stock car racing zone, and an interactive water play area.
Along with all the expansions, Alabama Adventure will also be hosting many concerts featuring nine big name music artists. The First Financial Bank summer concert series will feature Bo Bice, Blake Shelton, Raven, Lifehouse, The Nashville Star Show, Miranda Lambert, Sugarland, and The Charlie Daniels Band.
The park will also be targeting families with a Christian Music Festival weekend and a Children's Nickelodeon Game Lab weekend.
Alabama Adventure located just outside of Birmingham, Alabama is a 200-acre complex with two parks, Magic City USA and Splash Beach Water Park. Best known for their world renowned wooden rollercoaster Rampage, American Adventure opens for the weekends on April 22.
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Free admission leads to stampede at Lotte World
South Korea park cancels promotion after event causes injuries
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South Korea 03/26/06 - By: -
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© Lotte World
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During today's fine Sunday morning, some 35-70,000 people crowded in front of the moderately sized park in South Korea for what Lotte World thought would be a routine promotional event. However, trouble soon arose.
Although the promotion of free admission was to continue until around March 31, the event was to honor a staff member who died on the park's Intamin Aqua Trax ride known as Atlantis Adventure on the 6th.
By around 3:30 a.m. or so, thousands of people mainly from the province of Chungcheong waited anxiously in front of the park's four ticket gates. Around 9:00-9:30, the park's opening time, a grand total of nearly 70,000 people had shown up well over many park's legal limits.
Consider now that most Six Flags parks in the United States, by state regulation, allow 45,000 guest and tourist into the park at one time and then close it off until the crowds die down just a smidge. Some on-lookers say that the park was warned several times by the Songpa authorities in the near area warned the park that it should be prepared for what they didn't realize was happening.
In all this uproar and mass of people, nearly 40 people were hurt and sent to the local hospital with various injuries. Since then, the park has told the general public that its free-admission promotional event has been cancelled.
Some 8 million visitors go to this favorite of destinations every year. Lotte World opened its gates for the first time in July of 1989.
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UK may receive 574-foot vertical amusement complex
Birmingham Pinnacle would rise to half of Stratosphere Tower's height
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© BBC News
If approved, the 574-foot Birmingham Pinnacle will feature amusement rides, observation decks, and a restaurant at the top.
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If plans are approved as expected, the city of Birmingham, England will be the new home to the Stratosphere Tower's smaller cousin at a cost of £60 million or roughly $105 million.
BBC News reported today that developers hope to excite thrill-seekers by constructing one of the country's tallest buildings and fitting it with several rides similar to the precedent set by the Stratosphere Tower in Las Vegas with its high-altitude thrills Big Shot, Insanity: the Ride, and X-Scream.
At 574 feet tall, the Birmingham Pinnacle would rise to exactly half the height of Las Vegas' Stratosphere Tower and feature a complex of four rides. That height would make it the third-tallest building in England, just behind 600- and 590-foot structures in London.
© Clint Novak
The original vertical amusement park, Las Vegas' Stratosphere Tower, rises to 1,149 feet and currently features three rides. |
Following a statement from the Birmingham City Council in 2003 encouraging new high-end, high-rise construction to redefine the city's skyline, ROC International Towers brought the proposal for the new tower to the table.
Although many of the details on the new rides are left to speculation and interpretation, BBC News reports that one will be similar to the Stratosphere Tower's X-Scream, describing it as a "seesaw" attraction. Meanwhile, "bungee drop" and parachute drop rides will be featured elsewhere in the complex, although it is unknown how much of the tower's vertical space these rides would cover. Most prominently, a 50-rider attraction presumed to be an observation tower would adorn the top.
The proposed site for the skyscraper is adjacent Millennium Point, a complex featuring various attractions and commercial facilities.
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Daughter of HKD heart attack victim cries conspiracy
Boey accuses Hong Kong government of coverup in 2005 death
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Hong Kong Disneyland, Hong Kong, China 03/23/06 - By: Devin Olson -
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© Disney
Joanna Boey has accused the Hong Kong government of conspiracy following the end of investigation into her mother's death at the Disneyland park.
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Joanna Boey says that her mother was denied adequate medical treatment during a heart attack at Hong Kong Disneyland in the park's opening month last September. In fact, she states that the park failed to provide any treatment whatsoever prior to Nge Yoi Chan's death at age 82.
Now, Boey has blamed the Hong Kong government of conspiracy and coverup after learning that the inquiry into her mother's death has been closed.
The Singapore native notes that the government failed to collect evidence in her possession that helps prove her case that the park failed her mother adequate such as records she held detailing conversations with insurance officials.
She cites the government's 50-percent share in the park as a motive for closing the investigation prematurely. The government held 57 percent of the park's shares as of Hong Kong Disneyland's debut last fall.
Her intention now is to take the case to the United States.
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Petitions aim to save Myrtle Beach Pavilion
Thousands of people signing to help keep park alive
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Myrtle Beach Pavilion Amusement Park, South Carolina, USA 03/22/06 - By: Carsten Anderson -
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© Matt Rydzik
Myrtle Beach Pavilion is operating for its final season due to redevelopment slated to replace the park.
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Thousands of people are filling out petitions to help save the park. This season is said to be the last one the park will have.
Myrtle Beach opened in 1948. The amusement park was small and a central landmark for the area. Myrtle Beach has been thrilling generation to generation.
The owners of the park, Burroughs and Chapin Company say that the park will close for good this fall.
There has been more than 4,400 names on the petitions. Many of the names come from all of the US. Some range from the Carolinas and others as far as Hawaii.
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Golden theme park slated to open in China
Planned theme park would be dedicated to gold mining
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China is going to have their new theme park dedicated to gold. Their new theme park they just started building last week will be home to this.
They plan to have visitors to stand there and be able to see the gold being mined and processed. Vistors will also be able to be a gold miner for a day in the do-it-yourself area.
China is the third in the market for gold. Next comes India and then the US.
The cost of the new park is 200 yuan and is set to open sometime between 2007 and 2008.
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Asian theme park waiting for approval
Shanghai waits for permission to build Disney park
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Beijing, China 03/21/06 - By: -
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© Disney
Another location in which Disney has been trying to build a theme park is India.
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Shanghai's mayor, Han Zheng has revealed that Shanghai is making arrangements to construct the planned Disney theme park.
"Shanghai wants to build a Disney park and has hoped for a long time to do so," Zheng said. "But we can't be sure when construction work will begin." The comments were directed to press gathered at an annual session of the Chinese legislature in Beijing.
Zheng also said that Shanghai has the right premises to build a park and that they were planning how to carry out the aspects of preparatory work. Also, he has said that they could only build the theme park with permission from China's State Council.
If Shanghai were to receive their own Disney theme park, it would somewhat rival the newly opened Disney park in Hong Kong. A senior tourism official in China considers that Hong Kong Disneyland is already overcrowded, which could win backing to the fact that a Shanghai park could contain the demand from China's large population.
Shao Qiwei, the director of China's State Administration of Tourism says that China has an immense population, of 1.3 billion people, and that the Chinese economy is very large, therefore, this Shanghai theme park seems quite possible.
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Changes coming to Texas theme park
Shapiro: Six Flags to focus more on Fiesta Texas
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San Antonio, TX, USA 03/20/06 - By: -
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© Six Flags Fiesta Texas
This season marks Six Flags Fiesta Texas' tenth year as a member of the Six Flags theme park chain.
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Mark Shapiro, CEO of Six Flags, recently made a visit it to Six Flags Fiesta Texas to make an evaluation of the park. Shapiro took similar tours of the other Six Flags parks for the same reason.
Mark Shariro has planned to set the park in a direction so that it will recieve increased attendance and a further investment in the park from Six Flags Inc.
Martin Bozer, the Vice President of Six Flags Fiesta Texas told that Sharpio seemed very impressed with the park. Bozer said, "He loves the ambiance of the site, the quarry setting," when regarding to Shapiro's liking of the park. Bozer is content with the fact that Six Flags Inc. will be very efficient in majorly changing their parks, trying to win more attendance for them.
A part of the investment that Six Flags will make in Fiesta Texas is going to the water park. Six Flags plans to expand and improve the waterpark at Six Flags Fiesta Texas. More so, park officials are anticipating something exciting for the 2007 season, which they are currently planning.
In the past years Six Flags Fiesta Texas has been getting visitors from from all over Texas and even Mexico. Now, the park plans to draw more visitors from the Houston area, since Six Flags AstroWorld is gone.
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Skyline change for Chattanooga
Park's new attraction rises into the sky
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A new skyline change has arrived at Lake Winnepesaukah, or Lake Winnie as locals call the park. While they are not done with construction on their new drop tower it has changed the Chattanooga skyline forever.
While the new ride called OH-ZONE! is set to open April 1. The new drop tower stands 14 stories high and will reach a speed up to 50 mph. It also features a round ride vehicle that will allow guests to sit closer to each other than they usually would.
The new tower will have a spectacular light show on the side of it and crowning the top. Even though this ride is a high thriller, it is a ride that the whole famliy will enjoy, provided that they are at least 42 inches tall.
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Mickey blimp flying over your home town
Mickey blimp will fly over 11 cities in the United States
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© Disneyland and Disney Company
To wrap up the celebration of Disneyland's 50th anniversary, the park will fly a Mickey-themed blimp all over the western side of the United States.
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Fifty years ago, Walt Disney opened Disneyland Resort in California. There, he released the magic around the world. Now, fifty years later, the magic is still going with Disneyland’s Happiest Homecoming on Earth.
But, their fiftieth anniversary is coming to an end. To help finish the magical celebration off, Disney theme parks are going around the United States by blimp. For the next two months, a giant Mickey head with a pair of golden Mickey ears will be flying around the states.
Follow Mickey as he passes your home town. It is something magical that you can’t miss, but it won’t last forever. Check below for its upcoming locations and dates.
Tucson, AZ
March 30-31
Phoenix, AZ
April 3-4
San Diego, CA
April 6-7
Fresno, CA
April 17
San Francisco, CA
April 19-20
Sacramento, CA
April 25-26
Vancouver, BC
May 2-3
Seattle, WA
May 9-10
Portland, OR
May 15-16
Salt Lake City, UT
May 22-23
Albuquerque, NM
May 25-26
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Six Flags New Orleans to remain closed this season
Hurricane-devastated park may reopen for 2007 season at earliest
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Six Flags New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, USA 03/16/06 - By: Josh Davidson -
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© Six Flags New Orleans
Six Flags New Orleans, which was devastated by Hurricane Katrina, will not open its doors to the public for the 2006 park season.
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Last summer, the New Orleans area was devastated by Hurricane Katrina, where Six Flags New Orleans dwells. The park was completely deluged as most of it laid helplessly underwater. As result, most of the park's main attractions were damaged due to this massive storm.
On Wednesday, Six Flags announced that Six Flags New Orleans will not be opening for the 2006 park season. Six Flags wants to open the park once all damage has been lifted, and make sure all the rides are safe.
On the other hand, the park will not close its doors to the public permanently as it is expected to reopen in 2007 or later.
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Carowinds hopes for happy campers in 2006
Campground to reopen, joining water park renovation
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Paramount's Carowinds, Charlotte, NC, USA 03/16/06 - By: Devin Olson -
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© Clint Novak
After focusing on drawing new thrill-seekers for several years, Carowinds hopes to compliment rides such as Top Gun with new draws for families.
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More overnight guests will return to Paramount's Carowinds this season along with water park fans with the redebut of the park's adjacent campground.
Paramount's Camp Wilderness Resort is the name given to the renovated 25-acre campground at Paramount's Carowinds, which closed two years ago. The park cited a need to temporarily focus attention on new rides rather than accomodations as the reason for closure.
Now, the Carolina-based theme park is focusing back on the popular draws for families and redebuting the campground. Fifteen air-conditioned cabins, 200 camp sites, a swimming pool, miniature golf and discounts on park tickets are a few of the campground's features that the park is hoping will draw a plethora of new overnight visits.
The renovated campground joins the park's water park renovation in a multi-million-dollar focus on improving the property for the 2006 season. Boomerang Bay, formerly known as Water Works, will officially redebut on May 20, to join forces with the newly-announced campground overhaul.
Paramount's Camp Wilderness Resort opens with the park season on March 25.
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'Goliath' challenge awaits for GA passholders
Six Flags over Georgia encourages early pass processing
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Austell, GA, USA 03/15/06 - By: -
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© Six Flags over Georgia
Goliath is Six Flags over Georgia's largest ride addition, covering 8.5 acres with 4,480 track feet and a lift exceeding 20 stories.
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Six Flags over Georgia has announced that for the 2006 season, season-passholders could process their passes early, so they can ride Goliath before it opens to the public.
On Feb. 25 and 26, Six Flags over Georgia's season pass processing center was open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. so that season-passholders could take advantage of this opportunity. The official Six Flags web site says during spring break, pass-holders will be able to come to the park on April 1 through April 9.
The park will open at 10:00 a.m. on both of these days, allowing one-day ticket-holders and season pass holders to enter into the park. Six Flags over Georgia, however, officially opened on March 4. Even though the park is open to the public on these dates, this is still a good opportunity for season pass holders.
Goliath's circuit has been completed and the station is underway. The ride is Six Flags over Georgia's largest and perhaps most unique addition, traveling outside of the park and over roads. Testing for the coaster should be taking place soon, considering the ride's overall progress.
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Manhattan water park meets trouble
Local residents may not be able to afford tickets
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Randalls Island Waterpark, Manhattan, New York City, NY, USA 03/15/06 - By: Brian -
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Recently New York's City Hall revealed plans that would have a outdoor water park and indoor beach club on 26 acres of land in the Manhattan area of the city. The proposed $168 million project is having troubles already.
The challengers are City Controller William Thompson and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer and they claim that, if built, the two neighborhoods nearest to the park would not be able to afford the ticket prices. They are said to be $37 for adults and $27 for children.
The firm they have chosen to build the park, the Aquatic Development Group, claims that it will create hundreds of new jobs and generate millions in revenue for the city. Herbert Ellis, the president of the firm states, "I don't think there's anyone that won't be able to afford it."
His comments are not convincing anyone. Both Thompson and Scott opposed the plan, and wanted a bidding war rather than going straight to the Aquatic Development Group. They were hoping that a bidding process would not cause such a high price, like it is now.
The project was first brought forward in 2000, as a $45 million 15 acre park. If completed, it will be the first such park in a major American city.
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Seven injured at Six Flags over Texas
'Texas Tornado' swing ride malfunctions
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Six Flags over Texas 03/14/06 - By: -
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© Six Flags over Texas
Six Flags over Texas is Six Flags Inc.'s original theme park, built in 1961.
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On Sunday, March 12, seven riders were injured at Six Flags over Texas on the Texas Tornado when it malfunctioned.
The Texas Tornado, a swing / whirligig ride was operating when the ride came to an unexpected disturbance during the ride's cycle. The operator of the ride had stopped it, and when the ride was lowering for the passengers to exit, some of the riders' swings hit each other.
Since these were only minor injuries, the guests who were on the ride were simply sent to Six Flags Over Texas' First Aid center. One rider, a woman, complained of some back pain due to the accident, and was sent to the hospital.
The Texas Tornado is now closed for inspections by Six Flags over Texas engineers. The 23-year-old ride has a clean safety history prior to this incident. The accident seems to have been caused by the ride operator who was not cautious when stopping the ride for the passengers to get off.
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Rye Playland introduces new ride ratings
Park will use new rating system as result of boy's death
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Back in August, a young boy died at Playland amusement park in Rye, New York. Investigations concluded that Jon-Kely, the boy who died, climbed out of his boat and then fell to his death. Because of this, state senators are now considering a rating system for amusement park rides. This system will be similar to the movie rating system.
"We have no choice but to make immediate changes so that they are in place prior to the opening of our amusement parks," said Sen. Nicholas Spano. If it is planned to be official, it would be all set by this summer.
The system would be similar to the rating system used by movies, but instead they would use: made to frighten you, sudden drops and falls, frightening and dark, and many others.
Joseph Montalto, director of Playland, now provides patrons with brochures pointing out the dark rides. When asked his reaction to a more detailed requirement, he said, "We would consider anything. We want people to be informed. We want people to be safe." He added, however, that "We find we end up sweeping up a great many of the brochures we hand out."
There is no set date on when this will become active and if this will happen. But, many state senators are looking to it.
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The end of an era for Myrtle Beach
Pavilion announces permanent post-2006 closure
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Myrtle Beach Pavilion Amusement Park, Myrtle Beach, SC, USA 03/10/06 - By: Devin Olson -
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© Matt Rydzik
| Hurricane: Category 5 and Mad Mouse are the two star attractions that will soon carry their last riders over 11 acres known as Myrtle Beach Pavilion since 1948.
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Generations have stopped off at Myrtle Beach Pavilion Amusement Park seeking out new memories of the traditional boardwalk-style amusement park's comforts and atmosphere, but, after the 2006 season, memories will be all that lingers of the park.
For 58 years, the Pavilion has stood as a staple of Myrtle Beach, situated between Ocean Boulevard, 8th Avenue, King's Highway and 9th Avenue. However, the park will succumb to redevelopment interests after this season.
Burroughs & Chapin Co. Inc., owner of Myrtle Beach Pavilion, confirmed the closure yesterday following years of pressure from redevelopers seeking to replace the seasonal operation with year-round cash cows such as retail facilities, accomodations, and other indoor attractions.
Ride enthusiasts know the park primarily for its 2000 wooden coaster Hurricane: Category 5, which spans the Pavilion's 8th Avenue side with 3,800 feet of track. Among a variety of other thrill-rides is the 1998 wild mouse coaster dubbed Mad Mouse.
The fates of those rides and other potential relocations from the Pavilion are currently undisclosed. Details on the fate of the land, however, are currently being determined, and an announcement on those plans is expected in May.
Myrtle Beach Pavilion begins its final season a week from today.
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Six Flags Marine World opens with celebration
Park began its 20th season by celebrating Six Flags' 45th
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Valejo, CA, USA 03/08/06 - By: -
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© Six Flags Marine World
The start of the 2006 season at Marine World also marks the opening of "Tava's Jungle Land," a new kids' area.
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On Saturday, Six Flags Marine World officially opened for the 2006 season, its 20th season. The park's midways, engulfed in the pleasant smells of funnel cake and caramel.
Not to mention, Batman and Robin were strolling around, making sure the park was safe, along with other favorite superheroes. Batman signed fifteen autographs and posed for several pictures, along with Robin. He says, "My job is pretty cool, seeing the kids laugh and having a good time."
Robin, however said, "Batman doesn't have faith in me; he thinks I'm young and that I can't handle myself. But I think I can," which makes it seem like he and Batman are doing a good job being superheroes and taking on their roles.
Six Flags decided it would induce other superheroes into its parks. Strolling the park on Saturday were Wonder Woman, the Flash, and the Green Lantern.
To add to the celebration, there will be a lot of 45's around the park, and Six Flags Marine World will not close for the 2006 season until January 2007. Marine World offered deals for tickets and season passes, hoping that the $15 parking fee wouldn't scare off visitors.
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Changes taking place at Six Flags America
'Iron Eagle' looping ride says its final goodbyes
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© Evan Flores
| Iron Eagle, a Zamperla-crafted Rotoshake model, was one of the only rides of its kind left in operation.
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Changes are finally taking place at Six Flags America in Largo, Maryland. Unfortunetly, the changes are of the type that most ride enthusiasts hate to see.
Rumors started circulating around the internet in previous months about the Iron Eagle and the Krypton Comet being removed from the park before the 2006 operating season. The Krypton Comet soon disappeared from the park's ride listings and the rumor was soon confirmed that the Chance Chaos had been removed.
While visiting Six Flags America, Six Flags Cheif Executive Mark Shapiro confirmed the rumors that the Iron Eagle will also be removed before the start of the 2006 season.
The company, which is already in massive debt, will spend an astonishing $80,000 to remove the Iron Eagle. Shapiro commented that the ride had become more of an eyesore in recent years and that he personally hates rides that just flip riders upside down and would rather see something with drops and turns in the, such as a Tilt-a-Whirl, in the Iron Eagle's spot.
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'Triple Hurricane' incident fuels lawsuit
Parents of boy who fell from ride sue Cypress Gardens
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Bartow, FL, USA 03/07/06 - By: -
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© Cypress Gardens
Martin Llamas fell from the coaster on a tight right turn after he stood up. His parents are now suing the park.
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Martin Llamas, 13, fell from the Triple Hurricane at Cypress Gardens on Feb. 25 due to his own unsafe riding position. Regardless, his parents filed a lawsuit against Cypress Gardens for supposedly not inspecting the ride well and not ensuring that it was safe for others, or in legal terms, negligence.
Lynn Wright, Cypress Gardens' public relations manager, said, "We stand by the results of the completed investigations of state and local officials, which cleared the park of any negligence or error in this unfortunate accident," supporting Cypress Gardens' lack of responsibility for the incident. Wright also objects to the accusations filed.
They filed this suit on March 3. Lawyer Carlos R. Diez-Arguellas reports that Martin Llamas is now disabled due to his 10-to-12-foot fall, and the cost for the damages is over $15,000. He says the reason for this lawsuit being filed so quickly after the incident was to "protect any available evidence."
The parents of Martin Llamas, Publio Junco and Maria Cota claim that Cypress Gardens didn't make sure the Triple Hurricane was safe nor did they maintain or inspect the ride to ensure safety. There was probably no need for this, since the accident was caused by the rider, and not the roller coaster.
The lawsuit also said that Cypress Gardens didn't correct an unsafe problem that an inspection of the coaster would have revealed. The inspections are all done, and the Polk Country Sheriff's Office has reached its conclusion that Martin Llamas turned around right before the coaster was about to make a tight right turn. By doing this, he was in an unsafe position in which the lap bar was not safely across his legs. When the train navigated the turn, the lateral forces threw Llamas from his car.
Witnesses of the incident say that Martin was standing when he was thrown out of the train. His parents, though disagreeing with this, can not prove it was the ride's fault, since the Florida State Bureau of Fair Ride Inspection discovered no problems with Triple Hurricane and due to the fact that Llamas was held in by his lap bar. Held in, that is, until he went into an unsafe position.
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South Korea accident claims man's life
Man dies after falling from Lotte World water ride
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Lotte World., Seoul, South Korea 03/06/06 - By: -
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© Lotte World
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Today, a man died when he fell from a water coaster at Lotte World, South Korea's most visited amusement park. Lotte World claims that is also gets visited by nearly eight million people a year. Officials are still searching for a cause for this accident.
The 28-year-old man died while riding the park's water coaster, Atlantis Adventure, an Aquatrax ride model from Intamin. On the water coaster, riders travel over ponds, getting wet, in single eight-seat cars.
Atlantis Adventure opened to the public in 2003. Its maximum height, at twenty-one meters, or seventy feet, and maximum speed of eighty kmh, or 50 mph, makes it the tallest and fastest coaster at Lotte World. Even though, it still is unknown how the man could have fallen from the ride, unless he stood up, which would be hard due to the restrictive lap bars the water coaster has.
Operators of Atlantis Adventure do not know where or how far this man fell. The man, was actually an employee at the park, who thought he'd enjoy his day off by visiting the park.
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Six Flags found liable for 2000 injury
Employees had warned of rocks thrown at 'Villain'
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© Becky Latiolais
Terry Wang was rewarded $3.6 million for injuries caused by a flying object that hit her in the head during a ride on the Villain.
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Jurors struck a $3.6 million blow to Six Flags six years after a flying object struck a blow of another kind to a rider on one of the chain's former theme parks.
Terry Wang was riding the wooden coaster Villain at the former Six Flags Ohio (now Geauga Lake) with eyes closed and arms up when something struck her in the head. The impact left her with a broken nose and fractured skull as the train roared through the course at its top 59-mph speeds.
It is unknown whether the object was a cell phone or rock thrown by a passer-by, but testimony claimed that Six Flags had been warned by employees of guests hurling nearby rocks over a fence and onto the tracks.
Surgery required the removal of skull and bone in her brain, and her forehead is still in need of a reconstructive operation. She still complains of headaches and facial numbness.
Six Flags previously offered to settle for $200,000.
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Concrete evidence appears at Cedar Point
Footings mark the site of major new attraction
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Cedar Point, Sandusky, OH, USA 03/04/06 - By: Devin Olson -
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The signs have all pointed to a significant new ride for the world's largest amusement park in 2007, and now, that assumption is supported by solid concrete evidence: footers.
Cedar Point leaked the first picture of these telling signs that a new roller coaster or another type of tracked thrill ride is on the way late yesterday in the park's official blog. The picture shows two large, fresh foundations in the midst of a construction site comprised of at least five acres located towards the back of the property.
© Clint Novak
An aerial view shows the site of White Water Landing prior to the 1982 ride's deconstruction. A new thrill ride will soon rise over the five-acre site.
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Following the 2005 season, Cedar Point announced that its log flume White Water Landing would be retired after 23 years, and land clearing has followed in the months since then. In the meantime, construction updates mainly focused on this season's new ride, the S&S Screamin' Swing attraction known as SkyHawk.
However, a Feb. 22 update posted to Cedar Point's OnPoint blog revealed that preparations for a new attraction to take White Water Landing's spot were well underway, with train tracks passing through the construction site shifted to make way for the possible 2007 thrill ride.
Although the exact type of coaster or other ride has yet to be revealed, one likely project name is Maverick, which Cedar Point's parent company Cedar Fair recently trademarked.
Some enthusiasts anticipate a new water ride to replace White Water Landing, pointing out that a ride of this type was originally planned for the 2005 season but scrapped in favor of MaXair.
However, others anticipate a ride far larger than anything ever seen before, pointing out that Cedar Point's President and CEO Dick Kinzel, the man responsible for starting the monumental steel coaster craze known for breaking the 200-foot barrier in 1989, 300-foot barrier in 2000, and 400-foot barrier in 2003, retires after the 2007 season. In terms of construction timing, the fresh footers support this prediction.
As park fans speculate and anticipate, the latest Cedar Point construction saga continues, much as it did in 2000, 2003, and other years past.
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More of Mickey on the way to Asia?
Disney plans to build parks in China and India
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China / India 03/03/06 - By: -
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© Disney
Disney CEO plans to build the Asian parks within his liftetime or the next ten years.
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Disney CEO Robert Iger announced that the theme park giant plans to build theme parks in India and Central China. Iger hopes to have the two parks built inside of his lifetime and within the next ten years.
Though these theme parks are news, there have been rumors going around for the past year about proposed parks in India and China. Disney denied a rumor in May 2005 about the company building a theme park in India.
Once again, in January 2006, Disney also denied a rumor involving them building a park in Shanghai, China. Besides these two developments, other rumors have been going around.
One of these rumors states that Disney could be adding a theme park in South Korea.
Even though the plans for the parks in Asia seem final now, there are still many issues that Disney needs to solve. A few of these are a shortage of good mass transit, weak copyright and trademark laws, and that the garbage extraction services could not maintain a Disney park.
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Busch Gardens Williamsburg to reach new heights
Further details for future New France thrill ride revealed
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Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Williamsburg, VA, USA 03/03/06 - By: Devin Olson -
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© Clint Novak
Trappers Smokehouse is one of the existing buildings found in the New France themed area where the new thrill ride is planned to reach 210-foot heights.
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More details for Busch Gardens Williamsburg's newest thrill ride have emerged three days before James City County reviews the proposal for what could soon become the park's largest ride project.
As we reported on Jan. 26, Busch Gardens applied for a waiver to 60-foot height restrictions in order to construct the new thrill. Now, details are out on just how far beyond the restrictions Busch plans to push the project.
Encompassing five acres of land surrounding the New France themed area, plans for the new ride call for a maximum 210-foot height. This would make it 40 feet taller than 1999's Apollo's Chariot, currently the state's largest coaster.
An existing attraction will need to be removed to make way for the station building and queue area. This attraction is located along the ride's path around the center area of the property taking it adjacent to the far cobra roll turnaround of Alpengeist. Busch has failed to reveal which attraction is on the chopping block, however.
A station building and queue house will occupy 7,500 square feet of land, and the buildings will reflect the New France setting with wooden framing, stonework, and stucco.
The James City County Planning Commission will review the propositions Monday at 7 p.m., and the Board of Supervisors is scheduled to review the proposed height waivers April 11. It is expected that the plans will receive approval due to the ride's location towards the center of the park and Busch Gardens' tradition of blending new attractions into the theme park's existing scenery.
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CA park presses against the flow
Competitors raise prices, Knott's lowers them
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Knott's Berry Farm, Buena Park, CA, USA 03/01/06 - By: -
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© SFMMFreak85
Visitors enjoy rides in Knott's Berry Farm's Boardwalk section where a new restaurant will join a general decrease in prices around the park this year.
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Today, Knott's Berry Farm announced that it will be lowering its prices for the 2007 season.
There is a general reason for this - other local parks near Knott's are raising their prices this year. Another reason is that all around the country, Cedar Fair is lowering its parks' entry prices and other prices to its parks due to the fact that Six Flags parks and other parks are raising their prices this year.
Getting back to Knott's, with the lowering, the adult entrance price for Knott's Berry Farm will drop from $45.00 to $39.99 this year. Also, senior pricing has been dropped to $14.95.
Knott's decided to also put a limit to any increases in prices for food and beverages this year. In their Boardwalk area, Knott's Berry Farm will be adding a Johnny Rocket's, a restaurant with a 1950s theme.
Another difference at Knott's this year is a sweet tooth's deal. Knott's has changed the price of their cotton candy to only 25 cents.
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