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Park News
www.parkworld-online.com
Heide Park attractions, but they have now been refurbished and rethemed,
some more extensively than others. Included are the Hurrican (a Faetz Round-
Up), Aqua Spin (Huss Top Spin), El Sol (Huss Enterprise), Lady Moon (Huss
Kernels
Flipper), Breakdance and Magic (both also by Huss).
Helping launch the new look area was Professor W Umbo, otherwise known
as Heide Park general manager Hannes W Mairinger.
BRC Imagination Arts has been chosen to conceptualise, design and produce
the show content for the USA Pavilion at Shanghai World Expo 2010.
Ground breaking took place on June 17.
Fisherman’s revamp
The UK’s Amusement Device Inspection Procedures Scheme (ADIPS) has
announced the appointment of Luke Ditchburn to the newly created position of
general manager. Prior to joining ADIPS, he was facilities and operations
manager for Northumberland County Council. “I’ll be working closely with
ADIPS members and clients to ensure they are provided with the best possible
service and that we continue to run a scheme that is the envy of the industry in
many other countries around the world,” says Ditchburn. He joins the
organisation at a time when reported incidents on amusement rides in the
country are at their lowest level for many years.
Bombay Amusement Rides (BARPL) is to build a 25-metre Ferris Wheel inside
a shopping mall/entertainment centre near Mumbai. The ride will span three
floors of the mall and be built up against a glass wall, allowing riders to see both
inside and outside the building. The project is expected to open in the next 18
months.
The Chinese ride manufacturer Golden Horse Amusement is one of the
latest companies to build a Star Flyer-type attraction. Its version of the ride is
called the Tower Challenge. Standing 38-metres tall it will open soon at an
unnamed amusement park in China.
Macau’s Fisherman’s Wharf development is to undergo a string of
Forrec is currently working on the design of a world-class leisure and retail
improvements as part of a revamp costing a reported three billion Hong
development in Tianjin, China. The RMB4 billion ($585m/Euro.037413m) project
Kong dollars ($387m/Euro.037272m).
comprises a skyscraper, hotel, shopping mall and entertainment complex.
Included in the plans are the demolition of the man-made volcano
Forrec’s Anthony Van Dam describes the location as “phenomenal” and adds
(pictured above) and Tang Dynasty complex, which will be replaced by a
that the development will become “a showcase for the city.” The client is the
dinosaur museum, yacht club, two upscale hotels and a health club. Phase
Tianjin Mao Investment & Development Company.
one is expected to be complete in the next two years.
Speaking at a press conference to announce the new additions,
The Vitala Group has signed a contract with OK Consulting to finance and
Fisherman’s Wharf CEO David Chow said he was “satisfied” with the
develop a 100-room hotel, golf course and children’s farm in Harkány, Hungary.
current facilities, but wanted to upgrade them. He did, however, state, “The
Including comprehensive spa and wellness facilities, the property will cater to
volcano is not much use and the fire it spits out pollutes the environment,
those in search of medical tourism and could serve as the launch pad for
so we are demolishing it.”
a chain of similar projects throughout Hungary and Eastern Europe. Opening is
A combination of themed retail space, dining, convention centre and
scheduled for the end of 2011.
small amusement park, Fisherman’s Wharf opened close to the Macau ferry The German family park Tripsdrill has been recognised as the country’s
terminal and Sands casino in 2006 but has not been without its critics. most customer friendly leisure facility by Hamburg’s Institute for Service and
Speaking during a conference in Macau last summer, Gary Goddard of Quality. Located in beautiful surroundings just outside of Stuttgart, the park was
Gary Goddard Entertainment described the development as, “a case study praised for its overall ambiance, the service of its staff, waiting times on the
in what not to do.” attractions and user-friendly website. The park, which is operated by the Fischer
family, this year celebrates its 80
th
anniversary season.
A gigantic snake on top of the entrance arch and rock work around the queue
Morey’s Piers has introduced a number of upgrades this year across its four piers in
line represent some of several scenic features completed by TAA for the new
Wildwood, New Jersey.
Vertigo coaster at Parque de Attracciones de Madrid in the
For example, a new LED light package has been added to the Maelstrom (Move-It), all
Spainish capital. TAA, which has its headquarters in the city, fabricates at its own
weather glass windshields are now fitted to the Giant Wheel, and upgrades have been
factory in Romania. The new ride in Madrid is a Mack Wild Mouse originally
made to the Dante’s Dungeon, Pirates of the Wildwoods and Mummy dark rides.
installed as part of a twin ride set-up at sister park Bobbejaanland in Belgium.
Other rides have been rearranged or relocated to make for a better guest experience.
Some of relocations were necessary to make room for a new ticket booth on Mariner’s
Lo-Q has signed an agreement with Isla Mágica in Seville, Spain, to supply its
Landing. The Super Scooters, pictured left, were moved across the beach from Surfside Pier
Text-Q ride reservation system. This latest installation takes advantage of the
to Mariner’s Landing. The Mini Scooters followed, repositioned atop the rebuilt portion of
product’s new multi-language capability and park guests with mobile phones to
the pier damaged last year by fire. Meanwhile the Musik Express and Rollie’s Coaster were
reserve their place in line on their eight rides from anywhere in the park. Users
swapped with one other.
are notified of their ride time by text message/SMS, and so have more time to
The Kiddie Boats on Mariner’s Landing have been relocated to Surfside Pier, while the
enjoy other areas of the park while they wait.
Baby Venice of Surfside Pier now occupies Mariner’s Landing. Several other rides on
A new horror attraction is to be created in the grounds of an English farm this
Surfside have also been moved slightly.
autumn. AtmosFEAR! Scare Attractions plans to operate the Scare
Morey’s Piers have also expanded their Rendezvous Beach catering facility to cater to
Kingdom Scream Park on a 10- acre site at Hawkshaw Farm Park at
the corporate picnic segment, as well as opening The Morey Store, a 500 sq ft retail
Clayton-le-Dale near Preston from October 22 onwards, with a fireworks
outlet at Mariner’s Landing.
finale on November 5.
AUGUST 2009
7
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