PW Oct 09 P8-09:PW Oct 09 P8-09.qxd 28/09/2009 09:35 Page 8
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ParkHoppin’
Thomas Town
by Paul Ruben
Shinmisato
Water Ride Arms Race Indoor attractions opens in Japan
The Shoot-the-Chutes first appeared in 1817 when the Jardin
HIT Entertainment has teamed
Ruggieri park in Paris introduced Saut du Niagara, or Niagara
up with Pleasurecast, the
Jump. The ride featured a drop of more than 50ft. Paul Boynton
attractions division of Bandai
popularised the ride he first called Shoot-the-Chutes at his Sea Lion
Namco Group, to open the
Park at Coney Island in 1897.
first indoor Thomas & Friends-
Variations of this water ride have been with us ever since and we
themed amusement facility in
saw a flurry of construction in the US beginning in 1993 with 80ft
Japan.
drops at Cedar Point and Dorney Park, then a 100ft drop at
Opened on September 17,
Hersheypark, and finally a 115ft drop in 2000 on the Perilous
Thomas Town Shinmisato
Plunge at Knott's Berry Farm. After that, no more appeared in North
covers a 772 sq m site within
America, but Europe and China saw 'Chutes introduced from
the new Lala Port Shin Misato
Intamin, Mack, Golden Horse and others.
shopping mall, less than an
But it took a paradigm shift to re-ignite interest in the 'Chutes.
hour from the centre of Tokyo.
After ABC Engineering’s introduction of a vertical lift on its River
It is the second Thomas
Splash rides in Germany and Austria, Intamin re-imagined the
attraction in Japan, after
'Chutes to employ two elevators lifting the boats skyward. Such a
Thomas Land at Fuji-Q
concept makes the traditional chain or conveyor lift redundant,
Highland, which opened back
saving space in the process. The first and so far only example?
in 1998.
Pilgrims Plunge at Holiday World & Splashin' Safari, Santa Claus,
Thomas Town Shinmisato
Indiana.
features five themed zones
Pilgrims Plunge features a record-setting 131ft drop from a 165ft
and a central English Market Place that is expected to serve as a
tower. Two elevator platforms move up and down a vertical lift that
meeting place and arena for themed events, stage shows and
is bowed to allow the platforms to pass. The open-sided elevators
carnivals.
are part of the fun.Guests are locked in their seats, where they can
Featured throughout the facilty are attractions including a Thomas &
look over the edge of the boat and straight down. Vertigo, anyone?
Friends dark ride, Cranky the crane play structure, education/craft
But if Intamin can build a 131ft drop, you know they can build a
area, a café, museum and of course a Thomas shop offering extensive
taller one. Let the Shoot-the-Chutes Arms Race begin. They can
merchandise. Guests can even use special Thomas & Friends currency
build them taller. They can
to pay for their rides and attractions.
build them steeper. They can
Pleasurecast partnered with London-based designers RMA Ltd to
build them faster. But can they
theme and project manage Thomas Town. RMA also worked with HIT
build them wetter?
and Drayton Manor Theme Park to realise Thomas Land in the UK. Up
Unlike earlier 'Chutes that
to 500,000 visitors are predicted during the first year of operation in
sent up a torrent of water,
Shinmisato.
soaking both riders and
The mall is a fitting location for Thomas & Friends, incidentally, as
onlookers, Pilgrims Plunge
it built on the site of the former Musashino shunting yard – birthplace
hydroplanes over the water
of the Japanese railway industry.
before pushing its bow into
“We are very excited about the opening of Thomas Town,” comments
the pool and eventually
HIT Entertainment’s general manager for Asia, Frank Foley. “It adds a
dampening riders. Don't
new dimension to our offering in the country.”
believe me? Is my shirt damp
or what? Pilgrims Plunge is
diabolical. It lulls riders into a
false sense of security. They
drop, hydroplane and, after a
few sprinkles, think the worst
is over. Wrong-O. The boat settles in and sends up a tsunami. It's a
deluge, a tidal wave, a mountain of water onto a boatload of happy
screams. Yes, we're soaked.
If you wish to join the Shoot-the-Chutes Arms Race, here's my
advice. Number one, spray the onlookers. No one should escape
dry. Second, amp up the water on the riders so that it's best ridden
in a bathing suit. It'll be the perfect ride on a hot, sunny day. Third,
place the ride where both guests in both your ride park and your
waterpark (if you have one) can board. That's what they did at
Holiday World, Hersheypark and Dorney Park. Finally, establish a
new 'Chutes height record. Makes sense, doesn't it?
8 OCTOBER 2009
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