PW Nov 09 P18.qxd 11/4/09 1:03 pm Page 18
Park News
www.parkworld-online.com
CYPRESS GARDENS CLOSES ...AGAIN
New owners give up after second season
three hurricanes in 2004 damaged the park and delayed its scheduled
reopening. Cypress Gardens Adventure Park finally debuted in 2005, with
Cypress Gardens and Splash Island Water
rollercoasters and other rides augmenting the gardens and water-ski shows. But
Park, Winter Haven, Florida, abruptly closed
Buescher had conflicts with his insurer over hurricane damage, and in 2006 he
The ill-fated on September 23, leaving in doubt the
filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
water-ski show
future of an attraction that has lured visitors
The following year, Land South Holdings bought Cypress Gardens for $16.8
since 1936.
million at a bankruptcy auction. Harper and Philpot closed the ride park in late
It is the third time since 2003 that
2008 and spent several months transforming what was left. They announced
Cypress Gardens has closed. Co-owners
plans to expand the Splash Island Waterpark, and to lower ticket prices, but after
Rob Harper and Brian Philpot said they are
just one season chose to throw in the towel. How much will they profit from this
"in the process of negotiating with several
brief dalliance with park ownership?
potential purchasers and lessees for all or
part of the property." Harper and Philpot
have owned Cypress Gardens as Land
Legoland Discovery
South Holdings since 2007.
Founded in 1936 by Dick and Julie
Centre Texas
Pope, the park became famous for its
hoop-skirted “Southern Belles,”
Merlin Entertainments is to open a
botanical gardens and water-ski shows.
Legoland Discovery Centre (LDC) at the
Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, then owner
Grapevine Mills shopping mall in
of Sea World, bought the park in
Grapevine, Texas, in March 2011.
1985, and Anheuser-Busch later
The $12-million (€8.1m) indoor facility
acquired it before selling to a private partnership in 1995. Cypress
will offer a two to three-hour experience
Gardens first shut down in April 2003 following years of declining attendance.
for children aged three to 12-years-old,
Georgia theme park owner Kent Buescher acquired the facility in 2004, but
comprising a Miniland model village, 4D
cinema, Lego-themed rides and attractions, masterclasses from the Lego Master
Model Builders and special event rooms.
“Grapevine is ideally situated between Dallas and Fort Worth and is already a
popular ‘destination’ for family visitors,” notes Merlin’ managing director of
“Midway” attractions, Glenn Earlam.
The world’s number two attraction operator plans to open three to four new outlets
each year worldwide. Three are scheduled during 2010/11 in the States, including
Grapevine. Existing Merlin attractions in the US include a Legoland Discovery Centre
near Chicago, Legoland California and the adjacent Sea Life Aquarium, an
Underwater Adventures aquarium at the Mall of America in Minneapolis, plus
Madame Tussauds in New York, Washington DC, Las Vegas and Hollywood.
Zamperla starts Water Fight
Zamperla is the latest manufacturer to offer its customers an interactive water
ride. The new Water Fight is available in a variety of themes and configurations
with either an underwater pump or cable drive system. The first drawings (as
below) where available for perusal at Euro Attractions Show in Amsterdam.
Expect to see them again at this month’s IAAPA Attractions Expo in Las Vegas.
Next season the firm will consolidate its position as a supplier of mid-size
coasters when it unveils a new style family coaster. The Changzhou Dinosaur Park
in China will take delivery of a prototype attractionn featuring sit-astride dinosaur-
themed ride vehicles. The trains will be based on the same principle as
Zamperla’a MotoCoaster, although the 530-
A Water Fight
metre long ride will not feature a launch start.
theming
Also due for delivery will be another
proposal
Volare flying coaster.
According to the company’s
Marco Mazzucchi, 2009 was a
great year for the Disk ‘O’ with
new versions of the ride
supplied to parks in Finland,
Sweden, Italy, the UK and
USA. In 2010 a Disk ‘O’
Coaster will open at
Chessington in England.
18 NOVEMBER 2009
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