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hurricane any day’ Gulf oil spill impacts waterpark
‘Give me a
The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is now impacting amusement venues in Florida.
Buddy Wilkes
"The oil arrived on our beaches last night,” Buddy Wilkes of Shipwreck Island Waterpark in Panama City Beach told Park World on June 19. “It was never a matter of if, but when. The business the beach has enjoyed thus far has been boosted by people moving up their July or August vacations to get here ahead of the oil. That will probably change now that the oil has arrived. If it drifts back west for a few days, as is forecast, some people may try to get in a few days ahead of it coming back." "The theory that the waterpark will do well if we have oil on our sand and in our water is ludicrous," he adds. "We
might get most of the people who are here during that type of event, but no one wants to see people in the seafood and tourism industries put out of work, or the wildlife dying senselessly.” Wilkes even went so far as to suggest he’d rather have been hit by a hurricane:
“You can track a storm and within a matter of days it hits land, leaves the damage in its wake, and you rebuild and restore. The agony of waiting on the oil lurking aimlessly off your coast is nearly unbearable. The long-term damage to the Panama City Beach brand is one of my greatest concerns. Some visitors may never return. Give me a good old fashioned hurricane any day."
World’s longest waterslide coaster opens in Indiana
One-third of a mile long, Wildebeest is the world’s longest waterslide coaster, now open at Splashin’ Safari waterpark next to Holiday World in Santa Claus, Indiana. Supplied by ProSlide, this Rocket Coaster installation provides two-and-a-half minutes of wet hills, drops, twists, tunnels and turns. Located in a wooded area north of the Bahari wave pool, Wildebeest
increases the waterpark’s size to 27 acres. The attraction uses ProSlide’s hydro-magnetic technology, similar to the linear induction motors used on many launched rollercoasters. An alternating magnetic field beneath the slide surface propels the rafts, pushing them rapidly and smoothly uphill. The conveyor system replaces any slide-tower stairs, making the water coaster accessible to riders who might have difficulty walking up stairs. Wildebeest represents a $5.5
million investment and is the second largest single-ride investment in the park’s 64-year history.
AAE planned for Singapore in 2011
Ahead of the hotly anticipated event this month in Kuala Lumpur, Park World can reveal that Asian Attractions Expo (AAE) will take place in Singapore for 2011. The IAAPA-organised trade show and conference last visited the city in 2004, since which time several new high profile attractions have opened. The Singapore Flyer, for example, is one of the world's tallest observation wheels, towering 165-metres over the waterfront. The new Universal Studios park, which was unveiled this spring at Resorts
World Sentosa (RWS), features seven themed lands and several attractions unique to Singapore. All of these should be up and running by the time by the time AAE arrives. A marine life park is also planned to open at RWS in 2011. Visitors to Singapore may also be interested to check out the Marina Bay Sands development which, as well as its own casino and convention centre also features a headline-grabbing “Sky Park” featuring a 150- metre long swimming pool spanning the hotels three towers. With over 200 exhibitors, Asian Attractions Expo in Kuala
Lumpur from July 14 to 16 promises to be the biggest yet. The event then moves to Singapore in summer 2011. For dates and further details visit:
www.iaapa.org/expos/asian
10 JULY 2010
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