Park News www.parkworld-online.com


Meet Park World’s freakiest reader!


At the Ripley Entertainment booth at IAAPA Attractions Expo in Orlando the Lizardman, aka Erik Sprague, was seen studying the November issue of Park World.


Sprague is a professional freak and sideshow performer, best known for his body modification, including his sharpened teeth, full-body tattoo of green scales, bifurcated tongue, sub-dermal implants, and recently, green- inked lips.


The Lizardman


In its first outing as a trade show exhibitor since 1999, Ripley won the IAAPA “Image Award” for best booth. A major draw were the live shows presented all week. Joining the Lizardman were Guinness strength record holder Chad Netherland and Al Gliniecki, who set a Record for tying the most cherry stems with his tongue in one minute, 13 in case you are interested.


Christmas at Europa-Park


Germany’s largest amusement park celebrated its 10th winter season with a special attrac- tion open for six weeks only. Hired from showman Oscar Bruch, the Belle Vue Ferris Wheel provided a breathtak- ing view of the festive land- scape, towering 55-metres tall over the park’s Iceland themed area. Particularly fit- ting with its snow and ice theme was the nearby Splash Tours whale-watching ride. As well as several of the


park’s regular rides and attractions, guests could also enjoy Tomi Umgerer’s World of Animals, a seasonal circus, ice rink, ski lessons, children’s bobkarts and a Christmas market,


The winter season ran until January 9.


Merlin enters Australia see parkworld-online.com DECEMBER 2010/JANUARY 2011


Kernels


IAAPA has appointed long-serving executive Susan Mosedale as its interim chief operating officer as the association seeks a new president and CEO following the departure of Charlie Bray. Mosedale has served with IAAPA for 18 years and recently graduated from the US Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Organizational Management.


The Fabbri Group has secured a deal to supply a package of almost 30 rides to a new park in Libya. The Italian supplier has also secured a further three orders for giant wheels following the opening of an 80-metre ride at E- DA World in Taiwan. Two 60-metre wheels, each with deluxe enclosed cabins, will be supplied to customers in Italy and Turkey respectively. While the latter ride will be constructed as a permanent attraction, the Italian attraction will be supplied together with a base frame so that it can be erected at a variety of sites. In Uzbekistan, meanwhile, a 55-metre wheel will open with standard gondolas.


The UK’s Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has announced a £45 million ($70m/€53m) increase in grants to arts, sport, heritage and voluntary projects in the financial year from March 2011 to 2012. Operators of privately-funded attractions, including several British amusement parks, have been hostile to what they few as unfair state-funded competition from previously funded projects. The increase in funding is due to an increased allocation for heritage projects and strong lottery ticket sales.


Martin and Vleminckx is re-erecting the Zippin Pippin at Bay Beach, Greeen Bay, Wisconsin. The coaster originally operated at Freedomland in Memphis, Tennessee, from 1923 through 2005. John Miller originally designed the 2,865ft-long coaster.


As well as a KMG Fireball (see last issue) for Morey's Piers, Rides-4-U has also sold two KMG rides to carnival operators in North and South America including a Fun Factory to James H Drew Shows and an Inversion to Mike Safie in El Salvador.


Gosetto is to supply a dark ride to Etnaland in Sicily. The park’s owner’s have yet to decide a theme for the ride, or whether it will be interactive. Gosetto is also working on two other dark rides, including the new look Blå Tåget at Gröna Lund in Stockholm and a ride for Rainbow Magic Land near Rome.


ETF Ride Systems is to supply a pedal-powered ride to Europa-Park for the 2011 season. More details of this and ETF’s dark ride projects will follow in due course.


Michigan’s Adventure amusement park, Muskegon, Michigan, will introduce a giant interactive water play attraction in 2011 at its WildWater Adventure Waterpark. From Whitewater West, Beach Party will feature the first-of-its-kind giant geyser, which blasts water over 90ft in the air. The multi-level play structure will also incorporate over 150 play features.


Alterface has appointed a sales and service representative for its multimedia attractions in the United States. Backstage Connections, based in Branson, Missouri, will offer a high level of technical expertise and support to the Belgian company’s American clients. Backstage owner and founder Tom Gass is the operator of an Alterface interactive haunted house at Branson’s Hollywood Wax Museum.


Valerio Mazzoli of the eponymous Orlando-based design studio recently delivered a themed interior to a new toy store in Rome. Little Big Town (www.littlebigtown.it) opened on November 26. Mazzoli also continues to work on a number of theme park projects in Turkey and Italy, including Cinecitti Studios in Rome. www.valeriomazzoli.com


England’s West Midland Safari Park has received a silver award in the Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS) for its efforts in sustainability and good working practices. www.wmsp.co.uk


A multi-million dollar family wave pool will replace an aging 1930s swimming pool at Idlewild & SoakZone in Pennsylvania during the coming season. The new addition will be provided by the Aquatic Development Group and surrounding chaise lounges and cabanas for hire.


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