Park News
www.parkworld-online.com
ParkHoppin’ with Paul Ruben
Six Flags Over Paul’s House
Unlike previous trade shows, I wasn't exactly overwhelmed by the appearance of innovative new amusement rides at this winter’s IAAPA Attractions Expo. Most years there are a number of innovations, but this year I found few.
I was in the market for a new ride for my amusement park, Six Flags Over Paul's House. It's my own miniature amusement park. Operating a miniature amusement park has its advantages. My utility bill for operating rides is very low. There is never a problem at the guest services window. Maintenance is a breeze, and operations work flawlessly. The park is open by appointment. I'd like to acquire a few more miniature rides so that I can charge a pay-one-price admission. For now parking is free. Unlike Busch Gardens, adult beverages remain free too, at least for my friends. So after a week in Orlando I went Christmas shopping. In the past I had purchased the Gold Label World's Fair triple-layer figure- eight Tornado Roller Coaster at The Magical Carousel, a gift shop on the boardwalk near Casino Pier in Seaside Heights, New Jersey. Now I returned to see what else they might have for me. Six Flags Over Paul's House also is home to a Gold Label Musical Carousel that plays a choice of ragtime tunes or Christmas music. I like the volume set very low. The grandkids like it high. And what did I find this time in Seaside Heights?
The Zinger, a ride by Lemax that exists only in miniature. See it here? The main boom of The Zinger revolves above the platform as the cars at each end of the boom spin on their axes. There is a soundtrack; there are lights. For now the Zinger is separate from SFOPH’s Coaster and Carousel. We have a real estate problem in the living room, so the Zinger has a place of honour on the étagère in the family room, near the TV set. My imaginary park guests love it, which got me thinking. Would real guests enjoy a full-sized version?
Maybe not. The Zinger is reminiscent of the ride described in US patent 3,596,905, a "plural horizontal axis roundabout having a sheave driven carriage." A centrally pivoted elongated oblong boom carries an endless conveyor around sheaves at opposite ends of the boom. The boom carries freely swingable passenger cages. Sound familiar? It was invented by Joseph M Brown and assigned to Chance Manufacturing Company. It's the Chance Zipper. I become discombobulated when I ride the Zipper, so I've avoided it in recent years. The Zinger is slightly different from the Zipper, but I suspect the ride motion is similar enough that it would get to me. But in miniature, no problem. I love my Zinger. When I’m feeling blue watching the evening news I turn down the TV and turn on the Zinger. It cheers me up, and I don't get nauseous.
6
Magic Kingdom Expansion begins
The new-look Princess & Fairytale Hall John Collins OBE
Former IAAPA chairman John Collins was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List, in recognition of his services to leisure and tourism.
The grandson of famous travelling showman Pat Collins, John ran the family amusement park at Barry Island in South Wales together with his brother Pat from 1966 to 1983, before embarking on a career with the Tussauds Group, where as well as working with domestic parks such as Alton Towers he also oversaw the development of Port Aventura in Spain. As well as serving with IAAPA, where his chairman from November 2002 to 2003, John was also a founder of the Association of Welsh Tourist Attractions, a president of the Europarks lobby group and chairman of BALPPA, the British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers and Attractions. Currently working with his son Michael as an advisor to Leisure Development Partners, John remains a BALPPA committee member, chairman of the Hastings Pier Trust and a non- executive director of Blackpool Pleasure Beach.
The honour couldn't have gone to a more worthy and knowledgeable person in the leisure industry." Brian Osborne, owner of Barry Island’s Fun Harbour Centre and a former employee of John’s, told the local press.
John Collins with Amanda Thompson of Blackpool Pleasure Beach, where he is a non-executive director
FEBRUARY 2011
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44