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ParkHoppin’ with Paul Ruben
Quassy's Big Little Ride
Recently I visited Quassy Amusement Park, Middlebury, Connecticut, to compile a report on their new wooden family coaster, Wooden Warrior. Founded in 1908, Quassy was once called Lake Quassapaug Amusement Park. “Quassy” has more of a ring to it don’t you agree? The park sits on the south shore of Lake Quassapaug, native American for rocky pond. It features 22 rides on more than 20 acres. The euphoria generated by Wooden Warrior was evident on the beaming faces of returning riders during my visit. They were excited. Because it was limited in height by the town's zoning regulations, this
35ft-tall (10.5m), 1,250-ft-long (380m) woodie was targeted as a family ride. If your family is looking for wild, out-of-control thrills, this is for you.
Now I've been on coasters this size before, lots of them. They have their moments through the first hill or two, then peter out. Wooden Warrior was white-knuckle fun from beginning to end. Nine moments of air in the front seat, 10 in the back of the six-row train. Non-stop action from beginning to end. Credit the new lightweight Timberliner train from The Gravity Group, that carried its energy throughout the entire ride. I'm sure many of you inspected this train, displayed at the IAAPA Expo last November. I did, but had no idea the impact it would have on a ride. Together with Twister at Gröna Lund in Stockholm (see page 27), Wooden Warrior's appearance is a watershed
moment. The two rides, both by The Gravity Group, should put to bed the myth that a coaster must be big to be good. In reality, it must be fast and well-paced to be good. Big just means it may be rough. Wooden Warrior is small, but with superb pacing and a smooth ride it delivers big league thrills. Twister, meanwhile, offers unrivalled interaction with other coasters, keeping Gröna Lund guests on the edge of their seat throughout – or at least it would if it weren’t for that snug lapbar. More importantly, me thinks a coaster this size is within your budget.
You can afford it. Coasters are, to a degree, priced by their length and this is half the length of a full-sized coaster but with all the thrills of a big ride. If you operate a small to mid-sized park, get yourself to Quassy, and take a ride. I'm guessing you will want to add something similar to your park.
While in the area you may also wish to visit the Timexpo Museum in
Waterbury, Connecticut, about five miles from Quassy. Inside you will learn of the historical development of clocks and watches and the Timex brand.
I was fascinated to learn that Alexander the Great invented a primitive form of wristwatch. In order to synchronise his forces during battles, he ordered a special chemical to be developed that changed colour with the passage of time. A small piece of cloth was dipped in the solution, and worn around the wrist. In this way, all his troops could know what time it was, enabling them to carry out sophisticated military campaigns and thus conquer the world. Historians refer to this invention as "Alexander's rag time-band."
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Russia’s first theme park resort
Magic World Russia is the name of a planned destination resort comprising multiple theme parks as well as hotels, retail, dining and entertainment venues – and the first of its kind in Russia. The $2.5 billion (€1.5bn) development is described ambitiously as, “One of the most unique and compelling entertainment destination resorts in the world,” and will be realised with the assistance of several leading attractions industry specialists from California including Gary Goddard Entertainment Design, ProFun Management Group and Brand Studios.
The driving force behind the project is Gennady Moshkovich, the chairman and CEO of Moschanko Investment Group (MIG 2000), which brokers business relationships between California and Russia. MIG 2000 has been promised an area over 250-hectares (600-acres), 50km north of Moscow. Groundbreaking is set for summer 2012, with the first phase expected to open by 2016. Its creators hope to attract between 10 and 12 million visitors a year. Moshkovich believes he knows why previous attempts at a theme park in Russia have failed: “For example selecting the wrong location, such as the centre of Moscow which has massive traffic issues. In addition, real estate in the major metropolitan is enormously expensive. For many years Russia hasn’t been ready for a world-class theme park and income of the average Russian wasn’t as strong as it is now.” “We are thrilled to be a part of the Magic World Russia California consortium,” adds Gary Goddard. “To be at the centre of Russia’s first world class theme park is both an honour and an exciting challenge.”
Gottlieb Löffelhardt 1934-2011
The co-founder of Phantasialand in Brühl, Germany, passed away on July 6, aged 76. Gottlieb Löffelhardt was born in Berlin in 1934 into a major fairground family. In 1967, together with the puppeteer Richard Schmidt, he opened a simple fairytale-themed park near Cologne. New attractions followed steadily and the park gained a reputation for its theming and attention to detail,
Gottlieb Löffelhardt
leading Schmidt and Löffelhardt to pick up a Chinese culture medal in recognition of the China Town area they created in 1981. While Schmidt, who left the park in the 1990s, was viewed as a creative force behind the scenes, Löffelhardt maintained a hands-on approach as owner-entrepreneur, a legacy surely from his days as a travelling showman. In 1996 the Löffelhardt family partnered with Giancarlo Casoli, owner of the ride manufacturer Preston & Barbieri, to take over the Italian park Mirabilandia, where they successfully grew attendance after a period of sustained investment.
Gottlieb Löffelhardt retired in 1998, handing control of Phantasialand to his son Robert. Mirabilandia was sold to Parques Reunidos in 2006. Today Phantasialand attracts over 1.8 million annual guests and features six themed lands together with two on-site hotels and extensive conference and corporate hospitality facilities. Speaking last September at Euro Attractions Show’s European Theme
Park Legends panel session in Rome, Löffelhardt Snr raised the issue of consolidation: “With big companies running parks the danger is they all become the same. I think some parks will come back into private ownership.“
The operation he established in Brühl is testament to the kind of idiosyncratic park that can be created with the freedom afforded as a family business.
AUGUST 2011
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