Park News
www.parkworld-online.com
The Swarm
Kernels Coaster crashes into Thorpe Park
The Dollywood Company is to bring a major family entertainment centre (FEC) to Nashville. The company have entered into a memorandum of understanding with Gaylord Entertainment for a 50/50 joint venture adjacent to the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center. Phase one of the project is slated for a summer 2014 debut and would consist of an approximately $50 million water and snow park.
The sale of the German theme park Fort Fun has fallen through following revelations that would-be buyer Matthäus Ziegler had been convicted of fraud. The park will remain under the ownership of Compagnie des Alpes for the 2012 season.
BRC Imagination Arts has presented preliminary plans for a theme park in Braunschweig-Wolfsburg, Northern Germany. The park is one of more than 100 projects proposed as part of a masterplan for the region. “This is the first time we have been asked to work on a tourism offer for an entire region,” BRC Europe’s Bart Dohmen tells Park World.
Paultons Family Theme Park in England is to open an SBF-Visa Drop ‘n’ Twist tower called Magma. The ride will feature theming from RMA and is due to open in time for Easter.
Following the launch season of Raptor at Gardaland in Italy, Thorpe Park near London is about to launch Europe’s second – and tallest – Wing Coaster from Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M)
The Swarm features stark theming including the wreckage of a plane and fire truck. Ahead of its official launch on March 15, the park invited former fighter pilots to test the attraction. The ex-RAF (Royal Air Force) and Red Arrows pilots, who together form aerobatic display team The Blades, reached speeds of up to 100km/h during the intense thrill ride. Built on its own island, The Swarm features an inverted first drop of 127ft and several exciting near misses (or near hits!). With cars suspended either side
of the track, all 28 riders are left completely exposed with nothing above or below them and thanks to car’s massive “wingspan” of almost six-metres, each twist in the track produces a spectacular effect. “I am a self-confessed adrenaline junkie but even as a pilot used to G-force there were some gut- wrenching moments,” reports Blades team leader, Mark Cutmore. “I have to admit the near miss element is eye-watering – you really do feel as if you are going to crash into the structures.” The Swarm is Thorpe Park’s second B&M ride, joining the inverted coaster Nemesis Inferno. Additional Wing Coasters will open this season at Dollywood in Tennessee (Wild Eagle) and Six Flags Great America near Chicago (X-Flight).
Greg Pearn has been appointed the new operations manager of Madame Tussauds Blackpool, England, moving from Merlin Entertainments’ neighbouring Sea Life attraction. Matthew Titherington remains as Madame Tussauds’ general manager.
Premier Rides president Jim Seay has been re-elected as chairman of ASTM Committee F24 on Amusement Rides and Devices. The 500-member collective is responsible for global safety standards that cover design, manufacturing, maintenance, inspection and operations for amusement rides, water-related rides and devices, plus and special rides and attractions.
The Safari Railroad at Toldedo Zoo, Ohio, will feature three new look CP Huntington locomotives when it resumes operation this spring. The Ohio zoo recently purchased one new loco from Chance Morgan while refurbishing two 2003 models it already owned.
Theming and Animatronic Industries (TAA) has appointed two new project managers. Jim Cassidey joins the German company after 22 years in sales with Sally Corporation, but also boasts strong technical skills including welding, pneumatics and fabrication of robots. Meanwhile Frenchman Christophe Batista is an expert in rockwork theming, having themed zoos in Morocco and Hamburg.
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