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Liseberg takes care of the kids New land planned for 2013
Jukebox 2!
The Swedish amusement park Liseberg, in Gothenburg, has introduced a fun new attraction for summer aimed squarely at its younger guests. Skepp o’ skoj (Ship of fun) from ABC Rides allows kids to navigate their own boat, learn some seamanship and take home a sailor’s licence in the process. Gothenburg enjoys a proud maritime history and the experience is sponsored by ferry operator Stena. Also new for 2012 is a new Jukebox (Polyp) ride by Gerstlauer, replacing an older version by Schwarzkopf (whose former premises Gerstlauer now occupies), as well as the Liseberg Wheel, a 53-metre construction that previously operated elsewhere in the city.
Yet all this pails into insignificance compared to Liseberg’s plans for 2013, its 90th anniversary season. To mark this major milestone, the park will spend nearly SEK 195 million ($29m/€23m) – its biggest ever investment – transforming its old children’s area into Rabbit Land. The new-look 10,000 square-metre area will feature seven new and five relocated or rethemed rides. Money will also be spent improving the Storgatan and West Coast area of the park. “For 2013 we’re chosen to focus on Liseberg’s real guests of honour: the children,” notes the park’s CEO, Andreas Andersen. “This is a project that involves a great deal of heart, creativity and quality – everything that makes Liseberg so special.” New rides planned include a fresh fleet of Old
Skeep o’ skojj
Timer cars, a cycle monorail, mini freefall tower, Flying Wheel tower, children’s coaster, flying carousel
There’s gold in that there field...
A small Danish amusement park is offering visitors the chance to take away a big prize this summer, and all for the regular price of admission.
Each afternoon from 2 to 4pm, guests at Sommerland Sjælland (
sommerlandsj.dk), an hour’s drive from Copenhagen, are invited to search a field for real, 24
carat gold nuggets valued at between €130-200 each. If they find one, the park will offer to buy them back for DKK1,000 (€133). Shovels and bear hands are encouraged during the daily gold rush, but metal detectors are strictly off limits.
While panning for gold attractions featuring coins or fake gold are a popular revenue generator for many parks and attractions, Sommerland Sjælland owner Kåre Dyvekær (pictured) was keen to give his guests the chance to find real gold – and it didn’t want to charge them a penny to do it. “I’ve played with the thought for years, as it could be a fun way to use our
Wastern-themed area, Silver City,” he explains. “Imagine digging for real gold, and perhaps ending up going home with more money in your pocket than you came in with?”
Here’s hoping this innovative initiative, and the publicity resulting from it, gains Sommerland Sjælland plenty of extra visitors this season.
14
Alterface opens offices in USA and China
Fast-growing Belgian high- tech attractions specialist Alterface has established new regional offices to serve its customers in Asia and North America.
The Asian base is in
Wuhan, China, where the company hopes to foster strong relationship with local university students. “We have a lot of projects in the region right now,” reveals Alterface CEO Benoit Cornet. For its US presence, the firm has chosen a site just outside of Branson, Missouri, the location of its first ever American attraction, Castle of Chaos (the House) at the Hollywood Wax Museum. Whilst this might not be the most obvious of locations, it is central, allowing Alterface to cater easily to all American states/time zones. Meanwhile at the Hollywood Wax Museum in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, Alterface is about to launch its next generation 5D interactive haunted house, The House Extreme. New features include increased interactivity, a more “nervous” ride platform, added guest feedback …and zombies! Pictured above is a model of a new water-based interactive dark ride Alterface is working on, featuring a mix of themed and media-based targets. The ride would be realised in partnership with Preston & Barbieri. Cornet is confident of selling at least one ride in time for the 2013 season.
AUGUST 2012
A model of the water dark ride on offer
and balloon carousel. Rides that will be moved into the new area include the cycle ride, kiddie bumpers and pony carousel, while rides that will be updated are the tea cups and Rabbit Ride. Five rides face retirement as part of the park’s plans, namely the original Old Timers, Little Frogs, Kiddie Flight Carousel and Trummeliten Carousel. The old rabbit house will be transformed into a large playground featuring Liseberg’s rabbit mascots. Next to Rabbit Land there will be a picnic area, a frequently requested feature for guests who want to bring their own food to the park Work on Rabbit Land (pictured below) has already begun and is due for completion by the start of the 2013 season in April.
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