Park Maintenance parkworld-online.com


T


he refurbishment of an existing facility or attraction can often seem to be more of a challenge than planning a brand new project. Worn out buildings or areas can look like a lost cause, however with some creative imagination, every existing fence, shack, bridge or wall can present the opportunity to create a themed experience or new adventure for your guests.


Existing buildings Neptune’s Kingdom at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk brought new life to an old building


There are a number of reasons to refurbish or retheme an existing park or attraction,


writes Rick Bastrup. Sometimes this year’s budget may not support a new attraction, but can be enough to renovate an old ride or area and create a new marketable product. The park may have become worn out and old looking, new owners may want to rebrand y. or new c


the facility. . or new competition


may have moved into the area causing declining revenues. As the new season approaches, Rick offers some valuable advice to park operators


Texas, refuf bh d by R&R using the original rockwork from the park ’s old Spelunkers Cave


rbished


These are the before and after of Yosemite Sam and the Gold River Adventure at Six Flags Over Te


Yo osemite


Back to life


How to revitalise an old park or attraction


Before and after


shots of a municipal building , now


g,


the entrance to a waterpark,


at Hawaiian Falls, Wa


Waco, Texas Te 34


Many times older parks have existing buildings that are abandoned, under used or that have degenerated into storage rooms. These structures may provide an opportunity for a brand new attraction. Several years ago, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk (California) was considering uses for its unused 1904 plunge building. My company worked with the park to create Neptune’s Kingdom, a two-storey multi-use attraction including a highly themed “Buccaneer Bay” miniature golf, eating facilities, shops, a boardwalk museum and a themed arcade, all within the existing historical architecture. Constantly upgraded and well maintained, the facility is still popular over 20 years later


y,, R&R years later.r. Rides and attractions


Most parks will have a conveyance system such as a train ride, car ride, monorail or other attraction that basically goes in a loop. These rides provide an opportunity to create a new themed adventure for your guests. An old dark ride or walk-through can also be re-themed into a new attraction. A new storyline can be created which begins in the queue line. By entertaining the waiting riders with the “set up,” they are also being drawn into the experience. With the addition of staged sets, animatronic figures, special effects and other surprises, these conveyance systems can be turned into a new marketable attraction in their own right.


Splish Splash Waterpark i New Y


he boarding platform and splashdown pool were the ed to a jungle preserve and dinosaur characters were hidde water o


hrough the use of signage, props and audio effects. The boarding platfor hemed to a jungle pres ere hidden along the s ater on the passing rid and turned an under us ttraction.


creatures was carried out along the queue line path throu h the use of si


diinosaur theme. A story reatures was carried ou


the slide paths to roar and spit


the passing riders. Dinosaur Falls was born der used ride into a popular new


Most waterparks have a natural theming opportu ity withi


alreadylready moving slowly through the park, so why not upgrade that experie ce to a new level? A journey throu


pportunity within their ng slowly t


rade that experience hrough the jungle, the or eve


s or awsoraw s off le, the Old West, a primeval world


or even an Egyptian tomb can be accomplished withi


show buildings for sets w other show ele


a


within reasonable budgets. Small, prefabricated buildings or awnings off existing structures can create show buildings for sets with animatronic characters or other show elements. Ev provides the opportu ity og or water effects or h


ts. Every bridge over the waterway


provides the opportunity to have riders experience fo


or water effects or have an encounter with a spitting frog or lurking alligator


r.. MARCH 2015 their lazy river rides. The riders are ark in New Yo York, for example,


wanted to take an existing slide complex and create a new exciting


ng attraction using the always popular e. A storyline of rampaging prehistoric


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