Park News
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SeaWorld executive
appointments Peter J Crage and Anthony Esparza have joined the executive team of SeaWorld Entertainment, joining the new look board headed up by Joel Manby, who arrived as president and CEO this spring. Crage will serve as chief
financial officer, bringing with him more than 30 years' experience, including posts with Cedar Fair and most recently Extended Stay America, while Esparza, a former colleague of Manby’s at Herschend Enterprises, is SeaWorld’s new chief creative officer. "Peter and Anthony are strong
and important additions to our leadership team as we continue to drive improvement in the company's performance, competitive position and shareholder value," notes Manby, With these appointments, Marc
G Swanson concludes his service as interim CFO and will continue to serve as chief accounting officer, while former chief creative officer Scott Helmstedter is returning to his home state of California but will continue to work with SeaWorld Entertainment in a consulting capacity.
Gulliver’s Valley UK chain announces new park plans
Earmarked for a site near to the Rother Valley Country Park in South Yorkshire, Gulliver’s Valley will be the fourth theme park for the UK chain. The second generation family business, which began almost 40 years ago as a model
village in Matlock Bath, Derbyshire, has confirmed its plans for a 135-hectare former colliery site at Pithouse West outside the town of Rotherham. The equivalent of up to 255 full-time jobs will be created as a result of the resort-style development which will include a hotel and holiday village, woodland adventure centre, ecology and education centre, ‘glamping' facilities and woodland lodges in addition to a theme park hub.. The £37 million ($57m/€50m) investment reflects the size of the family-friendly
attractions that are typical at a Gulliver’s park, as well as the relatively low gate price pursued by the operators. The new outlet in Yorkshire, less than 25 miles/40km from the original Gulliver’s Kingdom in Matlock Bath, will join a group of parks that also includes Gulliver’s World in Warrington and Gulliver’s Land in Milton Keynes. "We're really excited at the prospect of reproducing all the best elements of our
existing three UK parks together on one site,” says Gulliver's managing director Julie Dalton, daughter of founders Ray & Hillary Phillips. "We want to create a ‘whole park feel' with nature trails, walks, outdoor gyms and woodland runs which can be used by our guests and the local community alike."
gulliversvalley.co.uk Gardaland
Adventure Hotel Gardaland is building its second hotel and by its own admission it’s “a pretty hefty investment”. The €25 million Gardaland Adventure Hotel will be the first built at the Italian park since it came under the control of Merlin Entertainments, which already operates an Adventure- themed hotel at Heide Park in Germany. The two wing property, located immediately
adjacent to the existing Gardaland Hotel, will feature 100 spacious family rooms, offering a choice of four themes: Jungle Adventure, Wild West Adventure, Arctic Adventure and Arabian Adventure. Meanwhile the Tutankhamon Restaurant will have walls and columns narrating the history of Ancient Egypt. “Day-long visits still represent 70% of entries to
the park,” reveals Gardaland CEO Aldo Vigevani, “but our desire is to become a touristic destination for short stays. The Lake Garda area has registered continuous growth over the past few years and is a popular
Apex acquires Indiana Beach
Apex Parks, the California-based group fronted by former Six Flags and Paramount Parks executive Al Weber Jnr, has acquired Indiana Beach Amusement Resort. Founded by the Spackmann family in 1926 on the banks of Lake Shafer in Monticello, Indiana, the park and its campgrounds were acquired in 2008 by Morgan RV, which did the deal with Apex. “Indiana Beach is a fabulous addition for us," explains Weber, Apex Parks CEO. “We
look forward to building upon the 90 year heritage of this park and providing families with a life time of great memories. Our management team and investor group led by Broad Sky Partners and the Edgewater Funds Group are committed to building Apex into a valuable out-of-home entertainment business. The addition of Indiana Beach is a leap toward achieving this goal.” Also featured in the group’s portfolio are the waterparks Big Kahuna’s in Florida and
Sahara Sam’s Oasis in New Jersey, in addition to 14 family entertainment centres including the Boomers and SpeedZone chains.
SEPTEMBER 2015
destination for long weekends and short holidays with both Italians and foreign visitors, the biggest contingent of whom come from Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland and England. As well as the lake, scenery and many other tourist facilities located around it, Gardaland’s own offering also includes the Sea Life aquarium. Booking for the Gardaland Adventure Hotel are now being taken for June 2016 onwards.
Gulliver’s managing director Julie Dalton
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