Thomas Land USA
Since purchasing Massachusetts’ Edaville USA
railroad in 2002, Delli Priscoli has made several
improvements, but this summer he launched his
biggest undertaking to date: an 11.5 acre (4.7 hectare) family area based on the Island of Sodor and the famous smiling steam train
that inhabits it. Welcome to Thomas Land USA!
S
et in a lush New England landscape, the new themed area boasts 10 new rides from Zamperla based on the Thomas & Friends franchise, in
addition to a signature 20-minute long scenic train ride on a life-sized Thomas the Tank Engine. Based on storybook characters created by the late Rev WA Awdry, the animated children’s TV series Thomas & Friends airs in the US on the PBS Kids channel. Park owner Jon Delli Priscoli decided to introduce Thomas Land to Edvaille USA after the popularity of the railroad’s Day Out with Thomas events. "The first year we hosted Day Out I remember seeing
the Thomas train come around the pond and all I could think of was the Island of Sodor," he recalls. “Thomas the Tank Engine and Edaville are traditional favourites that have both been around for 70 years, so there is nothing better than merging the two together." Developed in partnership with toy company and brand
owner Mattel (via its HIT Entertainment subsidiary), Thomas Land opened on August 15, and the public reaction has been extremely positive, says Priscoli. “People enjoy Thomas Land because the brand is authentic, and most importantly children who love Thomas get to experience a real life Sodor! We have received a lot of comments that Thomas and his friends have come to life. It is better than we ever expected.” In fact, Priscoli’s only regret is that the new land was not
Edaville USA owner Dellli Priscolli 36
ready when the rest oft the park opened back in June. “We would have pushed our opening date back further if we could have after the weather we received in 2015," he says. Characters such as Thomas, Diesel, Toby, Cranky the Crane and Harold the Helicopter give Thomas Land’s
attractions their names. Edaville guests can also visit familiar Sodor Island destinations including Tidmouth Sheds, Knapford Station and Brendam Docks. Meanwhile Sir Topham Hatt, the fat controller of the railway, is on site to greet guests and have photos taken with them. The most popular attraction in Thomas Land is Thomas himself, who is the star of a new look Edaville Railroad Train Ride, a 20-minute narrated journey through a cranberry plantation in the park’s South Carver home. Priscoli adds that the second favourite is Cranky’s Crane Drop, a family tower ride that allows guests to see all of Thomas land from the top.
around his 1,800-acre cranberry plantation. He installed 2ft (0.6m) narrow gauge rails and trains he had purchased in Maine. Named after Atwood’s initials, Edaville USA opened in April of 1947 and is thought to be one of the world’s first tourist railroads. Atwood used the trains to harvest cranberries and take tourists sightseeing through the plantation. Today Edaville is one of the last amusement parks in New England that caters primarily to young children and their families and entertains around 250,000 guests a year. It employs 21 full time and 179 seasonal workers.
E
Delli Priscoli has been at the helm of the park and its 250 acres for the last 13 years, making changes such as the reconfiguration of the entire rail course and the incorporation of vintage amusement rides such as an antique carousel and Ferris wheel. Special events held throughout the year include Days Out With Thomas, the
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015
daville USA began life as a visitor attraction shortly after World War II with the appearance of a 5.5 mile heritage railroad built by Ellis D Atwood. It ran
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