PW JAN09 P14.qxd:PW JAN09 P14.qxd 17/12/2008 09:46 Page 14
Park News
www.parkworld-online.com
Merlin moves staff around the globe
Merlin Entertainments has announced a number of senior promotions, as its staff Legoland California general manager Peter Ronchetti (ex-Thorpe Park); Thorpe Park
benefit from new opportunities available to them worldwide as a result of the divisional director Mike Vallis (ex-Chessington World of Adventures); Chessington
group’s continued expansion. divisional director David Smith (ex-Alton Towers finance director); Legoland
New head office appointments include Russell Barnes (ex-Alton Towers) as Deutschland general manager Hans Aksel Pedersen (ex-Legoland Windsor).
“midway” divisional director and John Jakobsen as managing director of the Smith and Pedersen will both be taking up their first general manager roles,
Legoland Parks division, moving to the UK from his previous role at Legoland having served previously as finance director and marketing and sales director for
California. their former parks. Other appointments will be announced soon.
Other changes include new Alton Towers divisional director Ian Crabbe (ex-Sea Merlin has an excellent record for promoting internally, beginning with
Life Birmingham); Xanadu attractions (Legoland Discovery Centre and Pepsi Globe) encouraging seasonal employees to apply for permanent positions. Every individual
general manager, New Jersey, Colin Thomas (ex-London Dungeon); London within the company also has a personal development plan. A graduate training
Dungeons general manager Nikki Ratcliffe (ex-Chessington World of Adventures); scheme instigated three years ago has also proved tremendously popular.
MIT debuts in Orlando PARC Management
Preston & Barbieri revealed its
new offshoot in public for the first
acquires 11 FECs
time during IAAPA Attractions
PARC Management, LLC, has agreed to acquire the operations of 11 family
Expo in Orlando.
entertainment centres (FECs) located throughout North America. The terms of
MIT, whose name is short for
the transaction were not disclosed.
Machine Interactive Technology,
The outlets include Zuma Fun Centers in Charlotte, North Carolina;
has been formed to takeover the
Knoxville, Tennessee; and two in Houston, Texas; Putt-Putt Fun Centers in
production of compact coasters
Raleigh, North Carolina; and Lubbock, Texas; Camelot Park in Bakersfield,
and water rides formerly handled
California; Fiddlesticks Family Fun Parks in Tempe and Tucson, Arizona;
by L&T Systems, with which P&B
Mountasia Family Fun Center in North Richland Hills, Texas; and the Grand Prix
enjoyed a close relationship.
Family Thrill Park in Tampa, Florida.
Production will remain at L&T’s
Each FEC offers a variety of pay-as-you-go, timed and daily ticket options as
old premises in Reggio Emilia,
well as group or party entertainment packages. Featured attractions include
Italy.
miniature golf, go-karts, batting cages, bumper boats, kiddie rides, arcade
MIT will also produce a number of interactive and dark ride vehicles, and at
games and refreshment outlets.
IAAPA showed a new customised Jeep (pictured above) for use on a George of
“The acquisition of these properties expands our national footprint and
the Jungle-themed Splash Battle heading for the Middle East. This, together
brings our total park portfolio to 25 properties, and our family entertainment
with several other concepts, will be produced in association with 3DBA.
division to 16 properties,” notes Randal H. Drew, CEO of PARC Management.
New from ProSlide
Kennywood president resigns
Tantrum Twist, a mini Tornado slide employing four-man cloverleaf tubes, is Peter J McAneny, president of Kennywood Entertainment
new from ProSlide Technologies of Canada. in Pennsylvania, was due to resign his position with the
After the prototype installed last season at Chimelong Water Park in
company at the end of 2008 to pursue new business
China, a number of installations are planned for 2009, including Pare
opportunities.
Ocean Waterpark in South Korea, Tantrum Alley at Mont Cascade,
The company, which operates Kennywood in West
Quebec, and two US waterparks.
Mifflin, Idlewild Park in Ligonier, Sandcastle Waterpark in
Other ProSlide installations
West Homestead, Lake Compounce in Bristol,
Connecticut, and Story Land in Glen, New Hampshire,
for the coming season include
was purchased by Parques Reunidos in early June 2008.
a Rocket uphill water coaster
McAneny will continue to work with the company for an
opening at Six Flags Kentucky
undetermined period of time to facilitate the transition.
Kingdom in Louisville,
Kentucky, and a significant
expansion at the Jumeirah
group’s Wild Wadi waterpark
Two new for
in Dubai. The latter will
Kings Dominion
include the addition of a
Behemoth Bowl and Tantrum
Kings Dominion, Doswell, Virginia, will debut
Alley, combing a Tantrum Twist
two new family rides when the park opens for
its 2009 season. Americana is a hybrid 110ft
and other waterslide elements.
Ferris Wheel, consisting of a structure by Arrow
and 24 buckets by Huss, while El Dorado (pic-
The Tantrum (kids’ Tornado), as
tured) is a 1950s-themed 1001 Nachts ride by
seen at Chimelong Water Park
Weber. Both rides formerly operated at the
in China
now defunct Guega Lake park in Ohio.
14 JANUARY 2009
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