Park News
Fun Spot expands in Florida
Fun Spot America is expanding its operation in Kissimmee, Florida, by investing over $1 million in new attractions and taking on additional interests at the adjoining Old Town USA. As well as adding a ride, Head Rush 360 by the SBF/Visa Group, Fun Spot will move four family rides across to Old Town USA's new south entertainment district and operate park's new Ferris Wheel, due to be installed in September. Fun Spot America will also add a New York Burger Company themed restaurant and expand its open air pavilion to include additional shaded seating and a beer garden.
“This is huge news not just for us
Hear Rush 360 by SBF/Visa
but the city of Kissimmee and Osceola County 192 tourist district," notes John Arie Jnr, Fun Spot America's chief operating officer. Fun Spot America's two Orlando
area parks, in Kissimmee near Walt Disney World and off International Drive near Universal Orlando, are Central Florida's only family-owned amusement parks, featuring such attractions as patented multi-level go-kart tracks, two record-breaking SkyCoaster, Gator Spot by Gatorland and Orlando's only wooden rollercoaster, White Lightning.
Hydro Adventures Waterpark adds more dry attractions
A
small waterpark in Missouri is offering a “two parks in one” concept after an overhaul by its new owners. Hydro Adventures in the town of Poplar Bluff was purchased in 2014 by United Parks, which has invested in two
more 'dry' attractions for 2016: an SDC Galaxy rollercoaster and an Eli Bridge Scrambler (both pictured above). “Not only does the ‘two parks in one’ concept attract a broader customer base, it
also extends Hydro Adventures’ season into the fall, when the weather may still be warm enough to attract visitors to our ‘dry’ attractions,” explains United Parks CEO and 40-year amusement park industry veteran, Jack Falfas. United Parks, which also operates Daytona Lagoon in Daytona Beach, Florida, and will soon assume operations of Rye Playland in New York, has made multiple additions and improvements to Hydro Adventures since taking ownership of the property two years ago. As well as new water attractions like the Twisted 6 mat racer, the company has also added new batting cages, go karts, a mini golf course, children’s coaster, tea cup ride and a Tilt-a-Whirl. The Galaxy coaster, which opened on July 7, formerly operated at Miracle Strip amusement park in Panama City, Florida, which closed at the end of last season. The Italian-built ride stands 55ft (17m) high and features 1,700-foot (518 m) of track. Also new at Hydro Adventures for 2016 are an expanded and refurbished midway area with new children’s rides and games, as well as a beach bar.
FunTown Pier will not be rebuilt
Destroyed by Hurricane Sandy in October 2012, then consumed one year later by a fire that wiped out much of what remained, FunTown Amusement Pier has stood in tatters ever since in Seaside Park, New Jersey. Faced with a 100ft (30m) height restriction on new rides, owner
William Major has announced that the park will not now be rebuilt. Major insists that the only way he could afford to recoup his estimated
$15-$20 million construction costs for a new pier is to include thrill rides that will be a major draw for teens and young adults, however some local residents opposed the idea of an increased height limit, citing lights on the rides as a nuisance. Just a nine-minute walk up the boardwalk, in the neighbouring town of Seaside Heights, Casino Pier is allowed to have amusements up to 225ft-tall tall (69m).
12
AUGUST 2016
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