Park News
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Merlin enters Rome Sea Life attraction may not be the last
Merlin Entertainments is to open a third Sea Life aquarium in Italy. The new attraction is being developed in collaboration with Mare Nostrum Romae Srl and will open next spring as part of the city’s “second tourist pole” development scheme – and more attractions could follow.
Construction is already underway on the lakeside Acquario di Roma retail and leisure development, where the €15 million Sea Life will sit alongside a 4D theatre and “Mediterraneum” exposition.
Hippo interactive
Hippo Leisure recently installed an interactive water playground in the north of England. The new attraction at the Concordia Leisure Centre in Cramlington features over 45 active water points including tipping buckets, fish showers and a resident pelican. Hand wheels allow children to control the flow of water to the polyurethane- moulded buckets and into the pool. The surface surrounding the play equipment has been finished
with a non-slip and impact-absorbing surface for the ultimate in safe water play.
“Initial feedback from our customers provides proof that we have invested well,” notes leisure facilities manager Colin Winfield. “The features help brighten and liven up the pool and poolside and have contributed to making the much needed and overdue revamp of the pool area a great success.”
“Merlin Entertainments is Europe’s leading visitor attraction operator, and we have been looking to find the right development in Rome for some time,” reveals Nick Mackenzie, managing director of property and development group. “Our experience shows that the combination of quality family attractions such as Sea Life together with retail and restaurant facilities provide a major driver for repeat visits.”
Sea Life is the world’s biggest aquarium brand with Cool Zoo!
Several zoos throughout the United States have added carousels and rides in recent years, but until now few have integrated waterpark attractions. Now Audubon Zoo in New Orleans, one of the country’s best loved zoos, has opened an attraction called "Cool Zoo” courtesy of WhiteWater.
This multi-level AquaPlay structure features a giant version of Spot, the zoo's rare white alligator. Twice the size of the real gator – 8.5 meters (28ft) tall – the creature chomps on a tipping bucket, drenching kids with tons of water. What's more, its tail doubles as a waterslide. This AP550 installation provides an additional 60 interactive features.
more than 10 million visitors a year and over 30 attractions in Europe, the USA and Asia Pacific. Its other Italian outlets are at Gardaland Resort near Verona and Lidi di Jesolo near Venice. Located close to the coast between Ostia and
Fiumicino, Rome’s second pole tourist pole is a major 27,000-hectare development including additional attractions such as Zoomarine. Mackenzie hints that Sea Life may not be Merlin’s last attraction in the area. “Our commitment to build a Sea Life aquarium underlines our belief that Rome, and particularly the Acquario di Roma, is a perfect location for what we hope will just be our first attraction here, and we are delighted to be able to move our plans forward.”
New chief at Indiana Beach
Morgan Management has appointed Gary
Gary Quasebarth
Quasebarth as the new chief operating officer of Indiana Beach Amusement Resort in Monticello, Indiana. Quasebarth joins the park after managing multi- million dollar construction
projects, national sales efforts and themed entertainment, including Sea World and Busch Gardens, where he was involved with technical and park operations of eight theme parks, including management, design, marketing and special events.
Indiana Beach recently embarked upon a multi-year, multi-million dollar expansion plan. Included as part of this are Adventure Point, which launches on June 4 featuring zip lines, a high ropes course, rock climbing and the Adventure Point Outfitters shop. The park is also promised a new entrance plaza and guest facilities.
16
JUNE 2011
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