News Headlines

Carowinds Announces Carolina Cobra

Carowinds Amusement Park, Charlotte, North Carolina, has announced the Carolina Cobra rollercoaster, for the 2009 season.  The Vekoma boomerang coaster previously stood at the closed Geauga Lake amusement park, in Ohio, but will feature a newly designed train, with more room and semi-opened sides.

Zoombezi Bay Exceeds Expectations

Zoombezi Bay Water Park, at the Columbus Zoo, Powell, Ohio, has reported they exceeded expectations for their inaugural year, seeing around 410,000 people coming out to the new water park.  For 2009, they reportedly will look at increased shade areas, increased amount of lockers and lounge chairs, and possible changes to the Jungle Jack's section of amusement rides.  Zoombezi Bay and Jungle Jack's Landing was completely redesigned after Six Flags sold the Wyandot Lake park to the Columbus Zoo, after the 2006 season, and is home to the Sea Dragon, an ACE Coaster Classic wood coaster.  Zoombezi Bay and Jungle Jack's Landing are now closed for the 2008 season, but the world famous Columbus Zoo is open daily.

Cedar Fair Reports Increase in Attendance and Revenues

Cedar Fair, LP, Sandusky, Ohio, and operator of many amusement and water parks, has announced that through Labor Day attendance at all of their parks is up 3% and a 3% increase in revenue, with performance at Canada's Wonderland significantly adding to the numbers.  Canada's Wonderland debuted a new B&M hypercoaster, Behemoth, for the 2008 season.

Astroland Closes

Contrary to reports of a deal to keep it operating, Astroland Amusement Park, at historic Coney Island in New York closed for good on Sunday, September 7th.  The famous Cyclone rollercoaster and Wonder Wheel are privately owned and not affected by the closure of Astroland.

Golden Ticket Awards

The annual Golden Ticket Awards, presented by Amusement Today Magazine, have been awarded to the following Amusement Parks:

Best Amusement Park....Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio

Best Water Park............Schlitterbahn, New Braunfels, Texas

Best Childrens Park.......Legoland California, Carlsbad, California

Best Marine Life park.....SeaWorld, Orland, Florida

Friendliest Staff.............Holiday World, Santa Claus, Indiana

Cleanest park...............Holiday World, Santa Claus, Indiana

Best Kids Area..............Kings Island, Cincinnati, Ohio

Best Steel Coaster........Superman Ride of Steel, Six Flags New England, Agawam, Massachusetts

Best Wood Coaster.......The Voyage, Holiday World, Santa Claus, Indiana

Congratulations to all the winning parks, representing the "Best of the Best" in the amusement industry.  For the complete listing, please visit the Amusement Today Website.

Santa Claus to Bring Pilgrim's Plunge to Holiday World

2009 will be a time to get wet at Holiday World and Splashin' Safari, Santa Claus, Indiana, as they build Pilgrims Plunge, the world's tallest shoot the chute ride, with a modern twist.  The new ride will feature an open air elevator to take you to the top, a record 135 feet.  Then you will plummet 131 feet at a 45 degree angle, creating a wall of water 45 feet high and 90 feet wide.  The new Intamin ride will start construction soon, and be ready for their 2009 opening.

Check out the videos of Pilgrims Plunge at the Holiday World Website.  Holiday World is now open weekends only through October 12, 2008.

Something prowling at Worlds of Fun in 2009

Worlds of Fun, Kansas City, Missouri, has announced the coming of The Prowler, in Spring of 2009.  The Prowler will be a wood coaster, built by Great Coasters International, with a spiraling first drop of 85 feet, reaching a top speed of 51 mph over its 3074 ft. long track.  The new coaster will be built in the Africa section and use two Millennium Flyer trains.  Other elements include terrain hugging at high speeds with a 102 ft. elevation change, banked bunny hop hills, and a banked S curve.

Worlds of Fun is now open Friday-Sundays, through November 2, 2008, and will also be celebrating their annual German Festival, September 12, 13, & 14, 2008

Kings Island to Build Diamondback

Kings Island, Cincinnati, Ohio, will have a new Bolliger and Mabillard coaster when it opens in April, 2009.  The new B&M hypercoaster will feature a height of 230 feet and length of 5282 feet.  Diamondback will feature 10 drops with a first drop of 215 feet.  The trains will feature the four seat panoramic view cars, with two in the front of the car, and two offset in the back.  The $22 million coaster will also have a splashdown finish.  Recent construction shows vertical supports for the lift hill are being put in place.

Events

Park and Club Sponsored Events:

• September 28, 2008, Euclid Beach Park Now Event, Euclid Beach State Park, Details TBA