Water Park Industry Enjoys Big Year; WWA Projecting Solid Show Turnout
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INSIDE: Knott's Soak City adds waterslides, spiffs up for 2017 ANNIVERSARY summer season PAGE 18 TM & ©2017 Amusement Today, Inc. October 2017 | Vol. 21 • Issue 7 www.amusementtoday.com Harvey, Irma impact parks Water park industry enjoys big year; and zoos in Texas, Florida WWA projecting solid show turnout AT: Dean Lamanna the state with record rainfall [email protected] AT: Pam Sherborne "We have an amazing water that swelled rivers, breached [email protected] levees, and flooded downtown park partner nearby to host our HOUSTON, Texas, and Houston and surrounding areas. first night’s party (Tuesday, Oct. ORLANDO, Fla. — Two major Irma, which had grown to WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. 17)," Ezra said. "Rapids Water U.S. Gulf Coast states, Texas and a monstrous Category 5 system — Hurricane Irma put many Park is powered by an outstand- Florida, were left reeling from as it churned west across the people in a high anxiety mode ing group of industry leaders the one-two late-summer punch Caribbean, slammed through as it approached the coasts of and we are lucky that we get to landed by hurricanes Harvey the Florida Keys on Sept. 10 at Florida, not the least of which it might mean should the area go inside the park, tour behind- and Irma. Category 4 strength after strik- were those that had planned the take a direct hit from a Category the-scenes and then stick around The storms, unleashing bat- ing Cuba. Gradually weaken- World Waterpark Association's 5 hurricane," Ezra said. "We are for plenty of party fun." tering, 130-mph-plus gales and ing to a tropical storm, it con- (WWA) Symposium and Trade very fortunate that West Palm The second night’s party catastrophic flooding — partic- tinued northward along the Show set for Oct. 16-19, West Beach and the surrounding com- (Wed., Oct. 18) will be in the pool ularly in Houston, the nation’s western and central parts of Palm Beach, Fla. munities were spared some of area of the Hilton West Palm fourth most populous city — Florida, leaving structural and It slammed into the Florida the worst damage." Beach. Attendees will be able to killed at least 110 in the two landscape damage and causing Keys on Sept. 10, but after the Ezra said WWA staff stayed walk from their rooms and join states alone. major flooding in Jacksonville. winds, rains, and floods swept in close contact with the area the party within a minute or two. Damage estimates were Throughout and follow- through, all was still a go for Convention and Visitors Bu- still underway as Amusement ing the dual tragedy, there were the 37th WWA show being held reau, hotel contacts and the folks Educational programs Today went to press, but were many acts of heroism, as well as at the Palm Beach Convention at Rapids Water Park, so they and training sessions expected to reach into the hun- a federal government response Center and the Hilton West Palm would know as soon as possible Ezra said the WWA staff dreds of billions. The long- that appeared to work in effec- Beach. The WWA Registration whether or not the WWA Show is excited about the breadth of range economic impact may be tive synchronization with the Desk, the exhibit hall and most would be affected by Hurricane the educational program this unprecedented. efforts of local officials and first educational sessions will be lo- Irma. year. Highlights are expected to Harvey’s eyewall roared responders. As well, there were cated at the convention center The water park association include: “Leadership Matters – ashore Aug. 25 just north of many acts of generosity from while networking events will be has never had to cancel a show, Inspiring Excellent Performance Corpus Christi, Texas, as a both inside and outside of the held off site. and, fortunately, a precedent From Your Management Team,” Category 4 hurricane on the amusement industry. (See relat- "We are incredibly grateful didn't have to be set this year. “Navigating The Social Media Saffir-Simpson scale of 1-5, ed editorial, page 4.) that our headquarters hotels, the The WWA staff set out this Maze,” “Group Sales Rocks – deluging the southern part of 4See HURRICANES, page 3 convention center and Rapids year to make the convention as Pillars For A Successful Sales Water Park will be ready and convenient as possible for at- Department,” “Revitalizing Ag- able to welcome our group in a tendees. The newly built Hilton ing Waterparks for Sophisticated few weeks," said Aleatha Ezra, is connected to the Palm Beach Patrons,” “Waterpark & Resort director of park member devel- Convention Center. Attend- Trends Across The Globe” and opment, in mid-September. "We ees will be able to easily access many others. hope that our members in the sessions, the trade show floor, Customarily, the WWA con- area will continue to receive the shuttles to events, etc., all within vention planning staff schedules support that they need from lo- a few steps of their room. The the certification and lifeguard- cal federal and government offi- hotel also is within walking dis- ing sessions to begin a couple of cials to recover and rebuild." tance to food, evening entertain- days before the actual start of the Ezra said WWA is very ex- ment and more. convention. This year, it is no dif- cited about taking the show back In addition, the Hilton West ferent. to West Palm Beach. Palm Beach will be filled with Scheduled for Saturday, Skatetown, TX in Vidor saw Tropical Storm Harvey flood- "However, being located WWA attendees, so the chance Oct. 14, are: the Aquatic Facility waters several feet deep inundate its roller rink. in West Palm Beach this year, for additional networking will COURTESY ROLLER SKATING FOUNDATION we were keenly aware of what be incredibly high. 4See WWA, page 8 NEWSTALK PARKS & FAIRS Page 4-5 Pages 30-42 Dated material. material. Dated RUSH! Friday, September 29, 2017 Friday, BUSINESS, SAFETY NEWSPAPER INTERNATIONAL POSTMASTER: PLEASE Mailed Pages 10-14 Pages 42-49 PERMIT # 2069 # PERMIT FT. WORTH TX WORTH FT. PAID CLASSIFIEDS US POSTAGE US WATER PARKS Page 50 PRSRT STD PRSRT Pages 15-29 2 AMUSEMENT TODAY October 2017 October 2017 AMUSEMENT TODAY 3 HURRICANES Harvey’s onslaught. Most of the help feed 900 of the city’s first in Orlando and Kissimmee, closed facilities at Kemah Boardwalk responders. Sept. 10-11, had only minimal Continued from page 1 and Galveston Island Historic Before the storm hit, the damage. Old Town in Kissimmee While some in the amuse- Pleasure Pier were reopened by Houston Zoo secured its animals reported similar negligible storm ment and attractions business Sept. 1, with no reports of sig- in their barns and night houses, effects and also reopened Sept. have suffered losses, the industry nificant damage. Although some where they could be more easily 12. overall appears to have fared well of its outdoor attractions, includ- tended; the property sustained The famous underwater-per- considering the vast areas raked ing its zipline and ropes course, minor flooding and downed tree forming “mermaids” at Weeki by these storms. Following is a were closed temporarily or for limbs. Wachee Springs State Park found partial rundown of locations that the season, Moody Gardens on At Gator Country in safe haven. But the 70-year-old saw varying degrees of impact. Galveston Island suffered few ill Beaumont, there was public con- property itself was facing closure effects. cern that the sanctuary’s approxi- for possibly several weeks to deal In Harvey’s wake Just as residents and prop- mately 350 reptiles would escape with fallen trees and debris, plus Hurricane Harvey’s worst erty were vulnerable to the in the rising waters. But propri- a damaged perimeter fence. River destruction stretched from storm’s deluge, so was wildlife. etor Gary Saurage patrolled the kayaking and boat rides were Corpus Christi to Houston and all Displaced creatures, ranging 15-acre property by boat to moni- discontinued until water levels the way to the Texas / Louisiana from entire fire ant colonies to tor the high fencing and even returned to normal. SeaWorld Orlando Rescue border. The storm turned back alligators and venomous snakes, secured two 13-foot-long alliga- Sun Splash Family retrieved and rehabbed a toward the coast before reach- were adrift and seeking refuge. tors, named Big Al and Big Tex, in Waterpark in Cape Coral, north baby manatee stranded by ing Greater San Antonio, causing Animal attractions had to enact trailers. Volunteers assisting with of Naples, had power supply temporary closures at attractions emergency measures of their own cleanup were compensated with problems and needed a health Hurricane Irma. COURTESY including Morgan’s Wonderland, as Harvey advanced. lifetime passes to the preserve. department inspection before it SEAWORLD ORLANDO San Antonio Zoo, SeaWorld San The non-profit Texas State A number of family enter- could reopen. It was scheduled to Antonio and Six Flags Fiesta Aquarium in Corpus Christi acti- tainment centers, bowling alleys, close for the season at the end of Texas, but sparing them damage. vated its hurricane preparedness skating rinks and other facilities September. Campground Critters exhibits Schlitterbahn Waterparks plan, moving all of its animals offering fun dealt with damage or Zoological facilities and needed repairs. However, all of was the largest amusement oper- indoors, where they were tended closure. Skatetown, TX in Vidor, aquariums worked fervently to the attraction’s animals are safe. ator in Texas with multiple prop- by a storm ride-out team. No ani- between Beaumont and the shelter and ensure the safety of The Naples Zoo at Caribbean erties touched by the storm.