TM www.AmusementToday.com Vol. 14, Issue 3 JUNE 2010 $5.00 Supplied by Germany’s Mack Rides First of its kind in North America Tom & Huck’s RiverBlast opens at Silver Dollar City Cliff’s Amusement Park opens Scott Rutherford with Larson Int’l. Giant Loop Amusement Today Silver Dollar City is mark- Pam Sherborne “We knew we were get- ing its 50th anniversary this Amusement Today ting the larger version,” said season with the introduction Gary Hays. “But since the of Tom & Huck’s RiverBlast - In Albuquerque, N.M., larger version couldn’t be America’s biggest water battle Cliff’s Amusement Park ready by the 2010 season, ride. Supplied by Mack Rides, owners Linda and Gary Hays we bought Larson’s smaller this new interactive attraction went about doing the normal version knowing we would sets the world’s record as the chores to prepare for their swap it out this season.” German company’s longest 2010 season last month. So, when the park Boat Blaster ride built to date. Yet, there was one thing opened for the season April Sporting plenty of the im- that wasn’t normal. They 10, so did the ride, equipped mersive thematic details for were also preparing to open with an LED lighting pack- which SDC’s parent company North America’s first 22-me- age. Response has been great, Herschend Family Entertain- ter (72-foot) Giant Loop. Hays said, and the height of ment (HFE) is renowned, Manufactured by Larson In- the ride is very impressive RiverBlast is based on the ad- ternational, Plainview, Texas, for parkgoers. ventures of two of American the new ride replaced the “We are very excited writer Mark Twain’s most en- smaller version installed for about it,” Hays said. “It is dearing chracters, Tom Sawyer the 2009 season. 4See CLIFFS, page 4 and Huck Finn. The five-minute River- Blast experience begins with eight guests boarding one of eight rafts equipped with an equal complement of hand- powered water soakers (63 total). As the rafts are then re- leased into the main channel, a gentle current propels them along the 570-foot-long Mighty White River. Despite the lei- surely pace of the ‘river,’ rid- ers instantly find themselves 4See SDC, page 6 PHOTOS COURTESY SILVER DOLLAR CITY AT PHOTOS / GARY SLADE Silver Dollar City celebrates its 50th anniversary this sea- The Giant Loop, from Larson International, lights up the SILVER DOLLAR CITY TURNS 50...PAGE 5 son with Tom & Huck’s RiverBlast, Mack Rides’ longest Cliff’s nights, thanks to this impressive LED light package. Boat Blaster interactive water ride. INTERNATIONAL AMUSEMENTPARKS WATERPARKS BUSINESS MIDWAY/CLASSIFIEDS SEE PAGES 8-10 SEE PAGES 11-18 SEE PAGES 19-24 SEE PAGES 25-32 SEE PAGES 33-39 Dated material.Dated RUSH! 2010 . NEWSPAPER PLEASE POSTMASTER: 24, 2010 May Mailed Monday, P GOLDEN TICKET PERMIT # 2069 # PERMIT . I . V FT. WORTH TX WORTH FT. AWARDS BEST OF THE BEST! PAID @ US POSTAGE US PRSRT STD PRSRT 2010 Golden Ticket Awards • Busch Gardens Williamsburg • Williamsburg, Virginia 2 AMUSEMENT TODAY June 2010 TM Gary Slade Founder and Publisher [email protected] New Six Flags CEO must correct years of wrong While it probably comes as no surprise that recent Six Flags CEO Mark Shapiro won’t be around to see this year’s daily operation get underway, (he has been replaced by former Para- mount Parks CEO Al Weber, Jr., who was named Interim CEO) or next year’s 50th anniversary of its flagship park, Six Flags Over Texas, one does not have to look far to find what’s right and what’s wrong with the entire chain. What’s right Shapiro made it known he wanted a clean park and most of all, clean restrooms. He achieved this system-wide and even upgraded and built additional restrooms. This simple move resulted into all-time highs on guest satisfaction surveys. Shapiro was all about capacity. He removed rides and coasters that were high on down time. He gave the parks ad- ditional maintenance budgets to get rides running and at full Scott Rutherford capacity. He did the same thing in the food services depart- ments, giving restaurants makeovers and additional cooker/ Here comes the rain...again fryer capacity needed to handle in-park demand. The flooding that ravaged Tennessee Texas and Valleyfair are prime examples Sponsorship. Bleeding money and trying to fight off bank- and Kentucky this spring was a sober- of parks accustomed to having portions ruptcy, Shapiro turned to corporate sponsorship in an attempt ing reminder that Mother Nature is to be of their property and rides inundated. to keep the chain afloat. While he did secure record cash in ad respected. While hurricanes are more dra- Even picturesque Knoebels in the Central deals, it was not enough to save the chain from the bankruptcy matic when they pummel coastal regions, Pennsylvania mountains has to contend process. they are relatively predictable. Storm- with the frequent flooding of two creeks What’s wrong, and has been wrong for years related floods can strike almost anywhere, that bisect its property. Theming. We are going to call it like it is. Six Flags does anytime with little to no warning. Rutherford But amusement industry folk are a not operate theme parks any longer. They operate amusement Especially painful to watch was the resilient bunch. Those who find them- parks that have some themes. Corporate sponsorship plastered news coverage of the destruction wrought selves victim to weather-related disasters all over coaster trains, in-park buildings and more has taken on the citizens of Nashville, particularly the immediately respond by assessing damage, ral- the lack of actual theming in the parks to an all-time new low. Gaylord Opryland Resort. Had the former lying their forces and getting to work to reopen Opryland theme park survived, it too would have as soon as possible. Pitching in to help a neigh- Shows. In some parks, live stage productions were pulled suffered almost unthinkable damage. These same bor seems to be part of our makeup. Indiana’s in favor of less expensive to produce, video taped storms ravaged Beech Bend Park, which suffered Holiday World recently ‘auctioned’ themselves presentations. Just wrong in so many ways. its most costly flood in 73 years. off to raise thousands of dollars that went directly Poor ride selections. For many years prior to Shapiro’s ar- Park operators have always been at the mercy to Nashville-area flood victims. In the same vein, rival, Six Flags focused almost exclusively on record-breaking of weather. Especially vulnerable were those AT’s own Sue Nichols – who just suffered her own roller coasters or DC Comic character-themed rides as a way situated on major rivers. When in check, these share of losses in the floods – spent much of her to boost the front gate and retail. It was a “scare the hell out of vital arteries brought in crowds via steamship free time during and after the disaster deliver- them” mentality. Rarely did any of these installs fit the area’s and ferries, but when out of control, they could ing hot food and supplies to the ruined homes of theme. Just as rare was the lost art of using stories as a device prove deadly. Cincinatti’s Coney Island endured her neighbors (and their pets) who lost virtually to entertain guests. a staggering number of submersions. The Ohio everything they owned. And that is exactly what the new CEO must do with Six River’s perennial flooding was a major impetus I find such selflessness in the face of disaster Flags as it heads into its 50th anniversary year: return the parks for the park’s relocation and revamping into admirable and inspiring. Bravo to those who give to that time of “telling a story and entertaining its guests.” Kings Island in the 1970s. of themselves during difficult times like these. —Gary Slade Today, Six Flags Over Georgia, Six Flags Over Bravo. AMUSEMENT TODAY STAFF ADDRESS, SUBSCRIPTION, POSTMASTER INFORMATION Mailing Address Deliveries Gary Slade Sammy Piccola P.O. Box 5427 2012 E. Randol Mill Rd, Suite 203 Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Accounting / Circulation Arlington, Texas 76011 (817) 460-7220 AWARD WINNER [email protected] Arlington, Texas 76005-5427 1997 • 1999 • 2000 • 2002 • 2004 • • [email protected] Member of: EDITORIAL (817) 460-7220 Fax (817) 265-NEWS (6397) IAAPA, AIMS International, PAPA, ADVERTISING NEWSPAPER PRODUCTION NEAAPA, NJAA, OABA, WWA and IALEI Tim Baldwin Subscription rates are: 1 year (14 issues) $50 in the USA; $70 elsewhere; 2 years Sue Nichols Stacey Childress / Affinity Communications [email protected] (28 issues) $90/$130; 3 years (42 issues) $130/$190. 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