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© TM Your Amusement Industry NEWS Leader! Vol. 17 • Issue 5 AUGUST 2013 Gold Striker marks a shiny new era for California’s Great America STORY: Dean Lamanna across the bow — the start of and fastest wooden coaster in Special to Amusement Today a new beginning,” said Raul Northern California. Deliv- SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Rehnborg, GCA’s vice presi- ering what Rehnborg calls a The steady stream of shrieks dent and general manager, of “world-class” combination of and post-ride buzz emanating the twisting wooden thriller nostalgia and smooth, state- from Gold Striker, the eighth rising from the park’s Celebra- of-the-art engineering along and newest roller coaster at tion Plaza. “Not only is the nearly 3,200 feet of tightly California’s Great America coaster exciting in and of itself, curving, heavily banked (up to (CGA), initially rattled the it really is a symbol of bigger 85 degrees), sometimes low-to- Billed as the tallest and fastest wooden roller coaster in nerves of some of the neigh- and better things to come.” the-ground track, the ride also Northern California, Gold Striker has drawn raves from park bors. But to the park’s opera- With a 103-foot-long first boasts an initial descent tunnel guests who have been waiting, and rooting, for the come- tors, the lack of silence is, well, plunge and speeds approach- of 174 feet — the longest ever back of California’s Great America. golden. ing 54 mph, Gold Striker is installed on a wooden coaster. COURTESY DAN PEAK / CALIFORNIA’S GREAT AMERICA “This ride is the shot being touted as the tallest 4See GOLD, page 1 Following Superstorm Sandy, Coney Island renaissance continues STORY: Scott Rutherford Valerio Ferrari, president of periphery of the attraction for [email protected] Central Amusement Interna- spectators to soak friends and BROOKLYN, N.Y. — tional, operator of Luna Park, family who are onboard the Summer at Coney Island is in the Cyclone and other area at- ride. full swing and Central Amuse- tractions. ment International (CAI) has The new rides and attarc- Magic Bikes made sure that visitors to the tions that opened this season Located next to the Tickler People’s Playground will find at Luna Park and the rest of coaster, the new Magic Bikes Luna Park and the surround- the Coney Island amsuement is another in a long line of ing attractions are all up and area include: interactive family rides from running. Zamperla. The new flat ride The 2013 season, which Water Mania features eight colorful two- officially kicked off on Memo- Supplied by Zamperla, seat hang glider-style vehicles rial Day weekend, features a Water Mania made its world equipped with bicycle pedals number of new rides and at- premiere at Luna Park and is and rear-mounted fans that tractions that are all part of the one of Coney Island’s largest are suspended from radiating major overhaul that has been capacity rides. The new family sweeps. Once the attraction taking place at Coney Island attraction featuring 12 four- begins to revolve, the riders’ Luna Park’s 2013 season is highlighted by a number of new over the last several years. seat cars, offering a total pas- pedaling action causes the attractions including Water Mania and Magic Bikes, both of “As we maintain our senger capacity of 48. As the fans to rotate. Guests control which were manufactured by Zamperla. Water Mania is remi- original attractions and add first ride of its kind from Zam- their individual flights as they niscent of dueling tea cups with each of the 48 passengers new ones to Luna Park, this perla, Water Mania is reminis- swoop up and down through seated in front of a water blaster. Off-ride water cannons season we demonstrate our cent of dueling tea-cups, with the air. allow spectators to join in on the fun. Magic Bikes features commitment to Coney Island each passenger seated in front eight colorful two-seat hang glider-style vehicles suspended and our mission to be an in- of a water blaster. This attrac- B&B Carousell from radiating sweeps. Each vehicle is equipped with bicycle novative and exciting place tion also features interactive whirls again pedals and rear-mounted fans. Riders control the up and for visitors of all ages,” said water cannons located on the 4See CONEY, page 1 down motion. COURTESY CAI SUBSCRIBE TO Dated material. material. Dated AMUSEMENT TODAY RUSH! NEWSPAPER POSTMASTER: PLEASE July 19, 2013 Mailed Friday, (817) 460-7220 PERMIT # 2069 # PERMIT FT. WORTH TX WORTH FT. com PAID amusementtoday CONTINUING COVERAGE: SUPERSTORM SANDY US POSTAGE US PRSRT STD PRSRT SEE PAGES 34—35 2 AMUSEMENT TODAY August 2013 NEWSTALK OPINIONS CARTOON LETTERS AT CONTACTS EDITORIAL: Gary Slade, [email protected] CARTOON: Bubba Flint Weather and a wheel It seems like we hear stories each sum- mer of something weather related that makes an impact on our parks, testing their ability to quickly recover so that the smiles, laughter and thrills can continue. This season we have already heard of Slade the late spring snowfall that created mon- ster cleanup efforts for both Worlds of Fun and Six Flags St. Louis as well as creating a cold visit for patrons at Silver Dollar City. Then came news of record rains and flooding in Grand Rapids, Mich. that spilled over to Mighigan’s Adventure. The Oklahoma City back-to-back tornado outbreak disrutped business for the area parks. Within the same few weeks Frontier City was hit with a massive hail storm causing roof damage to more than three-quarters of the park’s buildings. Always looking on the bright side, park GM Stephen Ball laughed saying: “At lease we will get much needed new roofs out it!” Now in this issue (pages 13 and 14) we have reports EDITORIAL: Andrew Mellor, [email protected] that Wonderland Park suffered a hit from large hail at June 25 that broke approximately 10,000 light bulbs Pulling in the crowds and caused other damage to signs and roofs in the park, I recently attended the U.K. How many other attractions can say that? including their one day old bumper car building roof. parks association, BALPPA’s, The crowds had also flocked to Thorpe Park Just down I-27 two hours Joyland Park suffered tor- annual summer conference despite it being a week day that always threat- nado-like winds from the same storm that ripped signs during which attendees visited ened rain. Again, this was great to see and it’s apart and blew off some facade cover from their Mack several attractions just outside an encouraging situation to note in what are still Rides Musik Express. Joyland lost a full week of business London. hard economic times for many, even more so while debris was cleared and power restored. Among these were Chess- perhaps when you consider the market Thorpe ington World of Adventures, Park is aimed at, teens and young adults. Having visited all three area parks recently, my guess Mellor is that most guests are not aware of the damage that Warner Bros. Studio Tour, Lon- Many parks that went down the thrill ride don — the Making of Harry Pot- route over the years have today altered their has hit those facilities, thanks to each park’s dedicated ter and Thorpe Park and it was good to note thinking and moved back to targeting the fam- staffs that got the “clean-up” job done. how busy each venue was despite it being out- ily market with their rides and attractions but at Lastly, while in Puebla, Mexico the last weekend in side the main summer school holiday period and Thorpe, operator Merlin Entertainments has di- June for the debut of Ronald Bussink’s new R80XL Ob- during week days when we went to each one. rectly targeted the teens and young adults mar- servation Wheel, (full coverage coming in AT’s Sept. is- In particular I think we were all pretty im- ket with an array of thrill rides that would make sue) it was interesting that I found myself taking a photo pressed with how well the Harry Potter attrac- any park proud. Merlin does, of course, also of their nearby active volcano that seems to be spitting tion is doing and specifically its forward book- operate Chessington and the nearby Legoland up steam during my visit. A few days after returning ings. Visitors have to book tickets in advance Windsor, so caters for all ages and tastes in the — there is strictly no turning up on the day to area with the three venues, but it was still pleas- home, national news networks reported that flights in just by a ticket and go in — and it’s booked up ing to see such a good attendance. People of and out of the local airport had been cancelled while the several months ahead. Additionally, the attrac- all ages clearly still want to have a good day out volcano blew out ash over most of the city. tion caters to approximately 3,500 people maxi- and choose to spend their spare money doing For once timing was on my side. mum per day so it must be comforting to know so, no matter what the economic climate is. —Gary Slade from a management point of view that you have Hopefully, weather permitting, it’s a good so many people coming way into the future. sign of things to come this season. Gary Slade is founder and publisher of Amusement Today AMUSEMENT TODAY STAFF Gary Slade, Founder Tim Baldwin Sammy Piccola Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Editorial Accounting / Circulation (817) 460-7220 [email protected] (817) 460-7220 [email protected] [email protected] Deliveries Member of: Pam Sherborne 2012 E.

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