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2016 GOLDEN TICKET AWARDS V.I.P. BEST OF THE BEST!

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September 2016 | Vol. 20 • Issue 6.2 www.goldenticketawards.com welcomes 2016 Golden Ticket Awards Ohio park and resort host event for second time SANDUSKY, Ohio — The first chapter in Cedar and beyond. Point's long history was written in 1870, when a bath- America’s top-rated park first hosted the Gold- ing beach opened on the peninsula at a time when en Ticket Awards in 2004, well before the ceremony such recreation was finding popularity with lake island continued to grow into the “Networking Event of the areas. Known for an abundance of cedar trees, the Year.” At that time, the awards were given out be- resort took its name from the region's natural beauty. low the final curve of the award-winning Millennium It would have been impossible for owners at the time Force. For 2016, the event offered a full weekend of to ever envision the world’s largest ride park. Today activities, including behind-the-scenes tours of the the resort has evolved into a funseeker’s dream with park, dinners and receptions, networking opportuni- a total of 71 rides, including one of the most impres- ties, ride time and a Jet Express excursion around sive lineups of roller coasters on the planet. the resort peninsula benefiting the National Roller Tourism became a booming business with the Coaster Museum and Archives. help of steamships and railroad lines. The original Amusement Today asked Vice President and bathhouse, beer garden and dance floor soon were General Manager Jason McClure what he was per- joined by hotels, picnic areas, baseball diamonds and sonally looking forward to most about hosting the a Grand Pavilion that hosted musical concerts and in- event. “It’s always good to catch up with colleagues cluded a bowling alley. The first ride on property was in the industry, and it will be nice for everyone to a in Lake Erie itself, which was see all that Cedar Point has to offer and the many installed in 1890. Electricity was added to the park changes on the peninsula since their previous visits,” in 1891 and amusement rides were soon to follow, he said. “I really look forward to providing a good In addition to the including the park’s first a year later. experience as well, an opportunity after a long sea- largest collection Various owners and managers had their own vi- son for folks to kick back and relax along the Cedar of rides on the sion for the park, with each taking their own place in Point beach.” planet, the Cedar writing the park’s history. George Boeckling took the “The pressure is on!” added Tony Clark, direc- Point resort features property from a picnic resort to a full-fledged amuse- tor of communications. “But the entire Cedar Point hotels, a water ment park. Surviving difficult times during World War team is ready to show everyone that we’re more than park, a marina and a II, the park hung on and saw growth at a slower pace. or . This place is legendary lineup of George Roose took the reins in 1958. He immedi- really special, and I hope our friends in the industry roller coasters. ately set out to freshen up the resort and new rides will feel the same way when they arrive. It’s time to AT/TIM BALDWIN were brought in. The park’s oldest operating coaster, celebrate!” Blue Streak, was built in 1964. But it was under the The weekend event celebrated the 19th annual vision of Richard Kinzel that Cedar Point solidified presentation of the Golden Ticket Awards in the re- its position as a land of giants, taking “The Amaze- sort’s Convention Center. Created to acknowledge ment Park” into the reputation as “America’s Roller the best practices and strong efforts of industry Coast.” Magnum XL-200 in 1989 was just the begin- peers striving to do their best, the awards now bring ning of one record-breaking coaster after another. professionals together each September to talk shop Among its 17 roller coasters today, three of them and connect with each other to share ideas. have taken Golden Ticket Awards and four of them “I even bought new shoes,” laughed Clark. continue to score strongly in the Top 25 Steel Roller “I hope guests take the opportunity to explore Coasters chart. In the past 27 years, Cedar Point has all that is Cedar Point,” said McClure. “Our roller taken the roller coasters through the 200-foot, 300- coasters get the glory and they definitely deserve it, foot and 400-foot barriers. but the Cedar Point experience is a lot more than Today, Cedar Point not only adds record-setting most people realize.” rides, such as the new-for-2016 , but has a strong focus on the resort as a whole. Cedar All stories this issue continues to make great strides by investing in and by Tim Baldwin developing the resort property in grand style with its unless otherwise noted resort hotel improvements, transformed entrances

 NewsTalk...Page 2  Best Parks...Pages 3-14  Publisher's Picks...Pages 15-19 Dated material. material. Dated  Food, Cleanest, Friendliest, Landscaping...Pages 20-23  Shows, Seasonal Events...Pages 24 & 25 NEWSPAPER POSTMASTER: September 12, 2016 Mailed Monday,

PLEASE RUSH!  Best New Rides for 2016...Pages 28-31

PERMIT # 2069 # PERMIT INSIDE:

FT. WORTH TX WORTH FT.  Best Rides...Pages 32-41

PAID US POSTAGE US  Wooden Roller Coasters...Pages 42-48

PRSRT STD PRSRT  Steel Roller Coasters...Pages 49-51 2 AMUSEMENT TODAY Golden Ticket Awards 2016 NEWSTALK

EDITORIAL: Gary Slade, [email protected] FLINT’S VIEW: Bubba Flint A time to reflect As we gather at Cedar Point with friends and associates for our Golden Ticket Awards event, we need to reflect on the recent flooding disaster that has struck our industry colleagues in Baton Rouge, La. Slade Sam Haines, Jr., owner of the Dixie Landing and Blue Bayou there, informed AT that while his park suffered very light damage, his management team and seasonal staff have been hit hard. He told us that five of his managers had water in their house ranging from a couple of feet to all the way up to the roof. And he said it was impossible to tell just how many seasonal staff members were suffering the same fate. As a result of the citywide crisis, the park has been closed — not from flooding but from inaccessibility and the lack of available employees. "When all the government money is paid out here INDUSTRY OPINION: Tim Baldwin, [email protected] for the damage, we will see that the financial totals Rio Olympics, GTA's see mix of youth with veterans will be on par or worse than that of Ka- With the Rio Olympics still fresh shadow the achievements of the in our minds, I was thinking how the many whose best practices have trina," Haines told AT. relay teams in swimming and “Final landed them on the charts. When And Sam's unfortunate 2016 season didn't just Five” in gymnastics were comprised considering the number of prop- start with the three feet of rainfall. It began a month of new fresh talent and returning erties globally, the dedication earlier with the racial riots in the city that then led veterans to make up the group. I and drive to land them on our to the shooting of four Baton Rouge police officers. find our Golden Ticket Awards cat- chart of finalists is something to Baldwin "Tourists don't want to come to a city where there egories very similar. While there are take pride in indeed. are racial riots," Haines said. star performers who are expected I’m also grateful to our dedi- to place well, it is always refreshing year cated voters who make this all possible. Our industry has seen it's fair share of accidents after year to see new finalists in numer- “Once again it was an honor to be cho- and other unusual incidents this summer, which has ous categories. Nine new finalists in our sen as a voter, and I always look forward many ready to "Put the 2016 season in the rear view categories must certainly feel a sense of to the results,” one voter conveyed to us. mirror" – as one park executive told me following an pride of being recognized in this over- “Thanks again, it was a privilege.” accident in their park. whelming field of solid candidates. Com- Amusement Today salutes both sides Making it even tougher are the losses we have had bine with that the four finalists that have of the equation — those in the industry through the passing of our industry legends. made strides in returning to the charts trying their hardest day after day to bring after slipping off and it becomes even their guests the best experience they can, Thanks to all for attending our GTA event, and more rewarding. Quite often the world- as well as the supportive, passionate fans here's hoping you had an enjoyable time as we wide stage is only focused on the very top that demonstrate their loyalty season af- remember our industry friends who were not able winner. While certainly, that achievement ter season with their hard-earned dollars to join us this year. is to be congratulated, it should not over- and positive praise.

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Amusement Today is an independent, privately- Founder, Publisher and Editor Social Media & Editorial Print Issue & Extra Extra owned trade newspaper published 14 times Gary Slade • (817) 460-7220 x3 Dean Lamanna Desktop Edition Production per year by Amusement Today Inc., P.O. Box [email protected] [email protected] John Robinson • (513) 256-1441 5427, Arlington, Texas 76005. Print issues are [email protected] $50 per year and are mailed Presort Standard Postage (permit No. 2069) Pre-Paid Fort Worth, Accounting & Classified Editorial Texas. The entire contents of this newspaper, Sammy Piccola • (817) 460-7220 x1 Tim Baldwin Website Maintenance and its related websites, are Copyrighted and [email protected] [email protected] Stacey Childress Trademarked 2016 by Amusement Today Inc., [email protected] all rights reserved. Advertising B. Derek Shaw • (717) 650-8330 Sue Nichols • (615) 477-5432 [email protected] Association Memberships Address: P.O. Box 5427, Arlington, Texas [email protected] AIMS International, IAAPA, IISF, IRT/iROC, 76005-5427, USA Pam Sherborne • (615) 308-3310 NAARSO, NEAAPA, NJAA, OABA, PAPA, Deliveries: 2012 E. Randol Mill Road #203, [email protected] PACE, TTIA, WWA Arlington, Texas 76011, USA Special Projects & Editorial Phone: (817) 460-7220 Jeffrey Seifert • (817) 460-7220 Monthly Contributors Industry Affiliated Charities Fax: (817) 265-NEWS (6397) [email protected] Dan Feicht, Bubba Flint, Andrew Mellor, Give Kids the World Village, Web Sites: www.AmusementToday.com, Richard Munch, Janice Witherow Morgan's Wonderland, www.GoldenTicketAwards.com National Roller Coaster Museum & Archives Golden Ticket Awards 2016 AMUSEMENT TODAY 3 Seaside park continues to be a tight race in Best Parks Making it three in a row, addition of the thematic mas-

Europa-Park takes the gold 2016 terpiece Klugheim this year for BEST PARK. ’s GOLDEN TICKET shone a huge spotlight on largest theme park resort has AWARDS the highly imaginative theme been watched over the past V.I.P. park. Tying for 9th position is BEST OF THE BEST! decade inching its way to the and Tokyo Dis- very top and it appears Euro- neySea. pa-Park is on a roll. During the up to No. 9. For the past few In the BEST WATER PARK 2016 season, the park added years, it and Knoebels have category, New a new “country” (Ireland) danced around the No. 3 and Braunfels remains the No. among its themed lands which No. 4 positions. The resort is 1 juggernaut. Its unique Hill has been enthusiastically re- a finalist in more categories Country setting, massive size, ceived by guests. than any other park. Might it colorful history and innovative America’s highest-rat- move up another notch in the rides are virtually impossible ed park and Golden Ticket future? Time will tell. And, in to duplicate, even by Schlit- BEST SEASIDE PARK: Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk (above) Awards host Cedar Point still this year’s dance, Knoebels terbahn management them- AT/GARY SLADE has a strong showing at No. Amusement Resort follows in selves. BEST SEASIDE PARK No. 2: Pleasure Beach 2. Adding Valravn, the world’s 4th place. Universal’s Islands Holiday World's Splashin’ (below) AT/TIM BALDWIN largest comple- of Adventure leaps up from Safari retains its spot at No. 2 ments an already impressive No. 8 to No. 5 in 2016. as does ’s Splash lineup of coasters. Completing the Top 10 Country at No. 3. The latter Dollywood, coming in are familiar faces Blackpool has already announced a new this year at No. 3, just might Pleasure Beach (No. 6) and addition for 2017 to further its be following Europa-Park’s Williamsburg charge. playbook. In 2008, it appeared (No. 7) which are now joined Disney's Blizzard Beach, on this list at No. 10. Two by a newcomer, Phantasial- having slipped off the charts, years later, the park inched and in Germany (No. 8). The makes a return this year pop- ping up in the No. 4 position. It is joined by SeaWorld Orl- nado's at No. 5 on our list of finalists. As witnessed last year, BEST SEASIDE PARK is one of the Golden Ticket Awards’ fiercest battles. After holding the Golden Ticket for eight years, it slipped out of the grasp of Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk last year. In the 2016 balloting it returns home. “There are so many ex- cellent seaside parks across BEST PARK: Europa-Park the country and abroad, and COURTESY EUROPA-PARK to be recognized as the best is truly special and something BEST CHILDREN'S PARK: Idlewild & Soak Zone we never take for granted,” AT/TIM BALDWIN said Karl Rice, president of Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. “Ever since we won the first award in 2007, we’ve worked to integrate it into our culture, encouraged our employees to embrace the idea of being the best and tried to share the honor with our guests. Los- ing the award in 2015 stung a bit, but reminded us not to be become complacent. It gave us the opportunity to ask our- BEST PARK No. 2: Cedar Point BEST CHILDREN'S PARK No. 2: Storybook Land AT/TIM BALDWIN 4See PARKS, page 8 AT/TIM BALDWIN 4 AMUSEMENT TODAY Golden Ticket Awards 2016 Golden Ticket Awards 2016 AMUSEMENT TODAY 5 6 AMUSEMENT TODAY Golden Ticket Awards 2016 Golden Ticket Awards 2016 AMUSEMENT TODAY 7 8 AMUSEMENT TODAY Golden Ticket Awards 2016 2016 GOLDEN TICKET AWARDS V.I.P. BEST OF THE BEST! PARKS Continued from page 3 selves how we can improve the park and guest experience and the employee experience all in an effort to become even better.” Still making for a close race are at No. 2 and Morey’s Piers at No. 3. These three BEST WATER PARK: Schlitterbahn New Braunfels BEST WATER PARK No. 2: Splashin' Safari parks are quintessential ex- AT/TIM BALDWIN AT/TIM BALDWIN amples of what great seaside from arriving into port Idlewild & SoakZone. The California, a previous Golden Completing the five finalists, resorts are all about. Both the a close distance from the park. Pennsylvania park boasts a Ticket holder, still stays solid this beautifully landscaped, Pleasure Beach and Morey’s at wooded setting, larger than on the charts moving up to adorable park features many can give great lessons on how (and the 2015 Golden Ticket life structures, a one-of-a-kind No. 3, as does at themed areas, the newest for to stack and fit rides into lim- Awards host) continues its re- trolley ride and an assortment No. 4, landing on the charts this year is Lost Kingdom, a ited space as well. vival of the historic property of classic rides. for a fourth year. dinosaur themed land that Making for a complete and places at No. 5. Storybook Land, hav- New for the charts this year features two new kid-friendly five, Gröna Lund in Stock- BEST CHILDREN’S PARK ing entered last year, keeps is a creatively charming park roller coasters. This brings the holm, , has cruise lines is a seven-year reign for its spot at No. 2. in England, . 4See PARKS, page 10 2016 GOLDEN TICKET PARK AND RIDE WINNERS Ranked by percentage of votes cast AWARDS V.I.P. BEST OF THE BEST!

BEST NEW RIDE FOR 2016 () BEST NEW RIDE FOR 2016 (Water Park)

Lightning Rod Dollywood 20% Massiv Schlitterbahn Galvestson Island 48% Storm Chaser Kingdom 13% Blackbeard’s Revenge 15% SeaWorld Orlando 11% Saucers Beech Bend 13% (tie) Valravn Cedar Point 9% Tropical Plunge 13% (tie) Switchback ZDTs 8% Wonambi Raging Waves 6%

BEST PARK BEST SEASIDE PARK Europa-Park Rust, Germany 26% Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Santa Cruz, Calif. 30% Cedar Point Sandusky, Ohio 19% Blackpool Pleasure Beach Blackpool, England 28% Dollywood Pigeon Forge, Tenn. 11% Morey’s Piers Wildwood, N.J. 26% Knoebels Amusement Resort Elysburg, Pa. 9% Gröna Lund Stockhom, Sweden 12% Universal’s Islands of Adventure Orlando, Fla. 7% Luna Park , N.Y. 4% Blackpool Pleasure Beach Blackpool, England 6% Busch Gardens Williamsburg Williamsburg, Va. 5% BEST KIDS’ AREA Brühl, Germany 4.5% Kings Island Mason, Ohio 23% Alton Towers , England 4% (tie) Kaatsheuvel, the 13% Tokyo DisneySea Tokyo, Japan 4% (tie) Paultons Park Romsey, England 9% Knott’s Berry Farm Buena Park, Calif 8% BEST WATER PARK Doswell, Va. 7% (tie) Schlitterbahn New Braunfels, Texas 47% Bloomington, Minn. 7% (tie) Splashin’ Safari Santa Claus, Ind. 28% Dollywood’s Splash Country Pigeon Forge, Tenn. 6% CLEANEST PARK Blizzard Beach Orlando, Fla. 5% Holiday World Santa Claus, Ind. 26% Aquatica Orlando, Fla. 4% Dollywood Pigeon Forge, Tenn. 19% Europa-Park Rust, Germany 7.5% BEST CHILDREN’S PARK Williamsburg, Va. 7% Idlewild & SoakZone Ligonier, Pa. 23% Busch Gardens Williamsburg Williamsburg, Va. 6% Storybook Land Egg Harbor Twp. 12% Carlsbad, Calif. 10% (tie) BEST SHOWS Story Land Glen, N.H. 10% (tie) Dollywood Pigeon Forge, Tenn. 45% Paultons Park Romsey, England 9% Fiesta Texas , Texas 15% Branson, Mo. 7% BEST MARINE LIFE PARK Disney California Adventure Anaheim, Calif. 6% SeaWorld Orlando Orlando, Fla. 57% Europa-Park Rust, Germany 5% SeaWorld San Diego, Calif. 10% SeaWorld San Antonio San Antonio, Texas 8% Six Flags Discovery Kingdom Vallejo, Calif. 7% BONUS COVERAGE Orlando, Fla. 6.5% (tie) Ocean Park Hong , 6.5% (tie) www.GoldenTicketAwards.com Golden Ticket Awards 2016 AMUSEMENT TODAY 9 Dollywood Efteling Busch Gardens Williamsburg LANDSCAPING BEST Radiator SpringsRacers Haunted Mansion Harry Potter/Escapefrom Gringotts Harry PotterandtheForbiddenJourney Twilight ZoneTower ofTerror RIDE DARK BEST Black Diamond Winja's Fear&Force Space Mountain Revenge oftheMummy COASTER INDOOR BEST The Falls Master Blaster WATERRIDE PARKBEST Timber MountainLogRide Popeye &Bluto’s Bilge-ratBarges Dudley Do-Right’s RipsawFallsUniversal’s IslandsofAdventure Valhalla (PARK) BEST Europa-Park Silver DollarCity Epcot Dollywood Knoebels AmusementResort FOOD BEST 10 PARK ANDRIDEWINNERS AMUSEMENT TODAY GoldenTicket Awards 2016 Orlando, Fla. Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Kaatsheuvel, theNetherlands Gilroy, Calif. Williamsburg, Va. Disney CaliforniaAdventure Knoebels AmusementResort Universal StudiosOrlando Universal’s IslandsofAdventure13.5% Disney’s HollywoodStudios Knoebels AmusementResort Phantasialand Disneyland Universal StudiosOrlando Schlitterbahn NewBraunfels Schlitterbahn NewBraunfels Splashin’ Safari Splashin’ Safari Knott’s BerryFarm Magic Kingdom Universal’s IslandsofAdv. Phantasialand Blackpool Pleasure Beach Rust, Germany Branson, Mo. Orlando, Fla. Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Elysburg, Pa.

AT/GARY SLADE SeaWorld Orlando(left) BEST MARINELIFEPARK: 7%(tie) 7% (tie) 7% (tie) 7% (tie) 13% 14% 20% 23% 16% 20% 15% 18% 27% 10% 11% 14% 11% 18% 40% 27% 24% 8% 7% 14% 6% 6% 5% 8% 9%

Busch Gardens Knoebels AmusementResort Knott’s BerryFarm Universal OrlandoResort EVENT BEST Lustiga Huset Frankenstein’s Castle Gasten GhostHotel Ghost Ship Noah’s Ark ATTRACTION FUNHOUSE/WALK-THROUGH BEST Adventure Island Knoebels AmusementResort Silver DollarCity Holiday World Dollywood PARK FRIENDLIEST Six FlagsOverGeorgia Efteling Six FlagsGreat America Santa CruzBeachBoardwalk Knoebels AmusementResort BEST Kennywood Magic Kingdom Silver DollarCity Disneyland Dollywood EVENT CHRISTMAS BEST Ranked bypercentage of votescast www.GoldenTicketAwards.com AT/TIM BALDWIN San Diego(above) No. 2:SeaWorld BEST MARINELIFEPARK BONUS COVERAGE Tampa, Fla. West Mifflin, Pa. Elysburg, Pa. Buena Park,Calif. Orlando, Fla. Gr Morey’s Piers 16% Kennywood Southend-on-Sea, England Elysburg, Pa. Branson, Mo. Santa Claus,Ind. Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Austell, Ga. Kaatsheuvel, theNetherlands Gurnee, Ill. Santa Cruz,Calif. Elysburg, Pa. West Mifflin, Pa. Orlando, Fla. Branson, Mo. Anaheim, Calif. Pigeon Forge, Tenn.

öna Lund visitorsayear. welcoming more than7 mil- the largest themeparkin Asia the pastdecadehasbecome Hong Kongin1977,and fifth. OceanParkopened in Ocean Park,whichtiesfor on the Golden Ticket charts: joined byanothernewcomer ping to No. 5 this year, is (No. 4).DiscoveryCove,slip- Flags DiscoveryKingdom San Antonio(No.3),andSix San Diego(No.2),SeaWorld found inthelist:SeaWorld year solidifieditsdominance. super coasterMakoforthis category. Theadditionofnew with thestrongest leadof any Orlando stillreigns supreme PARK category, SeaWorld the parktofive. number ofsmallercoastersat Continued from page8 PARKS The usualplayersare still In theBESTMARINELIFE

V.I.P. GOLDEN TICKET BEST OFTHEBEST! AWARDS 8.5% 13% 20% 27% 11% 14% 38% 15% 45% 22% 40% 41%

6% 7% 9% 5% 6% 7% 5% 6% 7% 6% 7% 9% 2016

Golden Ticket Awards 2016 AMUSEMENT TODAY 11 12 AMUSEMENT TODAY Golden Ticket Awards 2016 Golden Ticket Awards 2016 AMUSEMENT TODAY 13 14 AMUSEMENT TODAY Golden Ticket Awards 2016 Golden Ticket Awards 2016 AMUSEMENT TODAY 15 2016 Publisher's Picks: Person, Renaissance Kaprelyan’s ‘legacy instinct’ reinvigorates Knott’s 's Ed Hart doubles down on success Anyone can see a theme park’s heart. Once in a great while does the More difficult is to define the perimeter of amusement industry witness the rebirth 2016 2016 its soul — to identify the subtle traits and PRESENTED AS of a closed park and see it thrive under PERSON quirks that have formed its character and GOLDEN GOLDEN RENAISSANCE TICKET OF THE new ownership. What's even more rare is TICKET AWARD fueled its longevity. AWARD YEAR to see the same ownership turn the same AWARD

PRESENTED TO PRESENTED TO V.I.P. As vice president and general manager V.I.P. RAFFI KAPRELYAN park around twice. ED HART, KENTUCKY KINGDOM of Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, Calif., Such is the case with Ed Hart and Raffi Kaprelyan has demonstrated the abil- Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville. ity to analyze, renew and the spotlight Kentucky Kingdom originally opened anew on those elements that have made the in 1987 and lasted only a few months be- park a singular Southern California tradition fore closing. Lenders to the park called on since 1941, when Walter Knott opened Ghost Hart to try his hand at operating a park. His Town next to his family’s thriving chicken din- financial background and strong amuse- ner restaurant. ment industry team management skills While competitors have spent hundreds combined to grow the park into a force — of millions of dollars on new rides and themed going from 150,000 guests to more than 1.3 lands, Kaprelyan — working within a limited million visitors in 1998. block of real estate — has undertaken the ren- That success spurred a major U.S.- ovation of his park’s legacy attractions while Raffi Kaprelyan in front of the based park chain to purchase Kentucky Kentucky Kingdom's Ed Hart with enhancing and expanding its annual events, newly renovated Calico Saloon in his newly built Storm Chaser steel upgrading its onsite hotel and introducing Kingdom. But soon financial troubles re- Knott's Berry Farm's Ghost Town. sulted in the closing of the park in 2009. coaster. signature products. AT FILE/DEAN LAMANNA COURTESY KENTUCKY KINGDOM Kaprelyan’s major accomplishments at After five closed seasons, local authori- Knott’s in the five years since relocated him there from Canada’s Wonderland ties once again turned to Hart to rescue the rapidly deteriorating property. have been numerous. Pulling his second team of amusement industry professionals together, Hart Property renovations, increased attraction and retail operating hours, and an ag- and his partners invested $31 million to reopen the park in May 2014. With a fuller gressive youth marketing push in 2012 laid the groundwork for a multi-ride expansion of understanding of the local market, Hart hatched a three-year plan to get the park the Boardwalk section and a careful refurbishment of the classic, Bud Hurlbut-designed back — all the way back. in 2013. In 2014, Kaprelyan continued investing in the park’s And he stayed on that plan. He rebuilt the current park all while also expanding legacy attractions — overseeing the renovation of another animatronics-filled Hurlbut it. Two new coasters were added: the Run in 2014 and the landmark, the Calico Mine Ride, and giving the area a facelift that included Rocky Mountain Construction Storm Chaser, which debuted this season. Cutting- several new rides. edge new trains from Engineering were added to the suspended loop- Last year, he repurposed the old space once occupied by the Kingdom of the Dino- ing coaster along with numerous new flat and kiddie rides. saurs into Voyage to the Iron Reef, bringing Knott’s to the forefront of technol- The hugely popular water park, Hurricane Bay, was doubled in size with addi- ogy with an interactive 3D ride experience. tional slide towers, a lazy river, restaurants and more lounge areas. Kaprelyan’s restorative efforts came full circle this year with the revamping of the But Hart did not stop at just what the guests were enjoying. He built a new back property’s two oldest attractions: Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant and Ghost area shop to house the park's maintenance, carpenter, plumbing, paint and sign Town — the latter newly populated with Old West characters following daily storylines. shop needs. He built a new park operations control center complete with new areas Additionally, he guided a high-grade wood retracking and rolling stock replacement de- dedicated to operations training and safety. signed to preserve the experience of the park’s world-class coaster, GhostRider, for years Now in 2016, Hart has a completed park with all the rides fully operational. to come. Marketing this season increased in scope — extending to new markets in Nashville, Such well-considered improvements led Knott’s to an attendance record of nearly Indianapolis and Evansville, Ind. 3.9 million in 2015. This success hasn’t gone unnoticed by Cedar Fair, which recently pro- The investment is there, now reaching more than $60 million. The park expe- moted Kaprelyan to regional vice president and expanded his oversight to several parks. rience is there. Even the landscaping has returned in full force with QR codes in An Orange County resident, Kaprelyan entered the industry via Knott’s at age 17 — all the flower beds that now direct guests, and their smartphones, to a web page working his way up from groundskeeping into ride operations and guest services at the describing each flower and plant in the bed they just scanned. park before Cedar Fair tapped him to run Canada’s Wonderland in 2006. His long early association with Knott’s clearly helped him determine what the property needed when he His initial mission accomplished, Hart is ready to start on the long-range plan, returned. thanks to a 75-year lease with the state on the park and associated parking lots. For his vision, passion for his park’s history and respect for the role of Knott’s Berry For his dedication in the preservation of Louisville's treasured Kentucky Farm in the of the theme park concept, Raffi Kaprelyan is Amusement Today’s Kingdom, Amusement Today is honored to present Ed Hart with the 2016 2016 Person of the Year. Renaissance Award.

Under Raffi Kaprelyan's leadership, Knott's Berry Farm has revamped long- With the relaunch of Storm Chaser (formerly Twisted Twins) this season, Ed popular attractions such as (clockwise, from top left) Mrs. Knott's Chicken Hart has successfully completed his three-year plan to have all former at- Dinner Restaurant, GhostRider, Circus of Wonder and Calico Saloon. tractions at Kentucky Kingdom back at full strength for guests' enjoyment. COURTESY KNOTT'S BERRY FARM COURTESY KENTUCKY KINGDOM 16 AMUSEMENT TODAY Golden Ticket Awards 2016 Golden Ticket Awards 2016 AMUSEMENT TODAY 17 18 AMUSEMENT TODAY Golden Ticket Awards 2016 2016 Publisher's Picks: Supplier, Park B&M revolutionizes industry with 100-plus projects Cedar Point scales new heights for the future Honing their craft with other manu- Recreation was different in 1870,

facturers, two engineers broke away to 2016 when Cedar Point first opened as 2016 PRESENTED AS PRESENTED AS start their own company as the 1980s a bathing beach with a beer garden GOLDEN SUPPLIER GOLDEN PARK were winding down. TICKET OF THE and a simple dance floor. Like any TICKET OF THE YEAR AWARD amusement park which has had a AWARD YEAR

Walter Bolliger and Claude Mabil- TO TO

PRESENTED PRESENTED V.I.P. lard, whose company would become V.I.P. BOLLIGER & MABILLARD long lifespan — here approaching a CEDAR POINT more commonly known as B&M, de- century and a half — Cedar Point saw signed their first full coaster project for periods of growth and uncertain times. in Gurnee, Ill., in As amusement rides were developed, 1990: the stand-up coaster known as Iron the property on the Lake Erie peninsula Wolf. It turned heads in the industry. Six diversified its offerings. Flags continued to invest heavily in B&M By the end of the 19th century, Cedar product, and other theme park chains Point had built its first roller coaster, certainly with no inclination of what the came on board. Precision engineering and resort would one day famously become. a smoother ride experience became the Through changing times, Cedar Point had its ups and downs, and there company’s trademark. was the persistent temptation to close the park and develop the peninsula In 1992, B&M did something revolu- for upscale housing. Thankfully, those plans never materialized and the park tionary. For the first time, a company built a continued to hang on, even in times when American hardships were taking roller coaster that featured inversions while their toll. By the mid-20th century, Cedar Point continues to grow with new suspending riders below the track. Known rides and attractions. throughout the industry as the inverted The landmark Magnum XL-200 thrust the park into a global roller coaster, this new genre took theme spotlight in 1989. From there it was no turning back as Cedar Point contin- parks by storm and went on to become ued to debut one record-breaking attraction after another, truly earning its B&M’s most popular product. The first B&M's first full coaster project was tagline: “America’s Roller Coast.” opened in 1992 and Iron Wolf, shown here under con- Not content to rest on its laurels, Cedar Fair, now under the leadership the company is still building them today. struction in 1990 at Six Flags Great of CEO , continues to invest in Cedar Point like never before. Along the way, technological boundar- America. AT FILE In the past five years, the park has seen more than $180 million in improve- ies were stretched with B&M introducing ments, and that number increases to more than $240 million for the past riders to innovative genres such as the , flying coaster, the wing decade. In 2012, a nighttime show, Luminosity, offered summertime visitors coaster and the dive machine, as well as bringing their own skill to the popular something new and special to end their evenings. In 2013, the addition of hypercoaster. Through the years, these magnificent projects have brought recogni- the sleek GateKeeper was integrated into a brand new and tion and increased attendance to theme parks around the world, delivering reliable exciting front gate. Lighthouse Point was expanded in 2014, followed by a operation and high throughput. majestic refurbishment of historic last year. This also included This season, Cedar Point commissioned the company’s 100th project and a beautiful transformation of the resort’s catering venue, Lake Point Pavilion. opened the dive coaster Valravn, the fourth record-breaking installation from B&M This season, the addition of the dive coaster Valravn inspired a total rework- for the park. With still more projects in the pipeline, the company continues to serve ing of the Marina Gate. On the other side of the park, aggressive initiatives the demand for big, crowd-pleasing roller coasters that have enormous spectator were put in place to re-energize Cedar Point's beach. appeal. Collecting awards along the way and with rides topping the lists of enthu- With Vice President and General Manager Jason McClure oversee- siast favorites, B&M’s worldwide reputation has made it one of the amusement ing daily operations, Cedar Point’s future seems to be climbing higher and industry's most in-demand manufacturers. higher, just like the giant roller coasters painting the park landscape. One For its success and dedication to excellence, as well as achieving 100 roller can only imagine what new heights can be reached when the park’s 150th coaster projects during more than a quarter-century of quality business practices, anniversary arrives in a few years. Amusement Today honors Bolliger & Mabillard with the Publisher’s Pick for Sup- For its commitment to continued excellence, Cedar Point is Amusement plier of the Year. Today's Park of the Year.

Cedar Point has seen more than $180 million in improvements at the resort the Ride (left) made its debut at Six Flags Great America in 1992 property over the last five years. Among the upgrades enjoyed by vaca- and took the industry by storm. B&M's latest creation, Valravn at Cedar tioning guests are the complete makeover and rebuild of the historic Hotel Point, is the firm's 100th landmark project.AT/JEFFREY SEIFERT Breakers, shown here. AT/ TIM BALDWIN Golden Ticket Awards 2016 AMUSEMENT TODAY 19 20 AMUSEMENT TODAY Golden Ticket Awards 2016 The park experience is honored through various categories A day at the park is more than simply rides. Several as- 2016 pects really make a visit be- GOLDEN TICKET come a complete experience. AWARDS V.I.P. Food, landscaping, friendli- BEST OF THE BEST! ness and cleanliness can turn a fun day into a perfect day. of applicants. Dollywood Of these categories, all takes FRIENDLIEST PARK for introduced in the Golden a fifth consecutive year. Like Tickets’ original year of 1998, the park’s namesake, genuine only one has remained un- downhome hospitality seems defeated. Busch Gardens to come naturally to the em- Williamsburg has taken the ployees at the park. award for BEST LANDSCAP- Holiday World & Splash- ING once again. The beauti- in’ Safari keeps its No. 2 spot. ful park takes full advantage Unlike Dollywood, Holiday of its wooded setting within a World relies on a younger au- river valley. dience for their staffing and Gilroy Gardens, the fam- to be recognized in such a ily-oriented theme park in fashion demonstrates their Gilroy, California, maintains dedication for training and its No. 2 spot, as does Eft- values. BEST LANDSCAPING: Busch Gardens Williamsburg eling (No. 3). Located in the Jumping up to No. 3 COURTESY BUSCH GARDENS WILLIAMSBURG Netherlands, Efteling is one is Silver Dollar City, which Over the past years, cause they have to. since taking it over in 2000. It of Europe’s highest attended also not only boasts a wide the top two contenders for Mimicking last year’s takes the Golden Ticket again theme parks. range of ages throughout its BEST FOOD have gone back chart, Epcot returns in the this year. Dollywood bumps up a citizens, but the City is a wel- and forth and even gave the No. 3 spot, with its world cui- The other four finalists notch on the list this year, tak- coming place to visit. Knoe- Golden Tickets its first-ever sine; Silver Dollar City’s coun- repeat from last year, but not ing the No. 4 position. Epcot bels Amusement Resort re- first place tie a few years ago. try cooking is crowd pleasing necessarily in the same posi- returns to the charts once mains a long-running finalist Not giving it back, Knoebels at No. 4; and Europa-Park, tions. Dollywood hangs on to again, completing the Top 5. and maintains that status in Amusement Resort hangs on with its enormous selection No. 2, but Europa-Park climbs As all park owners know, the No. 4 spot. Last year’s dis- to the gold, and Dollywood of restaurants and eateries, up to No. 3, Disneyland plac- friendly staff is never a guaran- covery, Adventure Island in is a very close second. Both completes the finalist list. es No. 4, and Busch Gardens tee. Hiring just the right peo- England, continues to stay on parks illustrate the knack of Holiday World & Splash- Williamsburg finishes out the ple can be an extreme chal- the charts with its highly en- being a park where people in' Safari has held on to the category remaining on the lenge in a very limited pool thusiastic employee team. want to eat, and not just be- CLEANEST PARK category charts again in 2016.

FRIENDLIEST PARK: Dollywood BEST FOOD: Knoebels Amusement Resort CLEANEST PARK: Holiday World & COURTESY DOLLYWOOD COURTESY KNOEBELS Splashin' Safari AT/GARY SLADE Golden Ticket Awards 2016 AMUSEMENT TODAY 21 22 AMUSEMENT TODAY Golden Ticket Awards 2016 Golden Ticket Awards 2016 AMUSEMENT TODAY 23 24 AMUSEMENT TODAY Golden Ticket Awards 2016 Halloween, Christmas and shows entertain park guests Festivals and shows are big crowd pleasers through- 2016 out the season. Holiday GOLDEN TICKET events are not only bringing AWARDS V.I.P. in large numbers outside the BEST OF THE BEST! typical tourist season, but are also extending the operating has become in the theme calendar. As this issue goes park industry is nothing short to press, numerous 2016 of frightening. The competi- Christmas events have been tion for the Golden Ticket for announced for this Decem- BEST HALLOWEEN EVENT ber as well as newly created was virtually monstrous when events making their debut AT introduced the category in in the 2017 season. Could 2005. However, Universal Or- this become a new competi- lando Resort has had a death tive sought-after award? The grip on the Ticket since 2008. years ahead can only tell. The rest of the cat- For this year, the cat- egory remains unchanged. egory remains unchanged Knott’s Berry Farm, which for the top four finalists. Dol- has claimed the Golden Tick- lywood once again takes et before, still stands — or BEST CHRISTMAS EVENT lurks — strongly in the No. 2 IN 2016. The park has been spot. Knoebels Amusement the sole winner of the Gold- Resort (No. 3), Kennywood BEST CHRISTMAS EVENT: Dollywood en Ticket since the category (No. 4) and Busch Gardens COURTESY DOLLYWOOD was introduced in 2008. This Tampa (No. 5) ward off any year, the park is debuting a further evil spirits attempting BEST SHOWS: Dollywood new production, the beloved to knock them off the chart of Performers at Dollywood (left) classic “It’s a Wonderful Life” finalists. feel the Dolly Parton influence performed show style in one It’s showtime! BEST in giving their best for the of the park’s theaters. It will SHOWS goes to Dollywood audiences. AT/GARY SLADE be among seven shows and for an eighth consecutive a host of Christmas attrac- year. BEST HALLOWEEN EVENT: tions ranging from characters, “Throughout the year, Resort lights and festive foods. between Festival of Nations Halloween is big business in the Comfortably nestled in through Smoky Mountain amusement industry, as huge their places with care are Dis- Christmas, we have 26 indi- crowds at Universal Orlando can neyland, Silver Dollar City vidual shows we produce,” attest. and Magic Kingdom in their Wes Ramey, public relations COURTESY UNIVERSAL respective spots of Nos. 2 – 4, manager, told Amusement ORLANDO RESORT the positions they shared last Today. “On a typical summer year. day, we present nearly 40 in- er-in-chief and has a hand in record in this category — so Top 5 last year, but in each New for this year is finalist dividual performances.” all of our entertainment offer- far. They still rate high in the other’s spots. Coming in at Kennywood, who has recent- Ramey notes that per- ings.” No. 2. Spot. No. 4 is Disney California ly started a Christmas festival formers at the park have Prior to Dollywood snag- Silver Dollar City places Adventure. Europa-Park, and it has found favor with come all the way from , ging the Golden Ticket, Six third, the same position it which provides close to 24 the voters. It dashes onto the Russian, Ecuador, France and Flags Fiesta Texas held them held on the charts last year. hours of different shows dur- chart at No. 5. Germany this year. He added, at bay and claimed the award The final two parks in this ing the main season closes How popular Halloween “Dolly (Parton) is our dream- for a consecutive 10 years, a category rounded out the out the finalists.

Amusement Today uses GOLDEN TICKET 2016 AWARDS

V.I.P. balanced regions for voting BEST OF THE BEST! Since Amusement Today introduced the Golden Ticket Awards in 1998, we continue to seek out the most experi- 3 enced park enthusiasts to participate in our survey. AT follows 2 a fair and balanced protocol of dividing our ballots between four geographical regions (see color map at right) of the 1 . In addition to the hundreds of surveys sent to American enthusiasts, international fans are also sought out and we invite such fans to contact us for participation in future years. Amusement Today thanks the hundreds of voters who helped form this year’s panel of experts and make the 2016 Golden Ticket Awards a reality. 4 Are you a qualified candidate? Contact Golden Tick- et Awards Communications Coordinator Tim Baldwin at [email protected] and we’ll see if you would make a good representative for your region on next year’s new panel. Of note, park employees, manufacturers, and Amusement Today staff are not eligible to be on the 2016 panel. 5 ­– International Surveys Golden Ticket Awards 2016 AMUSEMENT TODAY 25 26 AMUSEMENT TODAY Golden Ticket Awards 2016 Golden Ticket Awards 2016 AMUSEMENT TODAY 27 28 AMUSEMENT TODAY Golden Ticket Awards 2016 Dollywood, Schlitterbahn Galveston Island win Best New Rides 2016 GOLDEN TICKET AWARDS V.I.P. BEST OF THE BEST!

All eyes, be it those who run parks or those who cast votes, are always eager to see how the BEST NEW RIDES categories unfold each year. Competition is always very fierce each sea- son, and 2016 was no differ- ent. In the PARK category, Dollywood takes the Gold- en Ticket for its innovative new roller coaster, Light- ning Rod. Bogged down by BEST NEW RIDE (PARK): BEST NEW RIDE (WATER some opening issues, the Lightning Rod, Dollywood PARK): Massiv, Schlitterbahn ride had coaster fans’ full at- COURTESY DOLLYWOOD Galveston Island COURTESY SCHLITTERBAHN tention and throngs of riders Coming in at No. 2 still made it to the Tennessee is Storm Chaser at Ken- bahn Galveston Island. “You theme park to experience tucky Kingdom. This pre- end the ride with a thrilling the world’s fastest and first viously closed twin wood- triple down. The height, col- launched wooden coaster. en-tracked, defunct roller ors, and variety of hills and From the beginning, Dolly- coaster was transformed into valleys really stand out as wood management set out a single-track steel twister. something different and ex- to make something extraor- The ride’s signature mo- citing.” dinary. ment is a barrel Massiv is a product of “When our creative roll on the curve coming off WhiteWater West. “This team started to design the lift and continuing into was WhiteWater’s first in- Lightning Rod, there was a the first drop. This coaster stallation of their Smart Blast focus to include several su- along with Lightning Rod system VDF power-saving perlatives that would appeal were both projects of Rocky technology,” Sutula said. “It to our guests and certainly Mountain Construction. has significantly lowered the Golden Ticket voters,” said B&M delivered the No. cost to operate the ride.” Pete Owens, director of 3 and No. 4 Best New Rides installations. In the WATER PARK cat- Blackbeard’s Revenge communications. “We are as voted on by our panel. The category is round- egory, Massiv at Schlitter- at Carowinds expanded very proud to have created Mako at SeaWorld Orlan- ed out with Switchback bahn Galveston Island took water park Carolina Harbor a ride with new technology do is positioned along the at ZDTs, a first-of-its-kind the Golden Ticket. Debuting places at No. 2. The slide and new experiences for rid- edge of the park’s lake and wooden shuttle roller coast- as the world’s largest uphill complex, also from White- ers. Despite the delays, the is the tallest roller coaster in er with features never before water coaster, Massiv stands Water West, features six feedback we are receiving is Orlando. Valravn at Cedar attempted. It’s known for its more than 81 feet tall. slides intertwined into three overwhelmingly positive.” Point brings back the dive vertical spike in the middle “You start with an awe- attractions. Three drop cap- If the coaster charts are machine coaster to the U.S., of the ride that sends pas- some 86-degree mega drop sule slides, two tube slides any indication, riders agree. this time setting the record sengers backward through with another one occurring featuring large drop finales Lightning Rod had the stron- for height in this genre, as the twists and turns of this about halfway through the and an enclosed slide with gest placement of any new well as adding a third inver- compact woodie. It is a proj- ride,” said Ron Sutula, gen- intense spirals comprise the ride on the charts. sion in contrast to previous ect of . eral manager for Schlitter- slide complex. Cyclone Saucers, the first of its kind in North America, opened at Beech Bend as part of a four- slide attraction. Built by ProSlide, it shares the No. 3 spot and is recognizable by its high banking discs along the route. Tying with it is Tropical Plunge, anoth- er WhiteWater West multi- slide attraction at Kings Island’s water park, . Completing the cat- egory is Wonambi at Rag- ing Waves water park. Built by ProSlide, the at- traction features enclosed sections, a major drop and BEST NEW RIDE (WATER PARK), No. 2: Blackbeard's a wave wall that gives four BEST NEW RIDE (PARK), No. 2: Storm Chaser, Kentucky Revenge, Carolina Harbor at Carowinds riders at a time moments of Kingdom AT/TIM BALDWIN COURTESY CAROWINDS weightlessness. Golden Ticket Awards 2016 AMUSEMENT TODAY 29 30 AMUSEMENT TODAY Golden Ticket Awards 2016 Golden Ticket Awards 2016 AMUSEMENT TODAY 31 32 AMUSEMENT TODAY Golden Ticket Awards 2016 Ride categories: Disney edges out Universal for Dark Ride The BEST DARK RIDE category is among the very fa- 2016 vorites for AT’s voters to em- GOLDEN TICKET brace, probably second only to AWARDS V.I.P. roller coasters. Since the cat- BEST OF THE BEST! egory was introduced in 1999, Universal Orlando Resort has Disney to keep this one as is? dominated the Golden Ticket. Could be. Disney’s Hollywood Studios The next two finalists are and Twilight Zone Tower of the long-running Harry Pot- Terror has been a finalist for ter and the Forbidden Jour- 13 years, and last year placed ney (No. 2) and its younger an extremely close second. In sibling Harry Potter and the 2016, the tables are turned. Escape from Gringotts (No. By the narrowest of margins, 3), both at Universal, one at Twilight Zone Tower of Ter- Universal’s Islands of Ad- ror has broken through the venture and one at Universal barrier and taken the Golden Studios. Ticket. Since 1994, Rod Ser- The old-fashioned Haunt- ling has taken visitors at the ed Mansion at Knoebels end of Sunset Blvd. on one of Amusement Resort hangs the strangest journeys of their onto the No. 4 position. How- lives. Tweaked over the years ever, it is joined by newcomer to make the terrifying drop at finale even more , this Disney California Adventure BEST DARK RIDE: Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Disney's Hollywood Studios fan favorite just might gain (No. 5). Of note, this is the AT/TIM BALDWIN an edge on voting as the sis- first time since the category ter ride in Anaheim has been debuted that the Amazing ist. BEST WATER RIDE with Val- Falls, which was also a Golden announced to be re-themed Adventures of -Man, For a second year in a row, halla. Universal’s Islands of Ticket winner for more than a to Guardians of the Galaxy once the Golden Ticket hold- Blackpool Pleasure Beach Adventure takes No. 2 with decade. in 2017. Is this a statement to er, has not appeared as a final- holds the Golden Ticket for Dudley Do-Rights’ Interestingly, the run for third place is a four-way tie! Chiapas at Phantasialand places on the charts for the first time. The German park opened this intricately themed flume in 2014 creating an en- tire new plaza within the park. Universal’s Popeye and Blu- to’s Bilge-rat Barges makes a return back onto the charts after slipping off last year. Splash Mountain at Magic Kingdom also makes a return for the first time since 2013. The beloved Timber Moun- tain at Knott’s Berry Farm is included in this tie. Familiar faces grace the BEST : , BEST WATER PARK RIDE. BEST WATER RIDE: Valhalla, Blackpool Pleasure Beach Universal Studios Orlando COURTESY BLACKPOOL PLEASURE BEACH Taking the Golden Ticket COURTESY UNIVERSAL STUDIOS RLANDO once again is Wildebeest at Splashin’ Safari. The uphill water coaster boasts an even larger margin between it and the second place challenger, which so happens to be Mam- moth at the same water park. Master Blaster, once a Gold- en Ticket holder, comes in at No. 3, and The Falls com- pletes the finalists, both of which are at Schlitterbahn in New Braunfels. Going back indoors, BEST INDOOR ROLLER COASTER is championed once again by Universal Studios Orlando's Revenge of the Mummy. The highly-themed coaster opened in 2004 and features a BEST FUN HOUSE/WALK-THROUGH ATTRACTION: Noah's BEST CAROUSEL: , Knoebels Amusement story Ark, Kennywood COURTESY KENNYWOOD Resort COURTESY KNOEBELS AMUSEMENT RESORT 4See RIDES, page 33 Golden Ticket Awards 2016 AMUSEMENT TODAY 33 bas. “The Ark symbolizes so RIDES much of Kennywood’s mys- Continued from page 32 tique and we’re honored and line of the passengers’ souls excited to continue to earn being at stake as they are the Golden Ticket Award.” whipped through immersive The remaining finalists sets, LIM launches, fire and mirror their places from 2015. video imaging, not to mention Morey’s Piers labyrinth-like a cool fake-out ending. Also Ghost Ship retains its posi- resting in their positions from tion at No. 2., Gasten Ghost 2015 are Space Mountain at Hotel (No. 3) still thrills Lise- Disneyland (No. 2) and Win- berg visitors, Frankenstein’s ja's Fear & Force at Phan- Castle at Indiana Beach (once tasialand (No. 3). Joining its a Golden Ticket holder) is still sibling, Space Mountain at a fan favorite at No. 4, and Magic Kingdom hops on the Lustiga Huset, a wacky and chart at No. 4 and Knoebels’ classic funhouse at Gröna Black Diamond still places on Lund rounds out the list. the list. Of all of the Golden In the category of Ticket categories, only six BEST FUNHOUSE/WALK- have remained unchallenged THROUGH ATTRACTION, since being introduced. One BEST KID'S AREA: , Kings BEST WATER PARK RIDE: Wildebeest, Kennywood has held the is BEST KIDS’ AREA. Kings Island AT/TIM BALDWIN Splashin' Safari COURTESY SPLASHIN' SAFARI Golden Ticket for several Island has remained atop, years. However, the park has seemingly unable to be de- many of the tales displayed. adorable? It leaps onto the heart of the midway, BEST upped their game with new throned. Today it is known as The park keeps its No. 2 po- charts in third place. Return- CAROUSEL is taken once capital investment in the Planet Snoopy and offers a sition. A new player in this ing after slipping temporar- again by Knoebels. The park 1930s attraction, keeping No- plethora of activities includ- field is Paultons Park. The ily off the list is Knott’s Berry is the sole possessor of this ah's Ark in the top spot. ing family and kids’ rides, wa- U.K. property is geared to- Farm and Camp Snoopy. It award since it was introduced. “The restoration of No- ter activities, and three scaled ward families with younger places No. 4. This category remains ah’s Ark back to the retro, down coasters, one of which children, but one particular The No. 5 position closes unchanged. Our finalists find classic funhouse was a labor of is a classic woodie. area is full of fun and giggles out the category with a tie. their comfortable positions love for the Kennywood team, The Fairy Tale Forest especially for the youngest. Regular finalists Kings Do- from 2015: Santa Cruz Beach many of whom worked in the at Efteling is an expansive Peppa Pig World is based minion and Nickelodeon Uni- Boardwalk (No. 2), Six Flags old Ark and remember it room part of the park that allows on a popular television show. verse leave it a draw, ensuring Great America (No. 3), Eft- by room,” said Kennywood guests to wander at their lei- Who could find an area that that both remain on the chart. eling (No. 4), and Six Flags General Manager Jerome Gi- sure, often interacting with is pig-centric anything but Often considered the Over (No. 5). 34 AMUSEMENT TODAY Golden Ticket Awards 2016 Golden Ticket Awards 2016 AMUSEMENT TODAY 35 36 AMUSEMENT TODAY Golden Ticket Awards 2016 Golden Ticket Awards 2016 AMUSEMENT TODAY 37 38 AMUSEMENT TODAY Golden Ticket Awards 2016 Golden Ticket Awards 2016 AMUSEMENT TODAY 39 40 AMUSEMENT TODAY Golden Ticket Awards 2016 Golden Ticket Awards 2016 AMUSEMENT TODAY 41 42 AMUSEMENT TODAY Golden Ticket Awards 2016 Boulder Dash hangs on to Best Wooden Coaster for 4-year ride Steel coasters have a “It was completely re- fierce competition as more 2016 tracked in 2008 and 2009 by BEST WOODEN COASTER No. 39 new steel coasters are built GOLDEN TICKET Great Coasters Internation- than wooden coasters. How- al and they did a fantastic job AWARDS Celebrating its 40th ever, wooden coaster fans V.I.P. adding new elements and BEST OF THE BEST! anniversary this season are a devout following, stem- keeping the old ones,” said was this John Allen classic, ming from the pure thrills of Jerry Brick, general man- Coasters Inc., the massive Screaming Eagle at coaster rides that started well ager for . woodie has received much Six Flags St. Louis. more than a century ago. “Since then our in-house care. Each season it exhila- All three of the park's For a fourth year in a row team has done a great job rates thrill-seekers with its ex- wooden coasters, (and fifth overall), Boulder keeping Boulder Dash run- ceptionally long ride of 4,725 including The Boss and Dash at Lake Compounce ning the way it has. They take feet of track through the American Thunder, takes the Golden Ticket for great pride in their work.” trees alongside a mountain. placed in the Top 50. BEST WOODEN COAST- This one-of-a-kind coaster is Brick added, “We are AT FILE/ ER. Built in 2000 by Custom a true signature attraction. thrilled about Golden Ticket GARY SLADE Awards guests coming next year to experience Boulder Dash and everything else ways been a Top 5 coaster to manager of Holiday World Lake Compounce has to of- us!” said Brian Gorman, vice & Splashin’ Safari, told AT: fer.” president of operations at “Back in 1999 when the late In second place is the Waldameer. “We’re glad our Will Koch asked coaster forcible at Knoeb- fans are enjoying their rides, enthusiasts for input while els. Paired with The Beast at too!” designing Holiday World’s Kings Island (No. 6), these Closing out the Top 10 ‘Y2K coaster,’ he was able to two legends are the only two are coasters keeping their include many of their ideas. wooden coasters to be in respectful places from 2015: Fast forward to this season, AT’s Top 10 since the Golden Run at Silver Dollar and we incorporated one of Ticket Awards began in 1998. City (No. 8), at Will’s remaining ideas in our The No. 2 spot is the high- California’s Great America ‘Legend Reborn’ project. We est ranking Phoenix has ever (No. 9) and Lightning are thankful the Golden Tick- charted in Golden Ticket his- at (No. 10). et Award voters have told us tory. Just shortly behind, El Despite some sputters all the retracking and new el- Toro at Six Flags Great Ad- and pit stops getting out of ements make The Legend a venture takes third. Of note, the gate, Lightning Rod at Top 20 wooden coaster once the top three challengers are Dollywood makes the high- again.” all within 100 points of each est debut of any roller coast- at Liseberg is the other. er (wood or steel) in 2016 highest-rated coaster out- Holding strong is The just missing out on a Top 10 side the United States com- Voyage at Holiday World at debut at No. 11. It set re- ing in at No. 12. Six of the No. 4. Its unmatched power cords for the fastest wooden Top 25 wooden coasters are still enthralls legions of fans coaster on Earth and features international installations; with its indescribable ride ex- an 83-degree, 165-foot drop that number rises to 13 when perience. Finally entering the reaching speeds of 73 mph. looking at the Top 50. Top 5 for the first time ever The highest climber on [Note, the Top 25 are is Ravine Flyer II at Walda- the Wood charts is The Leg- printed in this issue. View the meer Park. It flips positions end at Holiday World, which full Top 50 online at Golden- with Dollywood’s Thunder- jumped from No. 25 last year TicketAwards.com] head (No. 7) in regard to the up to No. 16 on this year’s Wildfire at Kolmården BEST WOODEN COASTER: Boulder Dash, Lake Compounce 2015 rankings. chart. is the other new-for-2016 COURTESY LAKE COMPOUNCE “Ravine Flyer II has al- Mack Eckert, general debut. It lands on the charts at No. 28. This spectacular 4,150-foot wooden thriller makes excellent use of the park’s unique terrain and has delighted first-year riders and has coaster fans view- ing online footage incredibly envious. It is a product of Rocky Mountain Construc- tion. Also of note, Screamin’ Eagle at Six Flags St. Louis, PTC legend John Allen’s fi- nal coaster, re-emerges once again on the Top 50 chart. It is extremely rare for any park to have three wooden coasters in today’s day and age, but to have all three — The Boss (No. 31), Ameri- BEST WOODEN COASTER BEST WOODEN COASTER BEST WOODEN COASTER BEST WOODEN COASTER can Thunder (No. 33), and No. 2: Phoenix, Knoebel's No. 3: El Toro, Six Flags No. 4: The Voyage, Holiday No. 5: Ravine Flyer II, Wal- Screamin’ Eagle (No. 39) — Amusement Resort Great Adventure World dameer Park is a fine tribute on the ride’s AT/TIM BALDWIN AT/TIM BALDWIN AT/GARY SLADE AT/GARY SLADE 40th anniversary. Golden Ticket Awards 2016 AMUSEMENT TODAY 43 44 AMUSEMENT TODAY Golden Ticket Awards 2016 Golden Ticket Awards 2016 AMUSEMENT TODAY 45 46 AMUSEMENT TODAY Golden Ticket Awards 2016 2016 GOLDEN TICKET THE LIST AWARDS V.I.P. 2016 TOP 25 WOOD ROLLER COASTERS BEST OF THE BEST!

RANK NAME PARK LOCATION YEAR SUPPLIER POINTS

1 Boulder Dash Lake Compounce Bristol, Conn. 2000 Custom Coasters 1216

2 Phoenix Knoebels Amusement Resort Eysburg, Pa. 1985 Dinn - PTC/Schmeck 1144

3 El Toro Six Flags Great Adventure Jackson, N.J. 2006 1121

4 The Voyage Holiday World Santa Claus, Ind. 2006 Gravity Group 1028

5 Ravine Flyer II Waldameer Erie, Pa. 2008 Gravity Group 692

6 The Beast Kings Island Mason, Ohio 1979 KECO 670

7 Thunderhead Dollywood Pigeon Forge, Pa. 2004 Great Coasters Int. 641

8 Silver Dollar City Branson, Mo. 2013 Rocky Mountain 611

9 Gold Striker California’s Great America Santa Clara, Calif. 2013 Great Coasters Int. 525

10 Hersheypark Hershey, Pa. 2000 Great Coasters Int. 347

11 Lightning Rod Dollywood Pigeon Forge, Tenn. 2016 Rocky Mountain 336

12 Balder Liseberg Gothenburg, Sweden 2003 Intamin 292

13 Six Flags Great America Gurnee, Ill. 2014 Rocky Mountain 267

14 Kansas City, Mo. 2009 Great Coasters Int. 256

15 The Raven Holiday World Santa Claus, Ind. 1995 Custom Coasters 245

16 The Legend Holiday World Santa Claus, Ind. 2000 Custom Coasters 241

17 Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Santa Cruz, Calif. 1924 Prior& Church/Looff 233

18 Colossos Soltau, Germany 2001 Intamin 222

19 Michigan’s Adventure Muskegon, Mich. 1998 Custom Coasters 213

20 Kennywood West Mifflin, Pa. 1920 PTC/Miller 208

21 Kennywood West Mifflin, Pa. 1927 Vettel/Miller 206

22 Cú Chulainn Ashbourne, Ireland 2015 Gravity Group 179

23 Wodan Europa-Park Rust, Germany 2012 Great Coasters Int. 175

24 Troy Sevenum, the Netherlands 2007 Great Coasters Int. 174

25 (tie) The Great Escape Lake George, N.Y. 1994 PTC/Schmeck 166

25 (tie) El Toro Lengenfeld, Germany 2009 Great Coasters Int. 166 Golden Ticket Awards 2016 AMUSEMENT TODAY 47 48 AMUSEMENT TODAY Golden Ticket Awards 2016 Golden Ticket Awards 2016 AMUSEMENT TODAY 49 soars to the top, taking Best Steel Coaster If ever there was a nail- at (No. 42), which biter in the 2016 balloting, 2016 had a delayed opening in the BEST STEEL COASTER GOLDEN TICKET 2015. category would certainly AWARDS Continuing its strong- V.I.P. qualify. Like those millisec- BEST OF THE BEST! hold of highest rated onds in Olympic competi- coaster in Europe, Expedi- tions, the final results were broke a seven-year drought tion GeForce has now held determined by a single bal- of any coaster in the Top 10 this honor for 15 years, al- lot. Taking the Golden Tick- featuring inversions. With ways a Top Ten placehold- et for the first time ever, is it dropping just below the er. In our Top 25, six roller Fury 325 at Carowinds. Its boundary, that fact is put coasters reside outside of impressive 2015 debut in back in place once more. the United States; 13 of the the No. 4 position — not Only eight of the Top 25 go Top 50 are international. to mention snagging the upside-down. With Fury 325 now Golden Ticket for Best New Cedar Point's Maver- holding the Golden Ticket, Ride — was an indication ick (No. 12), Kings Island’s B&M not only has the top that this coaster was a ris- (No. 13) and Blue spot this year, but also six ing star. Fire at Europa-Park (No. of the Top Ten coasters. In- “The Carowinds team is 14) also climbed several tamin claims Nos. 2, 3 and impressed and excited for notches to higher ground. 4. Other manufactures on our newest thriller now hold- Printed in this issue are the chart of 50 are (alpha- ing the title of Best Steel the Top 25 positions. To betically) Arrow, Chance, coaster in the World,” said see the full Top 50, go to: Mack, Morgan, Rocky Pat Jones, Carowinds vice www.GoldenTicketAwards. Mountain Construction, president and general man- com for bonus coverage. Schwarzkopf and . ager. “Fury 325 had done New-for-2016 coasters Cedar Point claims everything we wanted it to had some debuts outside more roller coasters on the do — , beauty, thrills of our Top 25 listing. Storm charts than any other park: — which sets a standard for Chaser at Kentucky King- BEST STEEL COASTER: Fury 325, Carowinds four in the Top 25 and six in the new Carowinds." dom debuted at No. 28, AT/GARY SLADE the full Top 50. This is par- Jones also praises the Phantasialand’s magnifi- ticularly impressive as only people involved as well. cent reached No. 32 Mako premiered at No. 35. er coaster in Orlando. Also one other park can claim “Something powerful hap- and SeaWorld Orlando’s The latter is the tallest roll- on the charts is Cannibal even three. pens when talented people work together toward a common goal: to provide a best day ever experience. We are thankful for the col- laboration with Bolliger and Mabillard and our de- sign team at Cedar Fair.” Long time champ Mil- lennium Force at Cedar Point lost hold just by a hair after claiming the title for the past six years — and 10 overall — reluctantly handing over the gold to its sister park. The newly renamed Su- perman The Ride at and BEST STEEL COASTER, No. 2: Millennium Force, Cedar BEST STEEL COASTER, No. 3: The Ride, Six Holiday Park's Expedition Point AT/TIM BALDWIN Flags New England COURTESY SIX FLAGS NEW ENGLAND GeForce slip one notch, but Nitro at Six Flags Great Adventure contin- ues to hold its place at No. 5, as does Busch Gardens’ Apollo’s Chariot one po- sition behind. Leviathan at Canada’s Wonderland (No. 7) and Carowinds’ In- timidator (No. 8) flip posi- tions compared to the 2015 rankings. To close out the Top 10, two returnees wrig- gle their way back onto the upper tier: Diamondback at Kings Island places No. 9 this year, followed by Kennywood’s Phantom’s Revenge at No. 10. Last year, Alton Tow- BEST STEEL COASTER, No. 4: Expedition GeForce, Holiday BEST STEEL COASTER, No. 5: Nitro, Six Flags Great ers’ (No. 11) Park COURTESY STEFAN SCHEER Adventure AT/GARY SLADE 50 AMUSEMENT TODAY Golden Ticket Awards 2016 2016 GOLDEN TICKET THE LIST AWARDS V.I.P. 2016 TOP 25 STEEL ROLLER COASTERS BEST OF THE BEST!

RANK NAME PARK LOCATION YEAR SUPPLIER POINTS

1 Fury 325 Carowinds Charlotte, N.C. 2015 B&M 1126

2 Millennium Force Cedar Point Sandusky, Ohio 2000 Intamin 1122

3 Six Flags New England Agawam, Mass. 2000 Intamin 698

4 Expedition GeForce Holiday Park Hassloch, Germany 2001 Intamin 613

5 Nitro Six Flags Great Adventure Jackson, N.J. 2001 B&M 454

6 Apollo’s Chariot Busch Gardens Williamsburg Williamsburg, Va. 1999 B&M 397

7 Leviathan Canada’s Wonderland , Ontario, Canada 2012 B&M 393

8 Intimidator Carowinds Charlotte, N.C. 2010 B&M 350

9 Diamondback Kings Island Mason, Ohio 2009 B&M 330

10 Phantom’s Revenge Kennywood West Mifflin, Pa. 2001 Morgan 329

11 Nemesis Alton Towers Staffordshire, England 1994 B&M 311

12 Maverick Cedar Point Sandusky, Ohio 2007 Intamin 306

13 Banshee Kings Island Mason, Ohio 2014 B&M 286

14 Megacoaster Europa-Park Rust, Germany 2009 Mack 283

15 Magnum XL-200 Cedar Point Sandusky, Ohio 1989 Arrow 279

16 Arlington, Texas 2011 Rocky Mountain 272

17 Kings Dominion Doswell, Va. 2010 Intamin 268

18 Cyclone Six Flags New England Agawam, Mass. 2015 Rocky Mountain 265

19 Top Thrill Dragster Cedar Point Sandusky, Ohio 2003 Intamin 258

20 Goliath Austell, Ga. 2006 B&M 255

21 San Antonio, Texas 2013 Rocky Mountain 254

22 Busch Gardens Tampa Tampa, Fla. 1996 B&M 203

23 X2 Valencia, Calif. 2002 Arrow 202

24 Behemoth Canada’s Wonderland Vaughan, Ontario, Canada 2008 B&M 198

25 Black Phantasialand Brühl, Germany 2006 B&M 178 Golden Ticket Awards 2016 AMUSEMENT TODAY 51 52 AMUSEMENT TODAY Golden Ticket Awards 2016