TM & ©2015 Amusement Today, Inc. September 2015 | Vol. 19 • Issue 6.2 www.amusementtoday.com Luna Park, Zamperla hosts 2015 Golden Ticket Awards Amusement Today presents awards in 29 categories NEW YORK CITY, N.Y. — "New York, own way. Most of the older parks shuttered New York...a wonderful town!" Or so the lyr- their gates due to fires, neglect or chang- ics go from "On the Town." Or perhaps it ing times. No one would deny that the area is the voice of Frank Sinatra singing, "Start needed sprucing up, to put it mildly. spreading the news..." that helped get at- While the city of Brooklyn debated what tendees energized. Make no mistake, The to do with the area and if the amusement 2015 Golden Ticket Awards weekend has concept even had a future, the minds behind hit The Big Apple. Hosted by Zamperla, this Zamperla had fresh ideas. In an extremely celebratory and industry-networking event short time frame, efforts were made in mere featured the best of New York, including weeks to open what would be the new Luna a stop to the revamped and re-electrified Park. Located adjacent to Deno's Wonder Luna Park at Coney Island. Visiting Vic- Wheel Park, Coney Island's makeover had torian Gardens in Central Park and taking begun. Today, the Coney Island area has guided tours on double-decker buses made seen a new life and vibrant atmosphere cre- for an authentic New York experience. ating the latest chapter for this Brooklyn leg- One of the focal points of the weekend end. was time spent at Coney Island. This area has It is only fitting that a ceremony that ac- seen as many ups and downs as a true roller knowledges the achievements and success Zamperla will welcome coaster. In the beginning back in the mid of such a famed industry is held in one of 2015 Golden Ticket 1880s, there was a public outcry to maintain America's most treasured sites. The Golden Awards attendees the beach and preserve a natural setting by Ticket Awards and New York City — a great to New York City not building any structures. However, the fit. amusements: Luna Park amusement demand kept afloat the various AT asked Zamperla their thoughts on (above), B&B Carousel vendors, barkers, ride operators and amuse- hosting the Golden Ticket Awards. "We are (left) and Victorian ment facilities. honored!" says Ramon Rasario, self-ap- Gardens (below). Those origins continued to evolve. The pointed "super galactic hero" at Zamperla. AT FILE/GARY SLADE four miles of real estate took on a life of its "We love the fact we were able to breathe own. Coney Island is forever draped in New life into an icon that was needing resuscita- York history, often noted by the dotted land- tion. mark icons that still stand along the peninsu- Looking toward to the future, Rosario la. LaMarcus Thompson solidified his claim adds, "Going forward, it's making us better to fame by opening the Switch Back Railway manufacturers. The Operations side is mak- in 1884, the first documented successful roll- ing us think beyond the factory. We continue er coaster. to improve." The early half of the 20th century found When asked what attendees can expect, Coney Island in its heyday. Electric lights set he says, "We are introducing five new rides the park aglow. Newer, bigger roller coasters at the event. We are looking forward to the were built and all the pleasures of a modern response of the audience. It goes back to a Americana could be found at Coney Island. time where Coney Island used to be a place Following the wars, times changed and to introduce new rides. This landmark event the Coney Island area took on a different lets us do it again." character. No longer the playground of the affluent, the famed stretch of shoreline that All stories this issue once housed Dreamland, Luna Park, Stee- AT/Tim Baldwin plechase Park and Astroland survived in its unless otherwise noted NewsTalk...Page 2 Best Parks...Pages 4-15 Food, Cleanest, Friendliest, Landscaping...Pages 16-19 Dated material. material. Dated Best New Rides for 2015...Pages 20-23 RUSH! SUBSCRIBE TODAY! Voter Regions...Page 24 NEWSPAPER Publisher Pick's...Pages 28 & 29 POSTMASTER: September 14, 2015 Mailed Monday, PLEASE Best Rides...Pages 30-37 INSIDE: PERMIT # 2069 # PERMIT (817) 460-7220 FT. WORTH TX WORTH FT. Shows, Events...Pages 38 & 39 PAID US POSTAGE US Wooden Roller Coasters...Pages 40-47 PRSRT STD PRSRT Steel Roller Coasters...Pages 48-51 2 AMUSEMENT TODAY Golden Ticket Awards 2015 NEWSTALK CARTOON: Bubba Flint EDITORIAL: Gary Slade, [email protected] Crunch time To all the amusement industry professionals who attend the Golden Ticket Awards each year, we say "Thank You" for your continued support of what we believe has become a great networking event. Slade Just as any park has its crunch time in the month, week and days that lead up to the new season opening day, the staff of Amusement Today feels the same crunch with the short timeframes involved in both the Golden Ticket print issue and all the details that go into the GTA event and awards ceremony. The parks have just concluded their 90-day summer season and now have a chance to breath a bit. Amusement Today's 90-day crunch season begins with the Golden Ticket Awards. The staff returns from the fun event in New York to face a very short deadline before our October water parks issue EDITORIAL: Tim Baldwin, [email protected] is due at the printer. Nail biters Next up are three issues (November Pre-IAAPA, Although tabulation has Two races in particular — Best Seaside Park November Convention issue and December) that progressed from the manual and Best Children's Park — were the most must all complete production and printing prior hand-written calculations of the down-to-the-wire this year. Talk about nail bit- to our arrival in Orlando for the annual IAAPA early years of the Golden Ticket ers. The numbers were so close, it was anyone's Awards to electronic surveys, a game as to what final votes would tip the scales. Attractions Expo. random look here and there lets But being one who sees the results in their So if you catch one of the AT staff members in me keep in touch with how the entirety, I get to be the one behind the scenes the next 90 days and we seem a little winded, you vote is progressing. that silently champions that park that has risen Baldwin will know why. It's our version of your park's daily This year I didn't get a peek to sixth place, hoping they can nudge their way summer operation. until midday on the last day of onto the list in the years ahead. voting. I was shocked at the number of abso- And for all the parks and rides that are new • lutely down-to-the-wire races. If any voters hap- faces on our lists of finalists, I celebrate you the I would like to give a special thank you to Alberto pen to be reading this column, please know, most. Obviously taking the Golden Ticket is like Zamperla, Valerio Farrari and Ramon Rosario and your vote is indeed very important. It wasn't an Olympian reaching that gold medal. But I find their staffs for all their hard work to make the 2015 until about 18 hours later that I learned the fi- the finalists even more rewarding. These are the Golden Ticket Awards weekend a reality in New nal results. While I don't own a park that had parks and attractions trying hard to be better, bragging rights at stake, still, I was riveted. Who hoping that their quality of work continues to York. Team Zamperla showcased their hard work would win? be noticed. Thankfully it has. Keep up the good in fine fashion. I hope the amusement industry is as Amusement Today has never utilized the ex- work. Over time AT has seen just such parks proud of the Coney rebirth as we are. Additional act same panel each year. Experienced veterans climb from relative obscurity to world renowned thanks goes to Ryan Stana, RWS Associates for their are mixed with new travelers to make up a col- prominence. What can possibly be more reward- help with the show entertainment during the GTA lection of hundred and hundreds of voices. The ing? sheer number of countries that appear in our A little nail biting keeps everyone on their ceremony, and to Deno's Wonder Wheel Park. lists of finalists is astonishing. toes. Call (817) 460-7220 for advertising, circulation or editorial inquiries Amusement Today is an independent, privately- Founder, Publisher and Editor Editorial Print Issue & Extra Extra owned trade newspaper published 14 times Gary Slade • (817) 460-7220 x3 Tim Baldwin 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] $50.00 per year and are mailed Presort Standard Postage (permit No. 2069) Pre-Paid Fort Worth, Accounting & Classified Dean Lamannna • (310) 795-2734 Texas. 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