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Park and ride winners Page 2B

2001

Top 25 wooden roller coasters GOLDEN TICKET Pages 6B AWARDS

V.I.P. BONUS BEST OF THE BEST! Top 25 roller coasters SECTION Page 7B B www.amusementtoday.com AUGUST 2001 ’s 2001 Golden Ticket Awards Featuring three new categories piece, Lightning , stormed all 2001 Tim Baldwin the way to 13th place.

OnceAmusement again, Amusement Today Today Trends V.I.P. has selected a core group of experi- A notable trend this year is BEST PARK enced enthusiasts considered to be coasters that have become more well-traveled park guests to ride, eat, comfortable. The Texas Cyclone and observe, and enjoy the Best of the coasters started devel- Best. As always, the findings are oping votes again this year. A perfect 2001 interesting as the tabulated results example appears on the list with provide this year’s Golden Ticket ’s revamped Phantom’s Awards. Revenge moving into the number 15 V.I.P. BEST STEEL Awards Overview position in just a few weeks, scoring COASTER In 1998, the original Amusement much higher than Steel Phantom did Today survey was designed to divide in the past. Clockwise from top left, participants evenly in geographic Gold Stars regions providing the most balanced Three coasters in particular Cedar Point and its poll possible. This year, more than made spectacular strides over the record-setting coaster 400 surveys were mailed. With our past year. While appearing as a new Millennium Force, biggest response ever, 25 percent entry on the 2000 Awards, Cedar came from the Northeastern portion Point’s Millennium Force came close Holiday World and The of the , both the to doubling its points from the previ- Raven as well as Southern United States and north ous year to take stronghold as Schlitterbahn and its central states provided 23 percent of Favorite Steel Coaster. Perhaps even the votes, and the west coast tallied more impressive is the rise of two world-famous Master in at 22 percent. The remaining 7 other coasters that debuted in the Blaster were all big win- percent were mailed in from interna- 2000 season. Boulder Dash at Lake ners in AT’s Golden Ticket tional correspondents. Compounce leaps into the Top 10 by Keeping the survey fresh, AT is landing dramatically as the number Awards. pleased to introduce a few new cate- three wooden coaster. Likewise, Photos courtesy Cedar Point, gories this year, adding a broader Ride of Steel at Schlitterbahn and AT perspective to the Golden Tickets. New England became powerfully Best , Best Kid’s Area and competitive battling its way all the Best in an amusement way to the number two position on park offer up a new set of entertain- the steel list. ing opinions. An international glance New for 2001 Enthusiasts traveling abroad in Due to our early July postmark that quest for the ultimate coaster deadline, parks are always chal- continue to broaden their expertise. lenged to see their newest attractions With more and more international make our list. While a few new faces tours planned each year, AT predicts are landing in the charts this year, even more European coasters mak- only three have managed to place ing a presence in the upcoming after being open a few short months. years. Nitro and Titan in the Six Flags chain Holding their own again this share boasting rights along with year are Alton Tower’s Nemesis, Kennywood’s reworked Phantom’s Parc Asterix’s Tonerre de Zeus and Revenge as being the only 2001 Oakwood’s , with the lat- coasters on our list. New performers ter maintaining a strong reputation on AT’s Top 25 are Six Flags as a Top 10 place holder. Already America’s Superman Ride of Steel newer installations across Europe (2000) and Volcano (1998) on our are gathering rave reviews and 2001 Steel list. The Boss (2000) garnered building momentum when points 2001 throngs of fans climbing all the way were counted. Look for some strong SCHLITTERBAHN RAVEN V.I.P. to the number 15 spot on our wood competition from across the Atlantic V.I.P. list. As predicted last year, during the next two years. BEST WATERPARK BEST WOODEN COASTER at Silverwood landed firmly in the Top 20 and ’s master- See WINNERS, page 2B 2B AMUSEMENT TODAY August 2001

and Disneyland holding a close price. The home cooking and third. delicious offerings of Silver Dollar WINNERS Naturally, any park would be City bring it in at second place, pleased with an award bestowed and Kennywood, led by its world Fiesta Texas’ Circo Continued from page 1B upon it, but Holiday World takes famous fries, rounds out the top Magnifico is one particular pride in its goal to three. The accolade of Best Park is remain the Cleanest Park. As Ride Categories of a broad range of once again bestowed to Cedar guests leave, one look is all it takes Remaining consistent with shows that voters Point, a destination famous for to see the continual effort put forth last year’s winners, IOA’s providing a wide variety of enter- by this park. Likewise, apparent Spiderman webs in first place as rate the best. tainment, huge thrills and the dedication is witnessed at both Best , Knoebel’s Williamsburg and world’s largest lineup of coasters Haunted Mansion demonstrates Photo courtesy Fiesta Texas and beautiful resort accommoda- Walt Disney World, our second what a great classic dark ride can tions. Coming in second, and third place recipients. still be by taking second place, When 52 percent of votes cast Universal’s Islands of Adventure and Disneyland’s Indiana Jones go to a park for superior landscap- demonstrates what happens when delivers a breathtaking experi- ing, people certainly take notice. beauty, theming and quality rides ence into the third place spot. Park and ride winners Busch Gardens Williamsburg has all combine into a package that One of our newest cate- Ranked by percentage of votes. garnered itself the perennial repu- gories, Best Water Ride (in an exceeds guest expectations. tation of Best Landscaping. The Honest value and a collection of ), allowed voters Best Park beautiful and lush areas through- to highlight a great selection of outstanding rides in a traditional Cedar Point Sandusky, Ohio 21% out Walt Disney World bring it terrific attractions within the atmosphere allow Knoebel’s into second place, and the old- Islands of Adventure Orlando, Fla. 12% Grove to round out the top three. industry. Dudley Do-Right’s fashioned charm of Silver Dollar Falls takes the top spot Knoebel’s Grove Elysburg, Pa. 11% To no one’s surprise, Schlitter- City is accented by its landscaping Kennywood West Mifflin, Pa. 10% bahn once again takes half the with its humorous theming, placing them at third place. lengthy ride experience and votes earning them the Best Termed the “Year of Best Waterpark Waterpark award. With a seeming- breathtaking steep drop. Steeper Entertainment,” Fiesta Texas con- Schlitterbahn New Braunfels, Texas 50% ly eternal lock on the award, the yet is the second place winner, tinues its heritage of creating out- Blizzard Beach Orlando, Fla. 7% New Braunfels summer oasis may Knott’s Perilous Plunge, which standing shows for its guests with took splashwater rides through a Splashin’ Safari Santa Claus, Ind. 6% just find its most formidable com- perhaps its strongest line up of tal- petition in its sister park, whole new thrill barrier when it ent in years. While many parks debuted in 2000. What Plunge did Friendliest Park Staff Schlitterbahn Beach, as it contin- may be content to produce a good for thrills, at Holiday World Santa Claus, Ind. 60% ues to develop in south Texas in show or two, Fiesta Texas can truly the next few years. If theming in a Busch Williamsburg did for Knoebel’s Grove Elysburg, Pa. 5% boast an expansive scope of 11 theming. The effects-heavy, scenic park is what you like, then shows featuring live bands and Disney’s Blizzard Beach serves it adventure comes in at third place. Capacity (fastest moving lines) strong vocal performers, interna- A close contender is SeaWorld up bigtime. The snowy, whimsical tional diversity, a broad range of Cedar Point Sandusky, Ohio 51% environment helps bring the Orlando’s Journey to Atlantis, Walt Disney World Orlando, Fla. 12% musical styles and crowd pleasers which takes all of the previously waterpark in at second place. such as Rockin’ at Rockville High, Disneyland Anaheim, Calif. 7% Escaping the day’s heat while vis- mentioned elements and pack- the amazing Lone Star Spectacular ages them into one terrific attrac- iting Holiday World has allowed and the new dynamic Circo Cleanest Park Splashin’ Safari to rate as the third tion. Magnifico. In a similar vein, Silver Even amongst big thrills, Holiday World Santa Claus, Ind. 46% favorite. Dollar City presents a commit- Busch Gardens Williamsburg Williamsburg, Va. 16% And speaking of locks, when there is always a place for the ment to talent and variety in its mild side. For Best Carousel, Walt Disney World Orlando, Fla. 15% well over half the participants vote festivals throughout the year. Holiday World as having the Knoebel’s Grand Carousel takes Finally, Walt Disney World pres- the brass ring, just as riders at the Best Landscaping Friendliest Staff, any park would ents a quandary as many voters struggle to even place at all. park can still do while enjoying Busch Gardens Williamsburg Williamsburg, Va. 52% wanted to lump all four parks this classic ride. This glimmer of Walt Disney World Orlando, Fla. 8% Knoebel’s Grove is the only park together, while others wanted to that could even claim 5 percent of nostalgia also can be enjoyed at Silver Dollar City Branson, Mo. 6% vote for a specific park as AT Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, our the vote making them second intended. In so doing, the results place. second place winner. Six Flags Best Shows tabulate as 8 percent one way and Over Georgia’s placement of the Standing in line is one of the 18 percent when tabulating all the Fiesta Texas San Antonio, Texas 23% lowest points to any park visit. beautiful Riverview Carousel on Silver Dollar City Branson, Mo. 14% parks. the hillside showcases the true Moving people through lines as Judging by some of the com- Walt Disney World Orlando, Fla. 8% quickly as possible is a hot topic in treasure it is, and it rates as third ments received at AT, eating at a best. the industry today. Cedar Point, Best Food park is not always a pleasure. Paramount’s with 51 percent of votes, rises to Knoebel’s Grove Elysburg, Pa. 23% However, many parks are famous beams at the honor of being the top of the Best Capacity cate- for providing great eating experi- Silver Dollar City Branson, Mo. 21% gory. Disney also seems to have awarded Best Kid’s Area for our ences. Knoebel’s tops the Best first year with this category. The Kennywood West Mifflin, Pa. 10% matters well in hand with Walt Food category by offering a vari- Disney World taking second place expanded area actually includes ety of tasty food at a reasonable two sections for kids, Best Dark Ride Nickelodeon Central and Hanna Amazing Advs. Spiderman Islands of Adventure 31% Barbera Land. Boasting the Haunted Mansion Knoebel’s Grove 23% world’s biggest collection of Indiana Jones...Forbidden Eye Disneyland 8% (817) 460-7220 Fax (817) 265-6397 coasters for kids (four), thematic elements, life-size characters, Best Water Ride (Amusement Park) www.amusementtoday.com Amusement Today’s annual Golden Ticket Awards were bestowed numerous scaled down rides and Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls Islands of Adventure 35% attractions and the incorporation upon all first-place finishers in each category. Amusement Today con- Perilous Plunge Knott’s Berry Farm 9% of the newly remodeled flume Escape from Pompeii Busch Williamsburg 8% gratulates the many fine parks that won or placed in this year’s cat- into their family area makes the Journey to Atlantis SeaWorld Orlando 7% egories. We also would like to thank the many people who took the park an ideal place for families time to return our survey forms and participate in the polling with small children. Islands of Best Carousel Adventure’s Seuss Landing process. If you were not selected to vote, and would like your name Knoebel’s Grove Elysburg, Pa. 39% scored big with our participants added to the selection list, please drop us a postcard and we’ll be Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Santa Cruz, Calif. 13% glad to add your name to next year’s ballot list. Remember, industry bringing it into second place, and going Looney at Six Flags Worlds Atlanta, Ga. 12% employees are ineligible to vote. AT also would like to thank our of Adventure brings that park in Islands of Adventure Orlando, Fla. 6% advertisers for their help in making this Bonus Section possible. at third. Thanks also go to Tim Baldwin for his countless hours in tabu- In the world of waterparks, Best Kid’s Area lating the poll results and to Ted Davidson and his staff at Corporate Schlitterbahn’s Master Blaster Paramount’s Kings Island Kings Mills, Ohio 24% Graphics in Arlington, Texas, for the design and printing of the keeps impressing with its cutting- Islands of Adventure Orlando, Fla. 9% Golden Ticket Awards. edge technology. Although a dis- Six Flags Worlds of Adventure Aurora, Ohio 7% Amusement Today is an independent newspaper, published tant second, the park also places monthly by Amusement Today Inc., P.O. Box 5427, Arlington, Texas with its 30-minute “low-tech” Best Waterpark Ride Master Blaster Schlitterbahn 42% 76005-5427. For subscription information, or to order extra copies Raging River tube chute. Blizzard Beach’s outlandish Summit Raging River Schlitterbahn 9% call: (817) 460-7220. Plummet slides into third. Summit Plummit Blizzard Beach 7% August 2001 AMUSEMENT TODAY 3B

Dudley Do Right by AT; Hanna Barbera Land courtesy PKI As two of our newest categories, IOA’s Dudley Do- Right’s Ripsaw Falls rates as Best Water Ride and Paramount’s Island is voted as having Best Kids Area. 4B AMUSEMENT TODAY August 2001 August 2001 AMUSEMENT TODAY 5B WE’RE HONORED FOR THE HIGH RANKINGS!

GOLDEN TICKET AWARDS 2001 V.I.P. BEST OF THE BEST!

1. Raven, Holiday World 2. , Michigan’s Adventure 3. Boulder Dash, 5. Legend, Holiday World 6. GhostRider, Knott’s Berry Farm 7. , VisionLand 10. Megafobia, Oakwood Park 15. The Boss, SF St. Louis 17. The , Six Flags Worlds of Adventure 18. Tonerre de Zeus, Parc Asterix 19. Tremors, Silverwood (513) 755-0626 6B AMUSEMENT TODAY August 2001

2001 GOLDEN TICKET

AWARDS The List V.I.P. BEST OF THE BEST! Top 25 wood roller coasters

RANK NAME YEAR PARK LOCATION POINTS

1 Raven 1995 Holiday World Santa Claus, Ind. 688

2 Shivering Timbers 1998 Michigan’s Adventure Muskegon, Mich. 615

3 Boulder Dash 2000 Lake Compounce Bristol, Conn. 554

4 1985 Knoebel’s Grove Elysburg, Pa. 533

5 Legend 2000 Holiday World Santa Claus, Ind. 431

6 GhostRider 1998 Knott’s Berry Farm Buena Park, Calif. 424

7 Rampage 1998 VisionLand Bessemer, Ala. 369

8 Texas Giant 1990 Arlington, Texas 363

9 1994 Great Escape Lake George, N.Y. 336

10 Megafobia 1996 Oakwood Pembrookshire, Wales 295

11 Cyclone 1927 Astroland () , N.Y. 283

12 Beast 1979 Paramount’s Kings Island Kings Mills, Ohio 271

13 2000 Hersheypark Hershey, Pa. 269

14 1968 Kennywood West Mifflin, Pa. 192

15 The Boss 2000 Six Flags St. Louis St. Louis, Mo. 186

16 Georgia Cyclone 1990 Six Flags Over Georgia Atlanta, Ga. 185

17 Villain 2000 Six Flags Worlds of Adventure Aurora, Ohio 165

18 1997 Parc Asterix Plailly, France 142

19 Tremors 1999 Silverwood Athol, Idaho 137

20 Twister 1999 Knoebel’s Grove Elysburg, Pa 130

21 1924 Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Santa Cruz, Calif. 129

22 1996 Hersheypark Hershey, Pa. 125

23 Coaster 1958 PNE Vancouver, B.C., Canada 115

24 1989 Kansas City, Mo. 97

25 Cyclone 1983 Agawam, Mass. 73 Amusement Today also presents the next 25 wooden coasters as determined by points. 26: (PKD), 27: (SFMW), 28: Screamin’ Eagle (SFStL), 29: MegaZeph (Jazzland), 30: Colossos (), 31: Roar (SFA), 32 tie: Grand National (BPB), Timber Terror (Silverwood); 34 tie: Mean Streak (Cedar Point), Thunder Run (SFKK); 36 (tie): (Kennywood), Viper (SFGAm); 38: Stampida (Port Aventura), 39: Giant Dipper (Belmont), 40 tie: Excalibur (Funtown), Thunder Coaster (); 42 tie: Great American Scream Machine (SFOG), Racer (Kennywood), Rebel Yell (PKD); 45: (SFWoA), 46: (PKI), 47: Colossus (SFMM), 48: Blue Streak (Cedar Point), 49 tie: Cyclone (Lakeside), Wild One (SFA)

PHILADELPHIA COASTERS INC. Proud supplier for 9 out of 10 Best Wooden Roller Coasters in the World! August 2001 AMUSEMENT TODAY 7B

2001 GOLDEN TICKET

The List AWARDS V.I.P. Top 25 steel roller coasters BEST OF THE BEST!

RANK NAME YEAR PARK LOCATION POINTS

1 Millennium Force 2000 Cedar Point Sandusky, Ohio 758

2 Superman Ride of Steel 2000 Six Flags New England Agawam, Mass. 682

3 Magnum XL-200 1989 Cedar Point Sandusky, Ohio 661

4 Steel Force 1997 Dorney Park Allentown, Pa. 399

5 Montu 1996 Busch Gardens Tampa Tampa, Fla. 336

6 Superman Ride of Steel 1999 Darien Center, N.Y. 305

7 Apollo’s Chariot 1999 Busch Gardens Williamsburg Williamsburg, Va. . 298

8 1994 Cedar Point Sandusky, Ohio 266

9 Incredible Hulk 1999 Islands of Adventure Orlando, Fla. 261

10 Alpengiest 1997 Busch Gardens Williamsburg Williamsburg, Va. 252

11 Raging Bull 1999 Gurnee, Ill. 220

12 Dueling Dragons 1999 Islands of Adventure Orlando, Fla. 210

13 Kumba 1993 Busch Gardens Tampa Tampa, Fla. 201

14 Goliath 2000 Valencia, Calif. 196

15 Phantom’s Revenge 2001/1991 Kennywood West Mifflin, Pa. 168

16 Nitro 2001 Six Flags Great Adventure Jackson, N.J. 164

17 Mindbender 1978 Six Flags Over Georgia Atlanta, Ga. 163

18 Mamba 1998 Worlds of Fun Kansas City, Mo. 158

19 Nemesis 1994 Staffordshire, England 148

20 Superman Ride of Steel 2000 Largo, Md. 146

21 Titan 2001 Six Flags Over Texas Arlington, Texas 126

22 Medusa 1999 Six Flags Great Adventure Jackson, N.J. 125

23 Superman Ultimate Escape 2000 Six Flags Worlds of Adventure Aurora, Ohio 100

24 Desperado 1994 Buffalo Bill’s Casino Primm, Nev. 99

25 Volcano 1998 Paramount’s Doswell, Va. 93 Amusement Today also presents the next 25 steel coasters as determined by points. 26: Big Bad Wolf (BGW), 27: Shock Wave (SFOT), 28: (SDC), 29: Knight Flight (SFWoA), 30: Talon (Dorney), 31: Dragon Kahn (Port Aventura), 32: Superman the Escape (SFMM), 33: Texas (AstroWorld), 34: Top Gun (PC), 35: Riddler’s Revenge (SFMM), 36: Suprman Krypton Coaster (Fiesta Texas), 37: The Big One (BPB), 38: Batman the Ride (SFGAm), 39 tie: Mantis (Cedar Point), Space Mountain (Disneyland); 41: Bobsleds (Disneyland), 42 tie: Great Bear (Hersheypark), Hypersonic XLC (PKD); 44: Loch Ness (BGW), 45: Fujiyama (Fujikyu Highland), 46: Batman The Ride (SFMM), 47 tie: California Screamin’ (DCA), Georgia Scorcher (SFOG), Medusa (SFMW); 50: Kraken (SeaWorld

2001 What a Great Year! GOLDEN TICKET

AWARDS V.I.P. BEST OF THE BEST!

2 Golden Tickets 2001 GOLDEN TICKET AWARDS

2 Top 20 Coasters V.I.P. BEST OF THE BEST! Thank you readers of Amusement Today!