INSIDE: TM & ©2014 Amusement Today, Inc. Singing Mushrooms return to Kings Dominion — PAGE 26 August 2014 | Vol. 18 • Issue 5 www.amusementtoday.com No kidding here, these coasters deliver Story Land turns 60, adds Roar-O-Saurus STORY: B. Derek Shaw Central to the Story Land not ever overwhelming,” said [email protected] experience are the classic chil- Jack Mahany, assistant general GLEN, N.H. — The legacy dren’s fairy tale adventures manager who started with the that Bob and Ruth Morrell cre- that are found in the original park in 1967. He continued, ated in 1954 continues today, section of the park. The in- “They can touch Cinderella. entertaining young families spiration came from a set of It’s special.” and their children, while cre- dolls given the elder Morrells Story Land started adding ating lasting memories. The when living in Europe in the rides in the early 1960s. They 37-acre property, now run by early 1950’s. The park opened have three complete Chance Palace Entertainment (after as Story Town; however it was Manufacturing train rides, the demise of son and daugh- changed the next year due to along with a spare engine. ter-in-law Stoney and Nancy); Charlie Woods’ Storytown The engines include: number features 23 rides, five shows park (now The Great Escape 2 (from 1961), 4, 18 and 47. All and multiple play areas. New in Glens Falls, N.Y.), that had three trains run on a circuit for 2014, in conjunction with opened in 1953. that has three train stations Six Flags Magic Mountain’s new Bugs Bunny World children’s Story Land’s 60th anniversary, One of the favorite attrac- situated throughout the park. area included this new Speedy Gonzales Hot Rod Racers kid- is Roar-O-Saurus, a 40-foot tions with the smaller set is Other rides include the Polar die coaster, supplied by Zamperla. COURTESY SFMM Gravity Group LLC wooden Cinderella’s Tea Room, giving Coaster (OD Hopkins, 1987); roller coaster that opened on young Princesses the opportu- Dr. Geyser’s Remarkable Raft Speedy Gonzales coaster Memorial Day weekend. nity to have tea with her. “It’s 4See STORY LAND, page 4 revs up kids’ area revamp at To help celebrate Story Land’s 60th anniversary, the park added this Six Flags Magic Mountain family wooden coaster from The Gravity Group. With a top speed of just 34 mph STORY: Dean Lamanna park in the U.S. this ride is able to deliver the thrills and [email protected] Also new at Bugs Bunny become a ‘must do’ with park guests. VALENCIA, Calif. — Six World is the Looney Tunes Kids COURTESY STORY LAND Flags Magic Mountain (SFMM) Club show, which is staged at officially launched its record- the Carrot Club Theater. Fea- setting 19th roller coaster with turing Bugs Bunny himself as the June 25 debut of Speedy Club President, this audience Gonzales Hot Rod Racers, a participatory game show is de- new kiddie coaster that adds signed to appeal to all ages. another highlight to the park’s “We are excited to show- colorfully spruced up Bugs case our newest coaster and Bunny World children’s sec- newly revitalized children’s tion. area this year,” said Bonnie The adventure-themed Rabjohn, president of SFMM coaster, with trains designed and Hurricane Harbor. “We’re as race cars, carries riders staying true to our thrill prom- around an undulating course ise by adding yet another to a checkered-flag finish line. coaster to our collection — this It brings the total number of time a fun adventure for our lit- coasters in the kids’ area to four tlest thrillseekers. No doubt we — more than any other theme 4See SFMM, page 4 2014 GOLDEN TICKET AWARDS | September 5-7, 2014 Registration now open at goldenticketawards.com Dated material. material. Dated SUBSCRIBE TO RUSH! NEWSPAPER POSTMASTER: PLEASE July 24, 2014 Thursday, Mailed AMUSEMENT TODAY PERMIT # 2069 # PERMIT FT. WORTH TX WORTH FT. (817) 460-7220 PAID US POSTAGE US PRSRT STD PRSRT 2 AMUSEMENT TODAY August 2014 NEWSTALK EDITORIAL: Gary Slade, [email protected] CARTOON: Bubba Flint What’s old is also new Disneyland has long been known for taking care of their historic and iconic attractions. The park’s Matterhorn Bobsled and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad are but two of their most recent examples. Now we’ve seen local neighbor Knott’s Berry Farm do the same with its complete Slade refurbishment of their two Bud Hurlbut attractions, Timber Mountain Log Ride last year and the Calico Mine Ride this year. In all the cases mentioned above, guest response has been as popular, if not more, than if a major new attraction had been added. Last season, the gate increase at Knott’s was near an all-time record. This gives proof to park leaders, and their marketing staffs, that the paying guest does indeed care about the history of their local park. The guest has his or her favorite “old time” attraction and they enjoy riding it even more when it has been refurbished to like new. The refurb story doesn’t stop there. In Denver, Hyland Hills Water World this year is starting a two-year rehab of its two most popular attractions: The 1990- built The Lost River of the Pharaohs and the 1993-built Voyage to the Center of the Earth. These two cutting edge family raft rides also include dark EDITORIAL: Scott Rutherford, [email protected] ride portions where the brilliant minds at R&R Creative Design added theming and Sally Corp. produced the animation that Happy Birthday Kings Dominion! created two different and very unique storylines for riders While working on stories was missing. floating by in their tubes. for this issue, I revisited one of Once Cedar Fair acquired KD (2007), things The rides are getting updates to their theming and my favorite theme parks: Kings started to change. Slowly, the park began to animation pieces as well as adding the latest technology re- Dominion. I’ve been visiting reacquire facets of its former identity. It has lated to sound and LED lighting. It’s a great move by the park KD since it opened in 1975. I been an arduous but significant process. to take care of their classics. was just an awe-struck kid back When I went back this spring to cover Back at Cedar Fair, Kings Dominion is taking tips from the then but I knew it was special. the park’s 40th Celebration, I was sincerely success its sister park Knott’s has enjoyed, just in time for their Rutherford I’d already been to KD’s prede- impressed. Cedar Fair had listened to what 40th anniversary celebration. cessors and direct inspiration– guests wanted and spent the time, money and Kings Dominion guests had repeatedly asked for the park Ohio’s Coney Island and Kings Island. The basic effort not only to update various elements, but to bring back the Singing Mushrooms that entertained guests layout was similar to KI, especially International they also looked back at what made the park during the early seasons and later became a local household Street, the fountain and, of course, the Eiffel so special in the first place. They painted and name in after film Rollercoaster. So the park asked Garner Tower. But there was something else happen- spruced up virtually the entire property. And Holt Productions, who Knott’s had worked with on their two ing at KD ... something uniquely Virginian. they brought back the Singing Mushrooms, the ride rehabs, to recreate the four singing mushrooms and one Over the years, as a lifelong airline employ- Floral Clock and Candy Apple Grove midway. cigar-puffing frog playing a piano. The response from the ee who moved around constantly, I always These things may seem simple and insignificant guests has been so big, it’s as if the Singing Mushrooms are made sure to include KD in my travels. I recall to outsiders, but to longtime fans of the park, now their own show and probably should be listed on the being delighted each time in what was hap- they mean the world. They’ve rekindled cher- park’s show schedule. pening at the park, even when Paramount ished memories and guests absolutely love it. stepped in (1993) and radically Hollywood-ized I’ll bet there’s a kid visiting the park today In addition, the park took one of its historic 1917 PTC the place. Though they had the needed funds for the first time, just like I did forty summers carousel horses and made it a 40th Anniversary Celebration and did things the previous owners could never ago. And I’ll wager he’ll be just as enchanted centerpiece with a custom-painting that reintroduced the horse have afforded, they also began to eliminate as I was. as “Ruby.” Ruby is now one of the most photographed horses certain aspects that made KD exceptional. All Happy Birthday Kings Dominion! Here’s to on the carousel by guests. those new film-themed rides were a huge and 40 more. Something old can be made new again, to the delight of profitable hit with guests, but I felt something your park guests. 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