AIMS NEWS & NOTES - PAGE 42 TM Vol. 16 • Issue 7 OCTOBER 2012 World Waterpark Association 32nd Annual Symposium & Trade Show in Las Vegas looking stronger than 2011’s New Orleans event STORY: Pam Sherborne with colleagues. [email protected] The Key Decision-Makers Breakfast and Vegas Bus Tour LAS VEGAS, Nev. — As is set for 8:30-9:45 a.m., Thurs- the waterpark industry mem- day, Oct. 4. This event requires bers arrive in Las Vegas for the early reservations and an ad- 32nd Annual Symposium & ditional $50 per ticket. Trade Show, association staff Trends in the waterpark members have put together industry are surely to be top an event they hope will foster on the minds of those attend- networking as well as give at- ed for this year. ing the symposium this year. The 300-meter long canoe slalom course used at the 2012 tendees a look at what is new Along with the compa- They will certainly be talked Olympic Games (above and at bottom) could be likened in the industry through the ex- nies showing their new and about in hallways and dis- to a Rapid River ride – although it’s rather more turbulent hibits on the tradeshow floor tried and true products, the cussed during the abundant than the amusement ride versions, thanks in part to an 18- and feed their intellect through event also offers an array of number of workshops and foot elevation change on the course. the educational sessions. networking opportunities, educational sessions offered. COURTESY LONDON 2012 The WWA Show is the workshops and educational According to Aleatha Ezra, only show focused exclusively sessions. WWA director of park mem- A ‘rapid river’ created for on the water-leisure industry. Continuing a change made ber development, one major The event is being held Oct. last year, workshop and edu- trend she is seeing in the in- Olympics canoe slalom event 2-5 at the Paris Hotel & Con- cational sessions were sched- dustry this year is waterparks ference Center, Las Vegas. The uled to give attendees more partnering with already suc- STORY: Andrew Mellor of the 1,000-acre River Lee Symposium runs throughout time to be on the tradeshow cessful businesses. Examples [email protected] Country Park, part of the the entire dates. The trade floor. Hours of the tradeshow in the private section are Hur- Lee Valley Regional Park. show is open two days of the are 12:30-6:30 p.m., Wed., Oct. ricane Alley, Corpus Christie, LONDON — Among the Created to accom- event, Oct. 3 and 4. 3, and 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Thurs., Texas, which partnered with numerous venues built for modate the canoe slalom “I can tell you that the ex- Oct. 4. Whataburger sports complex, the London 2012 Olympic events, the venue is remi- hibitors are up from last year With more than 1,000 wa- and Pump House Indoor Wa- Games, one that will have niscent of a rapid river ride, in New Orleans, and we are terparks in North America terpark that partnered with sparked a chord with those of without doubt one of the very close to a sell out,” said alone, networking opportuni- Jay Peak Resort, a ski resort in us in the park and attractions most popular and successful Patty Miller, WWA director of ties are important. This year Jay, Vermont. Both opened in industry was the Lee Valley attractions at parks around supplier relations, in mid-Sep- includes The WWA Annual 2012. White Water Center, locat- the world. Construction tember. “We have about 340 Golf Tournament, set for 8 An example in the public ed 30 km north of the main of the center began in July booths, 200 companies.” a.m.-2 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 2. section is Sailfish Splash Wa- Olympic Park on the edge 4See RIVER, page 4 Last year the WWA event This tournament will be held terpark, Martin, Texas, which was held in New Orleans, the at the Painted Desert Golf also opened this year. That first time the WWA had ever Club in Las Vegas and will in- waterpark is a part of Martin held their annual sympo- clude a luncheon along with County Parks and Recreation. sium in that city. According to the golf. “That park made budget WWA President Rick Root, last On Oct. 3, the WWA An- in their first 40 days they were year’s event drew about 1,400 nual Reunion Party is set for open,” Ezra said. industry owners, operators, 7-10 p.m., Paris Hotel pool- Two other trends include developers, suppliers and de- side, with offers of cocktails, the growth of the indoor wa- signers. An increase is expect- hors d’oeuvres and good times 4See WWA, page 6 SUBSCRIBE TO Dated material. material. Dated AMUSEMENT TODAY RUSH! NEWSPAPER POSTMASTER: PLEASE Sept. 27, 2012 Thursday, Mailed (817) 460-7220 PERMIT # 2069 # PERMIT FT. WORTH TX WORTH FT. com PAID amusementtoday US POSTAGE US PRSRT STD PRSRT 2 AMUSEMENT TODAY October 2012 NEWSTALK OPINIONS CARTOON LETTERS AT CONTACTS EDITORIAL: Gary Slade, [email protected] CARTOON: Bubba Flint The modern-day carousel? At the turn of the century and into the ear- ly 1900s, traditional amusement parks sprang up at and the end of the trolley lines and other highway connectors. They saw rapid growth as the parks used water as their selling point. While most parks were located by lakes and oceans, some used swimming pools as a way Slade for guests to cool off on hot summer days. Always on the lookout for the next big thing, park own- ers soon found themselves installing beautiful hand-carved carousels in elaborately decorated buildings that would let the sounds of the band organ blast its tunes out onto the walkways. More ride innovations would soon follow, but as park owners shared their success stories, one thing was clear, you had to have a carousel as your anchor. Today’s waterparks are setting the stage with their own version of the carousel — the tipping bucket. The idea for the tipping bucket was the result of Rick Briggs (then with SCS and building a 40-foot-tall waterplay structure in 1994 for White Water in Atlanta) and his daughter Steffanie who asked dad if he would dump water all at once, like standing under a waterfall. The rest is history. EDITORIAL: Scott Rutherford, [email protected] While countless waterpark suppliers produce these popular pieces throughout the world, the tipping bucket Exhibiting history success was first led by SCS and now WhiteWater West, who Earlier this spring I suddenly correctly. Once I stepped into the space, my fears faded offers 45 different models. Since 1985, the two firms have found myself part of an exceedingly away. The presentation was more than I could’ve hoped supplied more than 4,000 interactive waterplay units with the small team of historians, artists and for. Dollywood’s own print shop had flawlessly produced tipping bucket serving as the anchor piece on most all units volunteers saddled with the task of exactly what we had envisioned. From a historian’s per- creating the inaugural exhibition of spective, it was a wonderland of sight and sound. since 1994. the National Roller Coaster Museum A personal validation of all the hard work on this Now, in an effort to keep their guests cool and and Archives’ (NRCMA). We were project took place as I quietly toured the exhibit during entertained, amusement park owners are installing these all aware of the project’s potential AT’s Golden Ticket Awards ceremony last month. At popular waterplay units in their facilities. Oklahoma’s impact. This was our chance to con- the Harry Traver section, I overheard an older gentle- Rutherford nect with people and impress upon man regaling what I assumed was his grandson with a Frontier City and New Mexico’s Cliff’s Amazement Park both them the importance of preserving tale from his youth, of how in the 1940s he and his best installed new units this season. Texas’ Joyland Amusement and celebrating the amusement industry’s long, colorful had friend climbed aboard the wicked Crystal beach Park is on board for next season. Resorts, hotels, cruise ships history. Cyclone. Gazing up at huge detailed photos and an and municipal facilities are getting on board this interactive My job was to take vast amounts of information intricate scale model of that infamous ride, the little and create many of the graphics that would serve as the boy’s eyes widened in wonder as the questions began trend, much the way owners did with the carousel in the project’s signage and massive background panels. Like to tumble out: “You rode that? Was it scary? How did early 1900s. everyone else on the team, I was concerned over the the cars stay on the track? When was it built? Is it still It seems we’ve come full circle and returned to time frame; concept to opening day was incredibly tight. there?” I was impressed. It is difficult to describe how much went into this but In the end, we’d done our job. Our exhibit had the water for fun and entertainment. we somehow pulled it off. “America’s Roller Coasters invoked a beloved memory while at the same time pos- —Gary Slade & Amusement Parks” was unveiled this summer at sibly inspired a new generation to embrace the past, to Dollywood to overwhelmingly positive reviews from the explore the amazing wonders that came before. I expect general public as well as park historians and enthusiast versions of this scenario played out continually as thou- Gary Slade is the founder and publisher of Amusement organizations.