TM Celebrating Our 15th Year Vol. 15 • Issue 11 FEBRUARY 2012 Gibtown gears up for annual Extravaganza & Trade Show STORY: Pam Sherborne numbers early would not be fore to raise money,” he said. Bowl Party and Extravaganza [email protected] accurate. Last year, the IISA The association held a Kick-off, Sunday, Feb. 5, at the Extravaganza drew almost Bike Fest last month, which club grounds; the IISA Ban- GIBSONTON, Fla. — In 12,000 attendees, represent- is turning out to be very suc- quet and Ball, Thursday, Feb. mid-January it was still too ing a 12 percent increase over cessful. Pugh said that four- 9; and the Showmen’s Shrine soon to release anticipated 2010. day event draws thousands annual meeting, the Cemetery numbers for the International Anticipation is high for the IISF exhibitor from along the west coast of Association Memorial Service, Independent Showmen’s As- 2012 show as the dates draw } listing...Page 5 Florida. the Ladies of the IISA and sociation (IISA) Gibtown Ex- near. A schedule of events in- Extravaganza attendees the drawing for the Museum travaganza and Trade Show, cludes the trade show, educa- IISA president, said the asso- will have several opportuni- Corp.’s $10,000 cash ticket, set for Feb. 7-11. tional seminars, charity fund ciation doesn’t hold any sepa- ties to participant in fundrais- Saturday, Feb. 11. Teresa Rimes said the raising events, and social meet rate events while the Extrava- ers during the week. On Mon- “A couple of years ago we club has too many last-min- and greets. ganza is going on to make sure day, Feb. 6, one day before the added educational seminars ute registrants so giving any Beau Pugh, the out-going there is no split in focus. tradeshow begins, the 4th An- to the Extravaganza,” he said. “We will have a meeting nual Big Hearted Jerry Memo- “They have also been very the Friday (Feb. 3) before and rial Golf Tournament has been successful.” then we will have our installa- scheduled for Summerfield Pugh said they have a full tion of new officers the Tues- Golf Course. On Wednesday, schedule of seminars, which day (Feb. 14) afterwards,” Feb. 8, the 8th Jamboree for are held in the Carousel Pa- Pugh said. the Museum Build Fund is set vilion on the club grounds. Pugh, in concessions with for the club grounds after the Topics this year include infor- Reithoffer Shows, Gibsonton, tradeshow closes for the day. mation on LEDs, safety har- Fla., was installed as the IISA Other weekly functions nesses, ride set-up, and the president for the 2011-2012 include: the annual Super 4See GIBTOWN, page 4 year. Mark Popovich, current first vice president, will take over Feb. 14 for the 2012-2013 year. Pugh expects the show to be good and is looking for- ward to the 2012 season. The economy may not be back up where it was a few years ago, but the biggest thing that af- fected industry members last year, he feels, was the weather. “It was really the focal point for most of us,” he said. Mike Gill, president, A.R.M. Rides Inc., Wintersville, Ohio, “There were tornados, hur- will be on hand at the IISA Extravaganza, Gibsonton, Fla., ricanes, flooding. We were set for Feb. 7-11. One of the pieces he plans to bring is the flooded out of three spots in a company’s newly designed Super Shot, a design which fits row.” the ride onto a 28-foot long trailer. Gill said the ride has Len Soled, Rides-4-U, Somerville, N.J., will bring a large as- As far as the association, the same capacity, looks the same, has the same feel, same sortment of rides to the upcoming IISA Extravaganza, Gib- he said they have been try- vehicles and the same mechanical braking. But, to get it to sonton, Fla., Feb. 7-11. One of those rides is this new KMG ing to hold more fundraising fit on the 28-foot trailer, they reduced the height a little, Speed. Armstrong Amusements, Marble Falls, Texas, will events. moved the tower to the rear of the trailer and redesigned take delivery after the show. COURTESY RIDES-4-U “It is tougher than ever be- the floor. COURTESY A.R.M. SUBSCRIBE TO Extra! Extra! Desktop Edition Dated material. material. Dated AMUSEMENT TODAY RUSH! Get FREE news delivered to NEWSPAPER POSTMASTER: PLEASE January 27, 2012 Mailed Friday, (817) 460-7220 your inbox EVERY DAY! PERMIT # 2069 # PERMIT FT. WORTH TX WORTH FT. com PAID amusementtoday Sign up now at: US POSTAGE US PRSRT STD PRSRT www.amusementtoday.com 2 AMUSEMENT TODAY February 2012 NEWSTALK OPINIONS CARTOON LETTERS AT CONTACTS BREAKING NEWS CARTOON: Bubba Flint Due to breaking news, Gary Slade’s monthly editorial column was pulled to make room for the stories below. His column will return in next month’s issue. Dollywood, Gaylord to build water/snow park NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Two of the biggest names in Ten- nessee tourism are teaming up to bring a major family enter- tainment zone to Nashville. Gaylord Entertainment and Dolly Parton’s Dollywood Company have entered into a memoran- dum of understanding for a 50/50 joint venture to develop a 114-acre family entertainment zone adjacent to the Gaylord Op- ryland Resort & Convention Center. The Dollywood Company will serve as the operating partner. Phase one of the project is a yet unnamed approximately $50 million water and snow park, the first of its kind in the United States. A late 2012, early 2013 groundbreaking date is expected with the park opening slated for summer of 2014. The water and snow park will anchor the project which of- fers room for future expansion. The park will provide a mix of high energy water activities for the summer season and desig- nated snow activities for winter play. Once open, first year at- tendance is projected at 500,000, a large portion of which will come from out of state, bringing in substantial tourism revenue to Tennessee and Nashville. Dollywood expects to employ 450 full- and part-time employees. “We are in the early stages of planning and will make cer- EDITORIAL: Scott Rutherford, [email protected] tain that any project we pursue is done so under the appropri- ate economic conditions and provides adequate returns for our Saving the Coney Island Cyclone shareholders,” said Colin V. Reed, chairman and CEO of Gay- lord Entertainment. “We are reserving approximately 35 acres By now, word has spread successes as well as the fact that they’ve now for expansion and complimentary regional attractions and we that someone’s tinkering with the turned their attention to the Cyclone, which is in have been working closely with state and city officials to ensure Cyclone, and it has polarized cer- desperate need of an intervention. tain groups. The so-called purists Though this is the Cyclone’s most compre- we have the proper infrastructure agreements in place for the are outraged that anyone would hensive rehab, it’s hardly the first. In fact, the ride project to move forward. We are looking forward to working on dare alter the hallowed ride while wasn’t open a single season back into 1927 before the next steps of this project and to it becoming a valuable part the other camp recognizes that it required major surgery. Milton Berger, the leg- of the Nashville tourism community.” if the coaster is to survive and endary Coney Island press agent, remembers riding •Story was first reported on amusementtoday.com Rutherford thrive, something must be done it on opening day and having his teeth chipped to save it and make it profitable. due to the abrupt pullout at the base of the first Obama eases visa rules to boost U.S. tourism Anyone who truly knows me recognizes that drop. By 1928, that area had been reassessed and I am a champion of history and preservation, par- altered. Fixes and patches like these over the past ORLANDO, Fla. —President Obama unveiled a new visa el- ticularly when it comes to roller coasters. Over the eight decades have left the Cyclone with its profile emination plan during a mid-January visit to Walt Disney World years, I’ve mourned the loss of far too many grand nipped, tucked and out of synch with its designer’s (near Orlando, Fla.) in an effort to boost U.S. tourism, thus hope- old parks and their resident thrillers. Places like original vision. fully creating more jobs. Cascade, Idora, Ocean View, Paragon, Ponchartrain The Cyclone is a surviving treasure from the The president’s visit to one of the nation’s largest tourist at- Beach and West View vanished when people Golden Age. It’s an antique requiring constant tractions was aimed to promote U.S. toursim from Brazil and stopped caring about such antiquated institutions vigilance to operate safely. CAI has entrusted the China to name just a few. In the first step of his plan, Obama in favor of more contemporary diversions. In fact, ride’s makeover to Great Coasters International, specifically ordered the departments of State and Homeland Se- another player is in grave danger right now. Rye Inc. These guys are my friends, and I believe they Playland’s days as an amusement park could very know what they’re doing. They are passionate curity to boost the capacity for issuing visas in China and Bra- well be doomed by those with little regard for about classic wooden coaster design and their zil by 40 percent in 2012.