Orlando’s Fun Spot Action Park Getting New Coasters and Name as Part of $20 Million Expansion
The LA Times reports on the International Drive amusement park, to be renamed “Fun Spot America,” including the GCI wooden and Vekoma suspended coasters:
“The $20-million investment will expand the Fun Spot Action Park located along Orlando’s International Drive corridor from 5 to 15 acres in three stages:
“The first stage will add a wooden roller coaster, a Screamin’ Swing thrill ride and a double-decker carousel by February 2013.
“The second stage would see the addition of a SkyCoaster thrill ride and a water park with four slide complexes by May 2013.
“The third stage would add a suspended steel roller coaster and a Windseeker swing tower by May 2014.
“The family-owned and operated Fun Spot has secured financing for the first stage and is seeking loans for the two subsequent stages, according to officials.”
FULL ARTICLE HERE
Busch Gardens Williamsburg Unveils Verbolten Ride and Story Details
Williamsburg, VA, USA — Busch Gardens has opened the construction gates for an exclusive first look at Verbolten℠, the park’s new multi-launch, indoor/outdoor roller coaster. When the coaster debuts this spring, it will feature design elements never before seen in the United States.
One of Verbolten’s main surprises is a free-fall drop hidden within the ride’s massive indoor special-effects building. Larry Giles, Busch Gardens’ vice president of design and engineering, promises this innovative drop will take riders’ breath away.
“It will be like someone pulled the track out from under you,” he said of the sensation riders will feel when the entire train drops 16 feet in complete darkness.
The drop’s design uses high-powered magnets to suspend the coaster train and a special section of track at the top of the special-effects building. To the surprise of riders, the magnets release and the train and track drop to the floor. They come to rest momentarily before the train is launched out of the dark Black Forest at speeds approaching 55 mph.
Other highlighted design features include a covered bridge that plays into the ride’s Black Forest-inspired theme. The bridge is one of the final elements of the attraction and sits atop a nearly 90-foot drop over Busch Gardens’ Rhine River. The drop pays homage to the final drop experienced on The Big Bad Wolf, which previously operated on the site. Recreating the drop also allowed design engineers to minimize Verbolten’s environmental impact by reusing the existing concrete foundations along the banks of the river.
Verbolten is unlike other coasters at the Virginia theme park. The ride narrative draws guests in from the time they enter the ride’s station house until they see their expression on the on-board video system when they exit the ride.
As riders enter the ride area, they will meet a German brother and sister team who run a small inn and visitor center at the edge of the Black Forest. Dire warnings of supernatural happenings within the forest dare riders to enter. Brave passengers are whisked away for a scenic tour of the German countryside only to fall into the clutches of the Black Forest’s inhabitants when they make a verboten detour.
Audio-visual special effects, scenic elements and other controls inside the darkened special-effects building create the illusion of a forest that has come to life. Verbolten’s two electromagnetic launches provide a zero to 55 mph rush of adrenaline at key times during the ride to advance the ride’s narrative.
Verbolten is the capstone attraction of a two-year rejuvenation project in Busch Gardens’ Oktoberfest village. Mach Tower, the park’s 240-foot drop tower, joins the launch coaster as the park’s newest thrill attractions. A new pretzel restaurant and new performance spaces that opened in 2011 completes the Oktoberfest village transformation.
BaAM Productions and ZOLKC Team On Interactive Smartphone Solution For North American Attractions
Toronto, Ontario, Canada — BaAM Productions of Toronto, Canada and ZOLKC based in Waterford, Ireland have teamed up to introduce a new brand in North America’s interactive experience industry. BaAM powered by ZOLKC™ (BpbZ™) brings together BaAM’s content development, interpretation and storytelling expertise with ZOLKC’s advanced technology, programming skill and success in creating amazing visitor experiences in Ireland, England and Scotland.
BpbZ’s vGuide premium experience and Smartphone Apps will offer visitors at a wide range of tourism, cultural and sports attractions the perfect handheld interpretive solution – offering enhanced layers of content and storytelling. With a touch of the screen, visitors are immersed in richly interpreted multimedia stories comprised of audio, video and images. The vGuide device is intelligent and accurate enough to know exactly where a visitor is and what content should be delivered. Indoors looking at an artifact, outdoors taking in a panoramic view, vGuide uses our proprietary AccuLoc IO™ technology to provide relevant information automatically, creating a user-friendly tech experience. This premium handheld experience also entertains visitors while they are queuing, allowing them to connect to social media, play games and explore those far off, unreachable places and stories, virtually. Supporting the incredible visitor experience are operational advantages such as incremental revenues, the ability to keep tour content current using our ZED1 Cloud Platform™ for updating, as well as the opportunity to provide content in multiple languages and extract Geo-Analytic data to be used in managing a venue.
“The BpbZ vGuide represents the next generation of interpretation for today’s increasingly tech-savvy and demanding visitors, as well as creating kid-friendly heritage experiences by providing instant layers of information presented in creative and engaging ways using a technology platform that can truly support the experience. Our team is very excited for the opportunity to take our interpretive and content development work to the next logical level.” said Gary Myers, BaAM’s Vice President Creative.
ZolkC CEO Paul Savage believes that “This partnership will allow us to bring the success of our work creating experiences for clients such as the National Trust of Scotland and The John F. Kennedy Trust of Ireland to the North American market. This partnership with BaAM is key to our development strategy of using a stable, proven technology to create amazing experiences.”
For more complete information check out the BaAM powered by ZOLKC website at www.bpbz.com.
ABOUT BaAM PRODUCTIONS
BaAM clients include the Canadian Museum of Nature, Cupids 400, Parks Canada, the Aga Khan Foundation Canada, the CN Tower, the Olympic Spirit Group, the National Hockey League and Major League Baseball.
ABOUT ZOLKC
ZolkC is committed to the creation of amazing visitor experiences using the best in technology, and is building an international reputation for excellence in the deployment of technology-driven interpretation for the tourism and heritage sector in the UK, in Ireland and now in North America. Our creativity and unique approach lies in the software we design, the content we create and the partnerships we establish with our clients.
As a spin-in company of the research group, TSSG, of Waterford Institute of Technology we have direct access to over 140 researchers in mobile and pervasive technologies – one of the largest research institutes in Europe. Our relationship with the TSSG means that our clients benefit from not only the design of leading-edge services to create the desired visitor experience at the onset, but also in keeping the service fresh and vibrant as new technologies evolve. This future-proofs deployments for our clients and their visitors.
Super 78’s Dina Benadon to Present on Special Venue Entertainment as Part of SXSW Panel
“SXSW is really the intersection of technology, and the theme parks and attractions industry has been conspicuously absent,” says Benadon. “Our legacy revolves around our ability to be among the first to embrace emerging technologies and deploy them to more actively engage the audience in the stories and experiences we share. That’s why it’s vital that we have a much bigger presence at conferences like SXSW.”
IAAPA Announces 2013 Leadership Conference to Take Place in Brazil
“The Leadership Conference was a great success,” said IAAPA Chairman and Managing Partner of Europa Park Roland Mack. “We had top representatives of all regions of our industry together and experienced a warm and open-minded welcome in all the businesses we visited. The possibility to exchange thoughts and ideas on an international level is much appreciated by our members.”
The IAAPA Leadership Conference brings together attractions facility and supplier company owners, CEOs, GMs, directors, and managers for firsthand learning and exclusive networking opportunities. This year participants experienced revolutionary technology and new rides and attractions, and discovered different ideas to establish successful business partnerships. Host facilities for this year’s event included: Universal Studios Hollywood, Six Flags Magic Mountain, Technifex, Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier, California Science Center, and The Disneyland Resort.
American Locker, Chance Rides, Freeman, Jack Rouse Associates, Premier Rides, The Producers Group, and Vekoma Rides were 2012 IAAPA Leadership Conference sponsors.
IAAPA Third Vice Chair Gerardo Arteaga Cerda of Fantasilandia, Chile, is excited to take the conference to Latin America in 2013. “We have an opportunity to show what’s been happening in Latin America, and get people more involved,” said Arteaga. “It will be a good chance for manufacturers to learn more about our market, as well.”
Additional announcements including specific dates and tour locations for the IAAPA Leadership Conference 2013 in São Paulo, Brazil, next March will be available at www.IAAPA.org in the weeks ahead. The conference will take place in conjunction with the 2013 IAAPA Latin American Regional Networking event.
ABOUT IAAPA
Founded in 1918, IAAPA is the largest international trade association for permanently situated amusement facilities and attractions and is dedicated to the preservation and prosperity of the amusement industry. The association’s global headquarters is in Alexandria, Virginia, United States, and it maintains regional offices in Brussels, Mexico City, and Hong Kong. IAAPA is online at www.IAAPA.org.
LEGO Travel Adventure Rolls Into Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
Indianapolis, IN, USA (March 5, 2012) /PRWEB/ — Just in time for spring break, The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is asking visitors “What Will You Build?” in the new exhibit LEGO® Travel Adventure. Opening March 10, the next exhibit in The Children’s Museum’s collaboration with LEGO Systems, Inc., LEGO Travel Adventure invites children and their families to use LEGO bricks to create their own imaginary dream machines capable of taking them to some fantastic destinations.
There are many different ways to travel where you need to go and in LEGO Travel Adventure, visitors are invited to create vehicles capable of flying, driving, and floating – or all three! To go on a travel adventure to exotic locations, children are asked to think creatively, plan, and build vehicles to move through all kinds of terrain – mountains, oceans, jungles, deserts, and more. Dioramas featuring Florida, Hawaii, Paris and San Francisco will help serve as inspiration for creating vehicles with wheels, wings, masts and more.
LEGO Travel Adventure features creations by LEGO Master Builders including recreations of the driving of the Golden Spike in the Transcontinental Railroad, the building of the first Model T, the Wright Brothers flight at Kitty Hawk, and a cruise liner. Children can also have their photo taken behind the wheel of a kid-size race car created entirely out of LEGO® DUPLO® bricks.
Also included in the exhibit is a diorama featuring the Travel Adventure Vehicle (T.A.V.), an approximately 6-inch hybrid LEGO brick vehicle created specifically for the new exhibit by LEGO Master Builder Steve Gerling. In keeping with the theme of the exhibit to create vehicles capable of taking children and families anywhere their imagination can go, the T.A.V. is equipped with all of the right vehicle parts to travel across land, under water, and in the air. The diorama includes several versions of the vehicle traveling across many terrains including over roads, up a mountain, under water and taking off for a ride through the sky! In addition to the diorama, a full-size version of the T.A.V. is also available for families to go on an adventure together inside.
Age-appropriate build tables featuring parts and pieces from popular LEGO® sets such as the LEGO® City, LEGO® Creator, LEGO® Friends, and LEGO® DUPLO® lines are available in the exhibit for children to create their own vehicles. Visitors are also invited to take photos of their exhibit creation to email to their friends or enter in the museum’s LEGO Travel Adventure Challenge to win a trip to LEGOLAND® Florida courtesy of AAA Insurance. Learn more about the LEGO Travel Adventure Challenge online at childrensmuseum.org/lego-contest.
During opening day for the exhibit, Master Builder Steve Gerling will be at The Children’s Museum to help museum visitors create a more than 9-foot space shuttle out of LEGO® bricks. The final creation will become a permanent part of the Travel Adventure exhibit and will tour with the exhibit when it leaves The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.
LEGO Travel Adventure is the second in a series of exhibits to be produced in conjunction with LEGO Systems, Inc. and will begin a five-year traveling exhibit schedule. The previous exhibit, LEGO® Castle Adventure debuted at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis in 2009 and is in the middle of its five-year traveling exhibit run which includes stops at museums and science centers throughout the United States. Additional LEGO® exhibits are planned for the future. Sponsorship opportunities for these exhibits are still available.
LEGO Travel Adventure was produced by The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis in cooperation with LEGO Systems, Inc. The debut of the exhibit in Indianapolis is presented by AAA Insurance and supported by Coca-Cola Refreshments and Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital at St.Vincent. LEGO and the LEGO logo are trademarks of the LEGO Group. © 2012 The LEGO Group. All rights reserved.
ABOUT LEGO SYSTEMS, INC.
The LEGO Group (http://www.LEGO.com) is a privately held, family-owned company, based in Billund, Denmark. Founded in 1932, it is today one of the world’s leading manufacturers of play materials for children. The company is committed to the development of children’s creative and imaginative abilities through its products, which can be purchased in more than 130 countries.
The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is a nonprofit institution committed to creating extraordinary family learning experiences across the arts, sciences and humanities that have the power to transform the lives of children and families. For more information about The Children’s Museum, visit http://www.childrensmuseum.org.
Noah’s Ark, "America’s Largest Water Park," Joins Palace Entertainment Roster
Newport Beach, CA, USA /PRWEB/ — Festival Fun Parks, LLC dba Palace Entertainment has announced that it has completed the acquisition of Noah’s Ark water park, located in the popular, family vacation spot of Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin.
See more IPM articles about waterparks at this link.
Noah’s Ark is said to be America’s largest water park with 70 acres, 51 water attractions, including 2 wave pools and 2 lazy rivers plus dozens of other various attractions. Located in the city of Wisconsin Dells, known as the “Water Park Capital of the World,” Noah’s Ark is the region’s most popular family attraction and has two hotels on the property featuring over 300 rooms. Noah’s Ark lays claim to having the greatest variety of water rides in the nation, including Black Anaconda, the nation’s most thrilling watercoaster. The Travel Channel hailed Noah’s Ark as “THE place for water in the Midwest,” and TripAdvisor.com named Wisconsin Dells the number one family vacation destination in the U.S.
Fernando Eiroa, Palace Entertainment’s President and CEO, comments, “We are very happy to be adding such an iconic water park to Palace’s array of family parks across the nation. We understand how important this park is within the Wisconsin Dells community, and we are dedicated to enhancing the Noah’s Ark brand. We look forward to meeting our new neighbors and community leaders and forging lasting relationships and partnerships.”
Tim Gantz, one of Noah’s Ark’s previous owners stated, “When we considered the sale of the park, we were excited that a company such as Palace, with so much experience in Water Parks, Theme Parks, Animal Parks and Family Entertainment Centers, would come to this area.”
“We look forward to the future success of Noah’s Ark, its employees, and see this as a positive move for the area as a whole,” added former co-owner Dan Gantz.
ABOUT PALACE ENTERTAINMENT
Palace Entertainment is one of the leading leisure park operators in the United States. With parks located in 11 states, Palace Entertainment continues its expansion of brands within the family entertainment sector. Palace Entertainment’s parks provide family oriented and affordable attractions to visitors of all ages, offering a wide range of attractions, such as roller coasters, Ferris wheels, live shows, variable depth pools, water slides, animal shows, miniature golf courses and arcade games. Palace Entertainment greets over 13 million visitors annually. www.palaceentertainment.com
Plans Announced For Five Public Spaces at National Museum of the US Army
Each of the public spaces – Army Theater, Education Pavilion, Medal of Honor Garden, Veterans’ Hall, and Wall of Honor – will provide visitors an interactive and engaging experience. These spaces will tell the story of the 30 million men and women who have worn the Army uniform, and forever preserve these Soldiers’ unwavering bravery and commitment to our nation since 1775.
Army Theater
Education Pavilion
Medal of Honor Garden
Veterans’ Hall
Wall of Honor (Colors of Courage)
These public spaces will allow visitors to become active participants in the retelling of the Army’s service.
ABOUT THE ARMY HISTORICAL FOUNDATION