Feds To Buy Tahoe's Famed Ponderosa Ranch
"The Ponderosa Ranch, a western theme amusement park inspired by the hit television show 'Bonanza,' would be sold to the government and turned into a regional park under a plan being considered by its owners. If a public buyout occurs, this summer could be the last season for the 548-acre park on Lake Tahoe's north shore, said David Geddes, its co-owner and president. But if the deal falls through, the prime land in Incline Village [Nevada] could be targeted for major commercial development, Geddes said." From KTVU.com.

Not Your Father's Dizzyland
"Oh, for the days of those dizzying, stomach-turning whirls in Disneyland's cherished teacups. The Mad Tea Party, Fantasyland's iconic attraction, has lost some of its spin in the name of safety, and longtime fans aren't happy...The teacups still rotate, but fans said the park has tightened the mechanism so it's impossible to produce the old stomach-churning spin. It takes near-herculean strength to make them rotate even slowly." From The LA Times (Link requires registration).

Joyland foreclosure: Former owners take legal action in bid to reassume control of park
"Claiming a debt owed to them in excess of $1.6 million, the former owners of Joyland Amusement Park [Wichita, KS] have filed a motion to foreclose on the property and take over its ownership." From MSNBC.

Companies liable in carnival ride crash
"Two companies that operated an inflatable slide will have to pay a Waterloo [Iowa] family $21,347.75 after the ride collapsed and injured a 7-year-old girl in 2002. District Court Judge Todd Geer ruled Mike and Connie Featherstone of Gold Star Amusements and Jim Waknitz of Midwest Rides were responsible for the girl's injuries. He also ordered them to pay punitive damages, because they disregarded the safety of others by staffing the ride with too few operators. John and Lori Netty took the companies to court after their daughter, Alyson, fell 25 feet to the pavement when a balloon slide shaped like the Titanic ocean liner tipped over during the September 2002 National Cattle Congress Fair." From the Waterloo/Cedar Falls Courier.

Six Flags launches wild safari education program
"Beginning in March, Six Flags Wild Safari [Jackson, NJ] will offer a new program, 'Journeys in Learning,' educating kindergarten through sixth-grade students about animal conservation, endangered species, defense mechanisms and more in a hands-on environment. The 'Journeys in Learning' program, available March through June and September through November, allows students to experience animal science outside the classroom." From Tri-Town News.

Quassy Adds Yo-Yo Swing Ride
MIDDLEBURY, CT - Quassy Amusement Park here will begin its 2004 season with the addition of the Yo-Yo super swing ride. The new ride will debut when the park opens April 24 for its 96th season... The Yo-Yo was built in Wichita, Kan., by Chance Rides." From Voices Online.

KHAO YAI RESORT: Theme park to open in Isaan
"An environmental holiday resort in Khao Yai [Thailand] will invest Bt130 million to build Adventure World, an activities-oriented park aimed at promoting the resort as an alternative destination for international tourists. The Greenery Resort will officially launch the project at the end of the year with 13 activities, but it will hold a soft launch around the middle of the year with six activities... Initial activities comprise ATV car-driving, paint ball, softball, bowling and two Wild West theme activities, one based on cowboys and the other on American Indians. " From The Nation.

Man Arrested For Illegally Selling Theme Park Tickets
"A man will appear in court Friday, after police say they busted him for cheating tourists. Detectives say the man would sell expired [Orlando] theme park tickets that were bought with a fraudulent credit card. Investigators think Gustavo Vargas didn't act alone when he allegedly scammed tourists and theme parks out of thousands of dollars. In fact, investigators say they expect to make more arrests in the coming days. Vargas was busted Thursday night at a sporting goods store located on International Drive." From WFTV-9.

Florida Hospital forms alliance with Walt Disney World
"Florida Hospital and Walt Disney World have formed a five-year alliance that allows the hospital to continue operating an urgent care facility on the resort's property. As a result of the agreement, Florida Hospital will continue to provide health care for Walt Disney World Resort guests at the Florida Hospital Centra Care facility on Apopka Vineland and at Florida Hospital Celebration Health. " From the Orlando Business Journal.

Carousel Turns to a New Home
"Owners of a Pennsylvania amusement park hope to regain its 1930s glory with the installment of a vintage carousel it purchased earlier this month. Twin Grove Park Campground, located northeast of Harrisburg, paid $40,000 for the 1955 Allen Herschell ride. " From Preservation Online.

Panel OKs Magic Springs beer, wine application
"The state Alcoholic Beverage Control voted Wednesday to allow Magic Springs amusement park in Hot Springs [Arkansas] to sell beer and wine, but the board chairman warned park officials the privilege could be revoked... The board voted unanimously to overturn last month's decision by commission director Robert Moore to not grant the park a permit because of resident opposition. " From the Baxter Bulletin.

Request To Deny SeaWorld Permit Rejected
"The California Coastal Commission Wednesday unanimously rejected a request to revoke the permit that allowed SeaWorld [San Diego] to build its nearly completed 'Journey to Atlantis' splash-down ride... The petition to revoke the permit was filed by the environmental group California Earth Corps. " From KFMB-TV.

ING has game plan for theme park
"ING Industrial Fund has emerged as the buyer of the former Wonderland Sydney theme park site in a joint venture with The PacLib Group for a total of $52.5 million, with $10 million paid at exchange and the balance payable on settlement in January 2005. The vendor, Sunway City Berhad, announced the closure of the 58ha amusement park in western Sydney on Monday because it was no longer commercially viable... Under the agreement, ING will remove all the rides from the park and relocate any resident wildlife during the next 12 months. ING Industrial Fund chief executive Paul Toussaint said the fund would seek to create an industrial business park on the site." From The Sydney Morning Herald.

Visionland plans new thrill
"Visionland [Bessemer, Alabama] visitors can expect one major new attraction at Splash Beach water park and a number of new places to shop and eat on Celebration Street when the new seasons open this spring. April 10 will be the opening of the Magic Adventure amusement park. Splash Beach water park will open May 15 when the weather is warmer. Southland Entertainment Group, which owns Visionland, is considering which of two new water attractions it wants to add before opening day at Splash Beach. The one not added this year is expected to be put into place for the 2005 season. " From The Birmingham News.

Woman rescues four children trapped aboard stalled roller coaster
"AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) - A woman rescued four children, including two of her own, who became trapped when an indoor roller coaster stalled at the Great Lakes Crossing mall, a witness said. Amy Schafer, 33, of Fenton, used a ladder to get the children off the Python Pit coaster. An adult also was on the ride at Jeepers!, an indoor amusement park at the mall." Frpm mlive.com.

The lights go out at Wonderland, where millions got their thrills
"Wonderland Sydney [Australia], the Eastern Creek amusement park that has attracted millions of thrill-seekers for 19 years, will close its gates for the final time in April. Management says September 11, the Bali bombings, the collapse of insurance giant HIH, the SARS virus, and now the Asian bird flu 'have simply taken their toll' on business. Stephen Galbraith, chief executive of the Leisure Theme Parks Sunway Group, also blames 'consistent losses' on the Asian financial crisis, the collapse of Ansett, the Iraq war and last year's bushfires. The Malaysian company Sunway Group, which has part-owned the theme park since 1997, blames Wonderland's demise on everything except poor management. Wonderland, home to the infamous Bush Beast rollercoaster and the stomach-churning Space Probe, will operate for the final time on April 26." From The Sydney Morning Herald.

Moscow Water Park Roof Collapses, at Least 15 Die
"At least 15 people were killed and 90 others injured when a glass roof collapsed at a popular water amusement park in Moscow, late Saturday. The roof fell onto scores of people swimming at an indoor waterpark complex that is popular with children and their families... Officials say they suspect the roof fell due to heavy snow that accumulated over the past few days." From DigitalJournal.com.

Amusement park opening this fall
"A new amusement park is under construction near Fort Myers Beach -- marketing the attraction to everyone from small children to adults. 'We're actually going to try to be all things to all people,' said Tim Miles, a partner in Family Fun Factory, who will be managing it when the park opens in October on 18 acres along Summerlin Road. The park will feature a 'soft play area' with a 55-foot slide, along with a climbing wall, go-cart tracks that run through the second floor of the main building, virtual reality games, a pond with bumper boats and a deli-style restaurant. " From The Fort Myers News-Press.

Six Flags Over Georgia to add 5 rides, other upgrades
"Six Flags will introduce five rides in 2004 that both kids and parents can enjoy, focusing on family fun after adding three major thrill rides during the past three seasons. "We're bringing a family emphasis back in 2004," said Melinda Ashcraft, vice president and general manager of Six Flags Over Georgia. The new rides will include Six Flags' 10th roller coaster. At 35 feet tall and 900 feet long, the Wile E. Coyote Canyon Blaster will be the park's smallest but will pack thrills for younger riders. Elsewhere in the park, a balloon ride, Up, Up & Away, takes riders into the air for a spin; a boat ride, Rockin' Tug, simulates the motion of a boat on the ocean. A highflying swing ride, Gotham City Crime Wave, and an indoor spinning ride, Shake, Rattle & Roll, round out the offerings. The park will also get a new high-energy music show, the return of parking-lot tram service, and new restaurants and shops, Ashcraft said. From The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Theme park job seekers hurt in S Africa
"At least 35 people have been injured during a stampede in South Africa involving people lining up to apply for jobs at an amusement park. Police and security guards struggled to control the crowd in the coastal city of Durban. More than 7,000 people gathered outside the International Convention Centre, seeking work. The crowd pushed forward, trapping dozens of people against a metal fence. Most of the victims were treated at the scene." From ABC Online - Australia.

MGM Debuts Stargate SG 3000 Simulator at German Theme Park
"Executives with MGM Studios and Space Center Bremen celebrated the theme park's grand opening and the debut of one of its star attractions, a simulator ride based on MGM's popular syndicated television series 'Stargate SG-1.' The Stargate SG 3000 ride has been thrilling Space Center Bremen visitors since the park's soft opening Dec. 19. Today, the ride officially launched during a VIP celebration that commemorated the world premiere of its simulation film, the first theme-park attraction based on MGM's hit Stargate franchise." PRNewswire-FirstCall press release on Yahoo! Finance.

Examiner hears plans for fun park
"Barry Fisher and Donald "D.J." Theile want to build an amusement park in south Fort Myers [Florida] so their children have a place to play and have birthday parties. Already fathers and friends, the pair teamed up as managers with the Belvedere Group of Easton, Pa., to buy 3.92-acres near Lakes Park on Gladiolus Drive. They plan to build a state-of-the-art amusement park called Fenway Family Fun Center complete with bumper boats, a merry-go-round, go-cart tracks and batting cages. " From the Fort Myers News-Press.

Seaport Village carousel headed for auction block
"The carousel is part of a family trust established by the late Morris Taubman, developer of Seaport Village. The Santa Monica branch of U.S. Bank is trustee of the trust, and bank officials decided to sell the carousel to pay taxes and provide a cash infusion to the trust... After construction of the Mangels-Looff carousel, the amusement ride briefly operated at Coney Island, N.Y., before being moved to Salisbury Beach, Mass. It remained on the East Coast until 1977, when Taubman bought the carousel and moved it to San Diego... The auction is scheduled at 1 p.m. April 17 at the Manchester Grand Hyatt." From SignOnSanDiego.com.

Disney worker crushed by float at Magic Kingdom
"A costumed worker was killed after being run over by a float during an afternoon parade at Walt Disney World on Wednesday. The death occurred in a backstage area of the Magic Kingdom, near the Splash Mountain ride, said Jim Solomons, a spokesman for the Orange County Sheriff's Office. The worker's identity was not announced by Disney officials. Disney spokeswoman Rena Callahan said the worker was toward the end of the parade and was about to enter the park when the worker was hit. Callahan said she wasn't sure if any visitors witnessed what happened." AP story in the Gainesville Sun.

Santa Cruz council approves Boardwalk ride
"Sending a clear signal that it wants to shed its 'anti-business' image, the Santa Cruz City Council has unanimously approved a new 125-high thrill ride at the historic Beach Boardwalk. The council's decision late Tuesday night to overturn the city planning commission's denial of the ride followed an often emotional public hearing in a packed council chamber at which local environmentalists were outnumbered and outclapped by supporters of the ride and local tourism... Aimed at making the Beach Boardwalk more attractive to thrill-seeking teenagers, the Double Shot will launch a dozen people at time nearly 100 feet into the air and drop them to Earth -- twice." From the Mercury News.

Walt Disney to Study Comcast Merger Offer
"In a stunning move, cable TV giant Comcast Corp. proposed Wednesday to buy Walt Disney Co. for stock valued at about $54 billion. The Disney board said it would study the offer, which would create the world's largest communications company. " AP story from CNN Business News.

Sandusky [Ohio] parking tax gets the ax
"The days are numbered for Sandusky's 8 percent parking tax. City commissioners voted 4-2 last night for legislation ending the parking tax enacted by the commission last April. Last night's vote means the tax will expire in 30 days, said ex-officio Mayor Mike Kresser. Since its passage, the tax, earmarked for repairs to roads and public infrastucture, has raised about $373,000. However, Cedar Point officials threatened to sue the city and claimed the tax discriminated against the park because it was the only business in Sandusky that regularly charges for parking." From the Lorain Morning Journal.

Coucil to consider new Boardwalk ride
"Eight years after public outcry derailed plans for a 180-foot 'Drop Zone' tower at the [Santa Cruz, CA] Beach Boardwalk, the City Council on Tuesday will consider a smaller version called the 'Double Shot.' The ride will replace the 16-seat Red Baron attraction at the west end of the amusement park. The 125-foot, 7-foot-wide tower will launch 12 strong-stomached passengers high into the air and send them plunging back to earth in a simulated free fall. The item is scheduled for a public hearing during the City Council's evening session, which begins at 7 p.m. " From The Santa Cruz Sentinel.

High-Tech Mummy Ride Aims to Combine the Fright Factor With Roller Coaster Thrills
"In the latest battle of the Florida theme parks, Universal Studios is completing construction of a technically advanced ride, Revenge of the Mummy, scheduled to open at its Universal Orlando park in May. Universal plans to discuss details of the ride, which is based on the films 'The Mummy' and 'The Mummy Returns,' at a news conference in New York today. In an interview Thursday, Scott Trowbridge, a vice president at the Universal Parks and Resorts unit, described Revenge of the Mummy as the first indoor ride to combine two normally separate theme park attractions. 'Traditionally, theme park attractions have had to make a choice: roller coaster thrill ride or an immersive dark ride,' Mr. Trowbridge said. 'We have been striving to find a way to put together the best of both worlds in one experience.'" From The New York Times. Link requires registration.

Dorney to get new ride
"Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom of South Whitehall Township will erect a new 'mid-sized thrill ride' this spring, its parent company said Friday. The name, description and the cost were not revealed Friday in a news conference held by Dick Kinzel, chairman of Cedar Fair L.P., based in Sandusky, Ohio. Among the $25 million improvements to 11 Cedar Fair properties around the country this year, he said, will be the 'thrill ride' at Dorney." From The Morning Call.

Three new restaurants will open at Cedar Point for the park's 2004 season
"Famous Dave's Bar-B-Que, Game Day Grille and Donut Time will offer their dishes to Cedar Point guests starting this summer." From The Morning Journal.

Mickey Mouse's Official Portrait Artist Dies
"John Hench, the official portrait artist of Mickey Mouse and regarded by some as second only to Walt Disney as a symbol of his company, died of heart failure today. He was 95. Hench, who worked with Disney for seven decades, died after a brief hospitalization at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank." From abc7.com.

Disneyland makes line passes harder to get, too many abuses
"ANAHEIM, Calif. - Disneyland has toughened eligibility requirements for front-of-the-line privileges to people claiming to have ailments or disabilities preventing them from standing in long lines. The freely issued 'special assistance passes' were too frequently abused. Disney is now asking a lot more questions before giving guests the special passes. The policy change, which officially takes effect in March but was partially implemented in December, was designed to stop bottlenecks at boarding areas. Special needs areas sometimes had 40 minute lines." AP Story from The Mercury News.

Labor baulks at ABC theme park bid
"Federal Opposition communications spokesman Lindsay Tanner has expressed concern about the ABC's mooted involvement in a theme park proposed for the Royal Melbourne [Australia] Showgrounds. He said yesterday he feared it could propel the national broadcaster into making programming decisions based on marketing considerations. 'It is vital the ABC does not base its broadcasting decisions on commercial factors, as is happening in the commercial media,' Mr Tanner said.It was revealed on Sunday that the ABC was involved in an agreement with a consortium headed by Queensland property developer Gordon McAlister for the $100 million theme park, which would be part of a proposed $300 million Showgrounds redevelopment. " From The Age.

County OKs amusement park meeting
Hoping to keep Western Playland Amusement Park from leaving Ascarate Park, County Commissioner Betti Flores -- Western Playland's former marketing director -- wants to open talks with owner Pat Thomson. Commissioners Court balked at letting Flores start negotiating on the county's behalf, but authorized her to set up a special public meeting with Thomson. 'It's going to be a great loss to El Paso County [Texas] ... and if it leaves, we're going to be in a world of hurt,' Flores said. 'That is our only family entertainment venue in El Paso.' In 2002, in the midst of a quarrel with the county, Thomson announced he would move Western Playland to property across from Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino. " From the El Paso Times.

Former park owner guilty of tax evasion
"The former owner of a historic amusement park and his wife have been convicted of tax evasion and conspiracy. Gary Harris, 63, of Conneaut, Ohio, and his wife, Tamara Schwenker Harris, 34, were convicted of tax evasion and conspiracy charges in federal court in Ohio on Tuesday. Gary Harris' former business partner, Michael Kotula, 49, of Euclid, Ohio, was also convicted. Harris had owned the Conneaut Lake Park in Crawford County, but is no longer involved after losing a lawsuit last year." AP Story from Penn Live.