Sheikh plans German aerospace theme park
"A multi-millionaire sheikh from the Gulf emirate of Dubai is interested in investing in a possible aerospace theme park in the Black Forest region of Germany. Sheikh Abdulla Lahij el Basti has expressed interest in the EUR 40 million project, which would be located at the Baden Airpark airport-industrial park in Rheinmuenster, said airport manager Manfred Jung. " From Expatica.

Officials seek ways to ensure safe rides
"The fall of a 13-year-old from a Joyland Ferris wheel has sparked renewed calls for government regulation of Joyland and traveling carnivals that set up at festivals and county fairs across the state. Kansas is one of eight states that does not regulate amusement park or carnival rides, leaving that decision up to cities and counties. Regulations can vary, covering anything from inspections to upkeep to training of ride operators." From The Wichita Eagle.

Presenting: Cypress Gardens-Plus
"The old Cypress Gardens will still be there, but Kent Buescher's plans for the landmark Florida tourist attraction include much, much more. Buescher unveiled the plans for the new Cypress Gardens Adventure Park this week, and said they are so extensive that the revamped park won't be ready for opening until July or August at the earliest, and more likely not until October." Editorial in the Lakeland Ledger.

Theme park criticised over 'sickie website'
"The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) said it was unhappy that Alton Towers in central England, Britain's biggest theme park, had used the web address to promote a midweek discount offer, claiming it would spark absenteeism. 'Do you know a friend in need of a great day out - away from work? Simply e-mail this URL www.ihatework.co.uk to them and they too can get out of the office and have a great day out at Alton Towers,' the website says. " From ITV.

I-X Indoor Amusement Park Evacuated
"CLEVELAND -- Thrill seekers at the I-X Indoor Amusement Park got a real scare Saturday. Many were evacuated from the I-X Center after someone called in a bomb threat, NewsChannel5 reported. The Cleveland Police Department, the bomb squad and the Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Department searched the facility and came up with nothing. " From NewsNet5.com.

Woman released from hospital after fall from Dollywood train
"A woman has been released from UT Medical Center after she fell from the Dollywood steam train Wednesday. Dollywood didn't release the woman's name or age. But officials did say she's from out of state and was visiting the park with a family member. Dollywood spokesman Pete Owens said the woman fell from a moving train car halfway through its five mile loop around the park. Officials said Thursday the Dollywood investigation is complete. Investigators determined the woman fell from the train because she lost her balance after someone spilled a drink on her. They also determined the train had no mechanical failures and the park isn't at fault." From WATE 6.

Girl dies in 100ft rollercoaster fall
"Hydro is described as 'Europe's fastest and wettest water coaster' A 16-year-old girl from south Wales has died after falling 100ft from the top of a rollercoaster at a west Wales theme park. Hayley Williams from Pontypool was flown by air ambulance to Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest after the accident on the Hydro ride at Oakwood near the resort of Tenby in Pembrokeshire. 10-year-old Martin Rothwell from Swansea - who was on the same ride at the same time - was also taken to hospital by road but he was later discharged with minor head injuries. " From BBC News.

KABC-TV Gets It Wrong:Dollywood Amusement Park Accident
"A woman was airlifted from the park yesterday, after she fell from one of the rides. There is still now word on the extent of her injuries. The accident was the third to take place at the park in a month. Another woman also fell from a ride called the 'Hawk.' And, a man was hurt in a go-cart accident. " It's 4:36 pm DST and the above quoted is the entire story (complete with typo) currently posted at abc7.com and as delivered on the air -- hopefully it will shortly be corrected. I link to it not because it's accurate, but because, in its inaccuracy, it stands as a good example of the recklessness that sometimes happens in the media's eagerness to rush a juicy amusement ride accident story out. The basis of the story, a sensationalistic claim of three accidents at the same park in one month, is simply false. Neither the Hawk nor the go-kart accidents were at Dollywood -- they happened at other parks in the same area (Dollywood doesn't even have a go-kart track; the Hawk is located at Rockin Raceway in Pigeon Forge). The report also gives the viewer absolutely no details to go on regarding the accident it is supposedly about. Was it actually at Dollywood, or elsewhere in the area? What ride was it on? How did it happen? How bad were the injuries? And this for an accident that happened the day before. Did they bother to contact Dollywood or verify any of this with local authorities before they ran this story? Doesn't look like it. Shabby work, KABC-TV.

Panhandle amusement park to close after 41 years
"PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. - The Miracle Strip Amusement Park, a fixture for 41 years in this Florida Panhandle resort city, will close on Labor Day to make way for new development. Owner Billy Lark has sold the park and surrounding land to developers, general manager Buddy Wilkes said." From The Miami Herald.

Theme park using hand scanners to ID
"Hand scanning has taken the place of photo identification for season-pass holders at Busch Gardens and Water Country USA. The new system will allow pass holders to enter the park more quickly, prevent fraud and eliminate the need to wait in line to get photo IDs taken, said Doug Stagner, Busch Gardens' vice president of operations." From MSNBC.

Eyewitness says brakes failed in theme park bus crash
"An eyewitness has described to Calendar how he watched in horror as a bus hit crowds of people outside Fantasy Island theme park in Lincolnshire. Max Croft from Mansfield was on a day trip with his son on Sunday when he saw the accident which has claimed five lives.
Max says he is sure he heard the bus driver cry : 'Get out of the way, I've no brakes'. Officers from Lincolnshire Police are examining the bus and interviewing its driver to determine whether mechanical failure was to blame. " From yorkshiretv.com.

Visitors hurt in theme park crash
"A dozen people, including young children, were taken to hospital after a tour vehicle overturned and plunged into a river at a theme park. Police said the incident happened at 1245 BST on Tuesday at the Diggerland complex in Langley Park, near Durham. The all-terrain articulated vehicle was giving 18 passengers a tour of the site, when it slipped down a bank, landing on its side in a river. " From BBC News.

Attractions To Be Checked In Moscow's Amusement Parks
""An inquiry has been launched into another accident in Moscow's amusement industry. On Sunday night, the Ferris wheel fell down in the Lianozovo amusement park in the northwest of the city. According to the latest reports, 16 people were injured, ten of them are in hospital. Three victims are in a grave condition. According to preliminary conclusions, the accident was caused by a technical malfunction of the wheel's mechanism. " From Russian Information Agency Novosti.

Worker Killed At Magic Mountain
"An employee at Six Flags Magic Mountain was struck and killed by a roller coaster Friday, authorities said. The employee, who was not immediately identified, walked onto the Scream roller coaster's tracks in a restricted area shortly before the park opened, said park spokeswoman Sue Carpenter. The worker died at a hospital. 'We do not know why this employee was in this area,' Carpenter said. No one was on the ride at the time." From abc7.com.

Revenge of the Mummy Sweepstakes
"The Wraps Come Off May 21, 2004 in Orlando and June 25, 2004 in Hollywood. Enter to win a trip to be one of the first to ride 'Revenge of the Mummy - The Ride'. Two Grand Prize winners will receive a vacation package for two to the Universal Studios Theme Park of their choice of either Universal Orlando Resort in Florida or Universal Studios Hollywood in California..." From Universal.

State investigators order Disneyland to better train workers after riderless crash
"State investigators are ordering Disneyland [California] to further train workers after a minor crash of two unoccupied trains on the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Yesterday's action marks the second time in five months the state Department of Occupational Safety and Health has ordered Disneyland to retrain ride operators." From KESQ NewsChannel 3.

Overseers of troubled park believe worst days are behind them
"CONNEAUT LAKE, Pa. (AP) - A wooden barrier with a street sign reading 'Do Not Enter' keeps trespassers from the sherbert-colored rides standing still at this lakeside amusement park. There's no water in Connie Otter's Kiddie Cove, the wooden Blue Streak roller coaster is silent and the picnic areas are empty. But there are signs of life in a ranch-house-turned-office at Conneaut Lake Park, where a group of local officials and business owners are discussing the future of the 112-year-old attraction. After several bankruptcies and the conspiracy conviction of a former owner, the park is poised for a comeback, its court-appointed overseers say." From pennlive.com.

'Tigger' arrested on molestation charges: Costumed character at Disney World charged with fondling girl, mother
"Orange County Sheriff's Office investigators have arrested a Walt Disney World employee who worked as the character "Tigger" and charged him with molesting a 13-year-old girl and her mother while posing with them for pictures in February. Michael Chartrand, 36, was charged with one count of lewd and lascivious molestation of a child between 12 and 15 years old and one count of simple battery. He was booked into the Orange County Jail today on a $2,500 bond." From OrlandoSentinel.com.

Plans for Calverton, N.Y., Theme Park Fall Apart
"Building a theme park in Calverton turned out to be no fun at all. The demise this week of the proposed park on the former Grumman site is just one of a series of grandiose plans for the site that have fallen by the wayside. But the collapse of this project, first reported last June, was marked by a mysterious letter promising money that never came, and the town and developers have parted on bad terms." From The Miami Herald.

Legoland (California) Celebrates 5th Anniversary With New Attraction
"Legoland California is scheduled to open its 'Dino Island' attraction Thursday to commemorate the park's fifth birthday. The attraction features the 'Coastersaurus' roller coaster, which reaches speeds up to 20 miles per as it climbs, curves and dips around a 'prehistoric jungle' of animated and life-sized dinosaurs made from hundreds of thousands of Lego bricks, Legoland executives said. " From KFMB-TV.