Amusement Business closes its doors
"Dutch-based media company VNU has closed Amusement Business magazine. The 111-year-old publication published its final issue in May. VNU relaunched AB as a monthly in June 2004. A spokesman called the closing 'a business decision.'" From Amusement Business.

NOAA National Weather Service declares Walt Disney World Resort StormReady
"Officials from the NOAA National Weather Service have declared Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., as a StormReady community. As the first theme park and resort in the nation to achieve this recognition, Walt Disney World joins more than 1,050 StormReady communities throughout the United States... Walt Disney World Resort is one of 70 StormReady designations in Florida. In a special ceremony at the resort, officials were presented with a formal recognition letter and StormReady signs. The StormReady recognition will be in effect for three years as the resort conducts the renewal process." From NOAA News Online.

Compagnie des Alpes buys 5 parks in Europe
"French leisure group Compagnie des Alpes has reached a memorandum of understanding to acquire five properties from Star Parks, owner of the Walibi chain, from U.K.-based private equity fund Palamon Capital Partners, it was announced Tuesday. CDA, which also operates Parc Asterix in France and owns 14 leading ski areas in Europe, will get Walibi Belgium and Bellewaerde park in Belguim, Walibi Rh�ne-Alpes and Walibi Aquitaine in France and Walibi World in the Netherlands. Terms were not disclosed." From Amusement Business.

Six Flags Changes Ticker Symbol to 'SIX': Financial News
"Six Flags, Inc., the nation's largest regional theme park company, announced today that it has changed its ticker symbol to SIX. The Company, which has traded under the symbol PKS on the New York Stock Exchange, will continue to trade on the NYSE. The change will become effective at the start of trading on June 5, 2006." Press Release on Yahoo!

Australia's Village Roadshow, Warner to seek theme park opportunities in Asia
"Entertainment group Village Roadshow Ltd said it plans to explore theme park opportunities in Asia with Warner Bros Studio's unit, Asia Warner Bros, as part of a new deal which will see it buy out Warner Bros' interests in the two groups' jointly owned Australian theme parks for 254 mln aud. Village said the deal will see it move to 100 pct ownership of seven Australian theme parks as the joint venture is replaced by a new long-term license agreement with Warners Bros." From Forbes.com.

Report: Uni Studios Japan operator wants to go public
"USJ Co., the operator of the Universal Studios Japan theme park, aims to list on the Tokyo Stock Exchange's Mothers market for emerging companies this year, sources told the Kyodo News Service on Wednesday." From Amusement Business.

SeaWorld Orlando and Marriott Hotels & Resorts Announce Kids Free Packages
"Kids make an extra splash at participating Orlando Marriott brand hotels and resorts and SeaWorld Orlando this year as they stay free, play free and receive a free Adventure Pak. The new SeaWorld packages, good through the end of the year, allow children nine and under to receive complimentary admission to the world’s premier marine adventure park when booking a minimum two-night stay at a participating hotel." Restrictions apply, see the above link for package details. From SeaWorld.

Cedar Fair, L. P. to Aquire Paramount Parks
"Cedar Fair, L.P. (NYSE: FUN), a publicly traded partnership which owns and operates seven amusement parks and five water parks, today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement for the acquisition of the Paramount Parks. Cedar Fair, L.P. will acquire the stock of Paramount Parks, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation (NYSE: CBS) (NYSE: CBSA) for a cash purchase price of $1.24 billion. The five Paramount Parks consist of Canada's Wonderland near Toronto, Canada; King's Island near Cincinnati, Ohio; King's Dominion near Richmond, Virginia; Carowinds near Charlotte, North Carolina; and Great America located in Santa Clara, California." Press Releases from Cedar Fair, L.P..

18 Injured On Valleyfair's Wild Thing
"Eighteen people suffered minor injuries in an accident on the Wild Thing roller coaster at the Valleyfair amusement park Sunday, authorities and park officials said... The rear car on one of the roller coaster's ride trains separated from the others about 4:25 p.m. at a point where the trains slow down as they enter the ride station, Valleyfair spokesman Bill Von Bank said" From wcco.com.

Ride ordeal 60ft up caught on film
"For bosses at Yarmouth's Pleasure Beach [UK] it was the worst possible day for the new ride to break down - the day journalists from all over Norfolk had been invited to sample it. Anglia TV cameras were there to capture the shock and fear on the faces of passengers trapped upside down high in the air after the Evolution ride suddenly stopped spinning." From EDP24.

Kiddieland likely to close by 2010
"A family squabble may spell the end for a suburban Chicago amusement park that has entertained generations of families. Kiddieland in Melrose Park, Ill., which opened for its 78th season last month, is the last of what once were several Kiddielands across the country. An attorney for Ronald Rynes and Cathy Norini, who operate the theme park founded by their grandfather Arthur Fritz, says the park will likely close by the end of the decade because the pair's mother and brother, Shirley and Glenn Rynes, are trying to break the lease, the Chicago Sun-Times reported." From UPI.

Disney World Studies from ’60s among Theme Park Documents Now Online
"What was it about Central Florida that drew Walt Disney to the area in 1963? A new collection of documents at the University of Central Florida Library provides a few answers and sheds some light on the development of other theme parks across the country. Harrison 'Buzz' Price, an economic consultant who was instrumental in the logistical planning of Disneyland and Disney World donated more than 1,000 documents that include feasibility and economic impact studies of several major attractions to the University in 2003. About 150 of these documents are now available online at http://buzz.lib.ucf.edu to UCF students and the general public." From UCF.

Tatsu, The Newest Addition At Six Flags Magic Mountain
"Six Flag Magic Mountain [CA] is now the home of 'Tatsu' the tallest, fastest, longest flying coaster on Earth. It's goes 62mph and flips you upside down four times." From KABC.

New season, new thrills
"Lake Compounce is expecting a storm when the park opens for the season Saturday. Thunder n' Lightning, the newest ride at the nation's oldest amusement park, is making its debut this weekend, said Jerry Brick, general manager of the park. The 70-foot tall Thunder n' Lightning is a "screaming swing" with two giant swing arms and will be able to carry 32 passengers, according to Brick, swinging them at 125 degrees up to 60 to 65 mph." From The Bristol Press.

Houston Theme Park Site Sells for $77M
"In a market where high-rise condos and mixed-use developments continue to rise, Six Flags sold its 104-acre AstroWorld in Houston for $77 million to Houston-area Angel/McIver Interests L.P. The property, located along the 610 South Loop between Fannin and Kirby near Reliant Stadium and the Astrodome, has been cleared of all buildings, rides and structures in anticipation of the sale, with closing expected in early June." From CPN.

Six Flags' Spending Ride Provides Some Cushion
"Prudential Equity Research raised estimates for Six Flags after the company reported improving first-quarter per-capita spending, but maintained an 'underweight' rating on the stock." From Forbes.com.

New amusement park opens in Como Park
"The amusement park in St. Paul's Como Park [MN] will re-open this weekend after a change of ownership and extensive renovations, and already it is receiving enthusiastic reviews. Nearly $4 million in private investment was spent on the renovation, which now includes the Alladin Magic Carpet Ride, the Dragon Rollercoaster and the Sky Glider, which uses pedal power." From KSTP.

Amusement park won't open for season: Williams Grove near Dillsburg could still be saved. Speedway races will continue.
"The ducks will swim in silence this summer. The 1933 wooden roller coaster won't rattle riders down stomach-dropping inclines. The picnic pavilions will stand empty, mere echoes of gatherings long gone. Williams Grove Amusement Park in Monroe Township, Cumberland County, won't be open for business this season." From The York Daily Record.

Still uncertainty at Santa's Village
"Santa's Village [IL] laid off its staff last week and owes thousands in back water bills and amusement taxes, but the park remains on track to reopen this summer under new management, sources said. Village Trustee James Carlini said the new owners officially will close on the park and land on May 26. Carlini has been a liaison between the prospective owners and the village. The layoffs are temporary, he said, adding, 'it's not a big deal.' A group of investors, led by East Dundee businessman Steve Hopp, purchased the amusement park from the North Pole Corp. Earlier this spring, Hopp said the amusement park would remain open with a major difference -- the investors also would own the land. North Pole Corp. had a 50-year lease on the property. The lease that was set to end within the year." From The Courier News.

Voyage Launched In Indiana
Holiday World has launched their new wooden roller coaster, The Voyage, along with a new Thanksgiving Day themed land. Coverage of the coverage available at HoliBlog: A Walk In The Park (see link above).

Conneaut Lake Park given a reprieve; Amusement park plans Memorial Day opening
"One day after laying off its 30 full-time employees and preparing to close its doors, Conneaut Lake Park may be back in business.
The 114-year-old amusement park expects to obtain a loan today that will enable it to open for the season Memorial Day weekend." From The Post-Gazette.

Disney Offers 'Milder' Version Of Mission: Space
"In the wake of two recent deaths, Disney is unveiling a new, less intense version of its Mission: Space ride at Epcot. By the beginning of this summer, park officials will offer two versions of the ride -- the original ride and a new version for those who 'prefer a milder ride experience,' park officials said. On the gentler version, operators will turn off the spinning centrifuge." From WESH.

Conneaut Lake Park's staff laid off, park future in question
"A court-appointed custodian laid off employees of Conneaut Lake Park in Pennsylvania today saying that the park does not have the revenue to open." From Amusement Business.

Proposed "Wizard of Oz" Theme Park: Just Another Fairy Tale?
"Depending on who you believe, a proposed Wizard of Oz theme park will be the best thing to happen to Niagara County since the Falls, or will be just the latest in proposed theme parks for the area that never got off the drawing board." From WGRZ.

Focus on family boosts Six Flags
"A renewed focus on family-friendly fun is already bringing more people through the gates of Six Flags theme parks, Chief Executive Mark Shapiro said. Shapiro, who became CEO in December after a proxy battle, said attendance has improved at its parks as the company has invested more in customer service, entertainment and cleanliness." From The Star-Telegram.