Six Flags Shares Up on Gates, Redskins
"Pressure from Microsoft chairman and shareholder Bill Gates over a sagging financial outlook and news that Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder has bought nearly 9 percent of Six Flags, Inc. drove the amusement park company's shares up more than 25 percent Tuesday." From Forbes.com.

Child rescued after getting caught under ride
"OCEAN CITY, N.J. -- Police and state officials are investigating after a child riding a Boardwalk roller coaster apparently got wedged beneath one of its cars. The Sea Serpent coaster was shut down immediately and firefighters used inflatable bags to lift the ride off the child at Playland after the accident, which happened around 9 p.m. Saturday... Police said the boy was thrown from his seat while riding. A witness told the newspaper that the child apparently tried to climb out of the front car as it approached a small hill." From Newsday.com.

Repairs Delay Theme Park's Opening
"Cypress Gardens Adventure Park [Winter Haven, FL] officials expect hurricane repairs will push the park's anticipated opening date back four to six weeks and into November. 'We are assessing we have probably between $4 million and $5 million damage,' said Alyson Gernert, public information manager. 'That's structural damage. We also have $500,000 damage to the botanical gardens.'" From The Lakeland Ledger.

Holiday World & Splashin' Safari Named World's Friendliest Amusement Park
"SANTA CLAUS, IN-----Holiday World's Will Koch received the 'Publisher's Pick' Award for Outstanding Customer Service at the annual Golden Ticket Awards ceremony. This top honor was announced today by Amusement Today publisher Gary Slade during a news conference at Ohio's Cedar Point Amusement Park. 'Under Will Koch's guidance, Holiday World & Splashin' Safari have totally gone where no park has gone before,' says Slade. 'With their Free Unlimited Soft Drinks program, plus free parking, free sunscreen and their new smoke-free policy, they offer their guests a unique, positive experience.' Amusement Today's annual 'Golden Ticket Awards' survey also named Holiday World & Splashin' Safari the #1 Friendliest Park for the seventh consecutive year and #1 Cleanest Park for the fifth year in a row, outranking such major parks as Disney World, Kings Island, Busch Gardens, and Cedar Point." From Inside INdiana Business.

Cedar Point, Again Voted 'Best Amusement Park in the World'
" Cedar Fair, L.P. (NYSE: FUN - News), a publicly traded partnership which owns and operates seven amusement parks and five water parks, has, for the seventh straight year, earned the title of 'Best Amusement Park In The World' for its flagship park, Cedar Point, according to an international survey. In addition, four Cedar Point roller coasters were ranked among the top 10 steel coasters in the world. The survey is conducted annually by Amusement Today, the popular Arlington, Texas-based publication that covers the international amusement park industry." Press release from PR Newswire via Yahoo!

PNE roller coaster rolling again
"VANCOUVER - One of Playland's biggest and oldest attractions is running again, after a mishap on Thursday that gave 15 riders a scare. One of the coaster's cars came to an abrupt stop as the ride was getting underway, and all 15 had to walk down the side of the track to safety." From CBC News.

Safety gear trapped man
"An amusement park worker who died after his chest and shoulder were crushed in a cable car ride may have been pulled into the machinery by his safety harness. The 55-year-old man, who has not been named, is believed to have suffered a heart attack after he became trapped in the 30-year-old Sky Ride at Pleasureland in Southport [UK] yesterday." From The Liverpool Echo.

Midway Park being put on the market for $4.2 million
"Midway Park's days as the 16th oldest continually operating amusement park in the country may be coming to an end. Owners Janis and Michael Walsh have hired real estate brokerage company CB Richard Ellis to market the 40-acre property in Chautauqua County [NY] for $4.2 million. However, the Walshes expect a sale to take a while and plan to operate the amusement park through the 2005 season - and perhaps longer." From The Buffalo News.

4 Hurt At Fun Plex: State Investigating Ride Collapse
"OMAHA, Neb. -- Four children were hurt in an accident at Fun Plex amusement park Tuesday. Around 11:30 a.m., police officers were called to Fun Plex at 70th and Q streets because a ride called the Spider had tipped and four children were injured." From TheOmahaChannel.com.

Q-C teen dies from injury at water park
"A Davenport teen died Friday at University Hospitals, Iowa City, after he was injured one week earlier in an accident at Wacky Waters Adventure Park, Davenport [Iowa]. Don Steffen of Dubuque, Iowa, the uncle of Hunter Vondran, 13, said his nephew was enjoying an afternoon with friends Aug. 13 at Wacky Waters when he fell from a rappelling wire into water below." From The QC Times.

Indoor water park set to open Nov. 5
"Cedar Point has announced its new Castaway Bay indoor water park will officially open Nov. 5. The $22 million, five-story water park is being added to the Radisson Harbour Inn on Cleveland Road and is about 70 percent complete, according to a construction update issued by Cedar Point... A crew of about 130 workers is building the 38,000-square-foot Castaway Bay, which will include 11 water slides, a 100,000-gallon wave pool, whirlpool spas and a children's area in a Caribbean-themed setting." From The Morning Journal.

Lancer to invest $4M for Como Park upgrade
"The St. Paul City Council voted Thursday to award Lancer Hospitality Inc. a multi-year contract to redevelop Como Park's amusement ride area. Eagan-based Lancer, which has provided food service to Como for 15 years, will invest $4.25 million on its own to upgrade rides, landscaping and areas surrounding the amusement area. " From The Business Journal.

Council taking up fun-park plan
"Crews would break ground next month on a $4 million makeover of the amusement park near Como Zoo under a proposed contract the St. Paul [MN] City Council will consider today. If the council OKs the deal, Eagan-based Lancer Management will install new rides, games and exhibits on a 3.5-acre tract outside the zoo's main gate. Lancer also would spruce up the grounds with new landscaping, pavement and restrooms. Council approval would end the city's relationship with O'Neil Amusement Co., a St. Paul company that operates 15 carnival-style rides and a food stand at the site. The O'Neil family founded the park in 1949 and has run it ever since." From The St. Paul Pioneer Press.

Amusement Park Riders Stuck
"Some scary moments for 20 passengers on a Six Flags Great Adventure roller coaster. They were stranded about 75 feet in the air for nearly an hour this afternoon after a storm knocked out power to the park in Ocean County. Eight riders were stuck in cars upside down, and another 12 were stuck in a sideways position when the outage cut power to the corkscrew coaster, known as Batman and Robin: The Chiller." From WPVI.com.

Cedar Fair, L.P. Announces Organizational Changes
"SANDUSKY, OHIO, August 18, 2004 -- Cedar Fair, L.P. (NYSE: FUN), a publicly traded partnership which owns and operates seven amusement parks and five water parks, announced today that it has named Peter J. Crage to the position of Vice President and Corporate Controller and promoted Brian C. Witherow to Corporate Treasurer as part of organizational changes within the Partnership’s finance division. Crage, 42, rejoins Cedar Fair from Delaware North Companies, Buffalo, New York, where he served as vice president of finance of their Parks and Resorts Division since 2002. Prior to that, Crage served as Cedar Fair’s Corporate Treasurer for more than two years." From Cedar Fair, L.P.

Cedar Fair, L.P. Announces Organizational Changes
"SANDUSKY, OHIO, August 18, 2004 -- Cedar Fair, L.P. (NYSE: FUN), a publicly traded partnership which owns and operates seven amusement parks and five water parks, announced today that it has named Peter J. Crage to the position of Vice President and Corporate Controller and promoted Brian C. Witherow to Corporate Treasurer as part of organizational changes within the Partnership’s finance division. Crage, 42, rejoins Cedar Fair from Delaware North Companies, Buffalo, New York, where he served as vice president of finance of their Parks and Resorts Division since 2002. Prior to that, Crage served as Cedar Fair’s Corporate Treasurer for more than two years." From Cedar Fair, L.P.

Police: Boy, 13, assaults Six Flags park employee dressed as Road Runner
"A 13-year-old boy has been banned from Six Flags Over Georgia for up to a year for assaulting a character actor dressed as the Road Runner, the famous Looney Toon bird that always manages to escape the traps of Wile E. Coyote. DeMarcos Wilkerson injured the Six Flags' employee at about 3 p.m. Sunday when he struck the bird from behind, said Jim Taylor, parks spokesman." From MDJonline.com.

Walt Disney World Announces Relief Efforts for Central Florida Families and Cast Members Impacted by Hurricane Charley
"To assist Central Florida families and Cast Members adversely impacted by Hurricane Charley the Walt Disney Company and Walt Disney World Resort today announced an array of relief initiatives. "Our Disney family always steps up in times of crisis to assist those in need" said Al Weiss, president of the Walt Disney World Resort. "We are joining with other caring corporate citizens to provide much-needed help and compassion in the community and within our own company" Press Release from PR Newswire.

Cedar Point VP put on state board
"Monty Jasper, vice president of maintenance and construction at Cedar Point, was appointed last week to the [Ohio] state advisory board on amusement-ride safety by Gov. Bob Taft. Jasper will serve his term through 2006 on the board, which studies ride safety and makes recommendations to the state's regulatory agency for amusement parks and rides. He lives in Sandusky with his wife and two children." From The Morning Journal.

Cable Problems Shut Down Roller Coaster, Again
"The fastest, tallest and the most popular roller coaster at Cedar Point was shut down again this weekend. The Top Thrill Dragster was closed for about 11 hours for repairs Saturday, NewsChannel5 reported. Officials said a launch cable detached from a car. No one was injured. " From NewsNet5.com.

Couple sues amusement park, alleging injuries in fall
"A Lackawanna County [PA] couple is seeking at least 100-thousand dollars from Knoebel's Grove Amusement Park for reimbursement of medical expenses and damages for a fall that occurred in the park last summer... Freeman Larnerd, a double amputee, claims he was leaving a handicapped restroom at the park when his wheelchair got caught in a gap on the concrete ramp. The chair tipped and Larnerd claims he sustained serious and permanent injuries when he broke a bone in his upper leg in the resulting fall." From WNEP.

As Charley approaches, Disney World closes
"Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla., has closed in anticipation of the arrival of Hurricane Charley, but its hotels remain open, a spokesman for the amusement complex said Friday. 'We closed all of the parks at 1 o'clock this afternoon,' said Disney's Miguel Piedra. 'But the resorts remain open to our guests.' Other theme parks in the area, Universal Studios Orlando and Sea World Orlando, also closed Friday." From Investor's Business Daily.

Councilman Wants Theme Park Idea Studied
"Ever since the Opryland theme park closed in 1997 the number of families visiting Nashville [TN] has dropped. Tourism officials said the decline has hurt revenue and cost the city hundreds of millions of dollars. A Metro councilman said he wants a study done on how to attract a new theme park and whether it would be a success. " From NewsChannel 5.

Next big thing at Kings Island: The Mini
"Paramount Kings Island plans to open a multimillion-dollar thrill ride based on the movie 'The Italian Job,' which Paramount Pictures released last year. The Italian Job: Stunt Track coaster is projected to open next year at the park in Kings Island, Ohio. Paramount describes the ride as a high-speed stunt car adventure that will take passengers through movie sets and scenes inspired by the film's climactic chase sequence." From Amusement Business.

Disney fined $6,300 for Pluto worker's death in parade
"ORLANDO, Fla. - Walt Disney Entertainment has been fined $6,300 by a federal agency for the death of a worker dressed as Pluto who was run over and killed by a float as it entered a Magic Kingdom parade, officials said Wednesday. The right foot of Javier Cruz, 38, became caught between the second and third sections of a three-part float as it was about to enter the parade route from a backstage area for the afternoon 'Share a Dream Come True' parade last February. His body got twisted around and he fell down." AP story from Tallahassee.com.

Rough Night For Guests At Two Disney World Locations
"First, a water main on the 12th floor of the Contemporary Resort broke. The water started to cascade from the 12th floor down to the 5th floor around 7pm Monday. Hundreds of guests had to be evacuated. They were given the option of staying somewhere else for free. In an unrelated matter, there was a power outage overnight at Fort Wilderness. Ten campsites were affected." From WFTV.

Joyland to stay closed for rest of season
"Joyland, a prominent childhood memory for many Wichitans, will be closed until next spring, its longtime owners said Monday. Stanley and Margaret Nelson, who last year sold Joyland to David Rohr after leasing it to him since 2000, have regained control of Wichita's [Kansas] only amusement park." From The Wichita Eagle.

High-tech houses of horror haunt theme parks
"Amusement park operators in Tokyo are turning to high-tech tricks to treat urban customers to spine-chilling relief from the summer heat. The Obake yashiki, or house of horrors, has long been one way that Japanese have tried to beat the heat. The idea is that being spooked out of one's wits brings a temporary chill-even a cold sweat. " From asahi.com.

Outage Strands Riders in Theme Park
"Visitors to Knott's Berry Farm got more than they bargained for when a power outage left them stranded on rides. Park employees escorted visitors off stuck rides when the power went out this afternoon. The power was restored to the theme park about 20-minutes later." From KABC.

Wannado City
"America's First Indoor Role-Playing Theme Park for Kids", is set to Open the Weekend of August 13, 2004 at Sawgrass Mills in South Florida. From Wannado City.

'Tigger' acquitted of fondling teenaged girl at Walt Disney World
"A Walt Disney World worker who portrayed the character Tigger was acquitted Wednesday of charges he fondled a 13-year-old girl while posing for a photo with the teen and her mother. Jurors found Michael Chartrand not guilty of misdemeanour battery and lewd and lascivious molestation, a felony, after deliberating for less than an hour. He had faced 15 years in prison if convicted. " From CNEWS.

Police Bust Major Fake Theme Park Ticket Scheme
"Orlando, Fla. -- Police busted a major fake ticket scheme, one that ripped off dozens of people who wanted to spend a day at local theme parks at a bargain price. The deals often seem too good to be true and police say that's exactly the case for some theme park passes sold at a discount. Visitors like Keith Gouldstone and family are prime targets for a quick money scheme in Central Florida. It involves reselling used multi-day passes, with a day or two left, at discounted prices. But, it's fraud. Some buyers know that it's against the law, but others are never told." From WFTV.

Universal theme park loses puppy left at kennel
The Universal Orlando theme park is in the doghouse after losing a puppy a guest had left at its kennel. Joe Wheat thought Connor, a 4-month-old white Labrador retriever, was in good hands during his visit on Saturday. And Connor was, until the moment the kennel handed him to someone else. 'We take care of more than 5,000 animals a year, and this is the first time we've ever faced a situation like this,' Universal spokesman Tom Schroder said Tuesday. 'We're very good at caring for people's animals.'" AP Story from The Miami Herald. Link requires registration.

Couple Win Noise Battle Against Theme Park
"A pottery firm boss and his wife expressed their relief today after winning a 25-year battle against a theme park to turn the volume down. Stephen and Suzanne Roper brought an unprecedented private prosecution against Alton Towers in Staffordshire whose land borders their property in the picturesque village of Farley. The pair said late-night displays coupled with a constant stream of excessive noise caused by the whirr of rides and screams from thrill-seekers enjoying them had made their lives a 'nightmare'... At a hearing at Stafford Crown Court today, District Judge Timothy Gascoigne found the attraction's London-based owners, Tussaud's Theme Parks Ltd, guilty of statutory noise nuisance under the 1990 Environmental Protection Act." From Scotsman.com.