Reopened zoo brings New Orleans a hint of normality
"Visitors streamed into New Orleans' Audubon Zoo as it opened on Friday for the first time since Hurricane Katrina, bringing a hint of normality to a city still shattered, shuttered and largely depopulated by the storm. By the zoo's scheduled 10 a.m. opening time, some 1,000 parents and children were lined up outside the gates of the 120-year-old facility, peering in at gaudy pink flamingos on view just inside. By noon, the lawns and paths were packed." From Reuters.

Six Flags prevails in high court in dispute over sales-tax refund
"Come next summer, swimmers will be cleared to float tax-free on inner tubes in the Six Flags wave pool. The Missouri Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld a refund to Six Flags Theme Parks Inc. for sales taxes paid on customer inner-tube rentals at its Eureka park during the summer of 2000. In a 5-2 decision written by Judge William Ray Price Jr., the court concluded that the inner tubes are rented and should be exempt from sales taxes under state law because the theme park already paid tax on their purchase." AP Story in the Kansas City Star.

Latest Ghost Town suitor eyes May 2006 opening
"The owner of the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad has teamed up with a venture capitalist and an amusement operator to strike a deal to buy Ghost Town and get it back in operation. Ghost Town, a mountaintop amusement park in Maggie Valley [NC] that once attracted hordes of visitors to Western North Carolina, has been closed for three years to the detriment of the tourism industry. During those three years, at least four candidates have expressed interest in the park and its 250 acres of prime real estate on a plateau above Maggie Valley." From The Smoky Mountain News.

Snyder says Six Flags shareholders back his plan
"Washington Redskins football team owner Dan Snyder said on Tuesday that Six Flags Inc. shareholders voted for his proposal to replace the amusement park company's management. Snyder's investment company Red Zone said it had won favorable votes in a consent solicitation from investors representing 57% of Six Flags' common stock." From Amusement Business.

First amusement ride to arrive at Wild West World
"Wild West World, the amusement park planned for Park City [KS], will get its first ride this week, park officials said today. The ride is a water log flume that will rise 50 feet in the air. The installation of the other rides will begin in the summer." From The Wichita Eagle.

2005 IAAPA Expo Trade Show Opens
And we're there. A report on what's new will be up later. Today at the show, meanwhile, The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) announced that Franz Mack and Antonio Zamperla are the 2005 IAAPA Hall of Fame inductees, and Rob Norris (of Seabreeze Park, Rochester, New York) was officially elected the IAAPA's 2006 Chairman.

Autopsies Show 2 Children Who Died At Disney Had Heart Conditions
"Two children who died in separate incidents this summer at Walt Disney World were both victims of irregular heartbeats linked to natural causes, the medical examiner's office said Tuesday. Daudi Bamuwamye, a 4-year-old who died in June after going on the rocketship ride "Mission: Space" at Epcot, had an abnormal thickening of his heart muscle caused by a condition present since birth, doctors said. Jerra Kirby, a 12-year-old girl from Newport News, Va., who suddenly collapsed at the Typhoon Lagoon water park in August, died from arrhythmia caused by an early-stage viral heart infection, officials determined." From Local6.com.

Reorganization for Disney parks and resorts
"Walt Disney Parks and Resorts has reorganized the structure of its global theme park management by creating an "executive committee" to oversee business segments regardless of where in the world they are operated. The restructuring includes the promotion of Al Weiss, formerly president of Walt Disney World, to president of worldwide operations. Weiss will continue in his role at Walt Disney World until a successor is named, the company said. Under the new structure, Disneyland president Matt Ouimet will report to Weiss; he previously reported to WDPR chairman Jay Rasulo." From Amusement Business.

A Florida original with fresh plans
"After a 42-year run on Panama City Beach, the Starliner roller coaster sits stacked in numbered pieces on a back lot here. Cypress Gardens Adventure Park [FL] owner Kent Buescher forked over $100,000 for the wooden coaster, spent $200,000 more to have it taken apart and is prepared to fork out $1.5-million more to have it rebuilt as his park's new lure in 2007." From The St. Petersburg Times.

Six Flags continues fight against Snyder
"On Friday, Six Flags Inc. sent another letter to shareholders urging them to reject Washington Redskins Owner Daniel Snyder's bid to take over the embattled theme-park operator. The letter, titled "What is Dan Snyder so afraid of and why is he trying to rush you into voting?" and signed by Chairman and CEO Kieran E. Burke, is the second correspondence sent to Six Flags shareholders. " From The San Antonio Business Journal.

Six Flags unveils 10 new rides
"With dancing Looney Tunes characters, the University of Texas at Arlington drumline and "10" balloons surrounding its entrance, Six Flags Over Texas unveiled 10 new family-oriented rides on Thursday. This is the largest expansion in the park’s 45-year history, general manager Steve Calloway said, adding that the rides will be installed in the spring. Six of the rides are brand new. Four come from other Six Flags parks, including two from the closed AstroWorld park in Houston." From The Star-Telegram.

Six Flags to field final takeover offers
"Amusement park operator Six Flags Inc. said on Tuesday it expects to receive final takeover offers from financial and strategic suitors by early December, with a final decision made by year-end. Six Flags said pared the list of potential buyers after receiving initial buyout offers earlier this month. So far, the bidders have submitted individual offers rather than forming bidding groups as seen in other buyout deals this year. Six Flags declined to name its bidders or discuss whether the auction included any international companies." From ABC News.

Silver Dollar City grows with 'Great Exposition'
"Silver Dollar City in Branson, Mo., is transforming an employee parking lot into "The Grand Exposition," an $8 million expansion that would resurrect a late 19th century American vibe. The two-acre addition would feature 10 new rides and harken back to expositions showcasing "technological wonders" of the late 1800s, such as the St. Louis World's Fair and P.T. Barnum's traveling expos, the Springfield (Mo.) News-Leader reports." From Amusement Business.

Wild River Country Owes Big Money in Back Taxes
"The water park Wild River Country was scheduled to be put up for sale Thursday. However, just hours before it was to happen, the company that owns it filed for bankruptcy. Park owner Halcyon Attractions, owes Pulaski County [Arkansas] a little more than $18,000…money the treasurer says could help save a job. With Pulaski County showing $7 million in the red, every little bit helps. Thursday the county was hoping to receive $18,000 in delinquent property taxes." From KATV.

Ride may be over for park: Officers recommend closing money-losing Libertyland
"Libertyland's [Memphis, TN] executive officers have recommended closing the amusement park that once thrilled Elvis Presley but in recent years has become a financial drain. The closing could become official today when the board of directors and certificate holders meet to vote." From The Commercial Appeal.

Water Park, Amusement Park Planned for South DeKalb County
"Plans are under way to build an indoor water park and an indoor amusement park in south DeKalb County near Lithonia [GA]. The plans for Fun World Palace and Resort also call for a performing arts center with 65-hundred seats, 400 hotel rooms, 500 apartments in two towers, 120 thousand square feet of office space and 110-thousand square feet of retail space. Developers need to finalize construction financing to build out the 31-acre site near the Mall of Stonecrest. Top Flight Development Group is in charge of the project..." From First Coast News.