Update:

Cedar Fair is now claiming reports of talks with Destiny Capital to be false.

Dick Kinzel was quoted as saying, "We are not currently in discussions with that organization or any other party for the sale of the company."

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Carowinds and Kings Dominion have announced extended summer hours, starting July 29.

The parks will be open until 10 p.m. every night, July 29 – Aug. 19.  

Carowinds is also offering a Twilight Ticket for admission, similar to Cedar Point’s, for $24.95.

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Via Press Release: BLOOMINGTON, Minn. and NEW YORK, July 24 — Mall of America (R) and Nickelodeon are excited to announce Nickelodeon Universe as the new name for the nation’s largest indoor family theme park. Nickelodeon has also been working closely with Mall of America to create the new logo, which incorporates several of the most popular Nick characters. (more…)

On Friday afternoon, an acrobat participating in a SeaWorld San Diego show fell during a stunt and was hospitalized soon after. The accident occurred during a performance of Cirque De La Mer.

According to SeaWorld officials, the performer was on Chinese poles. The stunt, one had had done "hundreds of times", requires him to slide down the pole, controlling his speed with his legs, as he descends head first towards the ground. His accident involved him sliding head first into the ground, striking a padded deck. Audience members immediately dialed 911 after the accident, reportedly flooding the 911 call center.

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Via Press Release – A battle is brewing in Dollywood’s Timber Canyon area as work begins on River Battle, the theme park’s new water adventure ride set to open in 2008.

The $5 million River Battle is a themed water raft ride equipped with powerful soaker guns. Nine rafts, each with room for eight passengers, follow a 500-foot channel. As the rafts navigate the waters, the battle begins as passengers, each armed with a soaker gun, take aim at each other and more than 100 targets along the way, including large-scale “talking animals”—beavers, skunks, otters, bears and more. Some of the targets shoot back while others display a variety of special effects, creating surprises at every turn and ensuring that no two rides are ever exactly the same. River Battle also engages park guests along the ride’s banks. While rafters are soaking each other in raft-to-raft sparring, they also can “shoot” observers along the way in “raft-to-shore” fun. In the park’s ongoing effort to provide opportunities to bring families closer, River Battle is yet another ride addition that allows parents and children to ride together.

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Westchester County officials announced Wednesday that the Mind Scrambler ride at Playland will not be returning.

A worker was killed June 29 on the ride and there was also a death on the ride in 2004 that influenced the decision.

The county also announced plans to close four other rides after the 2007 season: Bumper Fun, the Flying Witch, Zombie Castle and Power Surge.  The ride removals though are not related to the deaths on the Mind Scrambler.

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Mark Blackwood, 18, died after suffering injuries due to an accident Sunday morning on the Rat roller coaster at Loudoun Castle Theme Park in Scotland.

Blackwood was believed to be at the park on his day off and offered to help fix the coaster, which had broken down.  After he tried to push a train that had become stuck, it suddenly started to move again.  He was dragged to the top of the ride, lost his grip and fell 80ft.

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Via Press Release:

Maggie Valley, NC – The world’s only roller coaster that is literally located on the side of a mountain, the Cliff Hanger, will open next season at Ghost Town in the Sky, Western North Carolina’s mountain top
theme park and family destination.

SAFETY IS GHOST TOWN’S FIRST PRIORITY

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Friday the 13th is usually regarded as an unlucky day that many people dread, but this Friday the 13th  it was actually a good day for the State of Florida!

Florida’s oldest surviving wooden coaster, Starliner, made its debut at Cypress Gardens Adventure Park, to long lines and to the delight of many coaster enthusiasts.

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