SANDUSKY, OH – Maui Sands, which opened its door to Sandusky just last summer, has already shuttered operations.  The water park has laid off 100 workers and filed for bankruptcy.

This was sudden news not anticipated by the workers.

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Via Press Release: Ghost Town in the Sky received top industry marketing awards last week in Orlando at the annual IAAPA (International Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions) Convention and Trade Show.  Ghost Town competed against hundreds of theme parks, zoos, aquariums and family entertainment centers worldwide for the Brass Ring Awards that are judged by an International Marketing Executive Committee.     (more…)

OAHU, Hawaii  – Walt Disney Parks and Resorts broke ground for its first family destination resort in Hawaii today with a traditional Hawaiian blessing ceremony on its 21-acre oceanfront property, located at the Ko Olina Resort & Marina development on the western side of O‘ahu.  Scheduled to open in 2011, the new family friendly destination will overlook breathtaking crystal blue lagoons and white sand beaches and is planned to include 350 hotel rooms and 480 Disney Vacation Club timeshare villas.

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A Delaware judge today approved plans for Hard Rock Park to auction off the property and assets in part or in whole on December 15. 

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Via Press Release: Dorney Park is announcing a new state-of-the-art theatre and unprecedented live entertainment show for 2009. After two consecutive years of major capital investment in Wildwater Kingdom and the debut of the first suspended linear induction coaster in the Northeast last summer, the Allentown Park is focusing on children and families with the introduction of the Good Time Theatre. This new facility will host its first guests this upcoming 2009 summer for the premiere of “Snoopy Rocks on Ice,” an amazing show starring everyone’s favorite beagle, Snoopy! (more…)

DOSWELL, VA – Kings Dominion will debut two new family rides when the park opens for its 2009 season.  Americana, a giant 110-foot Ferris wheel, and El Dorado, a high-in-the-sky swinging pendulum ride will be added to Kings Dominion’s impressive lineup of family friendly attractions. Americana and El Dorado will be located in the amusement park’s Grove area, adjacent to the Rebel Yell and Hurler roller coasters.

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Kemah Boardwalk has recently taken its first steps towards recovery since Hurricane Ike severely battered the boardwalk in mid September.

Many of the restaurants have resumed operations earlier this month and just last week, Boardwalk Bullet was back up and running as well as the games attractions and retail stores.  Landry’s Restaurants Inc., owners of the Kemah Boardwalk, hope to have more rides and attractions up later this month.

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The Gravity Group announced Nov. 18 new single-bench, articulated trains for a smoother ride and lower maintenance.

The Timberliner trains are capable of magnetic braking and a launch. The trains are compatible with existing coasters, so parks can easily upgrade their rides.

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Via Press Release: Cedar Fair Entertainment Company (NYSE:  FUN), a publicly traded leader in regional amusement parks, water parks and vacation resorts, has announced plans for $62 million in new attractions, roller coasters and family rides in 2009. (more…)

Lo-Q plc, the leading supplier of virtual queuing systems to theme parks, announced today that Six Flags Inc, the world’s largest regional theme park company with twenty parks across the United States, Mexico and Canada plans to introduce Lo-Q’s solution to two further theme parks in its group. The first of these is Six Flags Magic Mountain, one of Los Angeles’ most popular family theme parks with 100 rides, which will be using the system from December. This will be joined by a further park in time for next season’s opening. 

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