Palace Entertainment's International Parent May Sell
Palace Entertainment's International Parent May Sell
A sea-change in ownership may just be coming to Palace Entertainment. Coming on the heels of the $8 billion dollar Cedar Fair and Six Flags theme park merger, Spanish theme and amusement park operator Parques Reunidos is undertaking a strategic review of its own properties. Parques Reunidos is one of the leading global amusement operators, with more than 50 different water parks, theme parks, and other entertainment and educational venues across Europe, North America, the Middle East, and Australia. The review is being handled through EQT, the private equity firm behind the Spanish theme park operator. EQT brought in JP Morgan to conduct the review which could potentially result in the merger or outright sale of EQT's assets in the U.S., now held by Pennsylvania-located Palace Entertainment.Palace Entertainment properties could be valued ... [read more]
Rafters Rage from Whitewater Coming to Soaky Mountain Waterpark in 2025
Rafters Rage from Whitewater Coming to Soaky Mountain Waterpark in 2025
Soaky Mountain Waterpark, located in Sevierville, Tenn. is getting wetter than ever for the 2025 season. The park is currently in the process of building Rafter's Rage, an exciting new water slide from manufacturer WhiteWater. The ride is both tall and fast. Guests will board a six-seater raft that launches from approximately eight stories high and can hit a top speed of 19 miles per hour. The 825-foot-long slide is something special for the park, another adventurous first for the water park. Park general manager Dave Andrews says he believes that Rafter's Rage should be a big hit for the park. He describes the new ride as unique among water slides, which typically feature steep drops and high banked turns. “Rafter's Rage will be different than most water slides with high banking turns and steep drops because instead it will ... [read more]
Amusement Park Buzz
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ProSlide Breaks New Ground in Water Ride Design with HIVE
HIVE Debuts with World-First Installations at Zoombezi Bay and Chimelong Water Park
November 19, 2024 – Orlando, Florida – ProSlide, a global leader in water ride innovation, is proud to introduce HIVE™—the world's first immersive helix water ride feature. In 2025, the ProSlide HIVE™ will debut at Zoombezi Bay in the United States, Chimelong Water Park in China, and with Radamis in Egypt, capturing guests in ways only world-class attractions can.Behind the HIVE™ lies a mission to craft a world-first water ride experience that pushes beyond conventional expectations. Inspired by the authentic design of the FlyingSAUCER and dynamic energy of a Formula 1 track, ProSlide's design transforms every ride into a fast-paced adventure.The ProSlide HIVE ™ is available in two configurations – 2-person tubing (HIVE™ 20) and 5-person raft (HIVE™ 35). This revolutionary feature introduces panoramic sightlines in a seamless, high-speed, high-G helix. The experience is as much about visual storytelling as it is about speed, ... [read more]
Day 2 of the IAAPA Trade Show and convention was another well-attended event with people from all over the world attending the festivities at the Orange County Convention Center. There were lots of new rides and attractions revealed, a purchase of a long time player in the amusement industry and plenty of learning, trading stories and talk about the future.Attendees from all parts of the industry could be found around the trade show floor and many manufacturers and suppliers reported still strong demand for new equipment and expansion.
Fun Spot America
In park news, Fun Spot America Theme Parks will be adding five new rides across their three parks, just in time for the Holidays.The three Fun Spot parks, located in Orlando, Kissimmee, and Atlanta, will be getting five new attractions which will bring a mix of fresh thrills and family-friendly experiences for guests of all ages.“We're always looking for ways to keep our parks fresh and exciting for our ... [read more]
Orlando, FL – Morgan's, the umbrella organization overseeing Morgan's Wonderland and four Ultra-Accessible™ entities, today announced the launch of Morgan's Inclusion Institute at the IAAPA (International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions) Expo 2024. This groundbreaking endeavor builds upon the legacy of Morgan's founders Gordon and Maggie Hartman, who were inducted into the IAAPA Hall of Fame in 2023 for their visionary work in creating inclusive experiences."With the launch of Morgan's Inclusion Institute, we're extending our mission beyond our Ultra-Accessible™ entities to inspire and equip others to foster inclusivity," said visionary Gordon Hartman. "With Morgan's Wonderland turning 15 in 2025, the valuable insights gained over the years equips us to help spark cultural change by setting a new standard of excellence in accessibility and inclusion."“Morgan's Inclusion Institute is designed to share valuable insights and best practices with ... [read more]
Amusement Park News Links
Carnival Industry News Links
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PEPPA PIG Theme Park Dallas-Fort Worth Announces its Status as a Certified Autism Center™ (TX)
12/10/2024 -
Experience the Lights at Winter Gleam, Located at Oaks Amusement Park (OR)
12/10/2024 -
Developer buys two 'Batman' rides for proposed hotel at Wonderland Pier site in Ocean City (NJ)
12/6/2024 -
Family of Tyre Sampson, Teen Who Died After Falling from Drop Tower Amusement Ride, Awarded $310 Million (FL)
12/6/2024 -
New nighttime parade, Disney Villains show, more debuting at Disney World in 2025 (FL)
12/4/2024 -
Orlando theme park holiday events: Disney, Universal and Seaworld (FL)
12/4/2024 -
Circuit of the Americas to spend $105M on new COTALand amusement park (TX)
12/4/2024 -
Competing plan emerges for former Wonderland Pier site (NJ)
12/2/2024 -
Six Flags announces it will invest $1 billion in its amusement parks, including Great America in Gurnee (IL)
12/2/2024 -
Busch Gardens to pay family $5 million for child’s ‘lifelong injuries,’ lawyers say (FL)
11/29/2024 -
Lagoon's Primordial wins award as park announces 3 new rides (UT)
11/29/2024 -
Arizona Man Climbs Out of Moving Roller Coaster, Claims ‘I Had Mere Seconds to Act’ After Safety Bar Unlatched (AZ)
11/29/2024
2023 Top 50 Carnivals & Fairs
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- Houston Livestock Show - Houston, TX
- State Fair of Texas - Dallas, Tx
- Minnesota State Fair - St. Paul, MN
- Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) - Toronto, ON
- San Antonio Livestock Show & Ex. - San Antonio, TX
Upcoming Industry Events
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2025 IISF Trade Show
February 11th - 14th
Riverview, FL -
2025 OABA Top Golf Fundraiser
February 13rd - 13rd
Tampa, FL -
2025 OABA Annual Meeting
February 14th - 14th
Tampa, FL