Amusement Park News

  Jacksonville, FL - Sally Dark Rides, the leading creator of immersive, interactive dark rides around the world, has announced a new addition to its innovative lineup: the Mini™ Dark Ride for Zoos and Aquariums. Designed for venues with compact footprints and a growing demand for weatherproof indoor attractions, the Mini™ brings the magic of a traditional dark ride to spaces as small as 2,000-3,000 square feet-without sacrificing storytelling, interactivity, or excitement. “Zoos and aquariums are looking for ways to expand guest offerings year-round,” said Rolf Paegert, CEO Sally Dark Rides “The Mini™ provides a flexible, turnkey solution that delivers a complete dark ride experience with a smaller footprint, lower costs, and faster ROI.” A Complete Ride Experience in a Compact Package The Mini™ incorporates all the hallmarks of a full-scale Sally dark ride: immersive theming, engaging characters, interactive gaming, and cinematic ...   [read more]

  The ongoing government shutdown has arrived at a critical point in the year, a period that typically brings clarity and stability to the H-2B visa program for 2026. The Seasonal Employment Alliance has highlighted the shutdown’s impact on cap relief measures for the upcoming year, as well as its broader implications for ongoing advocacy efforts seeking a long-term, permanent solution to the program’s recurring challenges. Will this impact the release of supplemental visas? The short answer is yes. Our visa release advocacy campaign is hampered as a result of the shutdown. The Congressional letter to DHS, for instance, will not start circulating until the shutdown ends. Also, political appointees are working but only in a limited capacity. We have continued to engage them on the visa release but we do not believe DHS has made any progress on the release. Our estimate is that it will take, at minimum, a month between the government reopens and when the visas will be ...   [read more]

  ORLANDO, FLORIDA (Sept. 3, 2025) – IAAPA, the global association for the attractions industry, is proud to announce the five newest inductees into the prestigious IAAPA Hall of Fame. Established in 1990, the Hall of Fame recognizes visionaries and pioneers whose extraordinary contributions have shaped the growth and success of the global attractions industry. For more than three decades, this highest honor within the attractions community has celebrated industry legends from around the world whose leadership, creativity, and innovation continue to inspire generations.This year's Hall of Fame inductees are as follows: Keith James, a 50-year-veteran in the themed entertainment industry, who began his career early on with Taft Broadcasting and Kings Entertainment before joining Universal Studios Orlando in various production roles. James then went on to manage Jack Rouse Associates' (JRA, now RWS Global) design and production work for nearly three decades. His ...   [read more]