Happy 102nd Patent-versary to Deno’s Wonder Wheel, Brooklyn, N.Y.! Filed in January, Charles Hermann’s patent for his invention, which he said combined the thrills of a Ferris wheel with a gravity railway or roller coaster, was approved on September 28, 1920. An earlier design for what would one day become the Wonder Wheel was patented in 1915, writes Coney Island History Project director Charles Denson in his book Coney Island’s Wonder Wheel Park.

Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park is open Saturdays, Sundays, and school holidays in September and October.

For 49 seasons, Knott’s Scary Farm has been providing haunting experiences and unimaginable scares to millions of guests. To make the event even more accessible to Scary Farm fans who are 17 years old or younger, Knott’s Scary Farm will implement the following change to our chaperone policy, effective September 29, 2022 – one guest, 21 and older, may now chaperone up to 5 guests under the age of 18. 

In addition to this chaperone policy change, also effective September 29, 2022, any chaperone who accompanies 5 minors, all with valid paid admission for that evening’s event, will be given one complimentary admission to use for that night only. Limit one complimentary chaperone ticket per 5 minors.

To qualify for complimentary admission, each chaperone must accompany a total of 5 guests under the age of 18. The chaperone must present a valid photo ID with date of birth, and all minors must have a valid admission ticket for that evening’s event. The chaperone’s complimentary ticket will be issued at the Main Entrance turnstiles.

The complimentary admission ticket is offered only for those chaperones accompanying a total of five minors with paid admission. Chaperones of parties less than five minors do not qualify for complimentary admission and would need a paid ticket for admission.  

All Guests under the age of 18 are required to have a chaperone 21 years of age or older with proper ID.  Chaperones must accompany their party during entry, remain inside the park during the length of their visit, and be available by phone throughout their stay. Guests ages 17 years old or younger who are found inside the park and unable to contact their chaperone by phone will be subject to ejection.

Effective September 29, 2022, and for all Knott’s Scary Farm event nights at Knott’s Berry Farm – 8039 Beach Blvd, Buena Park, CA 90620.

Due to the explicit and frightening nature of the event, it is not recommended for children under 13. For more information on Knott’s Scary Farm, including admission, park hours, and events, visit knottsscaryfarm.com or download the Knott’s Berry Farm app for your smartphone. Join the scary conversation by using #ScaryFarm on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.

WEST MIFFLIN, Pa. — For 124 years, it has been Kennywood’s mission to provide the finest in family fun and entertainment. As we continue collaborating with law enforcement on their investigation and get ready to open on Friday, we want to share about new and ongoing security enhancements that will be in place that evening and during future visits: 

• Increased Police Support: In addition to our security team, we are doubling the number of police officers contracted through local law enforcement agencies for each night of Phantom Fall Fest. There will be a more visible police presence at the entrance and throughout the park. Kennywood leadership will be more clearly visible in uniform red jackets, as well.
• Perimeter Enhancements: Park teams have cut down trees along the fence line bordering Route 837 to improve sight lines. New flood lights and security cameras are being installed for better monitoring, and ongoing security patrols in that area will increase significantly.
• Chaperone Policy Updates: Guests age 17 and under must be accompanied by an adult at least 21 years of age (with valid ID) to enter the park at all times during Phantom Fall Fest. 
• Park Entrance Policies: With the weapons detection system working as designed since its installation this spring, the park’s prior screening system has been removed to eliminate guest confusion. New signage is being installed to inform guests they are entering a security screening area. Though the new system is able to screen bags and individuals via cameras and metal detection to identify those in need of further inspection, we will implement additional spot checking of bags as a precautionary measure. 
  • New Bag Policy: Only bags within the dimensions of 8” x 5” x 1”, as well as medical and diaper bags, are permitted.
• Facial Coverings: Masks that cover some or all of a person’s face are not permitted to be worn by any guest after 6 p.m. The only exceptions are surgical masks or N95/KN95 masks as recommended as a precaution against COVID-19. If masks of this nature are worn, they must be free from additional coverings including but not limited to fake blood, makeup or coloring.

The Kennywood team keeps those injured Saturday in our thoughts. As we prepare to open this weekend, please know we are fully committed to enhancing our operations to allow guests to enjoy a safe, fun experience. We will continue consulting with law enforcement on additional safety measures to implement. We thank the Allegheny County and West Mifflin Police Departments, our Team Members, and our Guests for the continued support.

BERGEN COUNTY, N.J. — Imagine being completely immersed in more than 300 of the greatest works of post-Impressionist artist Vincent Van Gogh. Now imagine experiencing all of this art liberated from its two-dimensional limitations into a three-dimensional experience that exhilarates every sense and brings to life one of the most influential artists the world has known. It’s all part of Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience, which has sold over 4 million tickets globally, making it one of the most popular current traveling exhibitions. The sensory extravaganza will open in East Rutherford at American Dream on December 1. 

While journeying through Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience, guests witness more than 300 iconic masterpieces, including such instantly recognizable classics as “The Starry Night,” “Sunflowers,” and “Café Terrace at Night,” as well as many revealing self-portraits. Prices start at $39.99 for adults and $23.99 for children (ages 5-15), plus ticketing fees. Tickets, which will sell out quickly, will be on-sale to the general public beginning Thursday, September 29 at www.vangogheastrutherford.com.

“This distinctive and unique multimedia artistic adventure is deeply resonating with audiences. Encompassing a refreshing new twist unlike art lovers have seen before, Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience gives a new appreciation of this tortured artist’s stunning work. Unsurprisingly millions of people all over the world credit Van Gogh with enhancing their relationship with art. Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience will only strengthen that connection,” says Justin Paquin, producer, Paquin Entertainment Group.

The Education Room leads into the unique Waterfall Room which flows into the Immersive Experience Room. Freed from their frames, Van Gogh’s spectacular paintings appear on projection-swathed walls inviting guests to fully immerse themselves into the incredible detail of his work and be enveloped in his ever-shifting, swirling and colorful flowers, cafes and stunning landscapes. And, hearing the artist’s own dreams, thoughts and words set to a symphonic score drives an unmatched narrative experience.

Cinematic Van Gogh exhibitions have crossed the ocean from European cities to North America in recent years and met with great critical acclaim, with sold-out audiences in every market.

SAN ANTONIO, Texas — SeaWorld San Antonio today announced the construction of a NEW water flume coaster, Catapult Falls, coming in 2023. The first-of-its-kind ride combines the thrill of a launched roller coaster, the excitement of a vertical lift elevator that lifts riders above the theme park, and a water flume ride with the steepest drop, to produce multiple rushes of adrenaline as well as moments of exciting splashes to cool guests down.

“Catapult Falls will be the perfect addition to our already fantastic line up of family rides,” said Byron Surrett, SeaWorld San Antonio President. “Not only will it provide thrills for those wanting the exhilaration of a coaster-type ride, but being a water ride, it will give guests one more way to cool down in the hot Texas temperatures.  It will be the perfect family adventure ride.”

World’s First Launched Flume Coaster and Steepest Drop in a Flume Attraction
Guests will experience the world’s first launched flume coaster! Eleven boats, each with eight riders, will catapult through the launch at speeds of 30 feet per second, allowing riders to feel the rush of a coaster while experiencing the rocking and swaying of riding on a track of water.  Once at the peak of the ride, guests will experience the world’s steepest drop in a flume attraction! Angled at a staggering 53 degrees, the chute plummets riders into a watery splashdown at over 37 miles per hour. The duration of this one-of-a-kind attraction is in excess of five minutes, making for a wonderful family adventure.

North America’s Only Vertical Lift Flume Coaster
After winding through a series of twists and turns, Catapult Falls uses a state-of-the-art elevator, the only one on the continent in an attraction of this kind, to lift guests up seven feet per second to reach a height of over 55 feet. The breathtaking views don’t last long as the ride prepares guests for the ultimate plunge!

Catapult Falls makes its debut in 2023 joining an impressive collection of thrill rides including the Great White, a floorless inverted coaster; the Steel Eel, a hyper-coaster that takes guest through a series of gravity defying camelbacks; Texas Stingray, the tallest and fastest wooden roller coaster in Texas; Wave Breaker: the Rescue Coaster, where guests board jet ski-like cars and join SeaWorld’s Rescue Team to help an animal in need; and Tidal Surge, the world’s tallest and fastest ride of its kind.

Best Way to Play
Be among the very first to brave the all-new adventure on Catapult Falls – Pass Members will have the unique perk of being among the first to ride this exciting new attraction, plus experience unlimited thrills time and time again with a SeaWorld Season Pass or Annual Pass.  For a limited time, guests who purchase a Season Pass will get unlimited admission for all of 2023, the rest of 2022 for free, and a free Aquatica 2023 Season Pass all for as low as $94.99! This incredible deal also includes free parking and discounts on in-park offerings. For even more unbeatable benefits, guests can upgrade to a SeaWorld Annual Pass for as low as $6.99/month. With an Annual Pass, guests will enjoy 12 months of visits with special benefits like free parking, free guest tickets, access to special VIP events, savings on merchandise and more!

Theme park enthusiasts can take advantage of these unbeatable offers that allow for fun at the biggest and best theme park in Texas.  Admission to popular events like Howl-O-Scream, Christmas Celebration, and the Seven Seas Food Festival are included when guests purchase an Annual or Season Pass!  These amazing deals on Annual and Season Passes can be purchased now at SeaWorldSanAntonio.com. 

DUBAI, U.A.E. — Transforming the business of fun since 2001, Embed, the ultimate cashless solutions provider for the amusement, entertainment, and leisure industries wowed customers and prospects with breakthrough innovations at the IAAPA Expo Europe show in London, United Kingdom from September 13 to 15.

Transitioning from Coins to Cashless, One FEC at a Time
As per market research, the European FEC equipment market size is expected to reach US$ 755.03 million by the end of 2025. In step with the growing family entertainment center market in the UK, the Embed Mavericks showcased the products that comprise the ultimate cashless system: the award-winning Mobile Wallet, kiosks, card readers, game cards, and RFID wearable media – which were exhibited in the famous Bling Trunk.

“It was an exciting time seeing the family entertainment center sector in Europe growing at such a fast rate, readily embracing cashless solutions like our tech of transformation that propels FECs to the future. We have front-row seats experiencing this at tradeshows like IAAPA Expo, and it’s evident that there is now a massive comeback in the industry based on this year’s attendance,” says Renee Welsh, CEO at Embed.

Back-to-back Media Coverage
Embed and its official distribution partner, Bandai Namco, had an interview with InterGame about their long-standing relationship in the industry and in EMEA. Veltmeijer Group, one of the biggest FEC players in the region, also talked about adopting Embed’s Mobile Wallet solution in an in-depth discussion

Meaningful Meetings
Customers, who are Embed partners and friends, like Funstation, Bandai Namco – Church Farm, Planet Arcade Germany, and Adventure Island graced the Embed booth to catch up, talk about the latest breakthrough innovations, and discuss how to make the best out of their existing system.

What’s Next?
Embed will champion its latest tech of transformation at the upcoming IAAPA Expo Orlando on November 15 to 18. Trade show goers can expect the launch of a new roster of industry-firsts designed to propel businesses to become an FEC of the Future.

GREENVALE, New York — Industry leader Apple Industries, manufacturer of faceplace photo booths, introduced the new outdoor version of its blockbuster faceplace Marvel Adventure Lab at the recent IAAPA Expo Europe in London.

The faceplace Marvel Adventure Lab Outdoor Edition has a smaller footprint to suit a variety of outdoor locations such as theme parks, zoos and family entertainment complexes. It offers all the great features of the original faceplace Marvel Adventure Lab, which is considered to be the most innovative photo-vending product on the market. Customers can take photos of themselves and insert them into a customized comic book, posing and joining the action with their favorite Marvel characters including Spiderman, Thor, Black Panther, The Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy and more!

“Our new outdoor Marvel Adventure Lab opens up fantastic new real estate, where the operator will enjoy a new source of income driven by the global popularity of the Marvel brand and characters,” says company president Scott Avery. “The Marvel Adventure Lab and our other photo booths drew a huge turnout at our show booth. We garnered great interest and a record number of quality leads from operators throughout Europe and the Middle East.”

Operators who missed the London show can experience the Marvel Adventure Lab Outdoor Edition at the IAAPA Expo in Orlando, Florida in November 2022.

The hauntingly talented Jim Sisti will star as the infamous Dr. Heller at the Creepy Carousel Theatre stage during Terror At Quassy. The doctor will in at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. when terror strikes again starting Oct. 7 at Quassy Amusement Park in Middlebury, Conn.!  Sisti, Quassy’s resident magician from Beacon Falls, Conn., has conjured up some exciting new tricks for the show during Quassy’s Halloween haunted event. Other stage and midway entertainment will be included in Terror At Quassy, slated 7 to 11 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 7-30. Buy tickets now at www.quassy.com.

PLAINVIEW, Texas – The National Roller Coaster Museum & Archives (NRCMA) is thrilled to receive the Canobie Lake Corkscrew into its permanent collection thanks to a donation by the park. The ride’s iconic loop is included in the donation and will have a featured location as the icon for the museum building in the future.

The Corkscrew started its life at Old Chicago theme park as the Chicago Loop. It was Arrow Development’s number two and the second coaster built to turn riders upside down twice. The ride was also featured in the 1978 Brian DePalma movie The Fury staring Kirk Douglas, John Cassavetes and Carrie Snodgrass. 

“This is an incredible opportunity to have an important piece of roller coaster history represented at the museum,” NRCMA Historian Richard Munch said.  “As one of the first four models manufactured at Arrow’s Utah plant in 1975, it went to Illinois, then was moved to Alabama and later to New Hampshire. This last piece will have its final home at the museum and is expected to be a major calling card for the facility on State Highway 194, just northwest of Plainview.”

Canobie Lake Park purchased the coaster in 1985 and then opened the ride in 1987 after being granted a height waver. 

“The effort to bring this section of the ride to Texas can’t be overlooked. It required five flat beds to move the cars, track and supports, which came with a hefty bill for shipping the equipment 2000 miles from Salem, New Hampshire to the Texas Panhandle. Beside the generosity of Canobie Lake’s ownership, I am thrilled that our board made this possible, especially with the work of Gary Slade and Hunter Novotny, and financial support of Jeff Novotny. It’s going to be a great billboard to those visiting for the first time, as well as the locals who will finally discover the purpose of this growing facility in Plainview.” 

While construction continues at the museum’s main facility in Plainview, Texas, the NRCMA is still reliant solely on the generosity of industry fans and facilities. You can purchase unique souvenirs at rollercoastermuseum.org/store with the proceeds going to the museum or donations can be made online at rollercoastermuseum.org. Donations can also be made by mail to NRCMA at P.O. Box 5424, Arlington, Texas 76005.