SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Ready. Set. Race! Aquatica, Texas’ Best Waterpark, is excited to announce an all-new attraction that will thrill park-goers and satisfy their need for speed! Racing into 2022, the checkered flag will wave, and guests will speed down the park’s first-ever dueling pipeline water slide, Riptide Race.

Starting atop a 51-foot tower, riders will grab a two-person raft and take their mark with their partner and plunge towards a hopeful victory.  Riptide Race features dueling side-by-side flumes and low walls to ensure full view of the competition. Guests can challenge each other while navigating tight loops and turns, adrenaline-pumping drops, and exciting accelerations through indoor and outdoor sections. It’s a marathon to the finish through nearly 565 feet of splashing slides!

“The addition of Riptide Race will give thrill seeking guests another exciting reason to visit Aquatica,” said Byron Surrett, Park President of SeaWorld and Aquatica. “We’re committed to providing our guests with new experiences at our parks. Riptide race is the third new high-speed water ride in as many years and it gives guests one more heart-pounding ride to experience again and again.” 

Riptide Race, the first water ride of its kind in San Antonio, is an exhilarating attraction that pits teams against each other in a race to the ultimate splash at the finish line. Guests can challenge each other to see which team feels the rush of victory while speeding through each turn in a down-to-the-wire finish. With a height requirement of 42 inches, this fast-paced, high-speed adventure will be the perfect ride for families.

Riptide Race makes its San Antonio debut in March of 2022!

MELBOURNE, Fla. — Reaffirming its commitment to meet the growing market demand for affordably priced and easy to install gunfire detection coverage, Safe Zone Technologies today announced the launch of an investment crowdfunding campaign on the StartEngine platform at www.startengine.com/safe-zone-technologies. 

According to Safe Zone President Mike Anderson, the company plans to leverage the strength of the largest Reg CF and Reg A+ crowdfunding platform to raise $1 Million at a per-share price of $4.64. The funds will be utilized to expand production and marketing of its second-generation Safe Zone Gunfire Detection System, which now features a patented tri-mode data capture system and automated 9-1-1 data exchange.

Founded in 2016, Safe Zone has raised over $3 Million in multiple rounds led by St. Petersburg, Florida based Seedfunders, LLC.  Safe Zone has established a base of resellers that includes national distributors and more than 2,000 trained installers across the U.S.  

“Society’s need for a superior gunfire detection system that is affordable and easy to install for every type of venue grows stronger by the day, as the tragedies of the last few years demonstrate,” Anderson said today. “Safe Zone eliminates the barriers of cost and complication that have so far prevented gunfire detection from becoming a mainstream option for facilities of every type. Our goal is to grow from protecting 4000 lives daily now to protecting hundreds of millions of lives every day.”

At its current rate of growth, the market for gunfire detection is expected to become a $7 billion industry by 2026.  “No other solution currently available on the market matches Safe Zone’s accuracy, resolution, reliability and cost-efficiency,” he continued. “Safe Zone disrupts the industry, offering costs of up to 80% less than the traditional providers.” 

Safe Zone combines state-of-the-art detection hardware with leading edge machine learning capabilities to create the world’s most sophisticated and reliable gunfire detection system brought to market. The system’s small inconspicuous sensors are designed to be quickly and easily installed throughout any facility to provide 24/7 active site-wide monitoring. When gunfire occurs, Safe Zone alerts on-site security, building occupants and local authorities within seconds and provides detailed information that includes number of shots fired, type of firearm and a map tracking the shooter’s location and movement.

Key to the system’s performance accuracy is the patented tri-mode data capture system that features acoustic, spectral infrared and shock sensors that instantaneously collect data that is then analyzed by a cloud-based machine learning system.  

When gunfire is confirmed, Safe Zone immediately activates the always-on RapidSOS network to 9-1-1 Emergency Communications Centers (ECC), providing rich meta data with all the critical information to facilitate a rapid, effective response to end the threat sooner. Safe Zone is the only gunfire detection system utilizing this state-of-the-art network.

Push alert notifications are immediately sent to team member mobile devices with the free mobile app that can be downloaded from the Apple Store and the Google Play Store. In addition, SMS text messages are sent to an unlimited number of contacts in a user-managed list. What’s more, Safe Zone open API easily integrates with other systems such as door locks, alarm panels, cameras and emergency notification systems that can be programmed to respond in the event of an alert.

MOUNT LAUREL, N.J. — Site-work is underway on the Funplex’s newest addition, a much-anticipated hotel at its Mount Laurel, NJ amusement and water park. The La Quinta and Hawthorn Suites dual-branded hotel is slated to open in the spring of 2023 with a combined 125 guest rooms.

Partnering with Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, this unique, dual-brand hotel offers versatile lodging options for both business travelers as well as guests visiting The Funplex Mount Laurel. 57 of the rooms will feature the recently updated Hawthorn room design that includes modern, well-equipped kitchens for extended-stay guests. The hotel will also feature the newly refreshed room design from La Quinta’s Del Sol prototype in 68 rooms.

Introduced earlier this year, this new dual-brand hotel concept couples Wyndham’s upper-midscale brand, La Quinta, with its benchmark, extended-stay Hawthorn Suites brand and is designed to offer guest flexibility and streamline operational costs. It includes a shared lobby, a modern great room, fitness center, bar, and other amenities.

“Breaking ground on the new LaQuinta and Hawthorn Suites is the perfect start to our 25^th Anniversary Season,” said Funplex owner Randy Lahn. “We look forward to providing Funplex guests, local travelers and business guests the ability to stay at the park.”

Since purchasing the property in 1997, Lahn has significantly invested over the years growing The Funplex from a mini-golf course and batting cage to a full amusement and water park. Featuring indoor and outdoor rides, a water park, restaurant, arcade, bowling, laser tag, go karts, and more, The Funplex Mount Laurel offers year-round fun. With the addition of a hotel and a 50% increase to the size of the waterpark in 2021, there appears to be no slowing to the Funplex’s growth.

“Partnering with Wyndham Hotels and Resorts enables us to offer a new resort experience to our guests,” said Funplex CEO Brian Williams. “With indoor and outdoor rides plus a water park, there is definitely two days of fun here at The Funplex Mount Laurel.”

Along with the new hotel, The Funplex secured a liquor license which will enable it to serve alcohol at the park in addition to the hotel, enhancing its event and food and beverage offerings.

The hotel was designed by Silvestri Architects PC from Amherst, NY and will be contracted by TWT Engineering.

All-Year Membership Passes are now on sale for $199 giving guests access to all the Funplex has to offer all year round. Visit thefunplex.com for hours, passes, and advance ticket purchases. Check back to the website soon for hotel construction updates.

ISTANBUL — A new project has officially joined Polin Group’s Futura Form with Merlin’s Gardaland after executives from the companies signed an agreement to work together.

General Manager of Futura Form, Ali Cuneyt Sayin, Technical Units Manager of Futura Form, Erman Pakman and Business Development Manager Polin Group Italy & Futuraform Gardaland/Jumaji Project Manager, Gabriele Geraci, recently flew from Turkey to Italy to meet with Aldo Maria Vigevani, CEO of Gardaland SpA, and formalize the contract.

Gardaland has been steadily expanding in both size and attendance over the years. Now, in its most recent expansion, it will include Futura Form. The project joins some of the largest names in theme park entertainment.

Futura Form is a composite manufacturing company under Polin Group that was founded in in 2012. The company provides production, design, and project-management services in addition to developing and producing a wide range of custom composite products. The firm is recognized for the sizeable number of composite signage products that it has designed and produced, in addition to tactile-surface products and pop-up displays for various industries, such as entertainment, tourism, landscape, architectural, and industrial product manufacturing.

Polin Group is a global family of brands dedicated to providing industry-leading amusement products and services. As a single-source supplier, the firm differentiates itself by providing an extensive array of products and services, from wildlife and rides to full design and management packages.

Gardaland SpA is widely recognized for its amusement park, Gardaland Resort, which was ranked fifth in Forbes Magazine’s list of the top 10 amusement parks in the work in June 2005. The resort opened in 1975 and now includes Gardaland Park, Gardaland Sea-Life, and the Gardaland Hotel. The entire complex covers an area of 445,000 m2 (4,789,940 sq ft); the theme park sits on 200,000 m2 (2,152,782 sq ft). Since October 2006, the park has been owned by the British company Merlin Entertainments Ltd. Recently, Gardaland announced that it would open the world’s first “Jumanji”- themed ride in partnership with Sony Entertainment. Opening for the 2022 season, the family-friendly dark ride will take guests on a journey through the jungle, encountering a variety of pitfalls, surprises, and dangers. “Jumanji” the movie was originally released in theaters in 1995 and starred Robin Williams, eventually spawning two successful sequels that have proven popular worldwide. Gardaland’s CEO Vigevani described the licensing agreement with Sony was proof of the company’s winning path to partnering with global brands.. “Synonymous with adventure, fantasy, fun, action, play, and imagination, ‘Jumanji’ blends seamlessly with Gardaland’s founding values,” he said.

Ali Cuneyt Sayin, Futura Form’s General Manager, said that partnering with Gardaland and, subsequently, Merlin, underscores both Futura Form and Polin Group’s dedication to honesty, quality, constant innovation, differentiation, and dynamism.

“By joining with such prestigious companies as Gardaland and Merlin, we can offer advancements in technology and other offerings that will help push all of our businesses to higher standards,” Sayin added. “At Polin Group, we believe in the power of the amusement experience and the value it adds to communities around the world.”

Today is a day of mourning for the Sartori family for with great pain they’ve announced yesterday’s passing of Claudio Sartori, the visionary founder of the Sartori family’s business which, founded from scratch in 1957, was built with great tenacity and strength of mind!

“What he has created in these 60 years will never be forgotten; it will be the responsibility of all of us to carry on his work with revolutionary ideas that will be able to honor his name,” said Marco Savegnago of Sartori Rides. “We say thank you to a great entrepreneur, a man with great ideas and extraordinary dreams, who put a smile on the faces of thousands of kids and young people all around the world.”

WEST MIFFLIN, Pa. — As October hits the halfway point, kids will take charge of the third weekend of the fang-tastic smash hit Phantom Fall Fest Halloween event at Kennywood October 16 and 17.

After frights all night on Friday, families will want to visit Kennywood early on Saturday and Sunday to play all day for the all-new Kids Weekend. Children’s activities will go beyond the signature attractions at Pittsburgh’s Destination for Thrills and Entertainment, with even more to do during the early portion of Phantom Fall Fest.

“We’ve seen a great response from families excited to spend a fall day at Kennywood so far, and we expect Kids Weekend to be even better,” said Kennywood General Manager Mark Pauls. “From costume contests and scavenger hunts to live shows and favorite family rides, we’re looking forward to an exciting weekend at Kennywood.”

Kids Weekend highlights include a park-wide scavenger hunt from 12 – 4 p.m. each day, a costume contest daily at 3 p.m. for children ages 0 – 4, 5 – 9, and 10 – 12, trick-or-treating inside the Villa of the Vampire from 12 – 4 p.m., and multiple character meet and greets. In addition, Kennywood will hold several spooky competitions for kids at the park’s lagoon area – visit www.Kennywood.com/events for the full Kids Weekend schedule.

Meanwhile, Idlewild’s HALLOWBOO! is also scaring up more fun than ever this fall. With just three weekends remaining in 2021 for The Best Kids Park in the World, Idlewild is saying “thank you” to Season Passholders with bonus savings and special activities October 16 and 17. A special scavenger hunt will take place Saturday and Sunday, with Passholders successfully completing the challenge entered into a drawing for a family grill package. A HALLOWBOO! costume contest will also occur on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. with prizes. On both days, eligible Passholders may bring up to four friends for just $20 each and enjoy exclusive food discounts such as $1 soft pretzels and half-priced hot dogs.       

For the best deals on Phantom Fall Fest and HALLOWBOO!,head to the Kennywood and Idlewild websites. Or, pick up a Platinum Season Pass and gain unlimited access to both events, plus Kennywood’s Holiday Lights, for the rest of 2021 and the entire 2022 calendar year.

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — The grand opening for the World’s First Peppa Pig Theme Park has been announced for February 24, 2022. Day tickets, Annual Passes and Vacation Packages are now onsale for families with excited “little piggies” to start planning their preschooler’s unforgettable day of adventure.  The all-new park will feature six rides, six themed playscapes, a water play area and even more oinktastic experiences, just steps away from LEGOLAND Florida Resort.

NEW! PEPPA PIG THEME PARK TICKETS NOW ON SALE
Oink, oink, look out grownups!  Single and two-day tickets are now available on PeppaPigThemePark.com/Florida. Families can now purchase Single-day discounted tickets for only $30.99 by purchasing online. Single-day tickets will be $34.99 if purchased on the date of arrival. Admission to Peppa Pig Theme Park can also be bundled with admission to LEGOLAND Florida Theme Park as a Two-Park, Two-Day Ticket, starting at $134.99 when purchased online in advance. The full walk-up gate price, if purchased the day of visit will be $149.99. 

ANNUAL PASSES
A limited number of Peppa Pig Theme Park Annual Passes are available for $74.99 plus tax. This Annual Pass includes free parking and discounts on additional admission tickets for a year starting on Feb. 24. Inclusive Annual Passes that will also grant admission to LEGOLAND Theme Park, LEGOLAND Water Park and other regional Merlin Entertainments attractions will be available later this year. Learn more at PeppaPigThemePark.com/Florida.

VACATION PACKAGES
Families can now start creating their preschooler’s best vacation ever by booking their spring getaways to be among the first to step into and experience Peppa Pig’s playful world. Special offers, including an All-Inclusive and an early booking incentive that gives families a third night free when they book two nights, are now on sale for travel dates starting Feb. 24, 2022. Vacations packages include a stay at LEGOLAND Hotel, LEGOLAND Pirate Island Hotel or LEGOLAND Beach Retreat, all locations are located just steps away from Peppa Pig Theme Park and include Peppa Pig Theme Park, LEGOLAND Theme Park and LEGOLAND Water Park tickets, complimentary parking, complimentary breakfast and more. Every room features separate parent and kid sleeping areas—complete with bunk beds for the little ones—and loads of kid-friendly amenities including a separate entertainment center, bathroom with built-in potty training seat, handheld showerheads, and more. Families can learn more and book now at PeppaPigThemePark.com/Florida

Every corner of the charming new park is crafted with preschoolers in mind, from their first roller coaster rides with their parents and free fair games for the whole family, to an all-terrain course where they will pedal tricycles through a sensory-rich trail and a colorful splash pad that celebrates “muddy puddles” jumping fun! Through every experience, families will snort, giggle, and create their family’s first theme park memories together with Peppa and her friends.

Of course, we have even more brilliant surprises to share as we get closer to opening the ultimate theme park for little ones. Stay tuned for more details on the all-new shopping, dining, enhanced accessibility and other family-first experiences. 

Fans and parents of future “little piggies” can be among the first to hear our news as we continue to share all the fun details for the food, shopping and other fun surprises by signing up for the Peppa Pig Theme Park emails on PeppaPigThemePark.com/Florida. Also, for all the latest updates, don’t forget to follow us on our social media channels. Instagram & Facebook: @PeppaPigThemeParkFlorida and Twitter: @PeppaPigFlorida

Among the users of Google Maps in Europe, Europa-Park stands at the fore, alongside the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower in Paris. In a recently-published ranking by Google, Germany’s largest theme park ranked fourth among the most searched tourist destinations in Europe. The Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Sagrada Familia Basilica in Barcelona and the Louvre Museum in Paris came in first to third. The Colosseum in Rome ranked fifth, the Duomo in Milan ninth.

Europa-Park owner Roland Mack: “This ranking shows the impressive status that Europa-Park has as an independent tourist destination. Europa-Park, together with the Rulantica water world, is now one of the most popular short trip destinations in Europe. This kind of feedback from our visitors gives us a great boost, especially in the times of a pandemic.”

It was just this September that Europa-Park was awarded the coveted industry Oscar, the ‘Golden Ticket Award’, for the seventh time in a row for ‘Best Amusement Park Worldwide’. Germany’s largest theme park was once again able to defend its title against large amusement parks such as Walt Disney World and Universal Studios, as well as new parks in Asia.

With the arrival of October the established traditional autumn event, Gardaland Magic Halloween, came back.

Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of October and over the long weekend from 29 October to 1 November, the Park is transformed thanks to special shows and the presence of many unusual characters such as zombies and scarecrows, ready to surprise visitors among the attractions.

As usual, there is an abundance of themed decorations that amaze both young and old from the moment they arrive: from gigantic pumpkins to sheaves of hay, along with ghosts, crows and bats all the way round the Park pathways.

Following the success of the past few years, Venerdì da Paura (Fearful Fridays) are also back: on October 15, 22 and 29, the Park is open also from 5pm to 10pm, ready to welcome guests for chilling evenings… of fun.

With the show “Welcome to Friday Scary Night“, strange creatures such as scary clowns and zombie nurses, welcome guests to the beat of the “Scary Friday” soundtrack, getting them into the mood of the evenings when monsters of all kinds are ready to emerge from the darkness to surprise the unsuspecting visitors.

Gardaland Theatre hosts the new “Gotika“, a show set in the early 1800s in which a young woman is induced by a hypnotist into a state of sleepwalking that allows her to enter a dark world; the show sees a mix of choreographies, spectacular acrobatic sets and the illusionist Alberto Giorgi – an Italian artist recognized internationally – with incredible magical mirages.

On other days the show “Welcome, it’s Halloween”, featuring the beloved mascot Prezzemolo and dancers with new scarecrow costumes, welcomes visitors every morning with a new song dedicated to Halloween.

During the Gardaland Magic Halloween period, the most successful shows of the season also continue, such as “44 Gatti Rock Show”, “Gardaland Awards – Life is a Movie” and the meet & greet events with Peppa Pig and Prezzemolo.

These are joined by many new Halloween-themed shows: the Hacienda Miguel stages “El dia de los Muertos“, a show inspired by the traditional Mexican festival full of colour, music, dance and cheerfulness, complete with new costumes, new choreography and songs performed by the Gardaland singers. At the Teatro della Fantasia, younger children can enjoy Il Fantalibro, a new show featuring Prezzemolo and his friends: the story is set in the basement of the castle of Lomur, where Zenda is hiding and from where the protagonists must steal the precious Fantalibro; it offers new songs, moments of interaction with the children and, at the end of the show, the opportunity to take a souvenir photo. Among the itinerant shows, ready to surprise guests in the streets of the Park, is The devil’s marionettist, a themed puppet show, and The Magic Shock starring a talented performer of “street magic”.

But what would the Halloween party be without… treats? There is a wide range of themed culinary treats designed for young and old visitors: from Dark Unicorn ice cream – a Halloween version of the Park’s best-loved dessert – to an Infernal aperitif, with magical potions served in “bloody” glasses, along with toffee apples, cookies in the strangest shapes, and marshmallow pops.

During Gardaland Magic Halloween, the Park is open from 5pm to 10pm for Venerdì da Paura, and every Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 7pm. On 31 October, for Halloween night itself, there are special opening hours, from 10am to 10pm.

The fun of Gardaland Magic Halloween also continues in the rest of the Resort.

In Gardaland SEA LIFE Aquarium there are of course themed decorations, such as pumpkins and skeletons, for an original experience to discover the many sea creatures that live in the tanks. GARDALAND SEA LIFE Aquarium is open until the 8 November on Saturdays and Sundays only, from 2pm to 6pm.

Finally, it is also possible to experience the Halloween atmosphere at Gardaland Hotel and Gardaland Adventure Hotel thanks to a special offer for a discount of up to 20% on an overnight stay between 8 and 31 October (breakfast and room sanitisation included). The promotion, valid until 29 October, also includes one admission ticket to Gardaland Park and one admission ticket to the SEA LIFE Aquarium per person; in addition, if the stay starts on Friday and/or Saturday, the second day of admission to the Park is free.

Wherever something needs to be adjusted, you will often find locking joints at work with serrations that define specific angle positions. To ensure that the right locking joint is available for every application, JW Winco offers all components in a wide range of variations. 

Serrated locking plates, thrust springs and guide housings form the basis for the Winco locking joints, which can be assembled into entirely individual configurations. The core of these joints is always the locking plates with their precisely aligned serrations as well as their adjustment based on positive and nonpositive connections. Alongside the exact serration shape, the division of the teeth is also very important. Winco relies on typical tooth configurations, which allow important and specific adjustments in incremental steps of 6, 7.5, 10 and 15 degrees. But that isn’t the only way Winco differentiates itself from competitors: the fastening of the locking plates is also clearly oriented around the serration position. This combination lays the foundation for clearly defined adjustments.

Winco also stands out by using high-quality materials: in addition to hardened sintered steel, sintered stainless steel and precision cast stainless steel in AISI CF-8 (A2) quality, Winco has recently added GN 189, a 60-tooth locking plate of glass fiber-reinforced plastic, to its product range. Even more materials will be added soon. The locking plates offer very short disengaging paths and have zero backlash after retightening. They are also self-centering and produce exceptionally strong joints.

For heavy duty applications, try the stainless steel serrated locking plates GN 188 for welding, available in sizes up to 3.15 inches (80 millimeters) in diameter. Tensioning pins oriented around the serration simplify the pre-positioning and make special assembly jigs obsolete. The threaded bushings and centering strip can be easily added to the order using the form. 

The locking plates GN 187.5 of precision cast stainless steel are available with threaded stud connection, fastening flange or a plate for welding. Together with the locking joint sets GN 187.6, the stainless steel locking plates can be combined to create locking joints that can be locked with a hex key or even tool-free using an adjustable hand lever with or without eccentrical cam. Winco’s systematic approach to creating variations can be seen in the fact that the locking plates GN 187.5 are compatible with the locking plates GN 187.4. This allows even unusual joint assemblies to be realized. 

When combining two locking plates GN 187.4, the previously mentioned guide housings ensure that the positive connection is retained even when the joints are loosened, which protects the serrations from wearing. In other words, the guide housings are also important elements, which is why Winco is already working on new variations of these, including sealed models.

More information on Winco standard parts can be found on the internet at: www.jwwinco.com.