Author Archives: amusementtoday
January 13 marked the kick off of the AIMS 40th Safety Seminar, this year held at the Doubletree at SeaWorld in Orlando. With over 300 attendees from around the globe, this year is one of the best attended in recent years. Sponsors of this year’s event include Kumbak, The Amusement Engineers and 18 other industry […]
The International Amusement and Leisure Defense Association re-elected its officers for 2013 at its annual meeting at IAAPA this past November. IALDA is a non-profit association whose mission is to serve and defend the amusement and leisure industry. It consists not only of attorneys but other persons involved in managing risks for members of the amusement and […]
Rossville, Ga. — Lake Winnepesaukah officials broke ground January 9, on SoakYa, a 5-acre water entertainment complex scheduled to open during the Summer 2013 season. The waterpark is the first major expansion of the 88-year-old amusement park since the 1960s, when the park doubled in size and added two signature attractions: the antique wooden Carrousel […]
DALLAS, Texas – There were no fireworks blasting. There was no orchestra playing. There was no horn blaring. But, there was a celebration, more of a quiet celebration as a crew with ILC Construction Inc., a division of International Leisure Consulting Inc., up over 400 feet off the ground, positioned and set the needle atop […]
Saco, Maine — Funtown Splashtown USA announced the passing of Mr. Kenneth D. Cormier, the founder and president of Funtown Splashtown USA in Saco, Maine. Mr. Cormier was at Florida Hospital in Celebration, Florida, suffering from a brief illness. He was surrounded by family. A formal obituary and memorial service arrangements will be announced soon. […]
Darien Lake, N.Y. — Darien Lake Amusement Park has settled a lawsuit brought about by the family of Sergeant James Hackemer who fell out of the park’s Ride of Steel roller coaster on July 8, 2011. Hackemer, an Iraqi war veteran, lost both of his legs in a roadside bombing in 2008. He was not […]
Santa Claus, Indiana — The Board of Directors for Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari has named Matt Eckert the park’s new president and CEO. “Matt was hand-picked by my late husband, Will, to be in a leadership role at the park; I know he would be pleased with our choice,” says park vice president Lori […]
ASTM F24, the committee on amusement rides and attractions which produces global safety standards for the amusement industry, will be holding three days of meetings from February 14th through February 16th, 2013 at the Hyatt French Quarter in New Orleans, Louisiana. Approximately fifty separate meetings will be held, each one focusing on a specific safety […]
Buena Park, CA – One of the oldest log flume rides in the country will be the beneficiary of a multi-million dollar refurbishment and restoration project that will begin this January. The classic attraction opened at Knott’s Berry Farm in 1969. It was the 13th log flume ride built by Arrow Development. The $3.5 million […]
Carl Hughes, former president and chairman of Kennywood Park, passed away Dec. 29 of heart failure in his Pennsylvania home. He was 91. Born in Johnstown, Pa., Carl graduated from Geneva College and began his career in 1943 as a sports writer for The Pittsburgh Press. In addition, he would help a friend working publicity […]
