Steel City hosts 2024 Golden Ticket Awards

Kennywood welcomes amusement industry with tradition, charm

WEST MIFFLIN, Penn. — Whenever a visitor has an opportunity to visit an old-fashioned amusement park, there’s something special that happens. Kennywood dates back to 1899, and there are enough markers and plaques spread throughout this traditional park that a sense of history is immediate.

However, make no mistake, Kennywood offers some huge rides, which is made apparent as guests walk toward the front gate near the towering first drop of Phantom’s Revenge. Perhaps it is that harmonious balance between the classic and modern that has made the park such a beloved part of the greater Pittsburgh area. No matter one’s age, a first ride on Thunderbolt was most likely a rite of passage at some point in life. With rides like Turtle, Auto Race and Old Mill, there is no mistaking that things from the past can be every bit as fun as newer rides today.

Attendees at the Golden Ticket Awards were welcomed on September 7 to the Networking Event of the Year.

“Being a part of the whole process to set up this great event has been so exciting,” said General Manager Ricky Spicuzza, prior to the arrival of hundreds of professionals from the amusement industry. “But what I am looking forward to the most is being able to welcome so many industry peers to Kennywood! The anticipation of seeing familiar faces and meeting new colleagues, all while sharing the vibrant energy of the park, is truly amazing! It’s a rare opportunity to connect, collaborate and celebrate our shared passion in such a lively and iconic setting.”

The event first began with an opening reception at Sandcastle Waterpark in nearby Homestead, Pennsylvania. Food, drink and entertainment from RWS Global made it a night of connection, which is what the industry event is all about.

“I look forward to this weekend each year when we can all just take a moment to relax,” said Amusement Today Publisher Gary Slade. “Friendships and relationships are made stronger from the opportunity to simply talk and discuss the industry issues — and successes — we see together as a whole.”

While at the park, many enjoyed behind-the-scenes tours that brought the park’s history to life.

“There is so much to experience here,” said Tim Baldwin, Golden Ticket Awards Communications Coordinator. “You can enjoy something so vintage like an old Whip or walk through Noah’s Ark and at the same time see the newer offerings like Spinvasion from Zamperla. No visit is truly complete until you hop aboard the Kangaroo, which was recently restored and preserved by Premier Rides. And, of course, the coasters are truly classic.”

Kennywood boasts three wooden coasters, all of historical significance. Each of them has been designated as an ACE Roller Coaster Landmark by American Coaster Enthusiasts, the most such distinctions found in any park.

Operated by Palace Entertainment, Kennywood has undergone an award-winning refresh in past years, making the park vibrant and welcoming.

Spicuzza said, “I hope everyone remembers the rich history of Kennywood and its deep connection to the city of Pittsburgh. It’s not just a theme park; it’s a cherished landmark that has provided joy for so many generations. I also hope our industry friends noticed the incredible, talented and passionate team that tirelessly works to maintain Kennywood’s unique and classic charm. Their dedication is what makes every visit special and unforgettable.”

During the ceremony, Golden Ticket Awards were presented to winners in 25 categories, including three Publisher’s Picks. AIMS Safety Awards were also given, as well as recognition of industry Legends. Full coverage of the weekend event will appear in the November I issue of Amusement Today.

All stories this issue

by Tim Baldwin

unless otherwise noted

Spirit and respect

AMUSEMENT VOICE: Tim Baldwin, Golden Ticket Awards Communications Coordinator

Every time the Golden Ticket Awards fall in an Olympic year, particularly with the recent summer Olympics, I can’t help but find parallels between the two.

It is so easy to get all geared up for the tight races that inevitably materialize. I’m always astonished by how many medals are determined by fractions of a second. It’s shocking.

Likewise, certain categories in the Golden Ticket Awards are determined by just mere votes. Each individual ballot really does count. Our panel is never the same year after year, so there are never guarantees, never assumptions.

My heart breaks for those athletes who train and train and miss out on the gold by a tenth of a second, even though the race itself was tense and incredibly exciting. At the same time, my spirit is renewed when I see groups of athletes — who are literally competitors — come up to each other and offer hugs and continual encouragement, whether they have won or lost.

I find this kinship in the amusement industry as well. A common link among us is the desire for the industry to be strong, to be healthy. There certainly is that competition for the customer’s dollar, but overall, we want everyone to do well.

The attraction industry has a common goal: to make people smile. It would be heartbreaking for those smiles to go away by the loss of a park or facility that was considered to be in the same region. Theme parks, water parks, and family entertainment centers all provide a vital energy and quality of life to each of the communities in which they operate.

As the Golden Ticket Awards celebrate the “gold,” just like so many Olympians, just making it to the charts is an amazing accomplishment to be celebrated, and to those who miss being a finalist by the thinnest of margins, there are people still cheering you on, appreciating what you do.

A team spirit is one of respect.

Enjoying a legacy

AT NOTEBOOK: John W.C. Robinson, jrobinson@amusementtoday.com

The other evening, I got to see Joe Satriani play guitar alongside Sammy Hagar live in concert. Being a lifelong rocker, Satriani was a name I have long known but have never seen play. In person, we often found ourselves slack-jawed at just how awe-inspiring his guitar licks were to witness before our very eyes. However, the concert was setup as a psuedo-tribute to another legendary guitarist... Eddie Van Halen. Eddie's passing saddened the music world a few years ago, and I realized during this recent concert that while I had seen Eddie Van Halen in concert (as a teenager) ... I had no respect for the greatness I had witnessed then.

How many people saw Babe Ruth play baseball and just thought they were seeing a good/great baseball player, but not realizing they were witnessing the hallmark that all great baseball players would forever be held to or judged against? Two hundred years ago, the paintings of Vincent Van Gogh were all but ignored in the art community ... only to have his work become some of the most inspirational and influential in all of Western art.

We all too often ignore — or just do not see — the legacies, the legends, right in front of us. We fail to embrace the greatness we've been given a chance to enjoy.

For our beloved amusement industry, the Golden Ticket Awards have become a way to make note of the "Best of the Best" and spread the word so that others can enjoy them alongside us. The historical treasure that is Knoebels' Grand Carousel is shown respect rather than treated as just another merry-go-round. The wicked twists of Mystic Timbers are enjoyed with adoration while physically neighboring The (legendary) Beast. Parks like Dollywood and Europa-Park are spotlighted as greatness while in their prime, encouraging more and more guests to give their turnstiles a spin.

And the Golden Ticket "Legend" Awards are our way of noting a legacy that has truly left — or is leaving — its mark on the business of fun. They are our way of saying "thank you" while we often still have an opportunity to watch them continue to make their mark and pave the way for tomorrow's "Best of the Best!"

Holiday Legends: Universal Studios Florida, Dollywood shine bright

The concept of the Memorial Day-to-Labor Day season for the amusement industry has long vanished. What were once “shoulder” seasons have become the busiest times of the year for many parks.

Observing this trend, Amusement Today introduced Best Halloween Event into the Golden Ticket Awards in 2005 and Best Christmas Event in 2008.

Universal Studios Florida was the winner in the second year of Best Halloween Event and of all the years for this category has taken the Golden Ticket 15 times. Soon, the theme park developed the reputation of being the benchmark when it came to putting on a Halloween event.

In 1991, a simple three-day event was all it was. The following year, the park branded it Halloween Horror Nights and ran it for five nights. Fast forward to the new millennium and the park is now starting the festival on August 30, with the scares going into November 3 for a total of 48 select dates — a huge leap from that three-night original event.

“Universal Destinations & Experiences is thrilled to be named a Legend in the Halloween category of Amusement Today’s annual Golden Ticket Awards,” said Jim Timon, senior vice president of entertainment at Universal Orlando Resort. “Universal’s rich history in the creation and evolution of the horror genre remains at the core of the incredible experiences we bring to life for our guests around the globe every year during Halloween Horror Nights.”

According to Timon, Halloween Horror Nights never stops at Universal Orlando. The concept, design, and production of the event encompass an entire year. “We opened the 2024 event in August, but we are already heavily designed for 2025. The horror never ends!”

Using numerous movie-themed intellectual properties, the scare zones, haunted mazes and outlandish shows make a Halloween Horror Nights ticket a hot night out. The ever-growing success is, well, scary. So much so that Amusement Today is acknowledging the park as the King of Terror, recognizing Universal Studios Florida’s Halloween Horror Nights as a Golden Ticket Legend.

Along those lines, but with a much jollier outlook is Dollywood.

When Amusement Today introduced the category of Best Christmas Event, the Pigeon Forge theme park seemed like a suitable winner.

And win it did.

The park’s first foray into Christmas was in 1990, and now it is the most magical time of year at the park, having grown in both size and brightness. In 2024, the event begins on November 1 and runs through January 5.

In time, the amusement industry found success with Christmas events, assuming Mother Nature cooperated. Many of them made it to the list of finalists in the Golden Tickets, but in the entire run, only Dollywood made it to the top.

“Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas has become the standard within the industry,” said Pete Owens, vice president of marketing, Dollywood Parks & Resorts. “Our hosts put so much effort into providing the perfect Christmas atmosphere for our guests, going so far as to start hanging our 6 million Christmas lights during the heat of the early summer. It is their attention to detail and care for the guest experience that has made our Smoky Mountain Christmas a family tradition for more than three decades. We are honored to be the only park to win the Best Christmas Award for its entire 15-year run. We are even more honored to earn the Legend Award for Smoky Mountain Christmas, which further cements the status of this unparalleled event for decades more.”

Before retiring the category, Amusement Today is honored to give one last gift of acknowledging Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas as a Golden Ticket Legend.

Paul Nelson guided Waldameer Park through its greatest successes

At the age of 11, Paul Nelson visited Waldameer Park for the first time. His parents were friends with the owner, Alex Moeller, and he became enchanted with the park. Working there every summer and living with the Moellers on the park grounds, he learned various aspects of running the park throughout his childhood. After serving in the Army and graduating college, he found his way back to Waldameer, becoming the park’s manager at the age of 23.

When Moeller died, Nelson was given ownership of the park with the caveat that he would always take care of his wife Ruth.

And that he did. Throughout his career, Nelson never lost touch with the childhood magic he experienced in his youth.

Until his passing in 2023, Nelson was the heart and soul of the park. While others his age would most likely have retired, Nelson never did. He worked tirelessly to make Waldameer bigger and better.

“He was married to the park,” said his wife, Lane Nelson. “It was No. 1; he just loved it. It was his whole life.”

Within a day’s drive were large theme parks, but Nelson made the right decisions to see the appropriate growth of the park.

“He knew Waldameer was a medium-sized park; our attendance wouldn’t allow huge roller coasters like a corporate theme park,” said President Steve Gorman. “It would be too much to pay back. He grew the park enough to put in a big ride, Ravine Flyer II, and that put us on the map.”

To be sure, the wooden coaster from The Gravity Group did give the park a great ride. But there were rides for everyone, both classic and modern.

“He didn’t want a teenage thrill park. He wanted rides that the whole family could go on,” said his daughter, Nancy Gorman.

Water World, Waldameer’s water park, also saw great success and notable expansions over the years.

Nelson’s last decision that came to fruition was the ProSlide Rocket Blast that opened in 2023 just after his passing. The attraction won a Golden Ticket Award last year.

When asked what he respected most about Nelson, Steve Gorman said, “His work ethic was uncanny. I don’t know anyone else who was so devoted to his job and love for his business.”

Nelson’s involvement in Erie was significant. City leaders spoke only of praise in regard to Nelson’s passion and desire for the betterment of the city. During his life, he received many honors and awards from city leaders and the local newspaper. He was also passionate about Erie’s attractions and Presque Isle State Park.

“He loved the Erie community,” said Lane. “He wanted to provide a safe place for all walks of life. He wanted the park to be affordable for the community.”

For his seven decades of devotion to Waldameer Park & Water World, Amusement Today honors Paul Nelson as a Golden Ticket Legend.

Palace Entertainment’s John Reilly recognized as industry Legend

Finding the right person for the right job is a win-win. With a career spanning close to 40 years in the amusement industry, John Reilly has been involved in the business of attractions in countless ways.

His passion began in his teenage years at Busch Gardens Williamsburg. He eventually became park president of that park, as well as SeaWorld San Diego. In time, he became the chief operating officer at SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment. Before leaving that company, he served as interim CEO and turned previous losses in years prior into profitable revenue.

In 2019, Reilly was appointed chief operating officer of Palace Entertainment, which operates more than 20 properties in 10 different states and Australia. Host parks Kennywood and Sandcastle are just two of them.

“John is an excellent leader and has proven that over and over again,” Palace Entertainment Vice President of Operations Mark Pauls told Amusement Today. “I have worked with John for over 30 years and have the utmost respect for his friendship and leadership.”

Coming aboard when he did, Reilly was the calm decision-maker who steered Palace through the COVID pandemic and kept the company grounded. In times of uncertainty, strong leadership is essential.

“John is a leader who gets the best out of his teams,” said Palace Entertainment Vice President of Marketing Suzanne Pfordresher. “He builds talented teams and knows how to both inspire and support them.”

A strategic move came when he relocated the headquarters from Newport Beach, California, to Pittsburgh. With the majority of Palace’s properties being on the East Coast, being in the same time zone was a wise decision. Reilly likes to term the headquarters as the “Support Center.”

He built this Support Center from the ground up, his team will say. Bringing in close to 40 individuals, where there were none before, made the process of doing business stronger and more efficient. This was particularly helpful for the Australian parks.

Palace has also received investments in state-of-the-art facility security, as well as control systems and other technologies to make rides as safe as they can be. Kennywood’s Kangaroo could have been lost forever, but reinvestment in the classic ride (as well as The Turtle) has made these last examples of such rides a preserved treat for families. Roller coasters such as the two wooden coasters at Lake Compounce have seen beneficial TLC. Castle Park went through a large park update at the front entrance in 2023. The park’s log flume ride, Saw Mill Plunge, was also completely upgraded with a new control system and sensors. The park continues to grow its event lineup with Daniel Tiger days this season and constant improvements to its Halloween event, Castle Dark.

During Reilly’s tenure, Adventureland Park in Iowa was acquired. Palace has upgraded the park’s main gate area, several food and beverage locations and added seven new rides. The park’s season has also been extended, adding its first ever Halloween event, Phantom Fall Fest.

Many of the parks have received beautiful transformations while under his direction. The thought leader behind the refresh and transformation of these facilities — most particularly Kennywood, Lake Compounce and Adventureland — has led to major growth at some parks and aesthetic makeovers at others. These park beautifications were his vision. Under his watch, millions have been invested in the parks.

In 2024, Reilly was appointed CEO of Palace Entertainment, but still maintains the COO position with Parques Reunidos.

“John is, simply put, the best in this business,” said Palace Entertainment Senior Vice President of Business Development and Park Support Anil Rao. “A true servant leader and mentor who has set the bar extremely high for the next generation of theme park leaders.”

In recognition of a career dedicated to the amusement industry, Amusement Today is honored to recognize John Reilly as a Golden Ticket Legend.

Legends: ACE Founders gave fans a voice, changed the industry

Long before the internet existed — and hardly computers — roller coaster fans found it challenging to find each other. A promotional stunt for the Universal film Rollercoaster in 1977 invited devoted enthusiasts to participate in a marathon to bring exposure to the movie. While they didn’t win the contest, three young men started talking.

Richard Munch, Roy Brashears and Paul Greenwald had no idea how their conversation would affect the industry. By forming a club of enthusiasts, parks around the world suddenly found a marketing tool, but even more, a loyal fan base that became so much more.

“A simple idea —’let’s start a club!’— has enriched countless lives,” said Elizabeth Ringas, president of American Coaster Enthusiasts. “From the start, they aimed to be an industry partner, with fun and preservation at the core of their mission. Now, 46 years later, it is an honor to have the dedication of these three gentlemen who laid the foundation for what ACE has become celebrated.”  

Pooling their resources to find like-minded individuals, they managed to organize a first event that brought about 50 people together and officially formed a club. Over the decades, American Coaster Enthusiasts, commonly known as ACE, has worked with parks and the industry to provide historical background, research and promotional literature. The club started by Munch, Brashears and Greenwald even started a term: ERT. Finding the value in working with ACE, parks offered up ”exclusive ride time,” and the beginning of roller coaster events blossomed into national conferences, annual conventions and international tours.

The support ACE showed the industry was embraced by many. News stories appeared on television, and suddenly those “quirky coaster nerds” became legitimate voices.

Even more impactful is the dedication to history and education. Parks around the globe now boast historic ACE Roller Coaster Landmark plaques that inform guests about the significance of the attraction they are about to ride (or just got off). Kennywood has three: Jack Rabbit, The Racer and Thunderbolt. From the beginning, ACE had an interest in establishing a museum dedicated to roller coasters. Those slow efforts over time have resulted in the collection of amazing pieces that document roller coasters and the amusement industry. The formation of the National Roller Coaster Museum and Archives is an ongoing effort to preserve the past. Munch has diligently served on the Board of Directors.

Today, ACE has more than 7,000 members and has special funds dedicated to Preservation, Archives and the support of the National Roller Coaster Museum.

Sadly, Greenwald passed away in 2015. But the inspiration from these three gentlemen is stronger than ever.

Amusement Today is pleased to honor the founders of ACE as Golden Ticket Legends.

Gary Slade: a head for news, a heart for the amusement industry

Starting as a ride operator on the Shock Wave roller coaster at Six Flags Over Texas as a teenager, Gary Slade became a fan of the industry at a young age. As he learned more about theme parks, their operations and what was happening in the industry, he became more knowledgeable and more involved.

Soon, he was a driving force behind two fan publications and spearheaded regional activities for American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) in Texas, creating lasting relationships with parks in the area. One of those connections, Bruce Neal of Six Flags Over Texas, encouraged him to start a paper focusing on the business side of the industry. In 1997, Amusement Today launched its first issue.

Immediately, relationships were formed with both parks and suppliers alike.

With just a handful of staff to get him going, the term “small but mighty” took hold. As the amusement industry had no shortage of news, pages filled. Over time, Slade expanded the coverage of AT to include family entertainment centers, fairs and more. One of his most rewarding decisions he has shared was when the publication dedicated a section to Safety, championing the industry’s efforts to make attractions one of the safest types of recreation for families everywhere.

“When Amusement Today first came out, the publisher of Amusement Business was very upset,” said retired AT staff member, Sue Nichols, who was a former employee of Amusement Business. “Each issue was passed around the Nashville office, with a long sticky note attached to the front page with everyone’s name on it. We had to check that we had looked through each issue. In ad sales, each ad in AT was noted and us sales reps were questioned as to why the advertiser would run in AT. If the advertiser ran in AT but NOT in AB, then we were really questioned about it. We told the publisher it was because Gary focused on the manufacturers and suppliers, when AB would not allow them to be mentioned in stories, which was an antiquated policy that had continued.”

In 1998, on the advice of friends in the industry. Slade and his team created the Golden Ticket Awards as a way to honor the Best of the Best in the industry. That first eight-page insert has grown in the last quarter century into globally recognized awards that help celebrate, promote and market, as well as form the focal point to an event where industry colleagues can meet, socialize, network and discuss best practices.

“Gary has created and nurtured an industry publication that covers it all — from safety and park features to manufacturer and supplier successes,” said Brian Knoebel, Knoebels Amusement Resort. “That’s not to mention the fact that he also knows how to throw one heck of a gathering for the Golden Ticket Awards. The event is relaxed and fun, and because of this, he is responsible for countless industry partnerships and perhaps just as important… friendships.”

“It’s this industry’s family reunion,” added Pete Owens, Dollywood. “Whether it was as a ride operator or the founder of Amusement Today, who chased every story in the industry for more than 25 years, Gary loves theme parks, carnivals, boardwalks, peers, and traveling shows, but most importantly, Gary loves the people.”

But Slade’s efforts don’t stop there. From his very early days, he has had a keen interest in the history of the amusement industry. His volunteerism and dedication to the National Roller Coaster Museum are unmatched, and so often unrecognized behind the scenes.

Throughout his career, he has been honored as a Hall of Fame recipient of the World Waterpark Association and New England Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, as well as having served on safety committees. For his commitment to safety, he has received an AIMS Lifetime Achievement Award. He is also an honorary member of ACE.

For his contributions to the amusement industry in its various forms, both the staff of Amusement Today and industry dignitaries are pleased to collaborate and acknowledge Gary Slade as a Golden Ticket Legend.

Adventure Park USA wins Breakout FEC, Dutch Wonderland retains Best Family Park

Adventure Park USA in Monrovia, Maryland, has seen rapid attendance gains and has continued its expansion of the arcade area. A brand-new RCI ropes course opened in 2024, following a renovated smokehouse restaurant in 2023 (with the ability to order from Uber Eats for locals). The restaurant has a full bar. The park also offers three coasters, a Skycoaster and Qubica AMF bowling. Indoor attractions have been added over the last four years to offset the nonpeak winter and unfavorable outdoor seasons. It has won the Golden Ticket for Breakout FEC.

“I’m a second-generation entrepreneur with a family with deep roots in the entertainment industry.  We’ve been working in the FEC world since I was just seven years old in 1979,” said Eric Stottlemyer, CEO.  “Being in this industry for 43 years I can say I am truly grateful, beyond words, for the people whom I have had the great fortune to get to know over the years. They are the reason why Adventure Park USA has won this prestigious award.” 

This park is Maryland’s largest family entertainment center. It also offers childcare within the facility that offers separate classrooms for specific age groups from 2 to 13. Strategic growth targeting new experiences and new demographics are where Adventure Park USA is focusing its resources.

“The Adventure Park USA team is always forward-thinking,” said Stottlemyer. “Part of being forward thinking is being open to listening to and sharing with others. Networking with owners and operators through a Masterminds network has offered a constant flow of ideas.  This has proven to be vital to the success that we are achieving.”  

At No. 2 is Malibu Jacks Quad Cities in Bettendorf, Iowa. Located on the banks of the Mississippi River in the Quad Cities area, Bettendorf is one of Iowa’s best small cities. But it’s never exactly been a thrill-seeker’s destination — until now! The arrival of the state’s first Malibu Jack’s — a new family entertainment center in Iowa — delivers laser tag, a spinning roller coaster, a drop tower, go karts, a full arcade and more!

“We have something for every age. That’s kind of what Malibu Jack’s is,” said Malibu Jacks Vice President Steve Hatton. “From the toddlers to grandparents, we want something to do for everybody.”

Craig’s Cruisers (No. 3) in Wyoming, Michigan, a suburb of Grand Rapids, has demonstrated continuous innovation and dedication to providing exceptional entertainment experiences. The recent introduction of two groundbreaking attractions, The Immortal Jungle (glow-golf) and Slide Zone (Slick City Slides), highlights Craig’s Cruisers’ commitment to enhancing guest enjoyment and setting new standards in family entertainment centers.

The WWE Experience (No. 4) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, offers a different kind of family entertainment experience.

For more than 50 years, WWE has captivated fans globally with its legendary narratives and unforgettable moments. Despite its history, WWE lacked a permanent venue for fans to engage deeply with its iconic IP. That changed in 2024 with the launch of the WWE Experience KSA. This all-ages interactive attraction captures WWE’s excitement, offering fans unparalleled access to their favorite brand.

Attractions include The Superdome, a 360-degree special effects show space; “Become a Superstar,” which lets visitors create their own persona; The Hall of Immortals, three museums in one; and The Undertaker: Graveyard Escape, an escape room.

In The Game (No. 5) opened in Liberty Township, Ohio. The new 17,000-square-foot space includes an arcade with virtual reality technology; challenge games; a 3D motion ride theater; axe throwing; a Las Vegas-themed escape room; and a full-service restaurant and bar.

The venue has an outdoor patio and bar with seating for up to 150 patrons.

The Liberty Township location has consistently drawn packed-house crowds in its opening year thanks to innovative events, specials and entertainment.

The category of Best Family Park spotlights amusement parks where families can play together. Parents can ride with kids on the majority of the rides. Attractions are thrilling but don’t go upside down or qualify as “extreme” rides.

For the fifth year, Dutch Wonderland has held onto the gold.

“At Dutch Wonderland, we pride ourselves on offering an unmatched experience for families,” said Megan Hartman, general manager. “We are thrilled to receive this award once again as we continue to strive to provide a welcoming environment where families can enjoy a full season of fun through our seasonal events, a unique mix of rides, shows and entertainment offerings.”

Santa’s Village in Jefferson, New Hampshire, has nestled into the No. 2 spot for a second year in a row. Even in the summer months, all things Christmas are pure joy. The park includes a water park as well as rides themed to the December holiday. New for this year was Midnight Flyer, a family roller coaster.

Legoland Florida (No. 3), boasts the fun attractions of the famed brand as well as the beautiful gardens of the historic Cypress Gardens. New in 2024 was the Ferrari Build & Race, an attraction that lets a life-size Ferrari made of Lego bricks inspire guests to build their own and then check it out in the “test zone.”

With the purpose of creating a place where people of all abilities can play together, Morgan’s Wonderland (No. 4) has continued to grow with 2024 seeing the park’s largest expansion to date. Four new attractions were installed, including the park’s first thrill ride, a zip line. All four attractions suitably accommodated people in wheelchairs and with other special needs.

Tucked in a beautiful, forested setting, Idlewild & SoakZone (No. 5), offers both amusement rides and water park slides for families. The park has been entertaining families since 1878.

Europa-Park reclaims Best Park; Schlitterbahn remains undefeated

The 2024 results for Best Park look different than last year. In fact, not a single park in the top five holds the spot it did last year.

Europa-Park takes the Golden Ticket once again, after being in the No. 2 spot in 2023 — which was the highest-rated park in Europe. In five decades, Germany’s largest theme park resort has installed one of the largest collections of rides, shows and dining options — all in wonderfully themed environments.

“Winning the Golden Ticket Award for Best Park for the ninth time is just as thrilling to the Mack family, our team members and our fans as it was the first time, as it is a recognition of our relentless pursuit of making Europa-Park as perfect as it can be,” said Roland Mack, co-founder. “No detail is too small, and no dream is too large for us not to pursue it. As we head toward our 50th anniversary season, what a wonderful recognition of what we are working for every day. We thank all the fans who voted for us!”

Europa-Park had major investments this season. A brand-new land featuring the park’s largest roller coaster, a major upgrade and refurbishment to a classic dark ride, and a redeveloped area with new attractions made for an incredible season.

Dollywood, the top-rated park in the United States, lands at No. 2. Both it and Europa-Park made slow climbs over the years until reaching the top of the Golden Ticket charts. A new resort hotel and a new Dolly Parton Experience highlighted the resort this season.

Tokyo DisneySea finds its highest rating ever at No. 3. Fans have long commented that the park is so unique among the Disney properties, and the themed attractions, imaginative environments and beautiful lands make for a captivating visit.

Knoebels Amusement Resort (No. 4) enters the top five again. The tree-filled setting, classic rides and outstanding coasters have made this nostalgic, traditional park revered among even the most well-traveled experts.

Disneyland in Anaheim completes the top five. Virtually a guide map for all theme parks, the Disney original returns to the top five for the first time since 2019.

There was a lot of shuffling in the category of Best Water Park as well, but not at the top. Schlitterbahn has been the sole winner in this category since the Golden Tickets began in 1998.

“It’s always tremendously gratifying when our commitment to serving guests is recognized and celebrated, especially for an unprecedented 26 years,” said Vice President and General Manager of Schlitterbahn Waterparks Darren Hill. “With our unique collection of attractions in a one-of-a-kind natural setting, there is no other waterpark like Schlitterbahn New Braunfels. Making people happy is what we do best, and we salute our park and team for consistently delivering amazing experiences to guests of all ages.” 

Volcano Bay, the water park at Universal Orlando Resort, nudges its way to the No. 2 spot for the first time. The highly themed water park, with its volcanic centerpiece, makes for a photogenic getaway.

Splashin’ Safari (No. 3) bills itself as the “Water Coaster Capital of the World.” One award-winning attraction after another has been added to the park over the years. Its simple beginnings in 1993 have exploded into the water park powerhouse that it is today.

Rulantica (No. 4), Europa-Park resort’s indoor/outdoor water park, returns to the top five. The heavily immersive environment dazzles with its attention to detail and incredible theming.

Dollywood’s Splash Country pops back into the top five, closing out the finalists. The beauty of the Smoky Mountains is integrated into the diversity of attractions.

Morgan’s Wonderland honored with the GTA Leadership Award

Some ideas are good ones; others are inspired.

When Gordan Hartman witnessed other children not wanting to engage with his daughter, Morgan, who has special needs, he felt there needed to be a place — or places — where children of all abilities were able to play together. It resonated with him so much that he gathered the resources to build Morgan’s Wonderland (San Antonio, Texas) in 2010, the world’s first fully accessible theme park. All the attractions were to be enjoyed by everybody, regardless of cognitive or physical abilities.

“Gordon Hartman is a true visionary who’s passionate about making the world a more inclusive place for everyone, especially for individuals like his inspirational daughter, Morgan, who’s dealt with physical and cognitive special needs since birth,” said Bob McCullough, communications, Gordon Hartman Family Foundation. “He’s definitely a man of action who leads by example. He didn’t just envision the world’s first ultra-accessible, fully-inclusive theme park, he built it and much more.”

The phenomenal success of Morgan’s Wonderland has led to the creation of other unique ventures such as an award-winning splash park, sports complex, year-round camp and massive Morgan’s MAC (Multi-Assistance Center) offering coordinated care and solutions to problems confronting children and adults with special needs.

“Gordon has accomplished so much in a decade and a half, and there’s much more on the way, including a revolutionary, ultra-accommodating hotel,” noted McCullough.

With the extraordinary growth of numerous ideas, the leadership at Morgan’s Wonderland has brought about the largest expansion to the original park in its history in 2024 with four new attractions, including the park’s first thrill ride. The park’s mission has made an impact on industry suppliers such as Zamperla, SimEx and Altitude Attractions.

Richard Pretlow is the current park president.

“Richard is a very calm and thoughtful leader,” said Mary Martinez Worth, chief marketing officer. “Richard was eager to learn all about Morgan’s and has naturally embraced our mission of inclusion.  When the park was undergoing renovations last year to prepare for the 2024 season, he brought a wheelchair to one of the rides he had concerns with to ensure the pathway being built to the ride would work with a wheelchair, naturally showing his commitment to our mission. Richard leads with humility and is not afraid to get his hands dirty.”

With such passionate people in place, there is much on the horizon to make the world a better place to live.

“The privilege of collaborating with Gordon has been the thrill of a lifetime,” said McCullough. “As I’ve proudly pointed out on innumerable occasions, I share a very special distinction with Gordon in that both of us have daughters with special needs. It’s been truly uplifting to have had a front-row seat and witness the impact Gordon’s inspired leadership has had on my daughter and countless others. In the infancy of Morgan’s Wonderland, Gordon would declare: ‘Together, we can make a difference!’ Now, after many successes and many more to come, Gordon has amended that assertion: ‘Together, we are making a difference!’”

For the continued excellence and leadership it’s displayed in making amusement accessible to all, Morgan’s Wonderland receives the Golden Ticket Award for Leadership.

Leadership Award: Honorable Mentions

Ellis & Associates (E&A) marked the end of its 40th year with the launch of two new aquatics education resources designed to enhance safety for lifeguards and swimmers alike. E&A education resources are developed utilizing original source research, best practice studies, constantly advancing technology and data analysis.

With the rapid expansion of aquatic facilities to include an ever-growing variety of attractions and experiences, including splash zones, artificial swimming lagoons and surf venues, the new Shallow Water Attraction Lifeguard certification and Surf Park Training Module will give aquatic facility operators more resources to elevate safety and risk management, as well as expand staffing opportunities.

“For more than 40 years, E&A has continually pushed to meet the needs of the aquatics industry, focusing on results-driven objectives and field-tested protocols that elevate the entire industry,” said Senior Vice President and COO RAC Carroll. “Our work partnering with water park, resort, surf and mixed-use developers and operators means that we can help clients build aquatic safety into both design and operations from the very beginning.”

In addition, Ellis Aquatic Innovations (a division of E&A) recently unveiled its newest innovation, the Ellis Aquatic Vigilance System (EAVS). EAVS utilizes high-definition “smart” cameras strategically placed to monitor movement on land, on the water and underwater to help identify items before they become a problem.

The Helping Hands Foundation was created in 2013 with the goal of helping Long Island reach its potential. Tony Gentile, one of the founding fathers of Adventureland, always wanted to give back to the Long Island community, and this foundation was created in his memory to do just that.

Gentile and his team created community events like Pumpkin Park, designated as a safe Halloween event for Long Island families; developed philanthropic relationships with local nonprofits like The Helen Keller School and became more and more involved with community groups like Boy Scouts & Girl Scouts and Nassau-Suffolk Services for Autism.

Thanks to the tireless efforts of the Helping Hands Foundation supporters and Adventureland, over $1 million has been raised for Long Island, including more than $200,000 in scholarships awarded through the Vivian and Tony Gentile Scholarship Program, over $100,000 in grants/donations to Long Island nonprofits, and support of numerous regional programs.

Silver Dollar City, Dollywood and Mount Olympus shine

New-for-2024 categories spotlight multiple park accomplishments

Nothing makes guests more eager to visit one of their favorite parks than to discover “what’s new”? There was much to engage the guests in 2024.

Best New Family Attraction goes to Fire In The Hole at Silver Dollar City. At a $30 million price tag, the park heavily invested in reimagining one of the most cherished rides in the park’s history. Rebuilding the attraction from the ground up, this new version is part dark ride/part roller coaster/part historical storytelling. And the public loved it!

“Fire In The Hole is integral to the Silver Dollar City experience, telling a story based on a factual Ozarks evening when a group of hill-folk burned a town to the ground over 130 years ago,” said Brad Thomas, president of the Silver Dollar City Company. “We’re honored Fire In The Hole earned Golden Ticket Award wins, an honor that stands on the shoulders of a legacy over 50 years in the making.”

The attraction was a collaboration between Rocky Mountain Construction, Herschend Creative Studios and the park.

At No. 2 is Anna and Elsa’s Frozen Journey at Tokyo DisneySea. A float-through dark ride that lasts more than six minutes retells the story of the movie Frozen through large sets, projections, forward and backward directions, video mapping and multiple drops. It’s dazzling.

Also in Asia is Zootopia: Hot Pursuit (No. 3) at Shanghai Disneyland. Ten-passenger trackless vehicles whisk visitors through several scenes on a madcap romp with the characters from the movie’s IP. The ride lasts almost six minutes.

Back in the U.S., Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (No. 4) at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom was a makeover of the former Splash Mountain. Now the thrilling boat ride is themed to the movie The Princess and the Frog.

Wrapping up the top five finalists is SpongeBob’s Crazy Carnival Ride at Circus Circus in Las Vegas. The beloved cartoon character takes riders on a comical, interactive adventure through many games. It was created by Sally Dark Rides.

The show must go on! Nominations for Best New Show of 2024 were viewed and judged by a large group of entertainment aficionados.

Taking the Golden Ticket is “From The Heart: The Dolly Parton Story” at Dollywood.

“In creating ‘From the Heart,’ Dolly and John Dietrich (co-writer/director) wanted guests to feel the emotional pull Dolly faced as she left everything she had ever known in Sevier County to move away in pursuit of her dreams,” said Page Bales, entertainment director. “Audiences quickly learn that Dolly’s confidence in herself and her immeasurable talent — along with the love and support of her family — pushed her to continue chasing those dreams in Nashville despite the challenges she faced. It was that same determination, talent and love for others that has led her to become the icon she is today. ‘From the Heart’ does a phenomenal job of telling her unmatched story through her own words and her legendary music catalog. It really is unlike any other show in the industry.”

Coming in at No. 2 is “CineSational” at Universal Studios Florida. This nighttime spectacular transports audiences through the emotions of their favorite stories and characters in cinema. Curated music, projected images, visual effects, 600 drones, lasers, fountains and pyrotechnics are all choreographed over the park’s lagoon.

Six Flags Fiesta Texas claims two shows in the finalists. “Forever Hollywood” (No. 3) featured live performers and musicians taking audiences through favorite songs of multiple decades. “A Christmas Carol: A Spirited New Musical” (No. 4) was written and produced in-house by the park. Fiesta Texas hopes it will become a new annual holiday tradition.

At No. 5 is “Holidays In The Sky.” Holiday World redoes this show each year. With 500 drones reaching widths of 800 feet, the sky was the limit, and audiences got to determine the penultimate scene.

Summers can be hot. Enjoyable ways to cool off are a welcome relief.

Taking the Golden Ticket for Best New Water Park Ride is The Rise of Icarus at Mount Olympus Water & Theme Park.

“We continually strive to introduce new and innovative attractions,” said Fontini Laskaris Backhaus, director of marketing. “With The Rise of Icarus, we aimed to create a thrilling, myth-inspired, record-breaking waterslide that combines excitement with a unique story. We’ve been thrilled by the overwhelmingly positive and enthusiastic reactions. Riders can’t get enough! They’re rushing back up the tower to experience all the fast body slides. Each slide is fast and exhilarating, definitely worth the wait and anticipation!”

The multi-slide tower was supplied by WhiteWater West and offers multiple slides, including America’s tallest waterslide.

Icon Tower, the centerpiece multislide tower comes in at No. 2. It is located at Meryal Water Park in Doha, Qatar. Standing at 85 meters (260 feet), it is virtually a waterpark on one tower with 12 slides, two on each of the tower’s six levels. Among them is the world’s tallest waterslide, Vertigo. Intense! The attractions are from WhiteWater West.

Wilderness at the Smokies claims No. 3 and 4 on the finalist list. Kaleidoscope Kavern Lazy River is a unique variation on the lazy river genre as riders float through colorful tunnels with captivating projections created by Moment Factory. Ridge Runner is an uphill water coaster provided by WhiteWater West.

Eagle Hunt (No. 5) at Silverwood’s Boulder Beach is the longest dueling water coaster in the U.S. It was provided by ProSlide. It features three high-speed saucers and four uphill blasts.

Best New Attraction Installation is a category that emphasizes the impact a ride can make on the park. Silver Dollar City and its Fire In The Hole take the gold again. Knowing the loss of the original attraction would not set well with guests, this bigger, better version resulted in universal acclaim.

“The experience entertains multiple generations of family visitors, combining a height requirement of 36 inches with the experience of a moderate-thrill roller coaster,” explained Park President Thomas. “Best of all, the experience is housed in a climate-controlled building, ensuring the ride’s operation regardless of weather — rain or shine, hot or cold, during the park’s March-to-December season. The three-minute ride is the largest indoor family coaster in the heartland of the U.S.”

Darren Torr, president of Rocky Mountain Construction, added, “Fire In The Hole was an incredible project for RMC.  It gave us the opportunity to work with the Herschend family again and redevelop a classic ride that has been enjoyed by millions.  Developing RMC’s first powered dark ride in conjunction with Dennis Clevenger’s team was a great experience. We sincerely hope that the new ride will be enjoyed by Silver Dollar City guests for the next 50 years.”

Voltron Nevera at Europa-Park placed at No. 2. While the park boasts a strong lineup of thrilling coasters, this masterpiece not only anchored the new land of Croatia, but broadened the park’s appeal with its first extreme ride, which features seven inversions, four launches, a turntable and dark-ride elements. It is unlike anything else at the park (which operates more than 70 rides).

The Bobcat (No. 3) at Six Flags Great Escape brought the first new roller coaster to the park in almost two decades. Built by The Gravity Group, this family-friendly wooden coaster was deemed the perfect amount of thrill for family audiences.

Lagoon’s seven-years-in-the-making Primordial was a collaboration between park visionaries, Triotech and ART Engineering. Part coaster/part interactive dark ride, Primordial features multiple endings that keep guests guessing as to which finale they will experience.

Good Gravy! (No. 5) at Holiday World filled the void of a fun family coaster for those coaster riders who haven’t grown enough to be thrill seekers. Themed to all things Thanksgiving dinner, it was considered the perfect addition by park fans everywhere. Good Gravy! was the first installation of a Vekoma family boomerang in the U.S.

Voltron is Best New Coaster, Big Bear Mountain digs claws into gold

Nothing thrills park fans like new roller coasters. Best New Roller Coaster saw a wide birth of different genres, from record-breakers to family rides, from innovative concepts to traditional wood coasters.

Voltron Nevera at Europa-Park takes the Golden Ticket for Best New Roller Coaster. It is the first international ride to ever do so. As a centerpiece to the new Croatia area, the seven-inversion, multi-launch coaster has incredible spectator appeal, particularly with its world-record launch at 105 degrees.

“I am so proud of our entire team of Mack Rides, Europa Park, Mack Solutions and Mack One for their work on this ground-breaking attraction and for the effect of Voltron Nevera powered by Rimac on the season so far,” said Michael Mack, CEO, Mack One. “Voltron Nevera is definitely a phenomenon with our guests and fans from beginning to end.”

Master planned with Europa-Park’s Patrick Marx, Voltron Nevera was a crowning achievement for Mack Rides.

“Every project is special, but the scope of Voltron Nevera at the new land Croatia was an incredibly exciting project,” said Christian von Elverfeldt, CEO, Mack Rides. “There were so many new elements for us, and with seven trains, it met the capacity Europa-Park needed and was looking for. The fact that people continue to line up to enthusiastically ride it again and again really makes us proud.”

At No. 2 is Bobcat at Six Flags Great Escape. This fun, family-friendly woodie was considered a perfect fit for the park and was the sole wooden coaster to open in the U.S. in 2024. It was a creation of The Gravity Group.

Another record-breaker for Mack Rides is Hyperia (No. 3) at Thorpe Park. Setting a height record for roller coasters in the U.K., Hyperia stands at 236 feet and features some dramatic maneuvers, including three inversions.

Good Gravy! (No. 4) at Holiday World took a family ride and made it into a thematic experience that makes going through the line just as captivating as the ride itself. The ride is a custom-designed layout for Holiday World built by Vekoma.

Primordial (No. 5) at Lagoon pushes the creativity of what a coaster can do by incorporating 3-D gaming into immersive theming. Art Engineering and Triotech worked with the park to bring an in-house vision to life. Multiple endings make this ride even more tantalizing for rerides.

For the second year of honoring Best Family Coaster, once again Dollywood takes top bill with Big Bear Mountain. Expanding the park’s Wildwood Grove in 2023, the Vekoma-built launched coaster with onboard sound was a real crowd pleaser.

“With Big Bear Mountain, I am convinced that we created a new category of coasters, one that is not only family-thrill and can accommodate different age groups but can also please and excite riders with different expectations and thrill tolerances. It is democratically fun!” said Ricardo Tonding-Etges, marketing, Vekoma. “The combination of a long track, multiple launches, exciting elements, all with a 39-inch rider height restriction is so special that I believe this ride changed the paradigm for family coasters. But my favorite thing about Big Bear Mountain is to see young kids (3- and 4-year-olds) having the best time of their lives and riding over and over again, together with their parents who are also having a blast.”

Holiday World dishes up seconds as Good Gravy! places at No. 2 in this category as well.

Slinky Dog Dash (No. 3) at Disney’s Hollywood Studios brings all the fun of toys into one smile-inducing attraction. Supplied by Mack Rides, the Toy Story overlay makes the ride not only fun but incredibly photogenic.

Bobcat (No. 4) at Six Flags Great Escape also pounces onto this chart. The Gravity Group woodie was just the right size at 55 feet to be the next step up for the smaller riders.

Rounding out the finalists is Wooden Warrior (No. 5) at Quassy Amusement Park. Like its new sibling, this woodie was the one that started the mid-size coaster for The Gravity Group in 2011 and has since created a line of coasters that are “the right size” for family fun.

New category: Holiday World wins for Best New Theme Concept

To celebrate creative thinking for new theming ideas, Amusement Today has created an original category for Best New Theme Concept. In doing so, imagination is acknowledged, which celebrates parks that come up with fresh ideas instead of themes that have been used repeatedly.

In 2024, several attractions told new stories, some that were diabolical, some that were inventive and some that were downright comical.

Taking the very first Golden Ticket is Holiday World and Good Gravy! This tongue-in-cheek idea took off from silly beginnings and was wonderfully developed around an old-fashioned trip to Grandma’s house and the preparation of Thanksgiving dinner. The heavily themed queue strolling through the retro vibes of yesteryear culminates with a ride on a coaster themed to a gravy boat.

“When we started the concept for Good Gravy!, we knew we wouldn’t have the flashiest roller coaster of 2024, but we knew we could turn it into something special,” said Leah Koch, communications. “As we developed the story behind the ride, we unofficially dubbed it ‘America’s Kitschiest Coaster.’ We knew we were going to have a train shaped like a gravy boat from the beginning, but we had so much fun expanding the world of the Van Snoodles from our Sally dark ride, Gobbler Getaway. We made up an elaborate backstory to Grandma Gracy, the gravy-making prodigy, but at the end of the day, guests can just enjoy walking through Grandma’s house on Thanksgiving Day.”

The roller coaster was supplied by Vekoma.

At No. 2 is Europa-Park with Voltron Nevera. Croatia was the birthplace of Nikola Tesla, and the park got creative with his inventiveness and desire to use electric energy in all sorts of mechanical devices. Tesla’s idea of transporting people through electricity is the basis for the roller coaster’s storyline. Experiments and machines are seen throughout the queuing, including startling Tesla coils.

The seven-train roller coaster masterpiece was manufactured by Mack Rides.

Dorney Park ranks No. 3 with Iron Menace. Reaching into the regional steel industry roots of the Pennsylvania area, the ride spins a tale of Hiram S. McTavish, a steel industry mogul who led his company to ruin.

The roller coaster was created by Bolliger & Mabillard.

At No. 4 is the completely new makeover of the former flume at both Magic Kingdom and Disneyland. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure uses Disney IP from The Princess and the Frog where the culture of New Orleans comes to life.

At Lagoon (No. 5), the park management envisioned a mythical quest where figures of a magical land were taken captive, and riders waged battle to release the warriors while experiencing Primordial. ART Engineering and Triotech partnered with the park on this attraction.

Nemesis Reborn at Alton Towers earns the Renaissance Award

In 1994, three significant installations in the U.K. made England quite the hotbed for roller coaster fans. Among them was a roller coaster with the brilliant name and theme of Nemesis. Alton Towers took roller coasters to a creative new level with the concept behind the ride. Inverted coasters from — a rather young company at the time — Bolliger & Mabillard were in their infancy. Creator John Wardley took local restrictions of not being able to build above the tree line and conceived of an even more ingenious design owing to this limitation. Instead of building high, below-ground trenches were dug to make for a great storyline. The coaster flew below ground level.

Nemesis, with its monstrous alien motif, was a masterstroke of theming and was an anchor for a new land within the park. Even with numerous attractions added in the 21st century, Nemesis lived up to its reputation of being a signature attraction. But after almost three decades, it became necessary for the ride to close for all of 2023 to undergo a major refurbishment.

Alton Towers could have just installed new track and given it a refresh, but instead, the park seized an opportunity.

Keeping with the original lore, the attraction was renamed Nemesis Reborn, and the experience was elevated to new heights, particularly for spectators. While the ride layout remained the same, the entire thematic atmosphere was taken far beyond a simple paint job.

“We are truly honored to receive a Golden Ticket for our work on Nemesis Reborn,” said Bianca Sammut, divisional director at Alton Towers Resort. “Bringing back such a cult classic was no easy feat, and to receive recognition on such a global scale is incredible. This means so much to me and the whole team here at Alton Towers Resort who worked hard to not only bring the ride back but elevate the entire experience beyond all expectations. We’re so proud of the response to date and winning this award tops off what’s been a fantastic project.”

Alton Towers played up a flair for the dramatic as the ride prepared for its makeover. As the ride was announced to be closing, a new team of scientists, Phalanx, began investigations of the Nemesis creature and their presence only added to the storytelling. Today, guests in the queue see eerily themed new track with red veins, as well as new props and elements added to the queue area. Once inside the station, guests are wowed by the transformation of being “inside” the macabre monster.

Outside, the most dramatic component of the attraction’s rebirth is a horrifying eye scanning the area. It is perhaps one of the finest photo ops placed on a ride in the history of roller coasters. Scanning the walkways, this eye draws spectators into the mysterious and threatening realm of Forbidden Valley. Selfies are a must.

Those fortunate enough to experience a ride at night will find the environment even more deliciously menacing.

For 30 years, Nemesis has sustained its popularity. With its new transformation, Amusement Today awards Alton Towers and Nemesis Reborn with the Publisher’s Pick Renaissance Award.

Europa-Park’s dedication to history, traditions earn Turnstile Award

For any amusement park, a fire is a horrible tragedy. In June of 2023, Europa-Park experienced such an incident. While fortunately no loss of life occurred, it did take out two long-loved attractions at the park. For the rest of that season, the Alpenexpress roller coaster and the log ride were closed off. It was heartbreaking to lose both rides. These were among the park’s earliest attractions, including Europa-Park’s first roller coaster. The lost rides had already crossed many generations through shared memories.

But Europa-Park didn’t dwell on the frustration for too long. Instead, management became determined to bring the rides back for the next season.

Already under construction was the park’s newest land, Croatia. A huge multi-element coaster, Voltron Nevera, was already reaching the end of construction. The 2024 capital had already been invested.

Management at the park refused to wait. The loss of the two rides was too impactful to the guest experience, so plans were put into place. Mack Rides was challenged to meet a 2024 deadline. A soft opening took place in late April, and a grand reopening occurred by mid-May.

“Mr. Roland Mack and the whole Mack family have a deep commitment to Europa-Park’s guests and to their visits to the park. It was important for them to have the two damaged rides returned to the park as quickly as possible, and Mack Rides worked diligently to make it a reality,” said Christian von Elverfeldt, CEO, Mack Rides. “Alpenexpress and Tirol Log Flume have returned better and brighter than ever. These rides are very close to the resort hotels, so that made it even more important to bring them back to life.”

And so, they did. But as the former diamond mine that caught fire would not meet today’s fire codes in time for 2024 if rebuilt as it was, the park got creative. Mack Rides supplied the attractions, but the land of Austria, where the fire happened, saw an entirely new look. Mountains appeared within the two rides. Jutting skyward, they created dramatic new views. This new thematic angle allowed children and families to find new adventures. Within the rock were trails and slides. Tunnels, bridges and crawl spaces invited exploration. Not only did kids enjoy it, so did adults! This creative foresight broadened the scope of what the area could be as guests ventured throughout the intertwined additions. It made for even better interactions for guests to enjoy what was new — and restored.

The park’s own IP, the Yomi elf creatures, are seen throughout the adventure trail. To pay homage to what was lost, the gift shop within the mountain still offers a fanciful setting decorated with gems, making it a true Valley of the Diamonds.

The Austrian Mountains area is open early each morning for the resort guests, so the return of these attractions was a bold move, if not a bit of a strain on the budget. Still, the guests always come first at Europa-Park, and their experience each day is of utmost importance.

This endeavor was no small feat, particularly in a year with a huge expansion already in place. For returning rides from the past and making them better than ever, Amusement Today is proud to present the Publisher’s Pick Turnstile Award to Europa-Park.

WLSL founder Beth Root’s life-saving efforts honored as Person of the Year

Tragically, drowning is one of the leading causes of accidental death for children under the age of 14, due in large part, to a lack of basic water safety and swimming skills and a lack of adult supervision while kids are in the water. According to a research study conducted by the American Red Cross in 2020, 56 percent of children ages 4 to 17 cannot perform the basic water safety skills they need to save their own life.

Those alarming statistics led Beth Root to make the decision to step up and do something.

Fifteen years ago, Root started looking for ideas in conjunction with the World Waterpark Association to find ways to drive media exposure to the importance of swimming lessons.

Root, owner of the communication company, Buzzonic, is the wife of Rick Root, president of the World Waterpark Association. They looked at a variety of ideas, and decided an event to attract media attention all over the globe was needed — something big, something record-breaking. The idea of the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson (WLSL) started to take hold. She initially managed all elements of the program, bringing the concept to life with branding, marketing materials, a PR campaign, social media and a “how-to guide” for facilities.

Working with partners, such as The American Red Cross, Ellis & Associates and the YMCA, the first event was held in 2010 with 3,892 participants in six countries. More importantly, that first event was recognized by Guinness World Records as “the largest swimming lesson conducted at multiple venues.” That brought the desired media attention, and every year the event has continued to grow.

Now in its 15th season, the World’s Largest Swim Lesson hosted 39,000 kids and parents on six continents in 2024. And even though it is a one-day event, getting children introduced to the water, helping them realize that water can be safe and fun and sparking an interest in learning how to swim, can go a long way to preventing accidental drownings.

“They won’t come away knowing how to swim, but they will come away with the skills to save their life,” Root said at the event this year.

“The thousands of hours that Beth has devoted to drowning prevention and the leadership she has provided to the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson has made families safer in and around the water,” said her husband, Rick. “I am so proud of the difference she is making by sparing parents the unimaginable loss of a child to drowning. Swimming lessons save lives, and she’s committed to doing everything she can to make every child a swimmer.”

She has volunteered with the World Waterpark Association for the last 21 years, helping to build and support the organization’s water safety initiatives, including National Water Safety Month and campaigns like “His Super Powers Don’t Work in Water.” Since its inception, the event has generated more than three billion “Swimming Lessons Save Lives” media impressions.

“What Beth and WWA leadership pulled off with the launch of the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson in 2010 is one of those memorable and very impactful initiatives that will live on forever,” said RAC Carroll, COO, Ellis and Associates. “You need to be brave to be first, exhibit true passion and never stop striving to improve. With the launch and growth of the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson, Beth, her WWA colleagues, and countless aquatics facilities and suppliers around the globe have truly, as we like to say, ‘Made A Difference’ in aquatic safety.” 

For her part in leading the charge to initiate that first World’s Largest Swimming Lesson in 2010, it is a tremendous honor for Amusement Today to recognize Beth Root as Amusement Today’s Person of The Year.

—Jeffrey Seifert

Guests Experience Beauty at Dollywood, enjoy Best Food at Knoebels

The magic of Dollywood has made it a finalist in numerous categories, but in 2024, it takes the Golden Ticket for Most Beautiful.

“Dollywood is blessed to be located — literally — in the middle of the Great Smoky Mountains. Our home in the Smokies allows our world-class attractions to shine against one of the most spectacular backdrops in the entire theme park industry,” said Eugene Naughton, president, Dollywood Parks & Resorts. “There really is nothing like riding Wild Eagle or Drop Line while experiencing the magnificent view of the rolling foothills as they meet the towering mountains. It also provides us with the opportunity to bring that beauty down into the park as part of the theming and atmosphere our guests enjoy while they are here throughout the year. Each season in the Smokies offers a completely different experience and we feel the same about each time of year at Dollywood.”

Coming in at No. 2 is Busch Gardens Williamsburg. This incredibly beautiful park has a reputation for its colorful landscaping. Busch Gardens Williamsburg has previously won the Golden Ticket a staggering 24 times for Most Beautiful or Best Landscaping.

The remainder of the finalists are all found in Europe.

Europa-Park (No. 3) spreads its landscaping throughout the park with lush flowerbeds complimenting the themed architecture.

Efteling (No. 4) in The Netherlands offers beautiful lagoons, colorful flower beds, fanciful architecture and lush forests.

Coming in at No. 5 is Phantasialand. The park’s flowerbeds and immersive architecture are nothing short of eye-popping.

Although a handful of winners have claimed the Golden Ticket for Best Food, Knoebels Amusement Resort has had its oven mitts on the prize for many years. Hardcore park travelers continue to give Knoebels high marks for the delicious comfort food, restaurant specials, affordable pricing and diverse variety. But that doesn’t mean the park sits back and rests on its laurels.

“We’ve recognized the ever-increasing effort our industry has put into food and beverage offerings,” said Brian Knoebel. “Considering this award is extremely important to my family, we challenged our team to create new, exciting additions to the award-winning tastes of Knoebels. Rarely am I at a loss for words, but I found myself speechless when I heard they introduced 40 brand-new menu items. The offerings were such a hit that we had to create a guide for our guests to locate all of these tasty treats as they eat their way around the park.”

Silver Dollar City (No. 2) is a fan favorite with its delightful, gigantic skillets and new Rivertown Smokehouse. Many guests arrive early enough to enjoy the morning breakfast buffet at the front of the park.

EPCOT (No. 3), with all its many nations, finds favor with those who enjoy international cuisine.

Country fixin’s can always be found at Dollywood (No. 4). It’s like eating with family. Dolly Parton herself has often said, “If you leave hungry, it’s not our fault.” And who doesn’t need a fix of cinnamon bread?

Europa-Park (No. 5), with its lineup of countries, closes out the list. The park boasts numerous places to eat indoors or in covered areas, many of which are highly themed.

The category of Best Guest Experience focuses on friendly employees, solid operations and cleanliness. Many names on this list can be found elsewhere on this page and throughout the issue. It’s an example of good decisions.

Dollywood takes the Golden Ticket in this category once again. People leave the park satisfied, already looking forward to a return visit.

At No. 2 is Europa-Park, which many park experts hold in high regard as being among the best ride operations on the planet.

Holiday World (No. 3) has instilled friendliness and cleanliness in the park expectations and its employees for decades.

Knoebels Amusement Resort (No. 4) finds the traditional ways of doing things far superior to the overwrought policies of some modern approaches. Making people happy is a big priority.

Kings Island (No. 5) hops on the chart again in this category for the third time. The Ohio theme park has a loyal following thanks to all the cornerstones the Best Guest Experience emphasizes.

Disney's irresistable Best Dark Ride, Dollywood wins Best Kids’ Area

Aside from roller coasters, one of the favorite types of rides among fans are dark rides. Many have supreme loyalty. Walt Disney himself took them to a new level when he opened Disneyland in 1955, and that type of attraction has been evolving ever since.

Taking the Golden Ticket for Best Dark Ride is Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida. The multifaceted attraction has guests traveling through many experiences, including facing an army of stormtroopers. Trackless ride vehicles navigate through immersive sets, jaw-dropping animatronics and all sorts of galactic imagery.

“It’s an honor to help our guests live their own Star Wars adventure every day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios!” said Jackie Swisher, vice president. “Whether they choose to be members of the Resistance or the First Order, the world-class technology and Disney storytelling they experience on Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is unlike anything else in the galaxy.”

This is the third year that Rise of the Resistance has claimed the gold.

At No. 2 is a previous Golden Ticket winner, Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure. Located at Shanghai Disneyland, the eight-minute ride is based on the IP of the popular film franchise. It was the “must-do” attraction when the park opened in 2016. It had a completely different storyline than any Pirates of the Caribbean attractions that had come before.

The Disneyland cousin of Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance (No. 3) enjoys similar popularity in California as its counterpart in Florida.

Also in California is Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission BREAKOUT (No. 4) at Disney California Adventure. Having opened in 2017, the newly themed attraction replaced the former Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. Disney Imagineers worked with Otis Elevator Co. to make the drop ride.

Jurassic World Adventure (No. 5) at Universal Studios Beijing places riders in an adventurous chase from — you guessed it — dinosaurs.

Of note, only two of these finalists appeared on the list on the 2023 chart, so it is clear that Golden Ticket panelists are finding what is to be seen out there.

In recent years, parks have been expanding their children’s areas. From flat rides to coasters, as well as meet-and-greet spaces, lands devoted to the younger set are considered a wise investment.

Taking the Golden Ticket for Best Kids’ Area for the fifth time is Dollywood’s Wildwood Grove. In 2023, the land was expanded with Big Bear Mountain from Vekoma, which is the longest ride at Dollywood. Multiple children’s and family rides, as well as splash pads, indoor play and meet-and-greet areas, make Wildwood Grove delightful. The land enjoys a natural setting with greenery and water. At its center is the Wildwood Tree, which at night comes to life with lighted butterflies.

Making a comeback on the chart is Efteling (No. 2). Visitors have enjoyed its Fairy Tale Forrest for decades, and the numerous stories brought to life can entertain kiddos for a very long time.

Kings Island, a long-time Golden Ticket winner in this category, stays solidly entrenched on the list at No. 3. Planet Snoopy saw an expansion this year with Camp Snoopy, which brought a new family coaster from Vekoma, a new eatery and lots of shaded space with play equipment and a meet-and-greet Peanuts stage.

New on the chart is Universal Studios Florida (No. 4). A redesigned DreamWorks Land provided a fresh makeover to the kids’ area. The roller coaster was rethemed to the Trolls film franchise. Also new were attractions themed to the Shrek and Kung Fu Panda films.

A long-time finalist, Universal Islands of Adventure, closes out the top five. The park’s hysterical Suess Landing invites visitors to play with The Cat in the Hat and take a spin on One Fish Two Fish. And who hasn’t seen a family wearing shirts sporting Thing 1 and Thing 2 (and 3 and 4…)?

Wildebeest, Chiapas take Golden Ticket back in water categories

In 2023, Best Water Park Ride was a huge upset — but within the same park. Splashin’ Safari had won Best Water Park Ride with Wildebeest for 11 consecutive years until last year. Its adjacent sibling within the park, the six-passenger Mammoth, snagged it from its older brother. This year, Wildebeest has its revenge as it takes the No. 1 spot for a 12th time.

“The battle between Wildebeest and Mammoth is on!” laughed Leah Koch, communications. “We’re immensely proud of our world-class trio of water coasters, but Wildebeest, my dad’s last project, will always have a special place in our hearts.”

That said, Mammoth is at its heels in the No. 2 spot. Both are manufactured by ProSlide.

Icon Tower, the new multi-slide attraction at Meryal Water Park in Doha, Qatar takes the No. 3 spot. The 262-foot structure features the world’s tallest waterslides, one with a drop capsule and one a traditional body flume. The mind-boggling attraction is from WhiteWater West.

At No. 4 is Krakatau Aqua Coaster at Volcano Bay. Housed inside the park’s iconic structure, the hydromagnetic water coaster seats four passengers in rafts that zip through the mists and waterfalls of the volcano with several uphill sections.

Splashin’ Safari has the bragging rights to three of the attractions on this list, an impressive feat. Cheetah Chase (No. 5) is the park’s third water coaster. Also from ProSlide, it opened in 2020 featuring several firsts, such as the first head-to-head dueling zone and the first at-grade launch.

Getting wet inside the theme parks is fun too. Returning to take the gold for Best Water Ride is Chiapas at Phantasialand. This water attraction opened in 2014 with claims of the world’s steepest drop on a log flume. This Intamin-supplied attraction has riders plummeting form a height of 49 feet and over a speed bump before the final splashdown. A long-time finalist in this category, Chiapas also took the Golden Ticket in 2022.

“Chiapas is more than just a water ride — it is a feeling,” said Christina Herrmann, Phantasialand communications. “It’s an iconic experience that offers an unparalleled level of immersion for all senses. From the lush vegetation to the Mayan ruins, every detail is designed to transport guests to sunny Mexico.”

“We are absolutely excited to see that Chiapas has been voted Best Water Ride,” said Sascha Czibulka, executive vice president, Intamin. “Like with every attraction Phantasialand creates, they had clear ideas about the experience and features of their one-of-a-kind water attraction. Intamin introduced at that time boats with inline seating and individual restraints seating up to six passengers, the steepest drop on a water ride as well as high-speed lifts and switches to change the direction of the boats in a few seconds, resulting in an exceptionally high hourly capacity (1,600 people per hour).”

Coming in at No. 2 is a long-time winner in this category, Valhalla at Pleasure Beach Resort (Blackpool). The heavily themed indoor flume (also from Intamin) saw major updates when it was reintroduced in 2023.

Timber Mountain Log Ride (No. 3) at Knott’s Berry Farm is the measuring stick for all log flumes. Classic yet updated and high on capacity, this heavily themed flume is one of the “must-do” rides at Knott’s. It was manufactured by Arrow and opened in the summer of 1969.

Jurassic World: The Ride (No. 5) at Universal Studios Hollywood completes the list. This ride combines the fun of a dark ride with a shoot-the-chute experience (along with dinosaurs). Originally built in 1996, it went through a major refurbishment (and name update) in 2019.

Holiday World takes Best Innovation with audience participation

Best Innovation is one of the categories voted on strictly by industry leaders and journalists. Of numerous nominations, Holiday World was selected to receive the Golden Ticket in recognition of its audience participation in creating a segment in the park’s nighttime show, “Holidays in the Sky.”

“We embedded the link on our ‘Today in the Park’ page and added signage with QR codes around the park to get votes, and the winner was determined each day at 5 p.m.,” explained Leah Koch, communications. “Essentially, Firefly Drones had four shows ready and would load the ‘winning’ show each night. Last year, it would not have been possible to load a different show at a moment’s notice — it takes a while to load the flight path to each individual drone.”

Audiences determined one of the scenes near the end of the show. Guests each day determined which mascot would star in that particular scene: Holidog would be featured to the song “Hound Dog,” Kitty Claws sparkled to “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” George the Eagle brought a techno version of “Yankee Doodle,” and Safari Sam had people jamming to “Crocodile Rock.”

The park used the vote, powered by Avius, each night.

According to the park, the advancement is with the drone. Previously, when Firefly laid out the drones in their grid for takeoff, drone #1 had to go in spot #1, #35 in spot #35, etc. With the newer generation of drones, any drone can be placed in any spot, and it automatically loads the correct flight plan.

“When we first started ‘Holidays in the Sky,’ I described it like a marching band — the drones didn’t know or care about anyone else’s mark except its own,” explained Koch. “It knew where to be and when. With the new drones, it’s like a marching band where any member can trade places with another band member at any time. And the drones can learn their marks in a matter of minutes, rather than days.”

She added, “The advancement of allowing audience members to vote to decide on a portion of the show may not seem revolutionary — after all, it’s a simple vote. However, each drone has to have its own flight plan downloaded, and until this year, it was too slow a process to be able to change those 500 individual flight paths each day. It’s amazing to see the way technology has come leaps and bounds since we first began ‘Holidays in the Sky’ in 2022, and we can’t wait to see what Firefly Drones will come up with next.”

Skyline Attractions came in second with its Aurora Track-Mounted Lighting System. Aurora creates a visual spectacle with its state-of-the-art, track-mounted LED display. This custom LED lighting package can be installed on the top, bottom, and sides of the roller coaster track, transforming it into a canvas of vibrant lights and imagery.

Aurora is ideal for holiday overlays, paid sponsorships, private events and more. This innovative system not only keeps any facility relevant and updated but also captivates visitors with dynamic animations on the coaster’s track.

Real Time Feedback Smart Codes (No. 3) allows FECs, theme parks and other facilities to strategically place smart QR codes around their facility which allows visitors and employees to alert management about any issues with games, restrooms, trash cans, unsafe environments, unfriendly employees, etc.

RTF empowers guests to send employees and management actionable feedback in real time using their patent-pending smart codes. With RTF’s smart code stickers placed on all machines, guests can scan and alert techs about issues they are experiencing. Game techs are immediately alerted on their smart phone or tablet. AI helps quickly respond to the guest while the tech shows up at the game like a modern-day superhero ready to save the day.  

RTF’s smart QR codes can also be placed in other high-traffic areas such as restrooms, birthday/corporate rooms, dining areas, etc. to quickly alert staff when guests need assistance or an area needs attention.  

A new device, DMT RideGuard (No. 4), offers additional safety as well as high efficiency through optimized maintenance processes.

DMT RideGuard complements the standards for monitoring amusement park rides. The system enables seamless monitoring of vibrations, shocks and movements for the very first time. This provides additional safety and makes maintenance more efficient.

Using state-of-the-art IoT sensor technology and AI algorithms, the system continuously records all relevant data and streams it to a cloud-based application in real-time. As a result, park operators receive a comprehensive status overview of their attractions and are provided with support in identifying and rectifying potential risks at an early stage.

WhiteWater West/Vantage Technology supplies Smart Pay (No. 5), which revolutionizes cashless payments with the convenience of sharing and limiting transactions. Smart Pay stands out with its features of sharing and setting limits, combined with the enhanced security of tokenization. These capabilities redefine convenience and security in financial transactions, aligning perfectly with modern guest demands.

Best Innovation of 2024:

Honorable Mentions

Roblox Six Flags Game

Six Flags is helping to revolutionize virtual entertainment by launching a metaverse experience on Roblox, the global platform for communication, gaming and connection. The Six Flags metaverse features a variety of virtual roller coasters, Fright Fest mazes and engaging games. Users can collect “Coastercoin” in the virtual experience, which can be redeemed exclusively for rewards and activities at physical Six Flags parks. This unique metaverse experience seamlessly blends the virtual and physical worlds, marking a first in the theme park industry.

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Harmony Helper Concierge Services

The Harmony Helper app is a portable digital rehearsal room that allows vocal performers to practice anytime, anywhere. Harmony Helper’s new Concierge Service provides packages that preload a facility’s entire show into a customized practice format for their singers, breaking each song into the correct number of named parts, scrolling on-screen lyrics, adjusting octaves and optimizing audio for practice.

AIMS announces Safety Award recipients: Patty Beazley, Jim Seay

AIMS International recognizes two amusement industry veterans as part of Amusement Today’s Golden Ticket Awards. Patty Beazley of International Ride Training has been awarded the 2024 AIMS International Safety Award and Premier Rides’ Jim Seay has been given the prestigious AIMS International Lifetime Contribution Award.

The AIMS International Safety Award is presented annually to the individual or organization that demonstrates leadership, innovation and foresight in improving safety in the amusement industry.

Beazley, a native of Nashville, Tennessee, is a managing member of International Ride Training, LLC and When Pigs Fly: Creative Operational Concepts, LLC. She has over 40 years of operational experience in the areas of amusement rides and water park safety, educational facilitation, leadership training and human resource functions.

Beazley began her career at Opryland USA Theme Park in Nashville, Tennessee, as a front-line employee. When Opryland closed in 1997, Beazley was the director of operations. She then took on the role of general manager at Nashville Shores Water Park. She has serviced the amusement industry since 2002 as a consultant. During this time, she has serviced more than 90 clients worldwide.

Beazley graduated from the University of Tennessee with a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology. A former full-time secondary and post-secondary instructor and guidance counselor, she continues to teach as an adjunct faculty member for a local college. Patty served as the education chairperson and seminar director of Amusement Industry Manufacturer and Suppliers (AIMS) from 2007 to 2014.

She is a member of ASTM International, International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) and the World Waterpark Association (WWA). Beazley was awarded the Harold Chance Award for Best Presentation at the AIMS Safety Seminar in 2004; Antonio Zamperla Safety Award in 2005 and Best Presentation at the WWA Seminar in 2005. She has had published works in various industry publications. In September of 2018, Beazley was the featured subject of Amusement Today's “Women of Influence” column

“After 40 years in the business, Patty continues to be instrumental in pushing the industry to greater levels of safe operation through education, training and auditing of amusement facilities and attractions around the world,” said Tony Claassen, AIMS International board secretary. “Patty’s past contributions and continued passion for safety and greater education in the amusement industry makes her an ideal candidate for the 2024 AIMS International Safety Award.”

Presented for only the third time in its 30-year history, the AIMS International Lifetime Contribution Award recognizes outstanding dedication and service to AIMS International.

Seay is president and owner of Premier Rides, building highly innovative thrill rides that incorporate cutting-edge tech like magnetic launch systems. Premier Rides’ attractions have been loved globally by hundreds of millions of guests and its work is recognized by Guinness World Records.

A Cornell University graduate, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical / aerospace engineering and did graduate studies at Cal State University Long Beach. He was an aerospace engineer at Hughes Aircraft Company working on stealth technologies, then was an engineering and maintenance executive at Six Flags before joining Premier Rides in 1995 as executive vice president of engineering and becoming president in 1996.

Seay spends much of his time volunteering to ensure the industry is as safe as possible. He is past chair of the IAAPA Global Safety Committee and past chair of ASTM Global Ride Safety Committee F24 devloping and refining global ride safety standards. He has also testified before the United States Congress on industry safety.

Seay has been honored with numerous awards including the IAAPA Lifetime Service Award. For his contributions to the field of global voluntary standards, he received the ASTM International William T. Cavanaugh Memorial Award and in 2019 received the ASTM Award of Merit along with the honorary title of Fellow.

Seay serves as chairman of the IAAPA Foundation Board, is a member of the AIMS International Board, the Themed Entertainment Association and several regional associations. He has served on many philanthropic boards in Baltimore, Maryland, including the National Aquarium, The Pride of Baltimore, singer/actor Mario’s The Mario Do Right Foundation, the Signal 13 Foundation, and the Living Classrooms Foundation. Seay is also a supporter of Give Kids the World Foundation and is a founding sponsor of the annual IAAPA Charity Motorcycle Run benefiting Give Kids the World.

“Jim has been a passionate supporter of AIMS and industry safety for many years both individually and through his company, Premier Rides. He has contributed the work of the AIMS board and continues to provide a balanced and challenging view,” said David Bromilow AIMS International past president. “Jim always makes himself available when it comes to amusement safety and contributes to serve industry safety committees.”

—Amy Lowenstein

AIMS International

Safety Award

Jeff Abendshien (2023)

ASTM F24 Committee (2023)

C.W. Craven (2022)

Hugo Loyola (2021)

John Riggleman (2020)

Ronald E. Burback (2019)

Patrick Hoffman (2018)

Har Kupers (2017)

Harold Hudson (2016)

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AIMS International Lifetime Contribution Award

Gary Slade (2019)

Mark Moore (2018)

Pat Hoffman (2006)

Steel Coasters: Fury 325 remains top, European coasters climb

When Fury 325 opened in 2015, it won the Golden Ticket for Best New Ride (before Amusement Today divided the award into Best New Roller Coaster and Best New Family Attraction) and debuted on the charts at No. 4. Since then, it has eight consecutive wins for Best Steel Coaster, counting its continued victory in 2024. Standing at 325 feet tall and built by Bolliger & Mabillard, it can be seen for miles as visitors approach the park.

“Fury 325 offers an experience that is unmatched by other steel coasters by combining height, speed and intensity while delivering a seamless and smooth flow that keeps riders engaged from start to finish,” said Manny Gonzales, vice president and general manager, Carowinds. “Every element, from the first drop to the final turn, is meticulously designed to maximize exhilaration, making it an unforgettable experience for riders long after they’ve left the park. It’s an incredible honor for Fury 325 to receive its eighth consecutive win for the Best Steel Coaster, marking the longest continuous run in the category. This recognition is a testament to our purpose, to make people happy.”

But the rest of the Steel list, with the majority of 2023’s top ten moving around on the chart, makes for surprising observations.

Inching ever closer to the top spot is Jurassic World VelociCoaster at Universal Islands of Adventure. It climbed to its highest ranking ever at No. 2. The themed launch coaster from Intamin opened in 2021 and is already a fast climber.

Also rising a notch is Steel Vengeance at Cedar Point to No. 3. Built by Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC), the coaster won Best New Ride when it opened in 2018 and has always placed in the top five.

Also at Cedar Point is Millennium Force (No. 4), a previous holder of the Golden Ticket 11 times. It was built by Intamin and opened in 2000.

Keeping its spot at No. 5 is Iron Gwazi at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, an RMC thriller that opened in 2022 and immediately developed a huge following. It won Best New Roller Coaster and leaped into the top five in its opening year.

The other half of the top ten is even bigger news. Taron at Phantasialand rises to the No. 6 position, making it the new highest-rated roller coaster in Europe or any country outside North America. The manufacturer was Intamin.

Two new top-ten entries have made incredible gains, starting with The Ride to Happiness (No. 7) at Plopsaland De Panne. This Mack Rides coaster appeared last year in the No. 31 position. Sharing that astounding leap is Zadra at Energylandia (RMC’s third entry into the top ten) also makes a dramatic leap in the charts, appearing last year at No. 32 and climbing up to No 8 in 2024.

Expedition GeForce at Holiday Park, which boasted Europe’s highest-rated coaster status since 2002, still lands in the top ten at No. 9. Cedar Point’s Maverick comes in at No. 10, giving “America’s Roller Coast” three roller coasters in the top ten, the only park ever to do so. Both these coasters are from Intamin, giving that supplier five of the top ten steel coasters.

Only one new-for-2024 roller coaster cracked AT’s list of Top 50. Voltron Nevara (No. 11) at Europa Park, winner of Best New Roller Coaster, just missed out on cracking the top ten by mere points.

Vekoma’s F.L.Y. at Phantasialand makes another huge jump from No. 46 to No. 16. Energylandia’s Hyperion makes its first appearance at No. 24.

[See a complete list of 50 coasters at GoldenTicketAwards.com]

The Steel Coasters chart celebrates the young. Only two roller coasters from the 20th century make the list of 50: Apollo’s Chariot (No. 25) at Busch Gardens Williamsburg opened in 1999. The oldest of all is Cedar Point’s Magnum XL-200 (No. 36) which was built in 1989 by Arrow.

Speaking to the scope of our enthusiast panel’s expertise, 17 coasters of the 50 are from outside the United States, representing nine international countries.

Of the 50, B&M claim 15, Intamin has 12 and Rocky Mountain Construction has 10. As Mack Rides and Vekoma secure larger projects, their status as power players is becoming more notable; each has five on the charts.

As new restraints are now allowing for more upper-body freedom and greater comfort, a gradual reversal has taken place. Ten years ago, not a single coaster in the top ten went upside down. In the past, the upper half of the chart (Nos. 1 through 25) was dominated by “hyper coasters” over 200 feet. While 12 such coasters are in the top 25, five of the top ten go upside down, three of which fit the 200-foot-plus designation. Inversions are seeing a comeback; 17 of the 25 coasters between No. 26 and 50 go upside down.

Voltron Nevera made the highest debut, but five others in addition to Hyperion appear for the first time: Kondaa (No. 28) at Walibi Belgium; Untamed (No. 42) at Walibi Holland; Lech Coaster (No. 45) at Legendia; Railblazer (No. 47) at California’s Great America, the first single-rail coaster to ever chart; and Toutatis (No. 48) at Parc Astérix.

After being closed last season, Nemesis Reborn at Alton Towers returns to the chart at No. 37.

Wooden Coasters: Knoebels' Phoenix sets record, top ten jumbles

No wooden roller coaster has held the Golden Ticket title more than five times … until now.

Phoenix at Knoebels Amusement Resort made its sixth consecutive win for Best Wooden Coaster.

“We are honored to have Phoenix receive this distinction for a sixth consecutive year. It is no small feat to maintain wooden roller coasters the way our team does,” said Dick Knoebel, owner. “This past off-season alone, our team performed 800 feet of Phoenix track work, which means 7,800 board feet of track was replaced. Seeing guests’ excitement as they exit the ride — some of whom will hop right back in line to ride again — is what keeps us motivated to continue this meticulous care.”  

Opened in 1985, Phoenix is considered one of the finest acts of preservation among coaster enthusiasts. Rescuing a beloved Herbert Schmeck design from Philadelphia Toboggan Company in San Antonio, Texas, the relocation was done with the help of Charles Dinn and has long been considered to be a woodie among the elite thanks to the constant love from the Knoebels team.

The Voyage at Holiday World held the Golden Ticket for five consecutive years but still claims legions of fans, keeping it at No. 2. Designed by The Gravity Group, the raucous out-and-back has enormous drops and wild maneuvers, redefining the term one-of-a-kind.

Kings Island has given much love to The Beast over the past years, and in 2024, the 1979 behemoth rose to its highest ranking since 1998, No. 3. The Beast set records when it opened as the longest roller coaster in the world. Making use of its forested terrain, the wooden monster still boasts being the longest wooden roller coaster in the world after 45 years — a stunning amount of time to hold on to such a record.

Keeping its ranking of No. 4, Thunderhead at Dollywood, also a recipient of multi-year TLC, is one of three designs by Great Coasters International, Inc. (GCII) in the top ten.

It’s uncommon for a theme park to even have two wooden coasters, but to have two in the top five is quite a brag. Kings Island’s Mystic Timbers, also by GCII, rises to its highest ranking to date, No. 5.

“The thrill that riding a wooden roller coaster provides is unlike any other amusement park experience,” said Mike Koontz, vice president and general manager. “And, with 18,806 feet of wooden roller coaster track, including The Beast, the world’s longest wooden roller coaster; and Mystic Timbers, 2017’s Golden Ticket Award winner for Best New Ride, we are proud to provide our guests with one of the best wooden roller coaster riding experiences in the world.”

“In 2022, we extended the length of The Beast’s first drop by two feet. To me, that additional two feet speaks volumes about the park’s commitment to wooden roller coasters, added Chad Showalter, Kings Island communications. “Not only do we have iconic wood coasters (new and old), but Kings Island is passionately committed to taking good care of them and doing everything we can to make sure our guests have a great ride experience. To put that in perspective, since 2020 Kings Island has retracked nearly 6,000 feet of wood track on The Racer and The Beast.  It’s work like this that demonstrates the park is dedicated to the next generation of thrill seekers, especially when it comes to wooden roller coasters.  It’s an honor that your readers and GTA voters recognize that.”

Six Flags Great Adventure has the No. 6 spot with El Toro, a wooden coaster from Intamin. Its wickedly steep drops and extreme speed deliver an abundance of airtime.

Boulder Dash at Lake Compounce, also a five-time winner of the gold, stays in the top ten at No. 7. It was one of “Class of 2000” woodies from Custom Coasters International.

GhostRider at Knott’s Berry Farm (No. 8) has the distinction of being a Custom Coaster design but a total refurbishment from GCII. Since then, it has risen to the upper heights of the chart.

Entering the top ten is Wodan Timbur Coaster (No. 9) at Europa-Park. It is the highest ranking of this sensational 62 mph crowd-pleaser from GCII.

Completing the top ten is Ravine Flyer II at Waldameer. Built by The Gravity Group, this woodie provides breathtaking views of Lake Erie before it plummets into a tangle of wooden rails and wild screams.

Making the largest climb of any coaster is Joris en de Draak, a racing coaster from GCII at Efteling. Its placement is a massive leap onto the charts, all the way up to No. 15. It is a creation from GCII.

Twelve of the top 50 [see all 50 rankings at www.GoldenTicketAwards.com] are from outside of the United States.

In sharp contrast to steel coasters, 18 entries are from the 20th century, the oldest dating back to 1914: Rutschebanan (No. 29) at Tivoli Gardens. Other coasters up there in age are Cyclone (No. 12) Luna Park, 1927; Jack Rabbit (No. 17), Kennywood, 1920; and Giant Dipper (No. 32) at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk that celebrates 100 years this season.

When the Golden Ticket Awards originated in 1998, wooden coasters did not go upside down. Now, a quarter century later, three on the charts do: Outlaw Run at Silver Dollar City (No. 11), Wildfire (No. 19) at Kolmården, and Hades 360 (No. 39) at Mount Olympus Water & Theme Park. The first two are from Rocky Mountain Construction; the latter is a creation of The Gravity Group.

Three parks boast a trio of wooden wonders in the list of 50: Kennywood, whose Jack Rabbit is joined by Thunderbolt (No. 21) and Racer (No. 37); Knoebels, whose Phoenix is joined by Twister (No. 28) and the only-one-of-its-kind Flying Turns (No. 31); and Kings Island, with Racer (No. 42) joining its top-five siblings.