This weekend Kings Island is opening its gates to thousands of children fighting life-threatening illnesses as part of the non-profit organization, A Kid Again’s annual Rides and Slides Adventure. Up to 10,000 kids, siblings and family from Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana have been invited to enjoy the weekend-long event. The Southwest Ohio Chapter of A Kid Again serves 1,400 families in the community.
To learn more, visit www.akidagain.org. Kings Island is open this weekend on Friday, Saturday and Sunday for Halloween Haunt and the family-friendly fall festival, Tricks and Treats. More information is available at visitkingsisland.com.
ST. LOUIS — Intercard has installed its latest cashless technology at Tiki Adventure Zone in Port Orange, Florida. Formerly known as Go Kart City, the popular outdoor family fun park has undergone an extensive makeover under new owners Dean Park and Ethan Pepper. It is scheduled to re-open on October 1 with six different go-kart experiences, mini-golf, bumper boats and batting cages. Guests can also enjoy a refreshed arcade with 25 of the latest games, powered by an Intercard cashless system.
Intercard’s Saul Scribner did the installation on-site in June 2024.
AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands – WhiteWater, the world’s leading designer and manufacturer of aquatic attractions, kicked off IAAPA Expo Europe 2024 by showcasing its latest product innovations and award-winning projects at its booth Tuesday afternoon to a crowd of industry media and peers.
Cultivating Diversity in Leadership
The press conference started with an announcement of the continuation of WhiteWater’s IDEA (inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility) scholarship for 2024 in collaboration with the IAAPA Foundation. This scholarship, launched last year, aims to support individuals from underrepresented backgrounds by providing financial assistance and educational access, effectively bridging the opportunity gap. The scholarship funds attendance at the IAAPA Institute, a week-long program tailored for senior leaders in the global attractions industry. This initiative not only nurtures hidden talent but also empowers future leaders by reducing financial constraints and systemic barriers.
Making Waves in Cruise
WhiteWater remains at the forefront of cruise industry innovation, unveiling several new projects. These include an Adventure Trail for the 2025 MSC World America ship and its 24th collaboration with Royal Caribbean Cruises, featuring a FlowRider® Double on the Star of the Seas, also launching in 2025.
Expanding into the Saudi Arabian cruise market, WhiteWater has partnered with AROYA Cruises to bring the first AquaForms 5 play structure to a cruise ship, along with a splash pad featuring Life Floor and AquaSplash spray toys on the Aroya Manara. This addition is designed to elevate the onboard experience, particularly for families and young guests.
Hotels and Resorts Thrive with Water
WhiteWater also highlighted its latest resort projects on the heels of its 2024 report with Hotel & Leisure Advisors that underscored the long-term financial benefits of aquatic amenities. In Croatia, Amadria Park expanded with new attractions, including the Whizzard and Constrictor + Rattler Fusion water slides, with additional indoor amenities set to open by year-end. Other significant developments include the Regnum Carya water park in Turkey, scheduled for a Spring 2025 opening, and the Grand Hyatt Dubai resort water park’s Q2 2025 opening featuring 15 new attractions across 20,000 square meters, aimed at boosting guest engagement and occupancy.
The Global Surf Movement Continues
With over 25 million surfers in the world and counting, the sport continues to grow and be integrated into various venue types. Within the resort space, Grand Hyatt Dubai is set to introduce the first FlowRider® Triple in the Middle East, featuring a 12-meter (40 feet) surface that accommodates up to three riders simultaneously, with a capacity of 360 to 720 rides per hour. In the standalone venue space, FlowRider Inc. announced an exclusive licensing agreement with SEVEN to bring the Flow House brand to Saudi Arabia, combining food, beverage, and surfing entertainment. Three Flow House venues are currently under construction across the Kingdom: in Riyadh, Al Khobar, and Jeddah.
In Germany, the first inland surf park, O2 SURFTOWN MUC, celebrated its grand opening in August of 2024 with over 14,000 guests in attendance. This groundbreaking venue is also the world’s first to feature Endless Surf technology, incorporating a 34-caisson lagoon, which delivers customizable waves using advanced pneumatic hardware and proprietary software.
Paul Chutter, President of Endless Surf, highlighted the importance of this milestone, stating, “This moment is a testament to the dedication of the teams involved and a significant achievement for inland surf, providing operators unparalleled flexibility and control of wave types with our technology. After years of hard work and innovation, we’re thrilled to see world-class waves in Munich for all to enjoy.”
Building Record-Breaking Attractions
Europe
In 2024, WhiteWater made waves across Europe’s water park sector with notable additions to Fårup Sommerland in Denmark and Aquascope in France. At Fårup Sommerland, the company celebrated a milestone by installing Denmark’s tallest water slides, including a Tailspin + Boomerango Fusion and Parallel Pursuit. This marks the continuation of a successful 14-year partnership with the park. New for younger guests, the park introduced Mini Boomerango, alongside several other kid-friendly attractions to ensure a seamless experience for all ages. Over in France, Aquascope welcomed three new kids’ water slides and an engaging splash pad featuring AquaSplash and AquaSpray toys, adding to the park’s appeal for families and young visitors.
Middle East
WhiteWater also announced its collaboration with Aquarabia Qiddiya City, bringing to life 22 exhilarating rides and attractions, including five record-breaking rides. One of the flagship attractions at the water theme park is FusionFortress 18, known for its ground-level interactives where children with limited mobility can explore and engage with the toys while spraying their siblings with jets, turning wheels to set off various reactions on the structure, and most importantly, sharing the fun with their family and friends. The first play structure of this scale in the world, FusionFortress 18 boasts a staggering 181 interactive play features, 11 diverse water slides, two tipping buckets, and a water geyser spraying nearly 30 meters (100 feet) into the air. Located in Qiddiya City, Aquarabia will be one of the project’s many attractions where visitors can enjoy unforgettable entertainment offerings, based on the foundation of play.
The press conference also featured the latest edition of Falcon’s Play Creators video series. Building anticipation for the opening of Aquarabia, the video offers a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of this unique water theme park, with interviews with Mike Rigby, GM & Regional Vice President of the Middle East & India, and Kenneth Campbell, Senior Installation Advisor & Team Development Specialist. Featuring construction footage of the development, the video highlighted the scale of this ambitious project and the team’s dedication to bringing extraordinary experiences to life.
Looking Ahead
WhiteWater’s forward momentum into 2025 was buoyed by the news of successfully defending its new product track record in the Canadian intellectual property suit brought by ProSlide Technology. The ruling by the Honourable Justice Michael Manson, one of Canada’s foremost intellectual property judges, proved there was no infringement by WhiteWater and that ProSlide’s patents were deemed invalid.
“Innovation is at the heart of everything we do,” said Rainer Maelzer, President of WhiteWater ERA GmbH. “As we continue to grow globally, we are committed to working closely with our clients to create unique, immersive experiences that drive guest satisfaction and operational success.”
Rainer and the WhiteWater team continue their focus collaborating closely with clients, ensuring that their vision is realized while meeting the evolving needs of their guests. As WhiteWater’s latest brand campaign, launched at IAAPA Expo Europe, highlights “together the future of attractions is ours to create.”
CARLSBAD, Calif. — LEGOLAND California’s Driving School attractions will be temporarily closing on September 29th with a victory lap, before reopening in a brand new location in 2025! Not only will kids earn their driver’s license after learning the rules of the road, but from Sept. 23 – 29, 25 lucky young drivers will receive prizes in honor of the theme park’s 25th birthday. For 25 years, kids have burned rubber, stopped at red lights and earned their driver’s licenses at both Driving School and Junior Driving School and the time has come for the attractions to switch lanes to another location in the Park to be announced next year.
Young drivers have the opportunity to win LEGO sets, tickets and even annual passes to return next year and be one of the first to experience the new Driving Schools when they reopen in a new location. To win, kids must complete a final drive on either attraction to earn their official LEGOLAND Driver’s License. Twenty-five of the iconic ID cards will be transformed into golden tickets, each one stamped with a surprise prize! Children visiting during the Resort’s epic Brick-or-Treat Monster Party Halloween Event on September 28th will be some of the last to ride the Park’s treasured attractions before it closes the following day. Stay tuned on the Resort’s social media pages to find out when and where the new Driving School attractions will open in 2025!
For more information about LEGOLAND California, visit our website or follow us on Facebook. To book a not-too-scary Halloween Vacation Package at LEGOLAND Hotel, visit our Vacation Packages page. Guests can also purchase single-day tickets or annual passes with or without a hotel stay.
GLEN, N.H. — It’s a can’t miss new Halloween experience in the picturesque White Mountains. Happy Hauntings – New Hampshire’s Best New Way to Halloween – takes center stage at Story Land Theme Park starting this Saturday, September 28. The event is the park’s first-ever Halloween experience and will bring 10 all-new family-friendly ways to enjoy spooky season. The addition of Happy Hauntings will mark the park’s longest season ever and culminate the park’s 70th Celebration season in the biggest way possible.
Happy Hauntings will delight guests each Saturday and Sunday, September 28 through October 27, plus Monday, October 14 from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Visitors are encouraged to wear their best costume while they enjoy all-new boos including:
- Fairy Tale Trick-or-Treat Trail: everyone is invited to collect candy as they make their way through the park’s storybook area with delicious treats and the most fairytale characters in Story Land history, including Goldilocks, Little Red Riding Hood and more;
- PBS KIDS Daniel Tiger Shows: it’s a grr-ific day for shows with Daniel Tiger and his neighborhood friend Katerina Kittycat from the PBS KIDS show Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood every day in the Loopy Lab Theater;
- Special Halloween Themed Shows: two spectacular shows, Unhappily Ever After and Cinderella’s Royal Celebration: Villains Takeover take center stage select times throughout the day;
- Cinderella’s Pumpkin Patch: visitors can pick their very own pumpkins and even have the opportunity to paint pumpkins and show them off to Cinderella herself when they visit her castle;
- Dress to Halloween Impress: it’s the perfect time to show-off the family’s matching costumes. All guests are encouraged to dress in their Halloween best, plus those still looking for the perfect addition to their spooky season wardrobe can stop by Miss Muffet’s Market or Let’s Pretend for unique costume offerings;
- Story Time and Meet and Greets with Spookley the Square Pumpkin: everyone’s favorite square pumpkin will be on-site every day during Happy Hauntings for a story time and meet and greets with the entire family;
- Halloween Hay Maze: a timeless fall tradition joins the Halloween lineup at Story Land as a hay maze pops up challenging guests to make their way through the interactive maze and onto their next fall-themed adventure; and
- Exclusive Halloween Activities: each weekend will bring select activities to the park including a Halloween scavenger hunt, Halloween Bubble Bash, scream contests, scary-oke and a kid’s costume contest.
“Our 70th Celebration Season has been jam-packed with newness for our guests,” said General Manager Chris Kearsing. “We have been celebrating 70 years all summer long from our birthday bash to the opening of the new Moo Lagoon water play area to our all-new Happy Hauntings event, this season offered more family friendly activities than ever before.”
Families are also invited to enjoy select rides during their visit including Antique Cars, the Pumpkin Coach, Great Balloon Chase, Polar Coaster and more. Foodies are in for a treat as Story Land introduces an exclusive fall menu featuring delicious treats. Select food locations will offer hot and iced apple cider, apple pie fried dough, spookies ‘n cream flavored Dippin’ Dots, caramel and candy apples and more.
Those looking to visit Story Land this Happy Hauntings season can get tickets for just $29.99 when they buy four or more online. Families looking to visit throughout the event can purchase a 2025 Season Pass now for up to $40 off and get free, unlimited access to Happy Hauntings in 2024. Plus, exclusive perks like free preferred parking, in-park discounts, bring a friend free tickets and more.
VANCOUVER, Canada — WhiteWater is pleased to announce our definitive success in defending four of our new products in the patent infringement case brought on by ProSlide Technology.
Onno Meeter, President of WhiteWater’s water park business unit, stated, “The verdict underscores WhiteWater’s leadership in the area of innovation by confirming that AquaSphere, Orbiter, and Tailspin are unique WhiteWater products.”
On December 1, 2020, ProSlide Technology, Ltd. launched a suit in Canada against WhiteWater, alleging infringement of six patents covering the above water slide products and five industrial designs covering Parallel Pursuit. During the course of the case, allegations concerning the five industrial designs and one patent were dismissed, confirming the validity of WhiteWater’s portfolio.
On August 30, 2024, the Honourable Justice Michael Manson, one of Canada’s foremost intellectual property judges, ruled that there was no infringement of any of the claims relating to the products. More strikingly, Justice Manson also ruled that every patent claim asserted by ProSlide and inventor Rick Hunter was deemed invalid. Additionally, ProSlide was ordered to pay WhiteWater’s litigation costs.
In a parallel case concerning eight patents in the United States, allegations concerning five patents were dismissed, one was ruled not to be infringing, and two remain before the court.
WhiteWater’s CEO Geoff Chutter commented, “Integrity is priceless, and after years of litigation, this judgment reaffirms that ours is intact. Our focus will continue to put our clients needs first as we develop new products”
AMSTERDAM — Zamperla is pleased to announce our participation in IAAPA Expo Europe 2024, which will be held in Amsterdam from 24 September to 26 September.
We will be located at booth 10132, where our sales team and ingeneers will be available to engage with attendees and provide insights into our latest offerings.
At this year’s expo, Zamperla will be highlighting our Integrated Rides concept. This approach represents a significant development in attraction design to deliver fun and immersive experiences. Integrated Rides combines multiple attractions within a compact footprint, allowing for a higher capacity of visitors and increasing the energy and vibrancy of the area.
In addition, our booth will feature a focus on two major coaster projects set to open in 2026 in Asia and in Europe. These projects reflect our commitment to advancing the field of roller coasters with cutting-edge technology and design.
We invite visitors to join us in Amsterdam to learn more about our latest developments and how they can enhance the future of entertainment.
FORT WAYNE, Ind. — Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo is proud to announce that it has received accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) independent Accreditation Commission at this year’s Annual Conference in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Twice a year, the Commission reviews accreditation applications from the best zoos, aquariums, and related facilities in the world. At this year’s Annual Conference, 33 facilities were granted accreditation.
“The Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo has been accredited by AZA since the mid 1970’s and was the 13th zoo in the country to receive accreditation. The tradition of excellence in animal care and health, in educational programs, conservation efforts, and guest services is long standing expectation here. That doesn’t mean we don’t work every day to become even better and to continue to raise the bar of zoo excellence,” says Rick Schuiteman, Executive Zoo Director.
AZA accreditation includes a detailed application and a meticulous multiple-day on-site inspection by an independent team of zoological professionals. The inspecting team analyzes all aspects of the facility’s operation, including animal care and wellbeing; veterinary care; staff training; safety for visitors, staff, and animals; educational programs; conservation efforts; financial stability; risk management; governance; and guest services. Detailed reports from the inspection team and the facility alike are then thoroughly evaluated by the Commission. Finally, the Commission interviews top officials from the facility at a formal hearing, after which accreditation is fully granted, provisionally granted for one year, or denied.
A thorough review ensures that each facility has met and will continue to meet ever-evolving standards. As a condition of Association membership, AZA facilities must complete this rigorous accreditation process every five years.
“Congratulations to the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo for meeting our rigorous standards and achieving Association of Zoos and Aquariums accreditation,” said Dan Ashe, president and chief executive officer at AZA. “Earning accreditation is a mark of excellence and a testament to Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo’s unwavering commitment to the highest standards of animal care and
conservation. Your dedication not only enhances the lives of the animals you care for but also sets a precedent for excellence in the zoological community.” As a result of this year’s accreditation decisions, there are now 252 AZA-accredited facilities throughout the United States and 12 other countries.
PHILADELPHIA — Beat The Bomb, the World’s Craziest Team Game, will open its doors on Friday, Oct. 11, at 1218 Chestnut Street in Center City, Philadelphia. The unit will be the company’s fourth U.S. location, joining Brooklyn (NYC), Atlanta and Washington, D.C. The 10,000 square feet “eatertainment” venue is being built by ARCO/Murray in The Bailey Building, owned by Thylan Associates. This expansion follows a recent $15M Series B investment by Otium Capital and Conversion Venture Capital, which will support additional Beat The Bomb openings in Charlotte, Houston and Denver in the next 6 months.
“Beat The Bomb is about having an absolute blast with your team—win or lose!” said CEO and Founder Alex Patterson. “Step aside darts, ping-pong, shuffleboard, mini-golf, and even escape rooms! We are the world’s first immersive social video game, using cutting-edge technology and incredible special effects to bring people together in real life. Philadelphia has been on our radar for a few years now, and we are excited to offer Philadelphians the next wave of socializing with their friends, family and coworkers.”
Since launching as a bootstrapped start-up in Brooklyn in 2017, Beat The Bomb has hosted over 750,000 customers, earned 30,000 five-star Google Reviews and been featured on NBC’s “Today Show,” “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” and “The Daily Show.” Beat The Bomb also welcomed celebrities such as Usher, Venus Williams and Tony Hawk to take on the missions before being paint bombed with their families. “We have come a long way but are still just getting started,” says CEO Alex Patterson. “Our goal is to open 50 locations in the U.S. by 2030 and then expand the concept internationally.”
At Beat The Bomb, teams of four to six players suit up in hazmat gear and take on one of three 60-minute “Bomb Mission” experiences—Paint, Foam, or Slime. Each mission offers a distinct set of team
challenges and special effects endings. During the hour, teams must advance through five high-tech video game rooms—featuring lasers, projection-wall mapping, RFID readers, touch screens and motion sensors—with game titles like “Hack Attack,” “Crypto Laser,” “Echo Chamber,” and “Floor Grid.” The goal is to earn time on the team’s “Bomb Clock,” which will be helpful in disarming a giant bomb in the final glass-walled “Bomb Room.”
Losing means getting blasted with paint, foam, or slime, while victory hinges on teamwork, communication, and collaboration. Winning unlocks rewards, commemorative keepsakes, and access to exclusive tournaments. Beat The Bomb’s Loyalty Program makes every visit more rewarding, with players earning points by both playing and winning, redeemable for game discounts, exclusive merchandise, and food and drinks. With new gaming experiences added to the gaming system annually, every visit guarantees a fresh and unforgettable way to “Have a Blast!”
Beat The Bomb Philadelphia will be the first location to launch with the “Slime Bomb Mission,” featuring all-new games developed by the Beat The Bomb Game Studio and upgraded Slime-Blast technology that drenches teams in an epic shower of gooey slime. “Get ready, Philadelphia! We have created the SLIMIEST experience the world has ever seen—guaranteed!” says Patterson.
The Bomb Bar—a full-service bar with a food menu—overlooks a 1,500 square-foot beer garden where customers can enjoy colorful slushies, themed cocktails, local craft beers and delicious bites, like chicken wings, fried chicken sandwiches and pizzas. Surrounding the dining area are five semi-private “Arcade Game Bays” where guests can eat, drink, and play a 90-minute competitive socializing experience.
Groups split into smaller teams of two to four and take on a gauntlet of mini-games—ranging from timed challenges to competitive battles—to determine the ultimate winner.
Beat The Bomb Philadelphia also offers a 300 square-foot private events space, perfect for corporate outings, birthday celebrations, and other special occasions, along with customizable catering and bar service packages. Beat The Bomb hosts hundreds of corporate events annually, with past clients including corporations, such as Home Depot, Delta, Google, Amazon and PWC; universities, like New York University and Georgetown and even professional sports teams, such as the Brooklyn Nets and Washington Commanders. Beat The Bomb also welcomes tens of thousands of students annually from middle schools, high schools, and nonprofit afterschool programs. Through a STEM school partner program and ticket donation initiative, the goal is to inspire the next generation of creative technologists and teach kids that any challenge no matter how big can be “beaten” by using teamwork.
ST. LOUIS — Intercard is known for great customer service because the company gets out of the office and visits with its customers to listen to their needs. In August 2020 CEO Scott Sherrod went out on the road to see how customers were doing as the industry reopened after the initial COVID-19 shutdown. This informal research road trip has since become an annual event dubbed “Scott’s Summer Tour.”
The 2024 tour took place in August and a lot of peanuts and crackerjack were consumed. Scott treated customers to major league baseball games in Chicago, Denver, New York and St. Louis and had dinner meetings with partners in Austin and Dallas.
