ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Electric Playhouse, the social gaming destination featuring dozens of motion-activated experiences, announces its Albuquerque, New Mexico, location has been recognized as a Tripadvisor 2024 “Travelers’ Choice” Award recipient. Brilliantly merging the digital and physical worlds into one, the destination fosters human connection and gets visitors of all ages and interests moving through active play and healthy movement.
Each year, Tripadvisor celebrates travelers’ favorite businesses worldwide based on reviews and ratings collected over the past 12 months. Electric Playhouse’s stellar reviews earned it a spot in the top 10% of things to do globally, a testament to its commitment to excellence and visitor satisfaction.
Due to its ongoing success and increased demand for social gaming experiences for guests of all ages, Electric Playhouse recently opened a second location on the Las Vegas Strip. The new destination features all the notable and engaging motion-activated games the Albuquerque location is known for.
“This award celebrates our team’s passion and innovation in crafting a space where play, exploration and imagination come to life,” said Brandon Garrett, chief executive officer and co-founder, Electric Playhouse. “We are thrilled to be in the top 10% of things to do globally and look forward to welcoming even more adventurers to our new location on the Las Vegas Strip, where the magic of Electric Playhouse continues to evolve.”
ST. LOUIS, Mo. — Intercard has installed its latest cashless technology at Galaxy Bowling and Entertainment Center in Richmond, Kentucky. The 32-lane center recently refreshed its 50-game arcade with 30 new games and replaced an older cashless system embedded by another manufacturer.
The Intercard system is fully integrated with Galaxy Bowling’s Brunswick Sync scoring and management system, allowing customers to buy game cards when they check in for bowling. It also runs Intercard’s latest PlusXL software, which allows easy customization of the touch screen on the arcade’s iTeller kiosk.
The center says it has the largest arcade in Richmond. Intercard’s Saul Scribner did the installation on-site in May 2024.
It’s never too early to celebrate the holidays especially in the summer at New York’s Largest Water Park. Splish Splash Water Park will have a new special event called Winter Wonderland. The family-friendly event kicks off July 15 through July 21 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Winter Wonderland will have a DJ, giveaways, exclusive meet and greets with Peppermint Pixie, Santa, a Snow Fairy, a giant Polar Bear and Reindeer. There will be entertainment for kids of all ages from Candy Cane limbo, Freeze Dance, Jingle Juggle lessons and more. Winter Wonderland will feature festive limited-time food offerings, such as Candy Cane Dippin’ Dots and ICEE flavors including Santa Lemonade, Menorah Mango, Christmas Cherry, and Wintery Watermelon.
The park is encouraging guests who visit the park on July 17 and 19 to donate an unwrapped toy or make a monetary donation ($25 or more) and have a chance to spin a wheel to receive Splish Splash swag and even a free admission ticket to be used on a future date.
The park is partnering with Family & Children’s Association (FCA) to help their Adopt-a-Family campaign, which helps to brighten the holiday season for many Long Islanders in need. The campaign connects families who request support with donors who provide Holiday Cheer. In 2023, along with their generous sponsors, FCA helped over 950 local friends and families.
“As we celebrate our 140th anniversary, we are thrilled to partner with Splish Splash for their Winter Wonderland event.” – Paige O’Brien, Chief Development Officer & Vice President of Strategic Advancement at FCA.
Guests can save over 30% on tickets during the park’s Weekday Flash Sale from July 15-26 to visit the event.
The Carolina’s Favorite Water Park is going BIG in celebration of the park’s 40th birthday. The World’s Largest Rubber Duck is waddling over to Wet ‘n Wild for a quacking good time beginning Friday, July 19 through Sunday, July 21.
Standing more than 61 feet tall, the Mama Duck has become an icon, making her way across the country to several cities including New York, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Austin. Now for the first time ever, Mama Duck and baby duck, Timmy, will make Greensboro North Carolina their home for three days in July.
Wet ‘n Wild Emerald Pointe is celebrating its birthday all weekend long with big duck and baby duck meet and greets, exclusive birthday treats and more. Plus, visitors can EAT FREE when they purchase a meal deal ticket now.
GLEN, N.H. — Story Land, The Place Where Fantasy Lives, is unwrapping one more gift for its 70th Celebration Season as it introduces New Hampshire’s Best New Way to Halloween, Happy Hauntings. Extending the park’s season to its longest ever, the all-new Happy Hauntings event will begin on Saturday, October 5 through Sunday, October 27. The family-friendly Halloween event will offer rides, meet and greets with beloved story book characters, an interactive trick-or-treat trail, Halloween-themed shows and more.
“Our 70th anniversary is a season-long celebration that’s highlighted by events like our 70th Birthday Bash block party and the debut of our new Moo Lagoon water play area. Happy Hauntings will be the icing on the cake,” said Chris Kearsing, General Manager. “As our first Halloween event, it will be our final birthday gift to anyone visiting the White Mountains this fall, close out our longest season ever, and give parents a new way to make Halloween memories for their children.”
The park will be decked out in full Halloween decor and open from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday in October as well as on Monday, October 14. Highlights will include:
- Cinderella’s Pumpkin Patch invites kids to explore the patch, pick the perfect pumpkin and then artfully decorate it before heading to the Castle to show Cinderella herself;
- Fairy Tale Trick-or-Treat Trail offers all treats and no tricks as visitors make their way through the park’s Story Book area trick or treating with their favorite story book characters including the Old Woman in the Shoe, Little Red Riding Hood and more; and
- Halloween Shows feature a Halloween spin and villains taking over each show, guests can catch performances at select times throughout the day at Loopy Lab Theater and can end their day with an evil spin on a beloved show.
Happy Hauntings will also include Halloween décor throughout Story Land, a hay maze, costume character bubble dance party, rotating family activities like Scary-oke and more. Select rides will also be open throughout the event including the Polar Coaster, Antique Cars, Huff & Puff Whistle Railroad, Great Balloon Chase and many more.
Story Land’s longest season ever with the addition of it’s first-ever Halloween event, Happy Hauntings completes the park’s massive 70th Celebration Season. Coming off the heels of the addition of the park’s largest capital investment in its seven-decade history, Moo Lagoon, Story Land continues to invest in the park and improve the guest experience with an extended season, all-new events, a brand-new water play area and more.
NEDERWEERT — Ruud Koppens, the founder of ETF Ride Systems, has announced his retirement effective July 1st. Ruud, who established ETF Ride Systems as a division of the ETF Group 26 years ago, has been a member of the ETF Group for nearly 51 years.
Retiring at the age of 67, Ruud Koppens made the decision to step down while in good health, hoping to spend more time with his wife, three children, and five grandchildren. Over the years, ETF Ride Systems has thrived under his leadership, becoming a prominent name in the industry.
Ruud is confident that he is leaving the company in capable hands. A well-established team will continue to lead the company, which has been acquired by a private family group deeply involved in the amusement industry. The new owners intend to maintain ETF Ride Systems as an independent company, keeping the same team and premises.
Ruud has been the driving force behind ETF Ride Systems’ success, particularly with the trackless dark-ride vehicles, of which over 750 units have been built to date. The company is renowned for its high technical reliability, with an impressive uptime of 99.5%, and low maintenance costs. In addition to amusement parks, ETF Ride Systems also serves various museums worldwide.
New ride vehicle
True to his innovative spirit, Ruud leaves the company and the market with a new product. Over the past few months, he led the development of a new high-end vehicle for the trackless range. The new vehicle, named “Dynamic Mover,” boasts higher speed, greater acceleration and deceleration, omni-directional driving capabilities, increased passenger cabin rotations, and the ability to navigate inclines. Notably, it no longer relies on the renowned ETF floor wire. The “Dynamic Mover” will be introduced and demonstrated live to the public at IAAPA in Amsterdam, followed by IAAPA Orlando.
Farewell
A farewell reception for Ruud will be held on July 15th. He will also be present at IAAPA Amsterdam to personally bid farewell to his customers and colleagues in the industry. He has promised to remain available for advice and suggestions if needed by the ETF team.
The entire ETF team is grateful for Ruud’s contributions and leadership. They wish him all the best for the future and express their appreciation for the legacy he leaves behind.
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Slick City, inventors of the world’s first indoor slide park designed for all ages, has just announced that the lease has been signed for their first franchise location in Minneapolis.
The brand’s first Minnesota location will be in the Arbor Lakes district at 10900 Fountains Drive Ste 130 Maple Grove, MN 55369, and is slated to open in Spring of 2025. Franchise owners, Mike and Annie Kelly are thrilled to be bringing Slick City to their community and know that it’s the perfect fit for those looking for an action park experience everyone will love.
“As parents of three young children, we couldn’t imagine a better place for Slick City’s Minnesota debut than the Arbor Lakes district in Maple Grove,” said the Kelly’s. “Living nearby, we love frequenting the local restaurants, shops, and ice arenas, making us deeply connected to and passionate about this vibrant community.”
As Minnesota continues to see a rise in population, now is the perfect time for Slick City to enter the state. Unlike other out-of-home entertainment parks, Slick City is an all-ages brand. The unique attractions are created for both the young and young-at-heart to enjoy while having new experiences with their loved ones. Slick City has an unusually high rate of paid visits by adults and parents; currently more than 19% of revenue is generated from passholders over the age of 18! The all-ages appeal extends into exciting in-park events like Adult Night and Glow City. Slick City has received awards and accolades including “Best Place for a Kid’s Birthday Party” in St. Louis.
“We are thrilled to have the Kelly’s join the Slick City family as our newest franchisees,” said Bron Launsby, CEO and Founder of Slick City. “As Minnesota locals, they have unique insight on exactly what their community could benefit from and we’re lucky to have them spearheading our expansion into the state. Minneapolis’s flourishing and active environment aligns seamlessly with the mission behind Slick City and we can’t wait to bring a unique and thrilling adventure to the area.”
Slick City plans to grant at least thirty protected franchise territories across the US in 2024. Between franchise and corporate locations, eight openings are planned by year end, and even more in 2025. The initial investment for a Slick City location is $1.55m – $4.26m (depending largely on the size of the space between 25,000 and 55,000 square feet as well as the condition of the building selected by the franchisee and approved by Slick City).
Altitude Trampoline Park celebrates mid-year success with 13 new park agreement
By News Release | July 9, 2024
DALLAS, Texas — Altitude Trampoline Park, the leading family-friendly entertainment franchise, announced today the remarkable growth the brand has experienced since the start of the year. With a focus on providing family-friendly entertainment, Altitude has proven itself as an attractive investment opportunity for franchisees, with six signed development agreements that will bring 13 new locations to target markets nationwide. Since the start of 2024, Altitude has opened four locations in Spring Hill, Florida; Austell, Georgia; North Versailles, Pennsylvania; and Webster, Texas, and currently has eight units leased and under construction. Altitude is continuing this momentum, with its franchise agreements to bring locations to North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee, among other states.
“Our growth in 2024 has been phenomenal. Dedicated to providing family friendly-fun, we are committed to expanding nationwide to make our parks accessible to everyone,” said Mike Rotondo, CEO of Altitude Trampoline Park. “It’s amazing to see several of our existing franchisees expanding their footprint while also welcoming new franchisees into our system. As our growth continues, exciting plans are in store that will continue to make Altitude a worthwhile investment for franchisees and a top destination for all families.”
Altitude is continuing its growth, with eight units currently under construction. These units will be located in:
- San Jose, California – Owned by Tim Kurtz
- Coral Springs, Florida – Owned by Raj Chopra
- Milpitas, California – Owned by Guru Kamar and partners
- Folsom, California – Owned by Guru Kamar and partners
- San Dimas, California – Owned by Guru Kamar and partners
- Birmingham, Alabama – Owned by Shafiq Samji
- Chicago, Illinois – Owned by Kevin Kolb
- Schaumburg, Illinois – Owned by Shahista Jiwani
Also in 2024, Altitude expanded its leadership team, welcoming new hires, including Chris Kuehn as Chief Operating Officer, Mike Stout as Vice President of Franchise Development, and Mike D’Arezzo, Director of Franchise Development. As Altitude continues to grow, the brand is dedicated to developing its leadership team with industry veterans to strengthen the brand’s operations and franchise development initiatives.
The brand’s commitment to providing an outstanding customer experience has resulted in an impressive systemwide sales increase of 3% since the start of 2024. This positive momentum showcases Altitude’s ability to attract new customers while also retaining its loyal fanbase.
Altitude Trampoline Park is owned by Indoor Active Brands, a platform company that focuses on indoor entertainment concepts. This year, Indoor Active Brands launched its latest brand, The Pickle Pad, an indoor pickleball playground featuring a chef-inspired restaurant, bar, and yard games for all ages. Established by NRD Capital, Indoor Active Brands utilizes industry experience in the family entertainment and restaurant industries to support and assist its franchisees.
For the remainder of the year, Altitude on track to open six new locations. These locations will bolster the brand’s presence in key markets and offer more families the chance to enjoy the excitement and joy of its state-of-the-art entertainment.
Adventureland’s Tornado Roller Coaster to be named a Landmark Coaster
By News Release | July 9, 2024
ALTOONA, Iowa — Adventureland’s Tornado roller coaster will be named a landmark coaster by the American Coaster Enthusiasts. The organization will present the Altoona theme park with its landmark plaque on August 17, when the park hosts the American Coaster Enthusiasts’ national Preservation Conference. The plaque will be located near Tornado’s entrance.
Fewer than 50 coasters have been designated a landmark coaster by the American Coaster Enthusiasts since the program was established in 2000. It is reserved for coasters that have made a notable impact in the theme park industry and have provided lasting memories for generations of riders.
Tornado was designed by the famed coaster designer William Cobb. It opened to the public on July 1, 1978, with the official grand opening one week later, with then Iowa Governor Robert D. Ray riding in the front seat. Tornado was Adventureland’s first major coaster, helping put the small Iowa theme park on the map. The coaster quickly gained popularity among Iowans and coaster enthusiasts from around the world. After opening, it was named among of the top ten wooden coasters.
“Tornado left its impact on Adventureland when it opened nearly 50 years ago, and it remains one of our most beloved attractions today,” Adventureland General Manager Mike Lusky said. “We are incredibly honored to have Tornado recognized by the American Coaster Enthusiasts, especially during our 50th celebration. We are proud to continue our investments in preserving this classic attraction for future generations.”
Adventureland has made a significant investment in the preservation of Tornado over the last year, retracking several sections of the coaster and having its trains rebuilt by Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters. It’s a part of the Altoona theme park’s dedication to preservation. In the last year, the park has also retracked several sections of Outlaw and reopened the reimagined Underground, the world’s only indoor wooden roller coaster.
Cruise line entertainment veteran Ryan Fitzgerald joins RWS Global as executive vice president of Sea Production
By News Release | July 9, 2024
NEW YORK, N.Y. — RWS Global, the world leader in live moments, has announced the appointment of cruise entertainment expert, Ryan Fitzgerald as Executive Vice President of Sea Production. With more than 20 years of experience in entertainment, cruise experiences, professional sports and events, Fitzgerald is set to enhance RWS Global’s cruise entertainment division as the company continues its worldwide expansion.
RWS Global’s Founder, Chairman & CEO, Ryan Stana, expressed his enthusiasm for the company’s newest executive appointment, stating, “We are thrilled to welcome Ryan Fitzgerald as our Executive Vice President of Sea Production. His extensive cruise industry experience and expertise are essential as we continue to expand and innovate our onboard entertainment. We are confident that Ryan will be pivotal in shaping our live and experiential offerings at sea and contributing to our overall success.”
Prior to joining RWS Global, Fitzgerald served as General Manager at Insignia Event Services, where he led a team responsible for much of the in-game production, events, logistics, and premium hospitality for Super Bowl LVII, Men’s Final Four 2024, The Fiesta Bowl, the kickoff for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour and the Arizona Cardinals. Before that, he spent two decades producing and directing entertainment for Carnival Cruise Lines and Princess Cruises while managing each line’s global fleet of entertainment leaders.
As EVP of Sea Production, Fitzgerald will oversee the global operation of RWS Global’s 40+ vessels and manage all cruise teams in New York, Sydney, the UK and several additional locations. He will focus on developing client relationships, company management, production, creative programming, talent and wardrobe. In addition, he will collaborate closely with the production and operations teams to develop and execute innovative, best-in-class entertainment at sea.
Fitzgerald expressed his excitement about joining RWS Global, saying, “I am honored to be joining RWS Global and excited to service an impressive portfolio of partners in the cruise industry. I look forward to being a part of the continued success of our current and future clients, providing solutions and exceptional experiences for guests worldwide.”
Fitzgerald’s appointment comes after RWS Global announced the launch of RWS Global Sports, following the acquisition of Great Big Events. This new division provides an unrivaled, comprehensive range of offerings for the sports experience, including venue design, entertainment, sports production, merchandise and more. Fitzgerald’s new role further bolsters RWS Global’s leadership team and capabilities, positioning the company for continued success and growth as the world’s largest provider of live experiences.
