thrillerman1

I think we are kind of getting at the same thing...keeping people coming back to the park for more than one season, which is my point with the concert series at SFKK being considered as a new attraction. There may be one or two artists a person or family wants to see...maybe more...then again maybe none. Popular live entertainment is a good marketing tool to get people to the park, but then what does the park have to offer for the family not interested in the live entertainment choices and also for the long term that lasts more than one season? I think your analogy with Magic Mountain is exactly what I'm getting at with SFKK and adding new infrastructure such as a Wiggles World or Thomas Town to the park - an investment with a long term return for many years.

Great to have you back in the hizzouse Shane!

Another awesome update Divv. Europa was probably the highlight of all highlights (there were so many!) on the entire trip for me. You captured its essence very well! This place totally rocks!

Manic Monte would you consider a concert series at SFKK as an investment or as an attraction? It is said to be "new for 2009" on the website. It is always interesting to learn how people define investment and attraction. Actually for the most part I'm really happy with Shapiro. Considering the utter mess he inherited, I would say he's done a very amazing job!

Oh man pinball is where it's at! I would much rather play pinball anyday than a video game. That said, my favs are the Bally and Sega machines. Sega made a machine when the movie "Twister" came out, and it featured a spinning magnetic disc "tornado" which would grab the ball and then fling it back out into the machine. It was tons of fun. It is too bad most arcades have closed now, but I think there is still a vintage arcade in New Orleans in the French Quarter featuring lots of great old games. I was fortunate to visit it back in 2004 before Katrina. Definitely a place to check out if you're into vintage machines. I love this thread already and can't wait to see more of it!

Sir Clinksalot wrote: See that's the thing I've just never understood. To me it would seem that the parks which are doing well don't need anything new to attract visitors. The visitors are already clearly coming to the park in droves. Why not add to the parks not doing so well in order to attract visitors? I'm listening to the replay from today's 4Q investor call. Should be interesting.

Here's an unusual picture frame card from Ghost Town in the Sky which I scored when I visited the gift shop at the base of the mountain prior to the park's 2007 reopening. Although I have no recollection, my parents tell me I've ridden the chairlift to the top when I was a baby. With the news of the chapter 11 bankruptcy filing from this past week, I'm definitely going to do my best to get over there this summer for the full on experience. Cliff Hanger (Red Devil) with the chairlift passing in front of it

I was born in Alabama. It rocks. Thanks for sharing this.

My goodness...I really do love British people. Good to see friends from over the pond. Awesome TR Craig!

Hope you have an AWESOME birthday Elissa!

Really awesome cards matteocrepaldi. I love Europa Park!

Five String Serenade - Mazzy Star

Shane I knew something was up when I hadn't seen you post in your (or my postcard) thread since Tuesday. If there's one thing I absolutely loathe, it's computer malfunctions! Good luck getting it fixed!

Oh my...this thing has gone up fast. The webcam shows it being topped off now.

^ That does suck. I think that's the first negative report I've seen about the park. Every photo TR I've seen the park has looked packed, so I can't imagine that attendance has anything to do with them filing Chapter 11.

It just makes me think of banjos and "Deliverance". That's cool Robb if GTITS were to get included.

Out of curiousity since I'm not on the Deep South trip (wait why is it called "Deep" South again?) and since I couldn't find it listed on the flyer, is Ghost Town in the Sky included? Since it is looking dire again for this park, that might be incentive for others to sign up for this trip. Also IKEA enthusiasts might be interested to know that the Scandi trip includes a stop at the world's largest IKEA store. I do need some new curtains...maybe I can do some shopping!

This is all kinds of awesome Dave! Well I only got to try sushi once on our TPR Japan trip two years ago. While everyone else was getting their credit on the Magical Powder dark ride at Lagunasia, Adam and I had completely forgotten about that ride, so we wandered over to the market under the giant wheel outside the park. They had some terrible looking things at the market (I think I saw giant octopus brains or something equally as hideous), but we found the sushi and it was GREAT! Still want to go back to get the Magical Powder credit though. Looking forward to seeing more of your culinary adventures!

Cliffhanger or no, I am determined to get over to GTiTS this year.

Hopefully those Schwarzkopf hair products will be prominently displayed.

By the way Shane, will we be seeing a photo TR from your Christmas DW/Opryland ruins trip?

Tennessee Tornado...best Arrow ever!

I think we need one of those bobsleds in the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area. It would fit in pretty well at Ober Gatlinburg. Does anyone know who manufactures those?

I guess I'll just never understand why corporations make these type of huge investments and add new coasters (one of which hasn't even opened yet), only to turn around and go oh...we need to sell this park. Baffles me. Wasn't that thought of before they started talking to coaster designers, contractors, etc.? Personally, it's exciting to me if these parks can find buyers that can give them more of a personal touch and remove the big corporate feel.

I want the ice cream coaster! Good to hear about the employee friendliness. Thanks for sharing!