CoasterFanatic
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Posts posted by CoasterFanatic
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Existing management and staff will remain in place
This makes me feel a little better, but only a little.
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Link to official Press Release
http://www.kennywood.com/docs/12.11.07KECNewChapterRelease.pdf
New Chapter in Kennywood Entertainment History AnnouncedPITTSBURGH, December 11, 2007 ? Kennywood Entertainment of Pittsburgh announced today that it has entered into an agreement to sell its amusement park holdings, including Kennywood in West Mifflin, PA, Idlewild & SoakZone in Ligonier, PA, Sandcastle Waterpark in West Homestead, PA and New England parks Lake Compounce Theme Park in
Bristol, CT and Story Land in Glen, New Hampshire.
Kennywood Entertainment has been a closely held family business since F.W. Henninger and Andrew McSwigan purchased Kennywood Park from the Monongahela Railway Company in 1906. The Henninger and McSwigan families, now in fourth and fifth generation, have remained owners for over 100 years.
Acquiring Kennywood Entertainment is Parques Reunidos, based in Madrid, Spain, an international operator that manages 61 amusement, animal and water parks in the U.S. and Europe, with total annual visitors exceeding 22 million and revenues exceeding $570 million.
Parques Reunidos, with the financial backing of the Candover investment fund, a private equity investor in London, approached Kennywood with a purchase offer as part of their plan to consolidate family entertainment venues around the globe.
?The Kennywood experience?as visitors have come to love and expect?will continue. Nothing will seem different, even to the folks working at the parks. Existing management and staff will remain in place,? said Harry Henninger, Chairman of Kennywood Entertainment.
?In recent years, we've had talks with other operators wishing to acquire us, but Parques Reunidos is the first one to share our vision and philosophy.?
"We have tremendous respect for the work of the Kennywood management team and are delighted to acquire such a quality organization,? said Richard Golding, Chief Executive Officer of Parques Reunidos. ?They've built Kennywood Entertainment into an industry leader in family entertainment. We are anxious to continue the gold standard of entertainment they have established."
?Richard Golding recognizes and appreciates the deep affection that all of the Kennywood properties enjoy with their communities,? said Peter J. McAneny, Kennywood Entertainment President. ?They intend to preserve these connections and build upon the history and tradition existing at each of the parks." Henninger added, "This has been a very difficult decision for members of the founding families, now numbering over one hundred and residing all over the country. All of us are tremendously proud of what we created with Kennywood Entertainment. It has truly been a magical ride, managing Kennywood, starting Sandcastle, expanding and improving both Idlewild and Lake Compounce.?
A March completion date is anticipated. The agreement is subject to satisfactory completion of due diligence inquiries by the parties. The purchase price is not being disclosed.
I think I am going to go cry now.
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I will concur with the dehydration claim. It is the cause of almost all cases of motion sickness on rides.
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^^ Amen and Hallelujah.
I was so sad when Big Thunder got them. I know ... pathetic isn't it.
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What the fruck is a "Carasuel"
Glad to see that Holiday World will finally add a carousel to their collection of rides. It is something that every "traditional" park must have.
Now, the important question ... wood carved horses?
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Yes, it's a "feature".
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2007 Element. Gotta have something to haul the band gear in.
2008 HD Road King FLHR
Bond's Aston Martin (Passenger Ejector Seat? You must be joking?)
Ford GT
How big is the garage again?
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More dark-ride goodness from the people who brought us Terror-Visions in 3D and Garfield's Nightmare.
I can't wait
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$1 Increase!
Run for the hills!
In other news, Disney has raised one-day admissions by $25 in the last seven years.
// Must be a slow news day
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^ And when you take Anaconda and Raging Wolf Bobs as examples, I would consider the PTC Articulated train a miserable failure.
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^ Now you will have to just envy our Guns!
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I have been thinking of having a small TPR pinball party at my place .. anyone interested? Of course, I only have 4 machines .. but still!
.. But I have seen what machines you DO have! I am all for it!
// B, 3L, 10R, 19L, 1R
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BROWNNOSERS! ... ALL OF YOU!
// I love the Alveys too.
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Muchos Gracias for the log flume props.
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I actually dig the "Captain's Chair" feel of Florida's Space Mountain and am looking forward to the next generation Matterhorn car.
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Holiday World has already implemented a low-tech version of this:
Phone Find:Visiting with small children? If you're carrying a cell phone during your visit, please pick up free Phone Find wristbands (at Lost Parents, Wagon Rental, or Guest Relations) for them to wear. Simply print your cell-phone number on the wristband and instruct your child to go to a uniformed park employee if he or she gets separated from you. We'll call you and get you and your child reunited.
http://www.holidayworld.com/info.html
Also ... there is this technology at Dollywood
http://www.pdcorp.com/company/archives/2007/dollywood-splash-country.html
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Day 3 - Park 2
Cypress Gardens
The second park of the day has us driving off of I-4 and to the small town of Winter Haven where we would encounter the awesomeness that is ... Cypress Gardens.
Truth be told, I have actually been to this park before but that was many years ago (27 to be exact). But, that is a different story for a different day.
The main reason for most people's visit was the newly relocated Starliner (all the way from Panama City, FL).
This out-and-back coaster has a very similar feeling to Swamp Fox in South Carolina. The ride gives some nice little air over the first couple of hills but it all but disappears after the turnaround.
DynaBrake - Another fine product of Pittsburgh, PA.
The Triple Hurricane is now probably my favorite of all Jr. Woodies I have been on. It runs every bit as smooth as the Waldameer Comet but does a lot more. Extra points for the rib-cracking laterals on the final turn.
Piers, Catrina and Eric all pose for a picture on the Galaxy Spin while Matt just sits there and picks his nose.
Here is a wonderful picture of Catrina demonstrating the effectiveness of Vekoma's Junior SLC restraints.
Justin talked us into a ride on the park's ARM Drop Tower. Of all the drop rides, these have got to be the scariest.
The lift takes you up slowly before dropping you without any warning at all. By the time you realize that you are free falling, you slam to a stop at the bottom during what sounds like a multi-car pile-up.
Larry and the Brothers Johnson (wow that sounds like a cool band name) are ready to go on our last ride of the day ... Mega Bounce!
Chuck waves while Colin looks not so thrilled.
"I think I just dislocated my spleen"
And there you have it .. a visit to the wonderful world of Cypress Gardens.
More photos soon ...
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The Coney Island of the future will be a kaleidoscope of thrill rides, soaring apartment towers and plenty of places to shop, Mayor Bloomberg said Thursday.
If they get zoning for residential properties, you can kiss the rest of this concept goodbye.
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Have they already done this in Florida. I am not 100% sure, but it seems like the boats changed to some "Play-Skol" looking mold injected versions within the last year or so.
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As long as they give out free beer, they can call themselves anything they want.
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$2.19 and still falling
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It was good seeing you again too, Eric! We had a great time and it was nice to finally meet Kevin.
That moment in Dead Silence was legendary.
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Better but not great. I am really not a big fan of the whole "Flash Intro" concept. Like splash pages, they just provide another hoop that the customer has to go through for the real content.
The site does do a good job of catering to it's core audience, the customer. I imagine that is the primary goal overall.
// Would people actually adopt the W3C standards already! Table layout is so 1995.
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Invest in Yamaha, Suzuki, Honda and Kawasaki.
If gas keeps going up, I am going to have to start riding my bike to work.
Kennywood (KW) Discussion Thread
in Theme Parks, Roller Coasters, & Donkeys!
Posted
^ I would say that will never happen. But then again ... I never thought the Henningers would sell out.
I need to just stop thinking about this because it is pissing me off.