larrygator

Longtime park owner, Thomas Spackman dies. http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/558197498f6b42ef840be700b4a1872d/IN--Obit-Indiana-Beach-Owner Longtime owner of Indiana Beach amusement park, known for 'more than corn' jingle, dies at 100 THE ASSOCIATED PRESS November 13, 2013 - 12:47 pm EST MONTICELLO, Indiana — Thomas Spackman, who led the Indiana Beach amusement park for decades, has died at the age of 100. Spackman died Monday at a Monticello nursing home, according to Springer-Voorhis-Draper Funeral Home. His father, Earl Spackman, founded what was then known as Ideal Beach along Lake Shafer near Monticello in 1926. Thomas Spackman became the park's CEO in 1945 and changed the name to Indiana Beach seven years later. Numerous rides and other attractions were added during his time at the helm of the park, which became known for its infectious television and radio commercial jingle "There's more than corn in Indiana." Indiana Beach was drawing about 750,000 visitors a year when the Spackman family sold it and two nearby campgrounds in 2008 to New York-based Morgan RV Resorts. Spackman was always willing to take risks to improve the park about 30 miles north of Lafayette, White County Community Foundation director Leslie Goss told the Journal & Courier (http://on.jconline.com/183gGMr ). Goss recalled an 85-year-old Spackman taking the first leap when Indiana Beach added its first bungee jump. "He wanted to test it and make sure it was safe for everyone else," Goss said. Spackman was also known for his exacting nature, said Janet Dold, executive director of the Monticello Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau. "You would always see him at Indiana Beach," Dold said. "He would walk the grounds and make sure everything was clean." Spackman graduated from Shortridge High School in Indianapolis and received a business degree from Indiana University in 1937. He was married to his wife, Helen, for nearly 56 years; she died in 1993. Spackman's funeral is scheduled for Friday at Monticello Christian Church.

Danny Rogers, where you at? http://www.vcstar.com/news/2013/nov/13/six-flags-site-wont-become-outlet-mall/ Six Flags site won't become outlet mall The Associated Press Posted November 13, 2013 at 7:42 a.m. NEW ORLEANS — NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The city of New Orleans will be searching in coming months for a new plan to transform the former Six Flags amusement park site in eastern New Orleans after developers with ambitions of bringing an outlet mall officially killed the project. Alan Philipson, president of the Industrial Development Board that holds title to the 150-acre property on behalf of the city, said in a meeting Tuesday that a public process to select a new tenant is being decided and should be finished by the end of the year. He said he hopes to have a new developer vetted and selected by the end of March, 2014. "We're going to make it work this time," Philipson said. Mayor Mitch Landrieu's administration last year selected Provident Realty Advisors and DAG Development to redevelop the amusement park, which was abandoned after Hurricane Katrina, into a 400,000-square-foot outlet mall. The joint venture signed a two-year temporary lease agreement for exclusive rights to develop the land. But at a board meeting in March, the developers revealed doubts about moving forward because a new competitor had emerged. Plans for a $70 million outlet mall at the Riverwalk were underway by Dallas-based Howard Hughes Corp. The tentative Six Flags site developers said the New Orleans area market couldn't support two outlet malls. Philipson said Tuesday that Provident Realty Advisors and DAG Development agreed to terminate their contract after the Riverwalk's project moved closer to reality. Early last month, Howard Hughes announced a long list of retailers that had signed leases for The Outlet Collection at Riverwalk, including Last Call Studio by Neiman Marcus, Kenneth Cole and Coach. The Riverwalk is slated to re-open in late spring or early summer of next year. David Wolf, the board's attorney, said the city wants the selection of a new developer to be a public process. He said the office of the mayor's economic adviser, Aimee Quirk, has received many calls from people who want to submit proposals. In the meantime, movie studios continue to pursue the site for filming. The last time around, a city-designated committee considered two finalists to take control of the Six Flags site -- an outlet mall and plans for Crescent City Amusement Park. The committee rejected proposals for an adventure and water park, an electric power plant, and a combination theme park-resort and sound stage, among other plans. Board member Darrel Saizan said he was disappointed the project fell through, considering the success he's seen at the growing Tanger Outlets outside of Baton Rouge. Moving forward, Saizan said, "I'm hoping to see something that creates jobs and opportunities and keeps the site clean." Provident Realty Advisors and DAG Development, under the temporary lease, were paying just under $1,700 per month in rent to the Industrial Development Board. Philipson said the termination agreement did not include any penalties. Philipson said until the contract was terminated, the Industrial Development Board couldn't consider any other plans for the site. Read more: http://www.vcstar.com/news/2013/nov/13/six-flags-site-wont-become-outlet-mall/#ixzz2kZvluORr - vcstar.com

I probably should have posted sooner, but I really like this season. The dynamic between Redemption Island, loved ones and the tribe swap have worked extremely well in my book. And I loved the Colton breakdown.

Although I've never been a Star Wars fan, I'm curious to see how this turns out.

The most shocking aspect of the Jaws removal was the incredible outpouring of love that came out after the announcement. The ride wasn't that popular on a daily basis.

How about as a themed area within a park, but promoted as an entire theme park? Has anyone ever tried that approach?

I would normally agree with you but a shuttle loop is a one-of-a-kind ride and having a concept showing a shuttle loop on the park map is overwhelming evidence that one is planning to be built. OK, fair enough on the Shuttle Loop situation, but commenting on the silhouette of a wooden coaster in concept art seems very speculative. Maybe Robb can ask manufacturers at IAAPA if they have submitted RFPs for this proposed park.

Search is your friend. Don't start a new thread without it. I moved your post to this existing thread.

I shocked that people are speculating on rides based on concept art!!!! Oh wait, I'm not surprised. As far as minor league baseball teams, many survive in close proximity to each other in metro areas smaller than Houston. And less I realize the premise of the original minor league baseball comment was to mock the Astros, not to debate minor league baseball team placement.

Thanks for finishing this PTR, I enjoy seeing the TPR Trip photos for the foreign trips.

I wouldn't expect a Flying Dutchman, since the first generation was just awful.

I never made it to Charlie Vergo's during my Memphis BBQ run, since I was more interested in the wet BBQ version for my comparison versus the dry rub they favor at Charlie Vergo's. Jason - Thanks for sharing.

It is a shame that none of the old seaside parks in that area survived.

The idea is to capitalize on the second most popular book series among teens and pre-teens. It's hard to conceptualize if we don't have details regarding the scope of the project. If it is similar in scale to a Wizarding World of Harry Potter you are only talking about a handful of rides and theming. A shooting dark ride where you kill teens would be awesome, but probably wouldn't fly. Then again, I really don't know much about the books even though I did catch the movie on a flight last year. But, I'd rather have this franchise being considered than Twilight.

Lol, I'm at my grandparents house and I forgot to check the game. We have one win! New record! But Jacksonville needs something other then Adventure landing which has terrible slides. And the only coaster we have is a wacky worm! One off the mysteries of life is how Jacksonville even got an NFL team. Don't hold your breath waiting for a real amusement park with Orlando so close in proximity. Maybe Sally Corp. can build an indoor showcase park to show off their dark rides.

But it doesn't work that way. A loss to an unranked team is a big negative in the BCS polls.

There is so much good food on the boardwalk that I never even thought about venturing off the boardwalk, maybe I'll try this place in the future.

So true!

I added Seabreeze's new rides. I'm guessing that the Wave Swinger will replace the YoYo

No mention of the Carousel of Progress. Has Kristen outgrown the best ride ever?

A gentleman in Oklahoma (Tom Gore) rescued an old Pretzel Spinning Car dark ride and rebuilt the ride. He actually used to change the theme a few times per year. I'm not sure how many years he ran attraction, but I think it was still running as late as 2010. http://www.bricktownamusement.com/

And don't forgot all the coasters that had people living in shanties underneath them. Complete with an outside cooking arrangement, laundry line and vegetable garden gardens.

^That would be nice. I need to get out this winter to ride the 3 in my area that I haven't ridden yet.

To save on demolition charges, the owners are probably just waiting for a strong hurricane/tropical storm to help them out.

I really liked Space Fantasy and remember some Japanese girls motioning us to press the button at a certain time to enhance the ride, but I can't remember what the hell happened when we did that.