larrygator

Update on the timing of this project: 2023 https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2020/06/c6ddeb6f7252-harry-potter-theme-park-to-open-in-tokyo-in-1st-half-of-2023.html Harry Potter theme park to open in Tokyo in 1st half of 2023 KYODO NEWS KYODO NEWS - 14 hours ago - 20:40 | All, Japan, Lifestyle A 94-year-old amusement park Toshimaen in Tokyo will be closed at the end of August, its owner said Friday, and part of the site will be used for a new theme park based on the Harry Potter films, due to open in the first half of 2023. Seibu Railway Co. signed a deal to sell a large part of the 22-hectare site to the Tokyo metropolitan government, which plans to build a park that will also be used as an emergency shelter space in the event of a disaster. The railway company will lease part of the land to Itochu Corp. and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. will run the Harry Potter theme park. Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike welcomed the prospect of the theme park, which would be the second such facility in the world, following the one in London. Toshimaen's closure is scheduled on Aug. 31, excluding a hot-spring spa. Seibu said the amusement park will reopen from Monday, except for the swimming pool area, after having been shut due to the spread of the new coronavirus. Toshimaen, which opened in 1926, is one of the largest amusement parks in Tokyo with over 30 rides and attractions, including a wooden carousel that was made in Germany in 1907 and brought to the park in 1971. It has also been famous for its various kinds of swimming pools such as a 350-meter, doughnut-shaped pool, which is said to be the world's first flowing pool.

Regarding the Andrews, I referred to them as Andy (you), AJ, Andrew and with Rector I was usually just shaking my head. I once coached a 5th-6th grade basketball team where 5 of the 10 kids were named Mike.

I was actually smiling because Drievliet is possibly my favorite micro park. But thanks for continuing to promote NeuroGen.

This This is the prototype

Discussion threads get created when there are multiple news stories about the park that the people of TPR respond to. I highly recommend starting a new thread with Marineland in the title. Once I see real discussion out there a Discussion Thread is created. I'm talking about real news. If people start threads about a new lemonade stand, a bathroom being refurbished or a new cleaning service being hired, then I'm unlikely to create a Discussion Thread.

Parks benefit more from a thousand families visiting 3-4 times a year, than from a thousand enthusiasts visiting once every 3-4 years.

The Taco Shoppe is returning https://www.pharostribune.com/news/local_news/article_3fa84ee4-9937-11ea-9f07-ff5b006d2547.html Indiana Beach announces opening day and Taco Shoppe return James D. Wolf Jr. Staff Reporter May 18, 2020 Indiana Beach has set a tentative date for reopening and has announced that longtime favorite the Taco Shoppe is returning to the boardwalk. The Beach officials have been teasing out details of its opening on social media, including making the announcement of the Taco Shoppe’s return at 1 p.m. Monday with Greg Johnson, owner of the long-time family business. The Taco Shoppe had left at the end of last season after being at the Beach more than 30 years, announcing the departure in July 2019 and walking tacos out to the parking lot so customers didn’t have to pay admission price. The restaurant was once featured on the Food Network. Indiana Beach’s opening won’t be the traditional Memorial Day weekend. The park announced a limited access VIP Grand Reopening Day scheduled for June 26, and the reopening for the general public is set for Saturday, June 27, according to a statement the amusement park. The dates depend on how things open due to COVID-19 social distancing measures. The campground owned by the amusement park will open at 12:01 a.m. May 24, but K.O.A. is not prepared yet, according a Facebook video on the Indiana Beach page. Existing reservations will still be valid, and the park is taking reservations. In a Facebook broadcast, someone who identified himself as “Tom” said that all 2020 season passes that people bought from the previous owners, Apex Parks Group of Aliso Viejo, California, will be honored if people didn’t get a refund via their credit card company. Apex had announced Feb. 18 that Indiana Beach would not open in 2020 and the company couldn’t find a buyer. But Indiana Beach Holdings LLC bought the amusement park in April after being in negotiations since shortly after Apex announced the closing. The company’s CEO is Gene Staples. In the videos the new owners posted on the amusement park’s Facebook page, Tom said that ticket prices will be announced coming soon and he assumed that they’d be the same or similar to what Apex charged. People have been asking online if there’d be less expensive passes for those just walking the boardwalk so they didn’t have to pay full price. Monticello residents were angry when Apex ended the ability to go to the boardwalk and its restaurants without paying admission. In one of the Facebook videos, Tom said that one merry-go-round was gone but one remained and that most everything was still there. Maintenance is there every day working on the rides, he said. The Shafer Queen paddleboat is getting repainted and the iconic “Fascination” game is once again ready to roll. To be eligible to get in the first day for the VIP opening, people are required to buy a paver brick for the “Road to 100 Years” project. “Space to this event will be extremely limited,” the official statement read. A 4-by-8 inch brick is $75 without the VIP package and $169 with the package, and an extra $30 for “an exact duplicate of the brick that you are purchasing from your organization, with the addition of felt backing,” according to the email sent by the park. “All proceeds from this initiative will go directly to infrastructure improvements throughout the amusement park, as well as the campgrounds,” it continued. The VIP package includes two tickets to the event, the chance to see the park before anyone else, live entertainment and music, access to rides and more. There will also be an 8-by-8 inch paver available for businesses that comes with four tickets, Tom said. Pricing for that option was not give. He also said that Indiana Beach is working on more benefits for the VIP program. The pavers will go in later this year, he said. The order form for pavers can be found at https://www.bricksrus.com/donorsite/indianabeach. The “Road to 100 Years” project is for the approaching anniversary of the park, and the bricks are this year’s fundraising effort, according to the statement. All lodging for the park will be open for reservations starting May 24, about a month before the park itself opens, the official announcement stated. The amusement park is also hiring, according to its revamped website at http://www.indianabeach.com The site also has a “coming soon” post that promises information on daily tickets, season passes and season memberships. Indiana Beach officials and the new owner, Gene Staples, have not responded directly to emails for an interview with the Pharos-Tribune.

If you don't know what NeuroGen is, well ... ask Larry, because I still don't know either. Preach brother! Absolute perfection in a VR attraction. I was drugged, molested, hallucinated, died and was resuscitated. Whatmore could happen?

I hope you are not a citizen. Otherwise, so much ignorance in one post. Wow!

Boycott!!!!!

Here's the Platinum upgrade for Sesame Place. While our park remains temporarily closed, we will be offering all active Pass Members complimentary rewards and special benefits as a token of our appreciation. All active Pass Members will be receiving Sesame Place Cash, which can be used at select locations in the park to purchase food, beverages, and merchandise through January 3, 2021. The Sesame Place Cash amount will be issued based on the time the park has been closed and the kind of Season Pass you have. Additionally, Pass Members will receive Bring A Friend Days so that your friends and family can join in on the fun and spend an unforgettable day with you exploring the park and your favorite attractions. As a sign of our appreciation for you, our loyal Pass Member, we will also be granting complimentary membership tier upgrades for all active Season Passes for the remainder of 2020 as well as additional Sesame Place Pass Member events.

The purpose of this thread is to compile information in one place. If you have additional factual information please share. SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Automatically extending all active Annual Passes and Membership products to SeaWorld and Busch Gardens for the length of time in which the parks remain closed. Domestic single-day tickets and any unused multi-day tickets that expire during the temporary closures will be extended through December 31, 2021. Expiring single-day and multi-day tickets purchased internationally will be automatically extended through the first week of 2022 to provide our guests from overseas additional flexibility. And in-park experiences during the temporary closures can also be rescheduled through December 31, 2021. SeaWorld Parks is automaticaly upgrading season passes and memberships in good standing to the next level / tier. Silver becomes gold, gold becomes platimum, etc. Cedar Fair All 2020 season passes will now be good through the 2021 season Six Flags In response to the coronavirus pandemic, we are allowing members to pause their membership accounts until the parks reopen,” Six Flags officials said in a statement. “When a membership is on ‘pause’ the guest’s credit card will not be charged and they will accrue no additional charges on their account.” Six Flags parks offer both season passes that are paid in full at the time of purchase and memberships that are paid by month like a gym membership. Six Flags members have the option to pause monthly payments in a “simple and automatic” process, according to Six Flags officials. Six Flags members who continue to make monthly payments will receive a free upgrade to the next level in the company’s tiered membership program. So far, two-thirds of Six Flags members have opted to continue making payments, officials said. Six Flags members will get a month added to the end of their membership for every month the parks are closed. Six Flags season passholders will get a day added for each day their home park is closed. Disney Disney is extending paid in full season pass expirations by the number of days the park is closed Monthly payments they are on hold Universal Disney is extending paid in full season pass expirations by the number of days the park is closed Monthly payments they are on hold Herschend Dollywood and SDC are extending your current 2020 season pass to June 1, 2021. Wild Adventures is extending your current 2020 season pass to June 1, 2021. Merlin (UK) Suspending monthly payments and adding months for duration of the attraction closures (ie, if they are closed for 5 weeks, two months are added for free). The UK annual pass includes Alton Towers, Thorpe Park, Chessington, Legoland Windsor, London Eye, Warwick Castle, Dungeons, Madame Tussauds etc. Plopsa Will count the days your membership could not be used during their closures and will add that days as soon as the parks will reopen. Hersheypark Season passes purchased for the 2020 season will be honored through June 30, 2021, as will any individual tickets purchased before the summer season begins. Lagoon "To those who have already purchased 2020 season passports and/or season parking, we want you to have confidence in your purchase. We thank all of our season passport holders for their loyalty and support during this time. In response to the uncertainty of this virus, if you do not redeem your season passport by November 2020, with your scannable ticket or coupon the passport and/or season parking will be made valid for the next Lagoon season. However, if you are able to use your passport this summer, we would like to extend to you a special discounted rate to renew to a next season passport on or before December 31, 2020. If you have been putting off purchasing your season passports, now is the time to do so. As long as you purchase your passports before June 30, 2020, you will be included in the special renewal option."

I was about to post this. One thing I read in another article that may benefit Staples is that Store Capital may need immediate cash due to the hit it is taking amid COVID-19.

Of all the articles I've read, I think this one provides the best insight about the sale and the new owner. http://www.newsbug.info/rensselaer_republican/business/chicago-resident-purchases-indiana-beach/article_76418cf2-51d6-5b78-bb98-0a2e3c741f16.html Chicago resident purchases Indiana Beach By MICHAEL JOHNSON editor@thehj.com Apr 23, 2020 MONTICELLO — Indiana Beach has a new owner. Gene Staples, managing broker and consulting engineer at Austin Affiliates, a construction company in Chicago, has purchased the 94-year-old amusement and water park resort, it was announced Thursday. He is now CEO of what is being called Indiana Beach Holdings LLC. “As an amusement park enthusiast and entrepreneur, I find it exciting to be part of a new era for Monticello,” Staples said. “Generations of families have enjoyed summer fun on the shores of Lake Shafer. With their ongoing support and the commitment of local officials, we will be sure future generations get the same type of relaxation and enjoyment we all desire.” No purchase price was announced. “I had known about Gene’s interest for quite a while,” White County Commission President John Heimlich said Thursday. “We’re certainly happy that there was interest in keeping Indiana Beach an amusement park.” Indiana Beach’s social media pages hinted at a possible reopening since April 13, when messages were posted on Twitter and Facebook teasing the possibility. For the “Light Monticello Blue for Essential Workers” initiative, the park’s Ferris wheel was illuminated with blue lights — another hint that things were in the works. “We were so encouraged this week when we saw that Indiana Beach had turned on the blue lights at the Ferris wheel in support of ‘Light Monticello Blue for Essential Workers,’” Monticello Mayor Cathy Gross said. “We hope and believe this is just the beginning of a great relationship and want to thank everyone that has made this possible. “This is truly good news and we welcome them to our community family.” The White County Commissioners kept mum when asked about the postings as recently as last week, with Heimlich responding via email “I don’t have anything new to report today.” Apex Parks Group, Indiana Beach’s former owners, abruptly announced Feb. 18 that it was closing the park because of financial reasons. State and local officials had worked since then toward locating a potential buyer. More from this section Supporters of Indiana Beach began an online petition to save the park, then staged a rally Feb. 29 in hopes it would persuade the owners to either keep it open or ramp up the search for a new owner. Less than a month after the closure, the White County Commission and White County Council passed a resolution to offer up to $3 million in incentives for any potential buyer. On March 31, the commission and council, with the help of attorneys, established a revolving fund into which the $3 million will be shifted — a move that was required according to Indiana law. On April 8, Apex Parks Group filed for Chapter 11 protection with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Wilmington, Del. “At least we don’t have to pretend anymore,” Heimlich said Thursday of the sale. “We knew about the purchase right before the Apex bankruptcy (filing).” Heimlich maintained throughout the process that the commissioners would not be involved in making the purchase announcement because it involves private entities. “We don’t get into that,” he said. According to his LinkedIn profile, Staples, who is CEO of what is called Indiana Beach Holdings LLC, has business degrees from Triton College and St. Leo University. He also spent time in communications and aviation in the U.S. Navy from 1991-95. Heimlich said the county’s agreement to provide $3 million from its revolving fund has not been finalized. “(Staples) made the purchase before the bankruptcy, but our loan agreement still has a couple of details to work out,” Heimlich said. “We hope that will be done soon.” Staples told the Republican that much of the work necessary to prepare the campground and amusement park for opening will continue to be disrupted by stay-at-home orders amid the COVID-19 health emergency, but plans are being made now to open the resort as soon as the situation allows. Gary Fawks, general manager of Indiana Beach, said 2020 season passes and reservations will be honored and plans are under way to prepare for a May campground opening pending restrictions surrounding COVID-19.

Meh, the difference is often only a few minutes. It's more that I somehow always end up around people who feel the need to be right on top of your back or even push to get through the door asap than waiting a few extra mins that annoys me. It's a horrible entitlement that people have. They must be first at all costs. It prevails among enthusiasts also.

You were just a kid! Great idea Chuck

I'm sure some ride will be taking the place of Aladdin's Funhouse. Haunted House and Pirate's Cove are not going anywhere soon, they said that when the closure of the funhouse was announced.

A different branch of the Trimper family will be running the park, adding 11 rides (mostly kids rides) and a new Thrill payment system. https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/maryland/2020/03/18/ocean-city-landmark-trimpers-rides-undergoing-management-changes/2863083001/ Changes coming to Trimper's Rides in OC. Don't worry the Trimper family is staying Matthew Prensky, Salisbury Daily Times Published 9:00 a.m. ET March 18, 2020 | Updated 9:02 a.m. ET March 18, 2020 Trimper's Rides has been a family-run business for more than 125 years. Now going into the 2020 tourism season, the business says one part of the Trimper family will step down so another can take over managing the Ocean City mainstay. The Granville Trimper family posted a message to Facebook saying it planned to step aside, according to an announcement posted on Tuesday. The amusement park will still be led by a different part of Trimper family. Trimper's Rides was founded by Daniel B. Trimper in the late 1800s, according to the amusement park's website. Since then management was passed down to Granville Daniel Trimper and then onto his family. "It has been our distinct pleasure to bring happiness and joy to all who walked through our doors over 125 years," according to the post. "We would like to thank you all for letting us be a part of your family's memories and we wish all the best to the new management team on their future." Heading into the 2020 season the amusement park will introduce new rides, according to the amusement park's website. Trimper's Rides also plans to introduce "Thrill Cards," according to the amusement park's website, that "will offer a variety of pricing and discounts" to customers. By 1893, the Trimper family owned Boardwalk property between S. Division Street and S. First Street in Ocean City, including two hotels, according to the amusement park's website. Since the turn of the 20th Century and into the 21st Century, Trimper's Rides has continued to add rides and the family has become important figures in the Ocean City community, including Granville Daniel Trimper, who served as the town's mayor for 16 years, according to the amusement park's website.

This one caught me off guard. I'd been planning to visit this place for years to ride their out of the way wooden coaster (probably the least ridden non-kiddie woodie in the US amongst the enthusiast community) I was finally going to do the trip this year and also visit Oak Island. Oh well, c'est la vie. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/upper-clements-park-sold-boarding-school-gordonstoun-scotland-1.5500371 Annapolis County council buys Upper Clements Park to attract boarding school Municipal officials believe proposed $62M school will result in significant spending, employment in community Pam Berman · CBC News · Posted: Mar 17, 2020 3:01 PM AT Upper Clements Park was built in 1989 for $23 million by the Nova Scotia government. It received other injections of public money over the years. The Municipality of the County of Annapolis, N.S., has bought a local amusement park for $600,000 so it can be redeveloped as a private school. Council held a special meeting on Tuesday to approve the purchase of Upper Clements Park, which is located five kilometres west of Annapolis Royal. "It is going to be a game changer for Annapolis County," Warden Timothy Habinski said in a video posted online by council. "It was a bit of a longer road than we anticipated initially, but we are delighted that we are finally there." Municipal officials believe the proposed $62 million boarding school will result in significant spending and employment in the community. The school is expected to attract students from Asia, Europe and North America. Habinski said the 10-hectare Upper Clements site, with its view of the Annapolis Basin, will be a "prestigious" location for Gordonstoun, a private boarding school in Scotland that wants to open a location in North America. Alex Morrison, the councillor who represents the area where the school will be located, called it an exciting initiative. "It's one that will benefit local individuals and the province as a whole," he said during a special council meeting that was held outside of the municipal building because of COVID-19. The new Gordonstoun franchise is expected to open in the fall of 2021. E.A. Farren, Limited, based in Saint John, is the project manager for the school development. Habinski pointed out that despite the best efforts of the Upper Clements Park Society, the theme park was struggling financially and on the verge of bankruptcy. "The park's board has been diligent in their efforts to keep the park open and safe," he said. "The society must be commended for its service to our community." The province of Nova Scotia spent $23 million to build Upper Clements Park in 1989. The park was operated privately between 1994 and 1997 and then a non-profit society took over. The seasonal facility has employed about 175 people.

Here is what the general manager on the ride side posted on the Bushkill Facebook Page "Yes we will have a few adult rides operational this summer. We have 16 rides in total with 8 scheduled to be open for opening weekend. Last year we had 5 rides open. The remaining rides will be restored and back in service as soon as possible. We will post a list of restoration priorities shortly. Thanks." I'm focusing on Chuck's work at the park on Hillarity Hall and The Pretzel, but will also share what I hear on the ride side. My understanding is that the focus for the adult rides is on The Whip. There are only 7 permanent Whips still running in the US. (Rye, Hershey, Knoebels, Dorney, Kennywood, Lakeside, Camden). Since Chuck is doing must of the prop and decorative work at his workshop only, the virus will not effect has pace. Here are some photos I took when I visited him last month. These pictures of Hilarity Hall are over one month old, just awaiting new photos. Internal work continues Decorative touches More ornamental details I'm too lazy too crop the picture, but since it is art, I have no shame in sharing it. The pretzel cars awaiting their day in the sun, even though they will run indoors and never shine in the sun.

I thought I heard a lot of conspiracy theories today at work, but then come hear and continue to read more. Ah good times!

Can you all go back to acting like amusement park experts and engineers? At least many on this site follow those topics on a regular basis.

The coaster might not be open for the park's opening date, but remember this park went from empty lot (that had to have old foundations and concrete removed)to open in 50 days.

The three largest overnight waterparks in the area do offer free admission to guests, but the standard room rate for two adults and two kids is in the $500 range. Prices are just insane in the New York area to begin with. This article, sums up the current competition among waterparks in the area. I didn't realize there were that many indoor parks. They are pricing themselves at the high end, but not completely out of line with the major players. I would have to think families are either going to go wherever is closest if they are not making an overnight trip, unless someplace has a standout attraction. As someone not following the waterpark I have no idea if American Dream has any ride of that type. https://www.nj.com/bergen/2020/02/itll-cost-you-99-to-go-to-american-dreams-water-park-heres-how-others-compare.html The pricing is ridiculous, but my assumption is that they are pricing high right now when they are the only game in town. Come summer when all the normal summer outdoor recreation activities are available and other water parks are open, if they still expect people to pay $105....

And rightly so, if the municipality sees it as beneficial to maintain jobs/commerce.