robbalvey Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 (edited) Check out this very interesting news: Skyline Attractions launches! Two new companies bringing big changes to the amusement industry Orlando, FL – Four amusement industry veterans announced today the founding of Skyline Attractions, LLC. Chris Gray, Jeff Pike, Evan Souliere, and Bill Wydra boast more than 50 years combined experience in amusement ride and device development. They will bring their lifelong passion for amusement parks and spectacular new ideas to life through Skyline Attractions, LLC and a subsidiary company, Skyline Design, LLC. The partners described the exciting details in the following statement: We’re thrilled to announce the forming of the Skyline companies. We’ll be providing amusement operators of all sizes with amazing rides and devices year after year. We got together some time ago and discussed the shortcomings in what manufacturers offer to the amusement industry – an industry we all love. We’re here to fill those gaps. For years, we have been hearing operators asking “What’s new?” and “Where to next?” Skyline’s mission is to answer these questions with new and innovative attractions for fixed-site and traveling facilities every year. Skyline Attractions, LLC will allow the four of us to harness our combined talents and focus our passion to bring to market new and exciting experiences that our customers’ guests are going to love. We will deliver fun, safe, and reliable American-built attractions using high-quality components, impeccable attention to detail, and first-rate customer service. The first of several of those new ideas is already in development, and there are dozens more we are eager to begin work on! Our subsidiary company, Skyline Design, LLC, is tasked with the research and development of the innovative new ride and game concepts to be distributed by Skyline Attractions. We will also invent proprietary ride devices as we seek to integrate technology into our product line that will have broad applications throughout the industry. Additionally, we will support industry customers in achieving their amusement goals with our technical and operational knowledge, including cooperating closely with Great Coasters International, Inc. on select wood coaster ride designs. Our history and experience are huge benefits, but balancing experience and new talent will be critical to Skyline’s long-term success. If you’re passionate about fun, Skyline wants to hear from you! We will always be looking for fresh ideas to keep Skyline awesome. We’re focused on garnering respect from our customers and employees through fair and responsible business practices, and we look forward to building real relationships with our customers as we develop our ever-growing product line. Keep an eye out in the coming weeks as we release information about our first product, officially launching on August 1. If you like “new,” you’ll love it! You can find us online at http://www.skylineattractions.com, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/skylineattractions, and on Twitter @skylineattrax. Jeff Pike, Chris Gray, and Evan Souliere, formerly of Great Coasters International, Inc., have a combined 40+ years of experience in the design, sales, operation, and maintenance of amusement rides, including more than 25% of the world’s operating wood coasters. Bill Wydra has founded several successful companies, most notably Ash-Tec, Inc., a high-quality custom contract metals manufacturer providing amusement equipment for almost 20 years that has been ranked on the Inc. 500 / 5000 “Fastest-Growing Companies” list for five consecutive years. Edited November 14, 2016 by robbalvey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KBrylczyk Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 Our history and experience are huge benefits, but balancing experience and new talent will be critical to Skyline’s long-term success. If you’re passionate about fun, Skyline wants to hear from you! We will always be looking for fresh ideas to keep Skyline awesome. Soooooooo are they hiring or are they just asking people to send in their pie-in-the-sky ideas? Because either way I like that they're openly asking for extra help to keep the industry moving forward. All in all, awesome news! Can't wait to hear about the first project! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted July 1, 2014 Author Share Posted July 1, 2014 In case you missed it in the press release, check out their socials: Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/skylineattractions Twitter: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laqueefa Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 EVERYBODY GETS... AIRTIME! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jew Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 (edited) Speaking of GCI, uhm, what happens to them now? Edited July 1, 2014 by robbalvey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon8899 Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 Interesting to see how this "spin-off" will turn out. Will it go like the Schwarzkopf spin-off Gerstlauer or the Vekoma spin-off KumBak??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foss123 Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 An announcement on August 1st? That's one of the best birthday presents I could ever think of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfc Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 Interesting news--if they're going to "push the envelope" a bit like RMC, more power to them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superbatboy Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 Can't wait to see what they have in store Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPSFMMCW Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 Since the name has "attractions in the title, I guess its safe to assume they won't just be doing coasters? Interesting. I'm looking forward to see where this company goes and what develops out of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.J. Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 Speaking of GCI, uhm, what happens to them now? They still have a bunch of projects in the works, right? I'm sure the now-former staff have been training and preparing the others to step up and take over for a while now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZeroGravity55 Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 Additionally, we will support industry customers in achieving their amusement goals with our technical and operational knowledge, including cooperating closely with Great Coasters International, Inc. on select wood coaster ride designs. They're not exactly done with GCI. I'm wondering if part of this also includes developing a new type of wooden coaster track for GCI to use in competing with RMC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaTim Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 This may be GCI beginning to push the envelope while limiting their liability. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasterchitchat Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 This is interesting. I wonder what they are going to be building. I guess GCI will go out of business soon, since they are losing 3 engineers. According to RCDB, they've only made 22 in the last 18 years. They are good, but I guess with RMC in the business, GCI just isn't making business while RMC is building all the woodies now in the US and Europe and The Gravity Group making the small, cheap, low maintenance ones in the US and China. If Cedar Fair buys from GCI, that's the only way there in business for one more year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoppy Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 Thanks for the announcement...heard about this earlier direct from Jeff himself! "It's bittersweet, since designing coasters has been in my blood since I was 8 years old. But I decided that I've checked it off my list, and I'm after something bigger. We're starting small, but give us 5 years and we'll be on top of this industry." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evan1127 Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 Hi everyone -- glad to see the positive reactions to Skyline so far, and thanks for the well-wishes. We're pretty excited. I'll try to answer some of the questions.. Soooooooo are they hiring or are they just asking people to send in their pie-in-the-sky ideas? Because either way I like that they're openly asking for extra help to keep the industry moving forward. I guess neither at the moment, but we'll be hiring eventually (sooner rather than later). Once we do, we'll be looking for passionate and creative people to help us grow. Speaking of GCI, uhm, what happens to them now? We'll be consulting with them at their request, and there are still great and talented people working there. Interesting to see how this "spin-off" will turn out. Will it go like the Schwarzkopf spin-off Gerstlauer or the Vekoma spin-off KumBak??? Don't think "spin-off". Since the name has "attractions in the title, I guess its safe to assume they won't just be doing coasters? Correct. We have a huge range of ideas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RCjunkie Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 Exciting news. Anytime there is more competition among manufacturers and new ideas moved forward park enthusiasts like us will be the real winners. Should be fun to watch them grow and ride their new creations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larrygator Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 I guess GCI will go out of business soon, since they are losing 3 engineers. According to RCDB, they've only made 22 in the last 18 years. They are good, but I guess with RMC in the business, GCI just isn't making business while RMC is building all the woodies now in the US and Europe and The Gravity Group making the small, cheap, low maintenance ones in the US and China. If Cedar Fair buys from GCI, that's the only way there in business for one more year. That's quite a bit of speculation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.J. Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 I guess GCI will go out of business soon, since they are losing 3 engineers. According to RCDB, they've only made 22 in the last 18 years. They are good, but I guess with RMC in the business, GCI just isn't making business while RMC is building all the woodies now in the US and Europe and The Gravity Group making the small, cheap, low maintenance ones in the US and China. If Cedar Fair buys from GCI, that's the only way there in business for one more year. I don't believe this for even a fraction of a second. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon8899 Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 Don't think "spin-off". Then: Surprise Me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gerstlaueringvar Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 So Skyline Attractions is more like Ride Centerline or Ride Entertainment Group? Or even a new category? This is a great news! Can't wait to see what's coming up soon! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jynx242 Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 This is great! Having met some of these guys over the years with TPR - I am truly excited for them and really look forward to what they are going to do! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meteornotes Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 I'll be very curious to see what their first project is. dt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shavethewhales Posted July 1, 2014 Share Posted July 1, 2014 So to be clear: Skyline Attractions is a vendor/marketing company along the lines of Ride Entertainment Group, and their subsidiary Skyline Design will do R&D, but not necessarily manufacturing? Seems like a wide net to throw, hard to understand from an outside perspective where they are going with this. I'm sure you'd have to know how parks are actually doing their shopping these days to really understand why they are pursuing this. Seems like manufacturers are letting middle men do all of there marketing these days rather than trying to develop personal relationships with clients. I'm sure that's helpful for them when one of their rides ends up being faulty. There is certainly lots of room left for innovation in this industry though. It's not just about basic hardware anymore - I think there's a lot of thirst out there behind the scenes for immersive experiences, mixed attractions, and custom attractions. I hope companies like Skyline will help smaller attractions develop such as the Adventure Pointe development in Texas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted July 1, 2014 Author Share Posted July 1, 2014 I'm seeing a lot of speculations on what types of rides they might design, but I think the answer is right in their logo. Big rides. Tall rides. You know... A ride that would change a parks skyline. --Robb "I'm hoping I'm not reading too much into that..." Alvey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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