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 | FAMILYFUN Magazine Names Hersheypark and Sesame
Place as the Two Best Amusement Parks in the Northeast
Eight Other Pennsylvania Attractions Are Voted as Great
Travel Destinations
4/14/2000 - For the Entire Family
HARRISBURG, Pa., April 13 /PRNewswire/ -- For the second year in a row,
readers of FAMILYFUN magazine have named Hersheypark as the top family-
friendly amusement park in the Northeast, while another top Pennsylvania
treasure - Sesame Place - captured second-place, proving that Pennsylvania is
the perfect family destination.
FAMILYFUN, the leading publication targeting families with children
ages 3-12, asked readers who live in the Northeast region of the United
States, from Cape Cod to Niagara Falls, to choose their favorite family
vacation spots. The destinations are divided into nine categories: cities,
amusement parks, nature escapes, beaches, family resorts, tourist attractions,
tourist towns, museums, zoos and aquariums.
"We're thrilled that FAMILYFUN readers have chosen both Hersheypark and
Sesame Place as their favorite amusement parks in the Northeast," said Barbara
Chaffee, Deputy Secretary of Tourism and Marketing for Pennsylvania. "These
parks are two of the best family vacation destinations in the country and they
give families a chance to explore the other great attractions Pennsylvania has
to offer."
Known as "The Sweetest Place on Earth," Hersheypark offers families more
than 60 rides and attractions, with more roller coasters than any other park
in Pennsylvania.
The Lightning Racer will be added to the list when it opens this May.
This new coaster goes faster than 50 miles per hour and will be the first
wooden racing-dueling roller coaster in the United States. Along with eight
roller coasters, visitors can also enjoy six water rides, 20 kiddie rides,
restaurants, games, gift shops and ZooAmerica, the park's 11-acre zoo that is
home to more than 200 animals.
Sesame Place, located 30 minutes from Philadelphia in Langhorne, brings
the adorable characters and fun-loving spirit of Sesame Street alive with
15 water attractions, 50 play activities and the Vapor Trail roller coaster.
Exciting live entertainment shows such as the "Big Bird & Company" musical
revues and the popular "Rock Around the Block" parade, starring the Sesame
Street friends, are sure to delight children and their families.
Hersheypark and Sesame Place are not the only places in Pennsylvania that
FAMILYFUN readers love to visit. More great Pennsylvania attractions were
voted into the top-five spots in other categories. Philadelphia was chosen as
the third best city to visit in the Northeast, and one of the city's great
landmarks, Independence Hall, was chosen as the fifth best tourist attraction.
The beautiful Pennsylvania Dutch scenery of nearby Lancaster was the second
choice of readers for top tourist town.
Readers voted both the Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh and the
Franklin Institute Science Museum in Philadelphia as the third best museums to
visit, with the Please Touch Museum, also in Philadelphia, coming in fourth
place. The Pittsburgh Zoo and the Philadelphia Zoo were chosen by families as
the third and fourth best zoos to visit in the region, respectively.
For more information on these attractions or other summer family
destinations call 1-800-VISIT-PA for a free copy of the 2000 Pennsylvania
Visitors Guide, highway map and the current Events Guide. In addition,
Pennsylvania's redesigned travel and tourism web site (www.experiencepa.com)
provides web surfers with detailed information on attractions throughout the
state.
SOURCE Pennsylvania Center for Travel, Tourism & Film
CONTACT: Scott Henry or Jeff Webster of Bozell Kamstra, 412-402-0200,
for the Pennsylvania Center for Travel, Tourism & Film; or Barbara Chaffee
or
Hilary McGowan of the Pennsylvania Center for Travel, Tourism & Film,
717-787-5453
Web site: http://www.experiencepa.com
|
| OHIO THEME PARKS BREAK 23 WORLD RECORDS WITH UNPRECEDENTED $100 MILLION CAPITAL
INVESTMENTS
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 3, 2000
Contact:
Scott Dring
Public Relations Manager
(614) 466-7993
(COLUMBUS, Oh) - Nationally recognized for their innovative and
cutting-edge thrill rides, Ohio's four major theme parks are pulling
out all the stops in 2000 with an unprecedented $100 million
investment in new rides and attractions. With more than 30 new
attractions, including six new roller coasters, Ohio's theme parks
will bring their combined total of world records to an astonishing 23.
Each of Ohio's four major theme parks - Paramount's Kings Island,
Six Flags Ohio, Cedar Point and SeaWorld Cleveland Adventure Park -
has made major capital investments in preparation for the 2000
season. For many of the parks these investments represent the
largest capital improvements in their history.
"Ohio's theme parks offer guests a wide variety of attractions for the
entire family, from world-renowned roller coasters, to unique virtual
reality rides, to the opportunity to see and interact with some of the
rarest animals in the world, " said State Tourism Director Jim Epperson.
"To have each of Ohio's top-notch parks making record-breaking capital
improvements all in the same season is truly a once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity for park visitors."
Prior to the 2000 season, Ohio's theme parks held five world records,
including: the longest wooden roller coaster (Paramount's Kings Island's
The Beast); the most wooden roller coaster track of any theme park
(Paramount's Kings Island); the most roller coasters at one theme park
(Cedar Point); the most rides at one park (Cedar Point); and the most
carousels at one theme park (Cedar Point). The new attractions bring the
total world records at Ohio's theme parks to 23 (see attached fact sheet
for a complete listing).
"For years, Ohio's theme parks have been recognized and honored by
roller coaster and theme park experts and enthusiasts around the
world. But with all the record-breaking attractions that will be
added to the mix in 2000, Ohio's parks will now be unparalleled,"
Epperson said. "Ohio will be a truly wild place to be this summer."
Highlights of What's New at Ohio's Theme Parks
Paramount's Kings Island -- Cincinnati, Ohio
o Paramount's Kings Island's 1999-2000 $40 million capital
improvement program is the largest expansion in the park's
history. In fact, it is more than it took to build the entire
park when it opened in 1972. The $40 million expansion
includes the introduction of the FACE/OFF roller coaster and
DROP ZONE Stunt Tower attractions in 1999 and the Son of
Beast - the world's tallest, fastest and only wooden looping
roller coaster - for 2000.
o The Son of Beast will break the following world records:
o World's tallest wooden roller coaster (218 feet);
o World's tallest wooden roller coaster drop (214 feet);
o World's fastest wooden roller coaster (78 mph); and
o World's only wooden roller coaster with a loop.
o In addition to the new world's records Paramount's Kings Island
will break in 2000, the following existing records are still
in place:
o The Beast is the world's longest wooden roller coaster (7,400 feet);
o DROP ZONE Stunt Tower will be the world's tallest gyro drop
attraction (315 feet); and
o Paramount's Kings Island has the most wooden roller coaster track
of any theme park in the world (22,619 feet, almost 4.3 miles).
Six Flags Ohio -- Aurora, Ohio
o Six Flags Ohio has invested $40 million in the expansion of the
park. The majority of that investment has gone into the building
of four roller coasters. Those include: Batman Knight Flight,
the world's longest "floorless" roller coaster; Superman
Ultimate Escape, a suspended impulse coaster; The Villain,
a giant wooden roller coaster; and the RoadRunner Express,
a coaster designed for every member of the family.
o In addition to the new roller coasters, Six Flags Ohio has added
seven new family rides, a state-of-the-art interactive play area
called Looney Tunes BoomTown, a new water park called
Hurricane Harbor and a family boat adventure.
o Six Flags Ohio will set three world records in the 2000 season:
o The most roller coasters put into any existing American theme park
during one season (4);
o The Batman Knight Flight will be the world's longest "floorless"
coaster (4,210 feet);
o The Superman Ultimate Escape will be the world's first vertical
spiraling impulse coaster; and
o The Batman Knight Flight also will be the first floorless roller
coaster in the Midwest.
Cedar Point -- Sandusky, Ohio
o Cedar Point has invested $48 million in capital improvements
at the park for the 2000 season. $25 million of that investment
is for Millennium Force - the world's tallest and fastest
roller coaster. This is the largest single ride investment
in Cedar Point's 129-year history.
o Millennium Force will break the following world records:
o Tallest roller coaster in the world (310 feet);
o Fastest roller coaster in the world (92 mph);
o Longest drop on a roller coaster (300 feet);
o First roller coaster to top 300 feet;
o First roller coaster to utilize elevator lift system; and
o Steepest non-inversion bank on a roller coaster (122 degrees).
o In addition to the new world's records Cedar Point will break in
2000, the following existing records are still in place:
o Most roller coasters at one theme park (14);
o Most roller coaster track at one park (44,013);
o Most steel roller coasters at one park; (12); and
o Most carousels at one theme park (3).
SeaWorld Cleveland Adventure Park -- Cleveland, Ohio
o This year, SeaWorld Cleveland Adventure Park debuts Mission:
Bermuda Triangle - a multi-million dollar virtual adventure
ride that simulates a spine-tingling journey to the very depths
of the ocean. Mission: Bermuda Triangle marks the largest
capital investment in the park's history. Also on tap this year
from June 10 through August 27 is New Orleans Nights, a nightly
Mardi Gras event featuring street performers, live bands, a
colorful theme and Cajun cuisine.
o In addition to Mission: Bermuda Triangle and New Orleans Nights,
SeaWorld Cleveland has these exciting attractions:
o Wild Wings, a bird show featuring an exotic array of birds;
o Fools with Tools, a comedy show featuring sea lions, Asian
small-clawed otters and a Pacific walrus;
o Shamu Adventure, a thrilling show featuring the world-famous
killer whales, Shamu and Namu;
o Pirates 4-D, a fourth-dimension special effects show that allows
guests to feel, see and hear the hi-tech experience;
o Dolphin Cove, where guests make contact with one of the ocean's
most delightful animals, the bottlenose dolphin;
o Seal and Sea Lion Community Pool, where guests can feed these
sleek and beautiful animals;
o Intensity Games Water Ski Show, a race to the winner's circle as
two water ski/gymnastics teams compete in a series of events;
o All-Star Mutts, a cast of canines and felines adopted from area
animal shelters and are also joined by a pot-bellied pig. From a
dog's point of view, the audience sees what really happens when
owners are away and their furry, four-legged friends get the
run of "Central Bark;"
o Patagonia Passage, featuring a pair of Commerson's dolphins and
Magellanic penguins, this attraction gives guests the opportunity
to view these two species interacting just as they do in the
Patagonia region of South America;
o Penguin Encounter, the ultimate penguin experience where guests
can peer into the world of the Antartic and view more than 100
polar penguins of three species;
o Shark Encounter, home to more than a dozen Atlantic sharks of
four species;
o SeaWorld's Stingray Touch Pool where guests can actually touch
live stingrays;
o Shamu's Halloween Spooktacular, Halloween-themed attractions,
food and contests. For the first time ever, SeaWorld Cleveland
will be extending its season to include weekends in October.
Ohio travelers can find out everything they need to know about Ohio's theme
parks with one toll-free phone call to 1-800-BUCKEYE. Travel counselors are
available weekdays 8 a.m. - 9 p.m. and weekends 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Ohio
attractions and events can also be found on the Internet at
www.OhioTourism.com.
-30-
EDITOR'S NOTE: The Division of Travel and Tourism conducts customized
media familiarization tours. These trips are offered on a personal
and/or small-group basis with exact itinerary and dates to be
determined by participating media. We are currently offering a
"Coaster Time" tour featuring Ohio's world-class, record-breaking
theme parks.
Rona W. Gilbert
Senior Account Executive
Lord, Sullivan & Yoder Public Relations
250 Old Wilson Bridge Road
Worthington, Ohio 43085
(614) 825-1703
FAX (614) 846-2780
rgilbert@.lsy.com
|
2/7/2000
Six Flags Announces World Class Wooden Roller Coaster The Boss Takes Charge in 2000! |
| The Boss Takes Charge in
2000! ST. LOUIS, Feb. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Six Flags St. Louis announces a new,
world-class wooden roller coaster for 2000, offering a unique, one-of-a-kind ride
experience that can't be duplicated anywhere else in the world, according to Tom
Iven, the
Park's Vice President and General Manager. The massive new roller coaster structure is an
engineering phenomenon with an unprecedented 15-story double-down-double-drop first hill
and sweeping twists, turns and banks used in combination to create a one-of-a-kind wooden
roller coaster.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000207/LNM007 )
"This roller coaster is already considered one of the world's blockbuster wooden
coasters of all time. It is so vast, steep, deep and just plain wild...the experience
would be like riding a roller coaster over and through the Grand Canyon," Iven said.
"It will be at the top of every list of greatest and grandest wooden coaster
experiences of all times."
Appropriately named, THE BOSS takes charge right from the start. After the breathtaking
150-foot plunge, THE BOSS crosses over itself six times. A number of stomach-turning drops
including one of 112-feet and one of 103-feet, a head-spinning 570-degree Helix and a
series of "air-time" rabbit hops and high-banked turns keeps THE BOSS in command
at all times. "The big-time features on this coaster create a lot of "float
time" for riders," states Iven, "making The BOSS one exhilarating
experience from start to finish. The experience of this terrain twister is completely
different from the Park's legendary Screamin' Eagle roller coaster, which is a traditional
out-and-back configuration."
"THE BOSS' configuration is one of the most inventive designs I've ever seen in my
life for a wooden roller coaster," said Gary Slade, editor and publisher, Amusement
Today. "It is simply spectacular. The ride experience on this coaster will be beyond
description because of features like the double-down first drop and the tight crosses,
twists, turns and banks. This BOSS will really rule as one of the top wooden coaster
experiences in the world when it opens." And another respected roller coaster
enthusiast, Paul Reuben, claims, "THE BOSS will push the envelope." Ruben, North
American editor, Park World Magazine, states, "It's the stuff of legends thanks to a
monster first drop and the wild configuration of the nearly mile long track. THE BOSS
stands atop the list of 15 new woodies being built this year. It's definitely world-class
and a shoo-in to open as one of the world's top woodies."
"THE BOSS packs powerful credentials," noted Iven. "Not only will the
gripping 52-degree, 150-foot double-dip-double-drop hill at the beginning of the ride and
over 50% "air time" throughout the ride send it soaring to the top of the rider
rating poles, but THE BOSS' numerical statistics already place it among the TOP 10 wooden
roller coasters in the nation." Standing at 122-feet tall, THE BOSS features sleek
ultra-fast trains that will race over 5,051-feet of sprawling, twisting, turning and
banking terrain track at speeds over 66 mph.
"A perfect addition to Park, THE BOSS has the wide appeal of a classic
"woodie" with latest and greatest state-of-the-art thrills," Iven said.
Last year, Hurricane Harbor redefined the physical footprint of Six Flags St. Louis,
adding 12-acres of new fun. This year, THE BOSS is redefining the Park's skyline as it
towers mightily over the legendary Screamin' Eagle roller coaster in the Britannia
section. THE BOSS operates three trains of 24 riders each with the potential for 1,400
rides per hour. "Added ride capacity always translates into a better overall guest
experience." notes Iven. At 1,400 riders per hour, THE BOSS will have the largest
potential capacity of any coaster in the Park. THE BOSS will feature the open, roomy
Gerstlauer style trains.
With the addition of Hurricane Harbor in 1999, Six Flags St. Louis positioned itself as
the area's largest single attraction destination and entertainment leader in Mid-America.
In addition to offering Hurricane Harbor free with theme park admission, Six Flags St.
Louis also rolled out a "Kids Always 1/2 Price" (48" and under) program, a
program it will continue this season. "The addition of another mega-attraction
following last year's building of a new multi-acre and multi-million dollar water park
once again broadens and diversifies the overall entertainment offering available at Six
Flags St. Louis," states Iven. "It also signals the continued commitment of Six
Flags to having a world-class theme park in this part of the country."
THE BOSS, a Custom Coasters International, Inc. roller coaster, takes its place at the
top of the Park's existing lineup of great roller coasters. The Park's roller coasters
include: River King Mine Train steel coaster, which debuted with the park in 1971; The
Screamin' Eagle wooden coaster, which opened in 1976; Ninja-The Black Belt Of Roller
Coasters steel looping coaster, which opened in 1989; Batman The Ride inverted steel
looping coaster, which opened in 1995; and Mr. Freeze steel, linear induction powered
coaster, which opened in 1998.
Six Flags Theme Parks, part of Premier Parks Inc., the world's largest regional theme
park with 35 parks in the United States, Mexico and Europe. The Company's park serve 16 of
the nation's top 25 markets in the United States and annually host more than 45 million
guests. A publicly held corporation with corporate offices in New York City and Oklahoma
City, Premier Parks trades on the NYSE under the symbol: PKS.
SOURCE Six Flags St. Louis
CONTACT: Elizabeth Gotway of Six Flags St. Louis, 314-938-5300, Ext. 326
Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000207/LNM007 PRN Photo Desk,
888-776-6555 or 201-369-3467 |
|
| One of The World`s Largest
Water Parks Under
Construction for May Opening In New Jersey Six
Flags Builds Third Park on Site Next to Six Flag
Great Adventure and Safari Parks
|
January 20, 2000
Six Flags Builds Third Park on Site Next to Six Flag Great Adventure and Safari Parks
Expansion Creates Three Worlds of Adventure at One Destination
JACKSON, N.J., Jan. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Six Flags is building one of the world's largest
water parks on a site next to Six Flags Great Adventure and the Safari parks in Jackson,
New Jersey. Named Six Flags Hurricane Harbor, details of the over 45-acre water park
project that will include over 25 major rides and attractions and an extensive tropical
theme presentation were unveiled today by Six Flags officials.
Thirteen towering thrill slides, gigantic wave pool, large family interactive water
play areas and adventure river attractions are already taking shape on the site. Six Flags
Hurricane Harbor will have its own entrance plaza and separate admission price from the
theme and safari parks, but combination tickets will be available, Six Flags officials
announced.
The massive new water park is the latest expansion to the 2,200-acre regional theme,
water and safari entertainment complex, the largest in the world with over 200 rides and
attractions.
"This is a huge expansion in terms of the overall scope of the water park project.
It clearly elevates the Six Flags Great Adventure area into a new category as a
destination with multiple park properties," noted Kieran Burke, CEO, Premier Parks
Inc (NYSE: PKS), parent company of Six Flags Theme Parks.
This year's expansion comes on the heels of a record-setting expansion last year that
added over 25 new rides and attractions to the theme park.
Major Six Flags Hurricane Harbor attractions include the following:
-- Gigantic Wave Pool
-- Family Activity Lagoon
-- Family Raft Ride (2 slides)
-- Adventure River
-- Speed Slide Complex (3 slides)
-- Tube Slide Complex (3 slides)
-- Coaster Slide Complex (4 slides)
Construction is on schedule for a May opening date. The new Hurricane Harbor Water Park
plans to kick-off its inaugural season with a Memorial Day Weekend opening spectacular.
The water park will also be open the weekend of June 3 & 4, and daily from June 10 to
September 4.
SIX FLAGS and all related indicia are trademarks of Six Flags Theme Parks, Inc. &
2000 LOONEY TUNES (TM) & (C) Warner Bros. 2000.
SOURCE Six Flags Great Adventure
CONTACT: Deborah Israel, 732-928-2000, ext. 2831 or Kristin Kocher, 732-928-2000, ext.,
2832, both for Six Flags Great Adventure (PKS)
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