The Theme Park Archive blog contains a collection of editorials, theme park news and press releases.
Press Release from Dollywood
PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (Wednesday, February 19, 2020) — Dollywood officials today announced Covenant Health as the “Official Health System Partner of Dollywood.” The partnership focuses on the organizations’ shared commitments to excellence, strong and vibrant communities, guest services and experiences, and to improving the quality of life in the region.
Continue readingPress Release from Sea World San Diego
Today, (Tuesday Feb. 25, 2020) SeaWorld San Diego provided a behind-the-scenes sneak peek at some of the exciting features of the park’s new dive coaster, Emperor, and unveiled one of the ride cars for the first time.
Emperor is a floorless dive coaster and will, in fact, be the tallest, fastest and longest dive coaster on the West Coast, as well as the only floorless dive coaster. Named for the world’s largest penguin, Emperor will mimic this species’ amazing underwater diving ability. Fun fact: emperors can dive to a depth of 1,800 feet. Riders on the Emperor coaster will climb to 153 feet, where they will be suspended on a 45-degree angle at the crown of the ride before plunging down a 143-foot facedown vertical drop accelerating to more than 60 miles per hour.
Continue readingIn this continuation to the first 2020 preview article, I continue my analysis of what new attractions are coming to theme parks in 2020 looking towards developments in Europe, Asia and Australia. There are surely some exciting new things happening, and these are the ones I am most looking forwards to experiencing.
On the heels of yesterday’s announcement by Indiana Beach that it is closing, today we have confirmation that Fantasy Island is truly closing as well. The news was released by operator Apex Parks Group. In addition to Fantasy Island and Indiana Beach, 2 family entertainment centers in Texas are also closing.
Sad news out of Indiana today as owner Apex Parks Group announced that it is shuttering Indiana Beach after 94 years of operation. The park was home to 3 CCI Wooden Coasters: the quirky Lost Coaster of Superstition Mountain as well as the more traditional Cornball Express and Hoosier Hurricane. Indiana Beach also had a Schwarzkopf Jet Star ride and an S&S El Loco coaster. The park also had a unique walkthrough attraction named Frankenstein’s Castle and a dark ride named Den of the Lost Thieves.
