Holiday Spin 12.22.09

"He sees you when you're sleeping, and he knows when you're awake." Anybody besides me ever stop to consider how completely CREEPY that lyric is?

Well I can't speak for Santa, but I've made my list and checked it 5.42 times--because I like to be different. Unfortunately, "checking" doesn't translate into "buying". (It really doesn't. Look it up.) That's right, my friends: Christmas is when it all falls apart for us "Type A"s of the world. Some people say if you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere. I say if you can make it through the holiday season, you should kick back, relax, and join the space program. If only I had stuck to my original plan of buying everybody a bedazzled sweatshirt and a one-year membership to the Jelly of the Month Club ("the gift that keeps on giving"), this entire crisis could have been averted. But once again, this year's shopping spree will be a race against the clock, with all gift wrapping taking place in the wee hours of Christmas Eve morning. In keeping with tradition, the latter act will be accompanied by a showing of holiday cartoon specials, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, or Bad Santa, as dictated by my mood.

Fortunately, the mood at Busch Gardens Tampa is considerably less frenzied. Think graceful ice skaters, soothing spiritual music, and crooning carolers. The ever popular Christmas on Ice (featuring professional skaters) and Christmas from the Heart (featuring a live choir) return to the park's Holidays event in 2009. Joining this stellar line-up is St. Nick himself, who is hosting special holiday breakfast events on select days during the month of December. Those who know Santa personally--as I do--would agree that the pleasure of his company is reason enough to attend such a feast. But for the benefit of everyone else (i.e., the naughty), they've also thrown in a musical performance, tap-dancing toy soldiers, and a family photo op. The fun doesn't end on Christmas, either. In fact, it's just getting started! From December 26-30, Busch Gardens will delight your visual senses with evening fireworks as they build up to their "ultimate New Year's Eve Celebration" on December 31.

"If you build it, they will come." The voice was that of a portly, distinguished gentleman wearing a red suit. The "it" was a life-size replica of Santa (complete with sleigh and reindeer) constructed entirely from Legos. And the audience? A cadre of Lego-toting grown up "kids", many of whom were first introduced to the colorful blocks when they were left under the Christmas tree by a mysterious character who doesn't believe in doors...Coincidence? Whether you subscribe to the conspiracy theory or not, you can't help but appreciate the craftsmanship behind Legoland California's Holly Jolly Holidays event. In addition to the Santa "shrine", this park also boasts the world's largest Lego Christmas tree, which checks in at a staggering 30+ feet in height! You could easily spend your entire visit exploring these and the many other holiday-themed Lego creations which await you, but don't forget to catch a showing of the musical "Let It Snow" before you hit the road. Legoland will also be hosting a special Kids' New Year's Eve party on December 31.

Legoland California built him a shrine, but Six Flags Fiesta Texas took things one step further and built him a castle. During the park's third annual Holiday in the Park event, you are invited to tour that castle and see exactly what it takes to prepare for the big night. Like other Holiday in the Park events taking place across the Six Flags chain, this one also features a daily tree lighting ceremony and a sledding hill. But we can't talk about Six Flags Fiesta Texas without talking entertainment. See the Nativity be brought to life before your very eyes in "The Majesty of Christmas". Then, for some lighter fun, catch the Rockville Dickens Carolers or the "Wiggly Christmas" show. This park is spectacular by day, so I can only imagine what one million lights add to the equation!

As long as you're hanging out in San Antonio, you may as well scurry on over to Schlitterbahn, and then to SeaWorld. Boy oh boy, three park holiday events in one city! I hereby declare San Antonio to be a hotbed of holiday cheer. SeaWorld San Antonio invites you to join their Christmas Celebration and hop aboard the Polar Express, a holiday-themed 4-D experience like no other. (Well...Like no other in San Antonio, anyway!) After you debark, let the gang from Sesame Street introduce you to holiday traditions from around the world in their own special singing, dancing way. Even Shamu believes in Christmas miracles, as evidenced by his festive holiday show. And if, like me, you find yourself in need of some comic relief by this point in the season, flippered friends Clyde and Seamore deliver in a big way as they invite you to "Deck the Halls" with them. Who knew sea lions had halls to deck? I think this stands as proof that Christmas has become too commercial.

Commercial or not, and regardless of how hard I try to ignore it, the big day fast approacheth! But if you haven't had an opportunity to partake in any park-sponsored yuletide merriment this year, it's not too late. Most events run through New Year's, and in a few cases, beyond. Wherever you spend your holidays, I hope it will be in the company of family and friends, and that it will be devoid of all traces of grinchiness. As for me, Santa says the jury is still out on whether I've been naughty or nice this year. (I don't suppose this has anything to do with the way I've been bah humbugging it up lately.) But I'm not sweating it. The jolly old fellow has one weakness, and I happen to bake it in batches of 75...

From my Grinch cave to yours, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, & best wishes for a prosperous 2010!

Holiday Spin 12.15.09

Brought to you in part by Hershey's Cocoa!

I took last Friday off in the name of sanity. (While often overrated, it occasionally comes in handy.) After beginning my day with some enlightening reading and an invigorating 7-mile run, I paused for a moment to scowl disapprovingly at the string of tree lights that went out just days after I hung it, before methodically (yet festively) pumping out approximately 75 sandwich cookies. [That's 75 sandwich cookies. I'll just give you a minute to calculate the time, effort, and number of cookie sheets this required.] I was only one day into the weekend and had already burned oodles of calories (primarily from the scowling incident), yet it was all I could do to sample the fruits of my labors before dashing over the Susquehanna and through the central PA woods for the first round of family festivities. Following an icy drive home during which I lost count of the number of wrecked cars I passed, I celebrated the fact that I was still in one piece by busting out my best quill to pen this year's Christmas cards, which may or may not have come with poisonous envelopes. Time will tell whether I ever get full sensation back in my tongue, but I'm hoping for the best.

I'm not sure who wrote "The Twelve Pains of Christmas", but it is my sentiment that this individual should be canonized, or at the very least knighted. Let's see how our friends in the industry are coping with this abundantly joyous season, shall we?

I'm instinctively drawn to my own kind, so naturally I took an immediate liking to a certain holiday event which goes by the title 13 Days of Grinchmas. Sounds good to me! Shall I start tearing down stockings, or focus on confiscating the roast beast? And exactly how soon can we cancel Christmas? Alas, I came to find out that Universal Studios Hollywood was out to capture the essence of the Grinch after his heart grew three sizes. Better luck next year. But if, unlike me, you have yet to become jaded by the hustle and bustle, you just might enjoy building a snowgrinch in the park's snow playground (featuring real snow!), or watching Whoville come to life before your wondering eyes on the very sets where the movie was filmed. The Grinch, his trusty canine companion Max, and all of your Whoville favorites will be present for the nightly tree-lighting ceremony and will even be available for photo ops. The 13-day celebration runs from December 19-31.

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom must have caught word that a certain grinchy blogger was on the Christmas warpath, because they've gone so far as to hire some "super spirited sea lions" to "save Christmas from meanies up to no good". [As always, I appreciate the application of alliteration.] It's one of several holiday shows featuring their fine-flippered cast, but that's not all you'll find at the park's third annual Holiday in the Park event. Become a babe all over again in Toy Land, where you'll encounter larger-than-life friends in the form of a nutcracker and teddy bear, just to name a couple. You can also meet all of your holiday favorites, from Frosty to all eight of Santa's reindeer, before watching the big guy himself star in his own nightly parade. And when it comes to catching a ride, you have your choice of the modern-day steel variety or the good old-fashioned traditional variety that takes the form of a sled careening down Blitzen's Wonderland Mountain. Still can't get enough? Come back for their New Year's Eve celebration.

I may openly and unapologetically "bah humbug" many aspects of the holiday season, but spectacular lighting displays are not among them. As a person who can't get five strings of all-white lights to stay lit for one week, I have a great admiration for those wizards of the electrical world who are able to keep millions of variegated lighting masterpieces aglow for an entire season. Take the wizards at Dollywood, for instance. The gorgeous photo above, snapped by NPN's own resident photographer Carol during her and Scott's visit last year, provides but a small taste of what 4 million lights can do for you. If you're not completely awestruck by this display, which comes in stationary, parade, and choreographed form, perhaps you'll realize that the park's Smoky Mountain Christmas event also features scores of live entertainment and shows, including Christmas in the Smokies, Dollywood's Babes in Toyland, and 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. And don't forget the Polar Express 4-D Experience, which is sure to cast out any lingering Scrooge-like tendencies. It better, because the man in the big red suit will also be in attendance and he doesn't take kindly to phrases ending in "humbug".

When it comes to the holidays, there are two types of people: those who freely choose to introduce prodigious levels of stress into their lives by turning out batches of 75 cookies at a time (i.e., the "crazies"), and those who would rather just decorate one cookie that somebody else has baked while listening to a fanciful Princess and Knight read them a story. The powers that be at Dutch Wonderland realized that most folks (mercifully) fall into the second camp, and so it was that Dutch Winter Wonderland came to be. In their infinite wisdom, they also recognized that speaking volumes without saying a word (or at least, without giving the appearance of such) is a sacrosanct art form, and thus invited ventriloquist Marian and her friendly puppet pals to join the Dutch "royal family" in spreading seasonal cheer. When combined with a miniature train display, gingerbread house judging, rides, reindeer, and all-around culinary merriment (did I mention you can make your own smores and sundaes as well?), you've got yourself a fairytale holiday celebration that just might be capable of transcending the bakery bonanza which has taken root in your homes.

While you're all living happily ever after at one of these fine events, I'll content myself to live vicariously while furiously churning out more holiday delicacies and making an earnest attempt to refrain from going all-out Grinch on my half-lit tree. Provided that the week progresses without incident, I'll be back with one last obnoxiously festive event round-up before the big day arrives. May the force be with me.

Holiday Spin 12.8.09

Two batches of cookies down, two to go. I usually start with an easy recipe, just to ease myself into the holiday baking routine. But this year I dove headfirst into the Norwegian Berlinerkranser, and unlike some of the other chances I've taken in recent months, I'm pleased to report that this one did not result in an epic fail. In fact, they turned out pretty darn good if I must say so myself.

Now I'm not Norwegian, but I feel justified in making these due to the fact that the word "Berlin" is in the title. ...Although my baking genes actually come from the Croatian side of the family. Whatever. Consider my kitchen a melting pot. I'm sure you'd all love to learn more about the intricacies of incorporating both raw egg yolks and hard-boiled egg yolks into the dough, or about how many four-letter words I utter when I break the legs while taking them off the cookie sheet. But I'm going to write about parks now, so you'll just have to e-mail me if you want the recipe.

Silver Dollar City would also like to share some holiday recipes with you. If you'll recall from Scott and Carol's visit last year, taking a class at the Culinary & Crafts School is but one of your many options while enjoying An Old Time Christmas at this park. But if you'd rather partake than bake, fear not because "Tastes of the Season" can be found around every corner. By the time they roll you out of those eateries, all you'll be able to do is sit back, relax, and enjoy the Gifts of Christmas Holiday Light Parade, or perhaps Silver Dollar City's original adaptation of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. With four million twinkling lights and a five-story "special effects" Christmas tree at your fingertips, being uncomfortably full never felt so good.

Now that I've whet your appetites, who wants some Peanuts? Well you may have to chase them down, because they'll be parading through the midways of Knott's Berry Farm throughout the holiday season. A certain beagle is even starring in his own ice show, Snoopy's Cool Christmas. It's all part of the park's annual transformation into Knott's Merry Farm, a holiday extravaganza whose centerpiece is a Victorian Christmas Crafts Village where more than 100 skilled artisans peddle their wares. You can even catch a glimpse of Santa's workshop by hopping aboard Elf Mountain, a tricked out version of the park's Timber Mountain Log Ride featuring lights, carols, and plenty of elfish fun. Don't forget to catch breakfast with the jolly old fellow himself while you're in town!

Our next stop is none other than the Sweetest Place on Earth, whose many fine products always play a starring role in my holiday baking efforts. [Speaking of which, when the heck is somebody going to design a specialized container for storing Hershey Kiss cookies? Because seriously, the traditional "layering" method just isn't working out for me.] This year, many of those products are also playing a starring role in the brand new Holiday Chocolate House, a 13-foot tall, 100-square-foot, candy-bedecked chalet which will be available for your viewing pleasure at Hershey's Chocolate World all season long. Don't you dare think about nibbling on it, though! There are plenty of opportunities for that at Hersheypark's Christmas Candylane, where you can also visit with Santa, meet his reindeer, take some rides, and experience the magic of the new Nights of Extraordinary Lights (N.O.E.L.) show. Since I'm all about choreographed light shows this year, I've embedded a sneak preview for your enjoyment. Visit the Christmas in Hershey web site to find out what else is cooking in Chocolate Town, U.S.A. this holiday season.

And to you your wassail, eggnog cheesecake, and peppermint fudge hot chocolate too! Those are just three of the sweet holiday treats you can sample at Busch Gardens Williamsburg this year. The park's inaugural Christmas Town event promises to dazzle, featuring a wide array of strolling carolers and performers and four inspirational live shows. Select rides will also be open. And of course, it goes without saying that you can pick up some amazing gifts while you're there. In addition to the usual outlets, you can also peruse a host of unique handmade treasures at Mistletoe Marketplace. The sweetest treat of all? Peep this: A recent blog entry promises "an up-close encounter" with LIVE penguins! Now that is one holiday tradition I wouldn't mind adopting.

Holiday Spin 12.1.09

I like to take my holidays one at a time. Accordingly, I allowed my brain to succumb to its annual turkey-induced coma and waited until the morning after Thanksgiving to begin my Christmas preparations in earnest. I began by doing what any normal human being who hates shopping and crowds would do on Black Friday: I spent the entire day at eastern PA's largest mall with my mom (and Henry the Octopus). Having survived that experience without inflicting permanent injury upon myself or anyone else, I capped off my highly productive first official weekend of the holiday season by tackling that most dreaded of all Christmas chores, stringing lights on the tree. Boo-ya!

But if you think that's impressive, you should see the transformations that have taken place at many of our parks over the past few weeks.

Let's begin with the most unlikely of winter wonderlands, Schlitterbahn New Braunfels. It's hard to believe that this park's Hill Counry Christmas event is only in its second year, as it is quite impressive. Drop into America's favorite water park this month and trade in those Master Blaster rides for a trip down the Bobsled Racer or the brand new Luge Sled Run. In between runs, you can check out one of the park's numerous holiday shows, including a spectacular light show along the banks of the Comal River that's choreographed to your favorite holiday tunes. Fellow character lovers, take note: Photo ops will be available with Santa, Rudolph, Frosty, and even--GASP!!--Schatze, Schlitterbahn's dashing dachshund himself! Did I mention that they have an outdoor ice skating rink too? In Texas? By the time you're done with all that, you just might need a soak in the Winter Wassail Hot Tub. San Antonians have it tough, I tell you.

As you can see from this video, which captured a previous year's event, Lakemont Park's Holiday Lights on the Lake is quite a spectacle!

Inching ever so slightly closer to the North Pole, kids from 1 to 92 are sure to enjoy Lakemont Park's annual Holiday Lights on the Lake event, which features 13 new displays this year. Just picture it: Cruising through 51 acres of twinkling lights and animated displays, singing along to the Christmas carols being broadcast over the park's radio network, keeping track of how many times you spot a certain red-nosed mammal in an effort to win some cold, hard cash...Oh, that last item caught your attention, did it? Well it's true! Rudolph is hiding all over the place, and if you're one of the lucky contestants who accurately counts all of his appearances, you could win a $250 shopping spree to Best Buy. But this particular Christmas event is not about greed--far from it. Each year, a portion of the proceeds from Holiday Lights on the Lake is donated to a selection of very deserving non-profit organizations. Kudos to Lakemont for exhibiting true holiday spirit.

Speaking of lights, the left coast will also be ablaze with merriment this December. Gilroy Gardens is heating up the holiday fun with Nights of Fire, a brand new laser light and fireworks extravaganza set to a holiday soundtrack. It's all part of the park's sixth annual Holiday Lights event, which begins on Friday, December 4. Charlie Brown and the rest of the Peanuts gang will be on hand to treat kids of all ages to a charming musical performance, after which you can enjoy ice skating under the stars or even a visit with old St. Nick. Select rides and attractions will also be open. And what feast for the senses would be complete without an actual feast? Gilroy's version is of the all-you-can-eat variety, and takes place in a heated venue known as the Snowflake Palace. (Is that irony, or just a little Christmas magic?)

Now I've heard of Ice Queens (nothing good, I might add), but a Snow Queen? Or how about some Snow Princesses? They must be a different breed, because Santa himself invited them to join him at Six Flags Over Texas for this year's Holiday in the Park event. In addition to getting your picture taken with these guests of honor, you can hop aboard the Santa Express, where your leisurely rail journey will be punctuated by the singing of Christmas carols and a reading of Twas the Night Before Christmas. If that's not enough of a show for you, check out one of the park's scheduled shows, some of which are so popular you may need to pick up your free admission ticket in advance to ensure you get a seat! Six Flags Over Texas has also cooked up something extra special this year, and I'm not talking about sugar cookies. They've built a sledding hill--with real snow! And those ornaments in the gift shop? Made from real Texas Giant wood, thank you very much. This park is all about keepin' it real. Real Christmasy.

And so am I, so I'll be bringing you much more in the way of glad tidings in the weeks to come!

Daily [Halloween] Spin 10.30.09

It is with a heavy heart that I bring you the very last Halloween Spin of 2009. Where has the season gone?! And more importantly, how have I gotten through it without using the expression "boo-ya" in one single post? (Oh wait...) It seems like just yesterday that I cracked open the inaugural bag of candy corn pumpkins. Now all I have to show for myself is a wad of empty bags and a pile of Hershey Kiss wrappers. (But hopefully not a few extra pounds.) These treats, like the season itself, have been positively delicious and I'm counting on my fond memories of them to sustain me through the cold, coasterless winter months. Let's not jump the gun, though. We still have a few days of devilish fun left to enjoy!

Are you ready to get Bitten? Look no further than the Wisconsin Dells. This year marks the debut of Mt. Olympus's Haunted Night at the Theme Park, and they are not messing around. The headliner of this event is "Bitten", a haunted house billed as one of Wisconsin's largest. You will also find a hay bale maze, an assortment of "hidden spooks", and the largest mummified horse in the world. (I assume this means that they've "mummified" the signature Trojan horse that's featured on one of their go-kart tracks--how cool!) But here's where Mt. Olympus really breaks the mold: Whereas most parks forbid guests to wear costumes to their Halloween events, this park encourages it. In fact, if you show up in full costume, they will actually give you $5 of "Spooky Bucks" to spend in the park!

If the name of your park actually has the word "Ghost" in it, you darn well better do something special for Halloween. Ghost Town in the Sky has obliged by bringing us the House of Terror. Featuring over 15 spine-tingling rooms, a cemetery, and two mazes, this sounds like one heck of a horrifying experience. And it better be for the price tag: $20 for adults and $10 for children, or $10 for all ages if purchased with park admission. Yikes! Would it sweeten the deal if I told you that Cliff Hanger is now open? (Again?) 'Cause it is, and that's no trick!

Turns out sea creatures celebrate Halloween, too. Who knew? I'll tell you who: SeaWorld Orlando. Their Halloween Spooktacular features fun-filled activities for the entire family. Just follow the Underwater FantaSea path to the various treasure stations, where you will find everything from face painting to a special "Countdown to Halloween" performance put on by your favorite Sesame Street characters. Did I mention that you can also collect goodies at each of those stations? Bonus! But the most intriguing part of this event (to me, anyway) has got to be the "interactive ice DJ" who can be found in the Frozen Fun Zone. I have no idea what that means, but it sounds pretty "cool".

If you find yourself in the general vicinity of Oklahoma City on this most glorious last weekend of the Halloween season, you can lasso yourself some seasonal fun at Frontier City. This park's rendition of Fright Fest appears to be notably tame compared to that which can be found at some of its sister parks. It's heavy on shows and children's activities, with many of the latter taking place in BooVille. (Does everyone stand in a circle around a giant pumpkin, clasping hands and singing, "Welcome Halloween, Halloween Day"?) But fear not (or, fear--as you choose), my fellow terror junkies. You can get yours in the inferno-themed House of Screams.

This concludes our nickel tour of a thoroughly random selection of the various Halloween events taking place across the country in 2009. With any luck, you've made it to at least one of them. If not, the clock is ticking so get out there and scare up some fun! I fully intend to do the same. Happy Halloween!

Daily Spin 10.21.09

Since Carowinds topped out Intimidator last week, they've made quick progress on the ride. As you can see at left, the first drop is now fully in place. Photos on the ride's official website show that they've started onto the ride's second hill as well.

Work also continues on the ride's entrance area, as well as the station - which looks to be structurally up at this point aside from the roof.

Also Intimidator 305 at Kings Dominion progresses toward completing the ride's 300 ft. first drop. New photos have been added but aren't showing off that drop just yet. The webcam for the ride, however, shows that they're nearing the top.

More bad news coming from Freestyle Music Park as another lawsuit has been filed against the theme park for unpaid debts. This time it's a ride manufacturer, as Zamperla says the park still owes them $100,000 toward the 4 kiddie rides they supplied the park this past Spring. You can read more about it in this article. The park recently announced that they have lined up new investors which hopefully will allow the park to expand and continue to operate.

Back onto new ride construction, Cedar Point has added new construction photos of their 2010 attraction, Shoot the Rapids. The first footer has been poured and they've got the land for the ride pretty much prepped at this point. The park has also confirmed on their blog that Demon Drop will be leaving the park at the end of the season, and indeed heading to Knott's Berry Farm.

Universal Studios has retained Steven Spielberg as a creative consultant for their theme parks until 2017, Variety is reporting. Spielberg has been a consultant to the parks for a long time now, working with them on the Jurassic Park River Adventure, Men in Black, the new Singapore park, and plenty of other attractions. What's his input worth? How about 5.25% of the gross revenues from the Orlando and Japan parks! That's a lot of coin.

Daily [Halloween] Spin 10.18.09

Variety is the pumpkin spice of life.

They said it couldn't be done. They said the lure of the basic yet authoritative orange, yellow, and white stripes was simply too strong. But this week, I looked my candy corn obsession right in the eye and said move aside, for there are more seasonal Hershey Kisses to sample! No need for charts or graphs this time around: The Pumpkin Spice kiss beat the Candy Corn kiss, hands down. There, I admit it. These kisses must have mad flavor, because as sick as I am right now, I'm lucky I'm able to taste, smell, or hear anything, or even stay upright long enough to type this post for that matter. But I've never let that stop me before, so onward we march through another round of seasonal events.

As long as we're marching, you may want to put on your winter boots. Mother Nature has been wreaking havoc on the Halloween season this year, and more parks were forced to temporarily suspend their seasonal festivities at some point this weekend due to inclement weather. Among them is Canobie Lake Park, which will not be open this evening. But the park promises that Screeemfest will return as scheduled on Friday...with a vengeance. This brand new event, which features three full-fledged haunted attractions as well as the whimsical "Pumpkin Palace" for children, was the brainchild of Canobie's own in-house creative team, and they have crafted quite an elaborate "history" for it. NewHampshire.com put out a great article this week in which park officials themselves describe exactly what you will find should you dare to visit Salem this month.

I've been having a lot of weird dreams since I got sick, but it could be worse. If I lived near Farmington, Utah, I might be having Frightmares!! And that is exactly how Lagoon wants it. Using its advanced "spider rating" system to indicate the spookiness of various attractions, Lagoon promises something for every member of the family. The friendly Spook-A-Boo walk-through attraction is perfectly suited for children, while older kids (and kids at heart, because we count too!) can find their evil muse in Deception or the Fun House of Fear. Despite the fact that I find the park's spider rating system to be suspect, as even one spider is too many in my house, the fright factor appears to be 100% legit at Lagoon this year.

Out on the left coast, the only thing scarier than the 49ers building a new football stadium is this year's Haunt at California's Great America. The event features such Cedar Fair favorites as Club Blood, CarnEvil, Corn Stalkers, and the brand new Toy Factory, where deranged workers will build novelties out of just about anything. But it also features unique attractions such as Camp Gonnagetcha, where the transformed Logger's Run flume serves as your only escape from the ghosts of campers past! If you're on a budget, be sure to visit the Haunt web site for some sweet deals on a Gruesome Twosome or GorePack of tickets.

Have you noticed that all of Six Flags' Fright Fest events are presented by Snickers? My sweet tooth sure has. As long as I'm expanding my horizons to include pumpkin spice flavored Hershey Kisses, why not throw in some candy bars as well? It's Halloween, people. Let's get nuts! You know, because Snickers have nuts? Oh, never mind. Six Flags America is getting nuts, and a little paranormal too. Take a load off and hop aboard Capital Railways for a behind-the-scenes tour of Paranormal Studios, where a tour guide from yesteryear is determined to put his own frightful spin on your fun. If you make it out alive, you can celebrate by dancing with Mr. Six at his Spooktacular Street Party, or taking in one of the many other scare zones or entertainment offerings at the park this Halloween. The smallest members of the family even get their own hayride! Check out the Fright Fest web page for more details.

I could use a few bales of hay right now...to lay down and take a nap! Since I'm down and out, I'm depending on all of you to have fun in my place. Live vicariously, I must. So get out there and get a-haunting! A couple more weeks and the 2009 witching season will be part of the history books. Hopefully we'll have a chance to take one more "spin" through this year's festivities before we reach that point!

Daily [Halloween] Spin 10.13.09

The Halloween season rages on, and so do my cravings for all things sugary and non-nutritious. I have now moved on to the "harvest mix" candy corn. The pumpkins are still my favorite, but when it comes to making fake fangs, only the traditional triangular shape will do. [Did I seriously just admit that I do that? Move along, people...nothing to see here.]

Jack be nimble, Jack be quick. Jack O. Lantern? He be downright spooky! Jack and his pals have returned to Busch Gardens Williamsburg to entertain you during the park's annual Howl-O-Scream event in a dance number appropriately titled "Jack Is Back". They are in good company, as numerous other entertainers, seven scare zones, and six haunted houses/mazes combine to scare you out of your wits. In true Busch Gardens style, these attractions are themed not only to Halloween, but also to their respective areas within the park. Read their sordid stories on the Howl-O-Scream web site and gird your loins for the tests that await! Still can't get enough? Follow Jack on Facebook. He even has his own e-mail address!

Magic Springs had its share of operational difficulties during the high season this year, but they're not about to let that stop them from putting their best foot forward (attached or not, as the case may be) for Halloween. The fifth annual Magic Screams event is in full effect with plenty of very operational fun for children and adults alike. Featured during the day (among other things) is a tour of Spooky Springs, a mildly haunted town with a cranky librarian. At night the park comes alive with four not-so-mildly haunted houses, including the all new House of Fears, which brings you face-to-face with all that sends a chill down your spine.

Nothing spells Halloween like scarecrows, zombies, and snow. Wait...SNOW?? It seems Elitch Gardens had an unwanted guest at Fright Fest this past weekend, but it wasn't your typical "undead" variety. It was the variety that forces you to close the park! But not to worry: All ghosts, goblins and ghouls were back to business as usual by Sunday, serving up "family by day" and "fright by night". Elitch's Fright Fest features some truly unique events for children, including a "Scream-It-Out" challenge where the best set of lungs wins a front-of-the-line pass for Ghost Blasters, and a lights-on, guided tour of one of the park's haunted houses during which all of its tricks are revealed. If you dare to visit at night, you'll be screaming it out on your own in one of the park's many haunted houses and scare zones, including Bloodlust: The Immortal Crave, which sounds an awful lot like the Club Blood attraction featured at many of the Cedar Fair parks.

Pittsburgh hasn't seen any snow yet. Mother Nature wouldn't dare, what with that Phantom running loose at Kennywood! Wouldn't want to make him angry, now would we? This Phantom knows nothing of trick-or-treat, "friendly" hauntings, or mercy. The annual event named in his honor, Phantom Fright Nights, runs only on Friday and Saturday evenings and is not recommended for young'uns or the faint of heart. It features three haunted mazes as well as scare zones and other frightfully tricked out areas, including Voodoo Bayou and Gory Park. Don't forget to say hello to Lord Kenneth Ghostwood and the Phantom himself while you're there--Numerous rides will be open for your screaming pleasure.

Amazingly, it is already October 13th. This begs the question: Is our Halloween glass half empty or half full? And more importantly, is my bag of candy corn half empty or half full? Savor both while you can, because we all know what the answer will be by the time the next Halloween spin rolls around. Time flies when you're fleeing from vampires!

Daily Spin 10.10.09

The industry blogosphere has expanded yet again! Busch Entertainment Corporation has launched its own blog which will cover the latest and greatest news from all the Worlds of Discovery parks. In addition to original content, the blog also contains links to relevant articles which have appeared in local media outlets. To help kick things off, Worlds of Discovery President Jim Atchison has provided a video welcome message as well as a personalized "letter" containing some general remarks about the recent sale of the parks to The Blackstone Group.

Wild Adventures PR Coordinator Micha Hogan has told the local media that the park will be adding three new rides for the 2010 season, all of which will be coming from the recently closed Celebration City, another Herschend property. The three rides slated for relocation are the Scrambler, Flying Scooter, and a "family roller coaster". As you might imagine, the reporter was not savvy enough to inquire about which Celebration City coaster will be relocated, but the dominant rumor is that it will most likely be the Jack Rabbit, a Miler family coaster. If that's the case, it's an interesting move (pun intended), as Wild Adventures already has a plethora of "family" coasters. But I'm sure it will be a great addition to the park nonetheless.

After being raised from the ocean floor just one short month ago, the historic bell from Coney Island's long lost Dreamland Park continues to make its exhibition rounds. This week, Borough President Marty Markowitz welcomed the bell to Brooklyn Borough Hall, where it will remain on public display through October 23. The recovery of the bell has sparked interest in more than just Dreamland. Local architect-slash-historian David Grider has since uncovered some interesting details abouts its maker, James Gregory. Amusing the Zillion has a great article which highlights his research and also includes some first-hand speculation from diver and bell discoverer Gene Ritter regarding where the bell may appear in the future.

If all goes well, a roller coaster may come to Green Bay, Wisconsin as early as 2011. A couple weeks ago it was reported that the city, which owns and operates Bay Beach Amusement Park, was seeking approval from the City Council to include a roller coaster as part of the 24-acre park expansion that's planned for the coming years. That approval came on September 30, and the city has already begun to explore its options. At this point it is unknown whether the proposed coaster will be a new construction or a ride purchased from another park, but city officials have stated that they are looking for something wooden, family friendly, and bigger than a kiddie coaster. It seems to me that there are a few SBNO coasters out there that could suit their needs nicely...Time will tell!

Daily [Halloween] Spin 10.4.09

So how many taste tests does it take to declare a winner in the candy corn pumpkin vs. candy corn Hershey Kiss showdown? The world may never know. But you will, at the end of this post! First, let's whet our appetites with a taste of some more Halloween events.

The web site may seem like déjà vu all over again if you've visited any of the Haunt sites, but Cedar Point's HalloWeekends event promises to deliver a uniquely horrifying experience. This year's event features two new haunted houses and three new shows as well as daytime activities such as Planet Spooky and the Witches of Witch Hollow for the younger, more squeamish members of the family. While you're there, be sure to catch the Monster Midway Invasion Celebration Parade, which--well, invades the midway--every Saturday and Sunday at 4 p.m. For a truly unique Halloween treat, make a reservation to dine at G.A. Boeckling's Eerie Estate, a new haunted house which invites you to "step back into Cedar Point's history".

This weekend marked the beginning of Kid-o-ween at Wild Adventures. This family-oriented event, which runs on Saturdays and Sundays through the end of October, features kid-friendly activities including crafts, a hay bale maze, and the Monster Mash Dance Party. Next weekend the park will kick up the fright factor by more than a few notches with the 2009 debut of Phobia, which runs on Friday and Saturday nights. PR Coordinator Micha Hogan, who divulged all the gory details in a recent interview with a local radio station, describes this year's event as heavily themed and more intense than ever before. She also had a few things to say about the new Zombieland movie, part of which was filmed at Wild Adventures earlier this year. Check it out!

As the saying goes, it's all fun and games until the house really is haunted. One of America's most haunted places is none other than the Hotel Conneaut, and you can explore it for yourself as part of Conneaut Lake Park's annual Ghost Lake event. The hotel walk-through is one of "8 levels of terror" being featured at this year's event, which is brought to you by the same folks responsible for the Canfield Scaregrounds in Ohio. In addition to such crowd pleasers as Dr. Contagious, Tingler's Funeral Home, and The Black Vortex, you can also enjoy a selection of the park's rides for a minimal additional fee. The event is already in full swing, so what are you waiting for? The ghost of Elizabeth is dying to meet you...

You'll be feeling more than Tremors if you dare to visit Scarywood Theme Park this month. Silverwood has transformed two of its rides--Thunder Canyon and Steam Engine No. 7--into deliciously scary adventures featuring everything from fog and werewolves to explosions and flying ghosts. Haunted attraction tickets are limited, so be sure to order yours online if you plan to head out to Athol this year. For their part, the kiddies will have plenty of motivation to visit the park during the day. Among other things, they will have an opportunity to compete in a series of costume contests which culminates in a grand prize of a 2010 Gold Season Pass!

Speaking of things that are delicious (though not particularly scary)...

Face-off! (And I'm not talking about "the roller coaster formerly known as".)

You might say that this Hershey Kiss has earned its stripes. At the very least, it has earned the Sabrina seal of approval! (A prestigious honor not to be taken lightly, I might add.) I'm not sure that the flavor can truly be classified as "candy corn", but I still found it to be quite satisfying and a nice accompaniment to (though not a replacement for) my steady diet of candy corn pumpkins. As promised, I did bring my Excel software to its knees pumping out all sorts of complicated charts and graphs to illustrate my expert taste test findings. But after giving it some thought, I determined that my findings were statistically insignificant, pending more "research".

Daily [Halloween] Spin 9.25.09

Bag #3 of candy corn pumpkins has been opened, and I've already put a hurtin' on it. I shudder to think of the irreversible damage my teeth will sustain when I'm on staycation in a couple weeks with bags upon bags of unnaturally orange, sugary evilness close at hand. But I'll burn that bridge when I come to it. Right now, it's time for round 2 of random Halloween happenings!

Tonight, the "Overlord" will rise at Worlds of Fun. (It's kind of like the Great Pumpkin rising out of the pumpkin patch, only different.) This friendly-looking fellow appears to be straight out of the "All Your Fear Is Here" billboards that have graced many a Cedar Fair park over the past month. He will be overseeing the festivities in Kansas City, and he may need some help because there are a lot! This year's Halloween Haunt features six mazes, four scare zones, five shows, and a whole host of children's activities, including costume contests every Saturday and Sunday where the lucky winner receives $50 in "Beagle Bucks". Among the new attractions for 2009 is Club Blood, a vampire nightclub whose popularity at some of the other Cedar Fair parks last year had Worlds of Fun dying to get their own for 2009.

Darien Lake also kicks off its Halloween season tonight. There's no overlord at Fright Fest, but the park promises it will scare the yell out of you nonetheless! By night, Fright Fest features a number of haunted attractions, including a "terrorizing" bus ride called Fright Night Field Trip. (Do I need a permission slip from my mummy for that?) By day, the event caters to families with activities such as pumpkin painting and a corn maze. As with most Halloween events these days, you'll have the opportunity to enjoy quite a few rides as well!

We all know that Six Flags Fiesta Texas puts on some kick-butt Halloween shows, but wouldn't it be awesome if they had a haunted house too? Yes it would be, and in fact it will be! In addition to roaming the midways with his deviant sidekicks, Mayor Slayer invites you to visit his Midnight Mansion, where restless former tenants are said to arise when the clock strikes 13. (Coincidentally, the attraction will feature 13 rooms...) The Mayor will be available to greet you beginning October 3. Visit the official Fright Fest web site to find out what other sorts of tricks and treats await you in the Lone Star State.

For those who prefer to celebrate the season sans "tricks", head to the Sweetest Place on Earth for coasters, candy, and good old-fashioned fall foods. Hersheypark has never been known to kick up the fright factor for Halloween, but who needs artificial scares when you can have a screaming good time on rides such as Great Scare, sooperBOOperLooper, and FEARenheit? In addition to the rides, Hersheypark in the Dark features seasonal entertainment, a trick-or-treat adventure for children, and the Creatures of the Night exhibit at ZooAmerica. The event begins on October 16. If the following qualifies as a "fall food", count me in...

Two great tastes that taste great together? This is going to require further investigation...

JACKPOT! I had read about these mythical morsels on the internet somewhere, and last night I was finally able to confirm their existence. In a rather impressive show of will power, I have yet to crack open this bag. But you can rest assured that I will have detailed taste test results, backed up by voluminous charts and graphs, in my next Halloween round-up.

Daily [Halloween] Spin 9.20.09

It's only September and I've already polished off approximately 1.75 bags of candy corn pumpkins. This is not an accomplishment I'm proud of, and its impact on my otherwise rigorous Boogie Bahn training regimen has been noted. But if an addiction to pumpkins is my worst vice (and believe me, it is not), I figure I'm in pretty good shape. Why am I telling you this? Because the haunting season (not to mention my most favoritest holiday in the whole wide world) is nearly upon us! Let's check out some bewitching happenings across the country, shall we?

In 2009, Halloween's status as a "second season" for amusement parks is unquestionable. But it didn't happen overnight! This reality has been many years in the making. Just ask Six Flags Great America, which kicks off its 19th annual Fright Fest event on October 3. This year's event features two haunted houses, two scare zones, and a slew of themed shows and parades. There will be plenty of non-hair-raising fun for the little ones as well, including opportunities to go trick-or-treating through Yukon Territory with their favorite Looney Tunes pals. For an added kick, head to the Southwest Amphitheater at 7:30 on October 24 to take part in "Thrill the World", an annual event where participants across the globe simultaneously dance to Michael Jackson's Thriller.

Kings Island continues to push the envelope on horror, gore, and good old-fashioned terror with the latest incarnation of its Halloween Haunt event. If the PR for this event alone isn't enough to convince you that Halloween attractions have become a theme park staple, I don't know what will. In addition to the elaborate web site the park has put together for Haunt, you can also check out the accompanying blog, Facebook page, Twitter feed, or YouTube channel. Whew! I'm on information overload just thinking about it. This year's Haunt features over 500 live "ghouls" and 13 attractions, including the new Slaughter House maze and a new live show called "Hot Blooded". But with so many great sources of information at your fingertips, do you really need lil' old me to tell you that?

Our friends at Idlewild are kicking off their annual Hallowboo event with a special treat: Hot dogs! Next weekend only (September 26-27), all Hallowboo guests will receive a free hot dog lunch with their paid admission. (Season passholders, who can get into the event for free, can enjoy this treat for only $5.00.) It ain't candy corn pumpkins, but it's still a pretty sweet deal if you ask me! For more information, visit the park's blog or check out this YouTube video they've put together to advertise the special.

While zombies and candy never go out of style, the Haunted Graveyard at Lake Compounce is about much more than tricks and treats. It's about raising money to fund diabetes research. The event's origins date back to 1991, when a local couple began putting up elaborate Halloween displays in their yard. Their daughter had been diagnosed with juvenile diabetes, and the decorations were their attempt to keep her mind off sweets. One family's show of support has since expanded into New England's largest Halloween attraction, yet its roots remain true. Each year, a portion of the proceeds are donated to the American Diabetes Association to further the Romegialli family's mission to fight this disease. So if you'd like to be scared for a good cause, do make the trek to Connecticut this Fall! There's much to see. And if you don't believe me, you can check out the event's web site, Facebook page, or Twitter feed.

Daily Spin 9.9.09

More information about Nickelodeon and Southern Star Amusement's plan to reopen Six Flags New Orleans has been leaking out recently. The developers recently had a press conference at which they answered the questions of the citizens of New Orleans about the project.

The video that's with this article has shots of the park's plans, but they're too small to make much out. Looks like Mega Zeph is still there, though, along with the Boomerang and splash boat ride. Hard to tell for sure, but I think a water park would be located on the same spot that Six Flags added the super heros themed area shortly before Katrina. I don't believe the park has any money yet from bond sales to start work, but they're touting a late 2010 opening.

Looks like it was a pretty rough year for the Columbus Zoo's Zoombezi Bay water and amusement park. Attendance at the park should come in at around 325,000 people, down from over 400,000 last year. Bad weather and the economy are, not surprisingly, to blame. Read more from the Columbus Dispatch.

Legoland California, on the other hand, has had a great year and has now filed plans to build a separate admission water park on their property. Details are quite slim, but it's expected to sit on 5.5 acres and open by next summer. The L.A. Times has more info.

Daily Spin 8.31.09

Adventure Park USA in New Market, Maryland has officially announced the addition of a 5.5-acre water park for the 2010 season. Construction will be completed in two phases. The first phase will consist of a 20,000 square foot wave pool, an interactive water play structure, and a 1500 square foot "Kiddy Spray" area. The second phase will incorporate a quarter mile long lazy river and slide towers. On an interesting note, park owner Larry Stottlemyer has stated in the past that he hopes to raise the majority of the funds required to complete the project through special multi-year pass sales. Additional renderings as well as information on these unique passes can be found on the park's web site.

Instead of counting down the number of days left in summer, how about counting down to something a little more pleasant? Southern California's famed Santa Monica Pier is gearing up to celebrate its 100th anniversary on September 9, 2009. The occasion will be marked by many festivities, including a ceremonial cake cutting by a group of centenarians and the pier's first large-scale fireworks display in 18 years. On a coast once dotted with amusement piers, Santa Monica's Pacific Park now stands as the last relic of a bygone golden age. The Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corporation hopes to draw upon this rich history to create an even brighter future. You can read more about the planned centennial festivities in the Los Angeles Times as well as on the pier's own centennial web page.

Back on the East Coast, Anthony Raffaelle and the rest of those formerly employed at Joe Sitt's Dreamland amusement park at Coney Island will be counting something entirely different: their losses. The state Supreme Court has denied Raffaelle's plea to force Sitt to reopen Dreamland, thus sealing the beleaguered park's fate for the remainder of the 2009 season. On the bright side, some lucky ride operator will now have the opportunity to purchase the park's Dragon Wagon roller coaster, which came from Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch, for a cool $95,000 on UsedRides.com. Butch Butler, the ride's owner, has decided to sell the coaster rather than attempt to truck it back to California. Amusing the Zillion has the full scoop.

Technology continues to be an enthusiast's best friend as more and more parks begin to utilize it to offer real-time information to guests. Not to be left off the bandwagon, Funtown Splashtown USA has announced the release of their new "Funtown Splashtown USA Virtual Brochure" application for iPhone and iPod Touch devices. The application, which is available through the Apple iTunes App Store, can be used to access a park map as well as real-time information on everything from park hours to entertainment.

Daily Spin 8.8.09

© 2009 SeaWorld San Diego

SeaWorld San Diego has announced that its long running "Dolphin Discovery" show will be replaced in 2010 by a brand new show entitled "Blue Horizons". Billed by the park as a "theatrical spectacular", Blue Horizons will bring a Broadway flair to SeaWorld through artistic costuming, an elaborate set, and an original musical score performed by the Seattle Symphony Orchestra. The "actors" will consist of bottlenose dolphins, exotic birds, and an array of talented acrobats. SeaWorld Orlando's incarnation of Blue Horizons has been pleasing guests since 2005, and the San Diego version promises to deliver the same unique experience. You can check out the full press release on the park's web site.

The much anticipated opening of the newest Happy Valley amusement park in Shanghai, China just became a bit less anticipated following the park's disastrous VIP preview day. The event, which took place this past Thursday and was open only to specially invited guests, was plagued by technical difficulties and a seemingly wide array of snafus. Fireball experienced seven breakdowns, a short-circuit on the park's freefall ride left passengers stranded in midair, and several guests were struck by a falling sign. In the wake of this chaos, the park has been forced to push back its official opening date from August 8 to August 16. The Shanghai Daily has the full story.

It has long been surmised that Carowinds will be the recipient of a shiny new coaster in 2010, and that said coaster will be a product of Bolliger & Mabillard. Carowinds Connection has effectively put an end to the speculation by producing photos of the very first track pieces, which arrived on site earlier this week. The verdict? Distinctively B&M. The validating entry in RCDB showed up around the same time. Now all that's left to do is wait until the official announcement on August 26!

Carowinds and Kings Dominion have been the focus of much attention over the past couple months, but don't count out flagship park Cedar Point just yet. The park has begun teasing about its own new 2010 attraction via Twitter, Facebook, and the OnPoint! blog. Nothing concrete so far, but it appears that Millennium Island will definitely be involved somehow. It will be exciting to watch this riddle unfold!

According to Amusing the Zillion, a Schwarzkopf Wildcat roller coaster may be joining the ranks of Joe Sitt's Dreamland carnival at Coney Island. Carnival operator Glenn Geren, who has operated rides on Sitt's Coney Island property for the past two summers, has purchased the coaster as well as a handful of other rides in anticipation of setting them up at Dreamland. While these rides could make an appearance as early as Labor Day, Spring 2010 seems to be the more likely target. Never mind the fact that there is currently no assurance that either Joe Sitt or Dreamland will be occupying the property by that point. The entire operation has always been nebulous at best.

Speaking of nebulous, it's no secret that Magic Springs & Crystal Falls has had its own share of operational difficulties this season. The reports of closed rides and overall dissatisfaction have been circulating for quite some time. But to the park's credit, they have been making an earnest attempt to keep fans apprised of all ride statuses via their Facebook page. And the best news? As of this past Thursday, all rides are officially open with the exception of the X Coaster. I sincerely hope that this park has simply been experiencing growing pains due to the change in ownership, and that they will emerge stronger next year!

Daily Spin 7.31.09

Can anyone else believe that it's already the last day of July? Where is the summer slipping away to? Enough of that, though, let's see what's happening in the industry.

Yesterday the New York City Counsel approved a plan (and not by a little, it was 44 to 2) by Mayor Bloomberg to redevelop Coney Island. Amid towering condos and hotels, and lots of housing, shopping malls, and more, there will be a 12 acre amusement area crammed in along the boardwalk. Is it me or isn't the reason anyone even cares about Coney Island because of it's rich history of being America's amusement park? Many people stand to make a ton of money off the redevelopment - but not off ride tickets, we're talking real estate here. How sad.

Halloween Horror Nights fans already received some goodies to stare at with the release of drawings of a couple of the scareactors that will be at Hollywood's event this year. Let's just say that just looking at them sorta freaks me out - especially the one with a beak!

Cedar Fair continues to take issue with the development of a new 49ers stadium in California's Great America's parking lot. In a recent article the park has said that if their concerns are not addressed they fear they will have to take "a more formal defense of our legal rights," and I can't imagine the stadium developers want litigation to hold up their plans. This one has been going on like a daily soap opera for some time now, and it end doesn't look too to be too near, either.

Universal Orlando's parent company has filed for several trademarks which look to reveal the names of all the attractions in the currently under construction in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at the Islands of Adventure theme park. The big mysterious dark ride will be called "Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey." Dueling Dragons will now be "Dragon Challenge." To read more of the new names, check out this link.

Perhaps there's more substance to the plans for a Paramount Pictures theme park at the former site of the Expoland Theme Park in Osaka, Japan. A new report details that the company behind the development plans to start to try to buy the land for the closed park soon, and that they hope to open the new park in 2012. Personally, I'm still not sure what to make of all this!
Good news from Legoland California, they're being reported as another one of the few American amusement and theme parks that are having a great year. Due in large part to their recent park expansions, and especially their recently opened Sea Life Aquarium, they've had their best Spring on record. In fact, the park's owner, Merlin Entertainment Group, is reporting a 28% growth in visitors at all 57 of its attractions this year.

It's already time to think about 2010 season passes, Sesame Place is happy to announce that if you purchase a 2010 pass now you'll get in the park for the rest of 2009 on it! More details available at the park's website.

Nik Wallenda's Cedar Fair cross country performance tour continues this Sunday with a walk taking place between the two towers for Dorney Park's Possessed roller coaster. If the weather cooperates NewsPlusNotes should have great content up from the event!

Daily Spin 7.20.09

Busch Gardens Tampa has started teasing the theme of their 2009 Howl-O-Scream event. Looks like this year the event will be themed to some sort of dark fashion designer... the website for the event is now live and has a video for you to enjoy.

Morey's Piers has launched a new book that looks back at the past 40 years of the seaside amusement piers' history. They quite literally launched the book at the park when they had David "The Bullet" Smith launch himself out of a giant cannon while holding two copies of the new book. The book is available for purchase at any of Morey's Piers.

Spongebob's 10th birthday has thrown Marriott and Nickelodeon's plan to build up to 20 resorts around the world back into the spotlight. The first property is still planned for San Diego next year, and will feature a 650 room hotel and a significant water park as well. I never really paid attention to news of this development when they announced it but I should have - it looks really nice! No relation to the Nick Hotel in Florida, however.

Looks like plans for a Paramount theme park in Osaka Japan, located on the site of the failed Expoland amusement park, are not dead. New reports have a local investment firm stating they will work with an affiliate of Paramount Studios to develop the park. Curiously, the company that owns the Expoland site says they have received no notification of the plan. Will it happen? You guess is as good as mine!

More Expo 2010 U.S.A. Pavilion news is pouring out now that the country's involvement has been made official. The pavilion will consist of three buildings, the main one will hold a large theatre that will present a 4-D movie experience created by BRC Imagination Arts, a design company with plenty of amazing theme park and world expo design experience.

Cedar Point is celebrating Christmas in July by helping out the Marine Corps' annual Toys for Tots program get an early start this year. Anyone who brings a brand-new toy to the park will receive a discounted admission ticket to the sprawling amusement park. Other activities will take place in the park, and Santa himself will appear to visit with the kiddies. The event runs this upcoming weekend, July 24th through 26th.

Daily Spin 7.18.09

Fans of Nut Tree Park, the short-lived family theme park which operated in Vacaville, California from 2006-2008, may take some comfort in knowing that a handful of the park's rides may be resurrected elsewhere within the overall Nut Tree complex. The project's assets were just purchased by a development company called Westrust, and spokespeople for the company have stated that they plan to bring back or relocate some of the park's key elements. Specifically mentioned were the train, carousel, and ice cream pavilion. Read more from The Oakland Tribune.

As the season progresses, more and more rides and attractions are springing back to life at Conneaut Lake Park. Splash City Water Park recently reopened, as did the Bessemer Railway System and Musik Express (which previously had been targeted for removal). If you're planning a visit, be sure to check the park's web site frequently as they continue to update their operating schedule and post new pricing specials.

Schlitterbahn Vacation Village in Kansas City opened in "sneak peek" mode this week, affording anxious guests the opportunity to enjoy a limited selection of attractions at a heavily discounted admission price. Attentive Schlitterblog readers received a sneak peek of the sneak peek, as the park posted a special offer which allowed readers to visit one day before the park's official opening day. Schlitterbahn Vacation Village will continue to operate in this limited capacity as their crew puts the finishing touches on this spectacular new water park. For a full list of attractions which will be open during this period, refer to the Schlitterblog.

Gregory Stanton of Lanham, Maryland has a new credit to his name: Pretzel Coaster Build-Off Champion! The 22-year-old's rendition of Apollo's Chariot won the judges' favor at this inaugural contest, which was held at Busch Gardens Williamsburg on Thursday. The full story, complete with photo gallery, can be found here. One of the judges has also created a photo gallery on Flicker. The contest was so successful that co-sponsors Busch Gardens and Snyder's of Hanover are discussing the possibility of making it an annual event!

In other contest news, Dorney Park's former "Little Laser" finally has a new name. The results are in, and "Steel First" has emerged victorious with 39.5% of the votes. The park is currently working on a logo and they plan to install new signage soon. When they do, you can bet that Mike or I will be there with a camera in hand! If you'd like to see where the rest of the votes fell, the full results have been posted on the park's web site.