Howlin' and Screamin'
Tuesday September 30, 2003
The weird and spooky fun kicks into high gear this weekend when a bunch of theme parks celebrate the Halloween season by trying to scare their guests half to death. ... Read More
Soarin' Over Epcot?
Monday September 29, 2003
One of the most popular and innovative attractions at Disney's California Adventure, Soarin' Over California, may be getting cloned for an east coast version at Epcot. That's the inside scoop ... Read More
Cypress Gardens to Bloom Again?
Friday September 26, 2003
When the landmark Cypress Gardens closed a few months ago, there was an outcry from admirers, especially when they heard about plans to replace the quaint park with a housing ... Read More
King's Island to Offer Some Down-Under Water Fun
Thursday September 25, 2003
A few weeks back, I reported that King's Island made the curious announcement that it was demolishing its water park--curious because most other theme parks are expanding their water parks. ... Read More
Berry Scary
Tuesday September 23, 2003
The Halloween-at-theme-parks mania began in California with the venerable Knott's Scary Farm, now celebrating its 31st year. The popular freak-out fest provides the template for most of the other ... Read More
Xtreme Screams
Monday September 22, 2003
The insane new ride that will be debuting shortly at the Stratosphere Tower in Las Vegas has changed its working title, "Project X Sky," to its official name (drum roll, ... Read More
Sometimes I Can Get a Bit Cheeky
Friday September 19, 2003
Among the many joys of being a journalist is the occasional crazy mail theme parks send me. I've received a shrunken head, a robotic dog, and enough packages with strange ... Read More
Scooby Does Virginia
Thursday September 18, 2003
The question: Scooby-Doo, where are you? The answer: Paramount's Kings Dominion. For the 2004 season, the Doswell, VA theme park will debut the dark ride, Scooby-Doo! and the Haunted Mansion. ... Read More
Bugs Says "Boo!"
Tuesday September 16, 2003
Fear is a big part of Six Flags' appeal. Ultimately, it's all about fun. But that sense of apprehension we get when we stare up at one of Six Flags' ... Read More
Not So Scary? Judge for Yourself.
Monday September 15, 2003
I just added a batch of photos about Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. A couple of them actually look kinda scary to me. Then again, "The Wizard of Oz" ... Read More
Colorado to Spring New Indoor Water Park
Friday September 12, 2003
Yet another major indoor water park will be offering year-round fun if the developers of Outrageous Oasis, planned for Colorado Springs, can finalize financial and regulatory details. The proposed 100,000-square-foot ... Read More
Canadian Geese Won't be the Only Ones Flying
Thursday September 11, 2003
Announcements about 2004 theme park attractions continue to roll out as Paramount Canada's Wonderland reveals that it will be debuting a flying coaster next season. While the Toronto theme ... Read More
Florida Parks Get into the Spirits
Tuesday September 9, 2003
Halloween has become a major deal at theme parks with elaborate haunted houses, scary mazes, spook-filled shows, and Halloween-themed rides. Screams, albeit a different kind than the coaster-induced variety that ... Read More
The Floor Drops Out on the Mighty Hercules
Monday September 8, 2003
Dorney Park roller coaster fans, I have some good news and bad news. First the bad: the Pennsylvania amusement park has already closed its Hercules woodie and is dismantling it. ... Read More
Rider Killed on Disneyland's Big Thunder Mountain
Saturday September 6, 2003
In a very sad piece of news, Marcelo Torres, 22, of Gardena, Calif., was thrown from the popular Big Thunder Mountain Railroad coaster at California's Disneyland theme park and died ... Read More
Play with Michael Jackson's Zipper!
Friday September 5, 2003
No, not THAT zipper, you weirdo. The Zipper ride at his Neverland Ranch amusement park. Speaking of weirdoes, in addition to his obsession with reconfiguring his face, going on multi-million ... Read More
The Peacock to Roam Jurassic Park?
Thursday September 4, 2003
Vivendi Universal, the conglomerate that owns the Universal theme parks (along with Universal Music, Universal Pictures, and a bunch of other media holdings) announced that the bidding war for a ... Read More
Farewell, 2003 Season
Tuesday September 2, 2003
Labor Day, the unofficial end of summer, has come and gone. Most of the seasonal theme parks are now open only on weekends. Before we bid adieu to the year ... Read More
Schlitterbahn III to Slide into Galveston
Monday September 1, 2003
Texas is a mighty big state. It's so big that the folks behind the two successful Schlitterbahn water parks in New Braunfels and South Padre Island plan to add another ... Read More