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World News:
Australia - (10/3/11) In what must have been one of the most frightening moments of their lives, two children were riding a Ferris wheel at a festival north of Sydney over the weekend, when a small airplane crashed right into the ride. You’ve got to click here just to see the picture… as the wreckage of the plane became entangled in the wheel, with the pilot and a passenger also surviving intact in the cockpit’s remains, were held aloft near the top of the wheel as well. Rescue crews were able to get all four people down, seemingly uninjured as well. Simply amazing!
(5/16/11) Ever wanted to visit the parks and attractions in Australia? Theme Park Review took a whole giant group with them “down under” to give the southern hemisphere a shake up. Check out their adventures and huge photo tour-book here.
(4/13/11) I’m not sure how serious this is, but a new park project has been proposed for the Perth region, by an Italian based company named Ermes Technologies. While Ermes is the local rep for the Sally Corp, but their primary businesses is quite diverse and interesting.
Austria - (3/6/12) AirTimers reports that the Austrian park known as Theme Park Strasswalchen has changed its name to Fantasiana. You can see their new website here.
(11/23/11) Check out this wild single-rail Alpine Coaster, said to be in Mieders, Austria. Going full tilt… with no brakes, it takes 4 minutes to get to the bottom. Crazy!
Belgium - (2/9/12) Two small parks in Brussels, Belgium will be forced to close at the end of their 2013 seasons. According to NewsParcs the city has decided not to renew the land lease for Mini Europe miniature park and the Oceade waterpark, and will instead redevelop the area, including destroying the Bruparck stadium, to create a new neighborhood, mall, hotels, concert hall and convention center.
 Brazil - (4/6/12) A reader has sent me a link to some pictures on Facebook showing off historic amusement parks that were once in Brazil. At one point in time Brazil had claimed the world record for tallest coaster around 1938, but over the years almost all of these old parks were shut down and removed.
(3/6/12) It seems the ride accident I mentioned yesterday that was in the news, actually took place back in August 2011. According to a rough translation from a reader, it came up again because new details from the investigation were released. Attractions were found to be "in disrepair, with damaged parts, with wooden wedges, drivers with exposed seams and insulation tape - enabling electric shock - fixing structures with metal wires twisted and colorful [rides] with rusty nails, among other irregularities".
(3/5/12) I’m not entirely sure what park this is, but from the raw translation, it seems as if a car broke free from a ride in Brazil and hit several teenagers standing nearby. Two have died from their injuries so far and two more are still in the hospital, one in serious condition. It sounds like the owner of the park and her son have been arrested and charged for the double murder.
(11/28/11) I’ve been told that Alpen Park in Canela, RS (Brazil) will open a new steel coaster in 2012, said to stand 15 meters tall and 400 meters long. I’m a little unsure if this will be a true steel coaster, or something more like an Alpine Coaster. The park currently has one Alpine Coaster, Treno, but it is 900 meters long by comparison. Hopefully we’ll know more soon.
Canada - (4/5/12) The local news reports that Chippewa Park in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, will be removing their solitary Roller Coaster that was installed back in 1967. The aging ride was purchased used at the time, and has gotten to be too troublesome to maintain. A local engineering firm was brought in to assess the ride and determined that “the metal was no longer able to be repaired” and recommended that they not even attempt to keep it. The ride is expected to be removed by the end of May, and while the park will look into replacement attractions, it’s unlikely that they will purchase another coaster anytime soon.
(2/2/12) Bad news for fans of Ontario Place this week. The local news reports that the overall attendance of the center has fallen from a high of 2.5 million when it opened down to around 300,000. As a drain on the government budget, they have decided to close the portions of the park that are not holding their own end of the budget while coming up with a new plan to redevelop them over the next five years. Amongst the victims will be the Cinesphere Imax theater as well as the waterpark and amusement park rides. I’ve attached a good video showing off most of the sections that will be closing down below.
China - (5/7/12) A coaster at the Shijiazhuang Botanical Garden park in China suffered a strange accident this past week when the lead car broke away from the rest of the train, causing a derailment. According to the post and pictures posted to CoasterCrazy, the coaster was made by the Hebei Metallurgical Equipment company and had just opened in 2005.
RCDB lists this coaster as the “Happy Roller Coaster” and claims it has three inversions. Kind of looks like their own take on trying to copy an Arrow Loop-Screw coaster.
(4/20/12) Nearly two years after the deadly accident at OCT East took place on the Space Journey ride, it has been reported that eight people have been given jail sentences ranging from 18 months to 5 years due to their involvement.
(2/13/12) In an interesting turn of events, Cirque do Soleil is being asked to shut down their Zaia show at The Venetian in Macau after making it through only 3.5 years of their 10 year contracted run. Much like how the Oriental Land Company terminated Cirque’s ZED show at the Tokyo Disney Resort last year, the Macau unit of the Las Vegas Sands Corp will bring the show to an end on Feb. 19th due to declining ticket sales. Unlike in Las Vegas, it seems the typical Chinese gambler has not yet accepted the concept of including a big show in their schedule. Average show attendance in January was said to only be about 40%. Catch your last peek at Zaia in this video, though Cirque is said to relocate as many performers as possible amonst their various other world-wide productions.
There is also a little bit of speculation that Zaia simply faced too much competition from the House of Dancing Water, a show that opened in late 2010 by former Cirque mastermind Franco Dragone, and has been reported as having no problem selling out their house over at the City of Dreams casino. Dragon was responsible for many of Cirque’s early popular dedicated location shows like Mystere, O, La Nouba, as well as being hired by the Wynn Las Vegas to make Le Reve.
(2/10/12) A huge mega-trip update has been posted over at Trips-n-Pics showing off almost all the major theme parks in China and South Korea. It’s all in French however, but you can either just look at the pictures, or use a browser with a built in translator (like Chrome) to read it.
(11/7/11) BlooLoop has posted some nice pictures showing off the Flood of Mandrill Mountain stunt show that opened at OCT East in China back in 2009. In a weird way the pictures remind me of two of Universal Hollywood’s famous stunt shows from over the years… Waterworld and the old Miami Vice stunt show.
(10/18/11) According to Vertical Horizons a 10 year old boy visiting West Park in Wenzhou, China somehow fell into the water on the park’s river rapids ride, was swept away by the current and became trapped in the ride’s conveyor belt lift system where he was killed.
WARNING: There is a rather graphic image at the story link that seems to show investigators examining the boy’s wounds on the ride’s turntable. This is so sad… so if you visit a park with small children, make sure they understand the rules about how to ride safely.
(10/7/11) A video feature showing off the new Mangrove Groove show from EAC2, now showing at OCT BAY can be found here. According to the promotional material, Mangrove Groove is a 38 minute long show that takes place in the “the world’s largest aquatic stage” and features water, fire, laser and project effects mixed with multimedia and live actors.
(9/28/11) The Theme Park Guy heads to China to check out what’s left of the remains of Jerudong Park after 20 years of neglect and selling off most of the park’s rides to the highest bidder.
(9/23/11) Special thanks to RCDB for sending us the link to the coaster that got stuck in China in yesterday’s report. According to RCDB, they identified it as the “Roller Coaster” at Zibo Yudaihu Lake Zoology Garden park in Shandong, China.
(9/22/11) BBC News has posted a video report showing off a father and son trapped on a roller coaster in china that appears to have stalled out in the middle of a vertical loop. After rescue workers were unable to set up equipment near the ride to get them down, due to very soft soil, someone got the bright idea to attach some ropes to the train and the group pulled it down out of the loop, where it appeared to have the momentum left to finish the course. You can watch the video here, though the name of the park was not given, but it looked like an older style coaster, likely a SAMECO.
(9/15/11) In a fun bit of news the Window of the World Park in China has opened a life size game recreation of the Angry Birds game. Guests load the different color birds into a sling shot and fire them off at structures in an attempt to knock over the green pigs. They’ve got a great video of it in action here.
(9/9/11) In an interesting news story, Shanghai OCT (owned by Shenzhen Overseas Chinese Town) is in talks with Universal Studios Japan over a possible joint venture which would give USJ a 49% stake in the partnership and allow for them to help better the performance of the Shanghai theme park.
(9/6/11) China has opened what they are calling the “World’s Highest Ferris Wheel”, attached to the top of the 450 meter tall Canton Tower. The ride almost resembles a giant wheel… on it’s side, with a series of 16 riders pods that rotate around the edge of the building on an elliptical track.
(8/16/11) Check out this creepy video below showing off a highly themed amusement park in China called Wonderland that got fairly well under construction before the project was entirely abandoned, leaving a half built castle and other themed buildings just sitting around. The video is ultra creepy… in a post apocalyptic kind of way as random strangers go about their business passing through the property, kids climb to the top of the skeletal castle structure to play in and more. Check it out.
(7/11/11) The LA Times has posted a new update about the Monkey Kingdom park coming to China from Thinkwell, as well as a ton of new concept artwork for the park. You can see a few more attractions, lots of themed buildings and landscaping, as well as an overview piece of the entire project site, along with a clear view of several coasters planned, including one that looks like an Intamin Wing Rider. .
(6/17/11) ThinkWell talks a bit about the new Monkey Kingdom park they are developing for Beijing, China over at InPark Magazine.
(5/30/11) Thinkwell has confirmed on their blog that they have been tapped to design a new theme park in Huairou, China called Monkey Kingdom, set to open in 2014. The concept artwork shows does indeed show off some amazing themeing as they mix modern technology with the retelling of Monkey’s Journey To the West story.
(5/17/11) In Park Magazine has posted an interview with Phil Hettema of The Hettema Group, where they chat all about the new Hello Kitty theme park being designed by his company to open in China in 2014.
(5/10/11) According to this article, China now has plans to build a theme park based on Hello Kitty in the city of Anji, in east China’s Zhejiang province. The project will cost an estimated $215 million, with construction to start later this year and open in 2014. The 150 site will contain the theme park and a hotel.
(2/25/11) Airtimers have posted an article showing off artwork for the Chimelong International Ocean Resort park, set to open in 2012. You’ll have to translate it from Germany to make any sense of it, but it sounds like this project is almost part of a larger scale multi-attraction project… a sort of Dubailand style concept for China. The overall project will feature ten different parks and attractions, so in addition to Ocean Resort they are planning a Oceanic Water Park, Safari Zoo at Night, International Ocean Theater, Global Garden, Bird’s World, Mountaintop Paradise, Dolphin Bay Adventure Park, Atlantis Indoor Water Park and Volcano Park. They are also looking at building 12 themed hotels, 3 golf courses, 2 yacht clubs, a shopping mall and a convention center.
Included in the project will be a 210 meter giant wheel (the world’s largest if built) and an amazing wooden coaster ride said to stretch out over 2km in length… also a world record.
Denmark - (8/25/11) Sommerland Sjælland (Denmark) has launched a range of interesting interactive activities at their park, all controlled by guests mobile phones through either text messages, tele-remote apps, or specific apps for iPhone and Android handsets. For example guests can take remote control of the aim and firing of a water cannon (Telesplash), shoot other water cannons hidden inside a remote pirate ship sitting in a lake as guests sail past in canoes, control remote feeder units for goats and rabbits, activate a “smoke” effect on the park’s train as well as a few other unique surprises on the park’s jungle trip attraction. Using the park app as you travel through the park, you may be send specific instructions to find a ‘secret zone’ where you could be rewarded with a free bottle of water, piece of candy or something else.
Finland - (1/10/12) I’m told that Finish park, Tykkimakki, will add a Technical Park Loop Fighter in 2012.
France - (2/9/12) According to Gerstlauer, OK Corral (France) will add one of their new Junior Shuttle Coaster similar to the Gipfelsturmer that opened last year at Freizeitpark Ruhpolding.
(1/23/12) According to this article a new park (though seemingly without rides) is being talked about near Pais France that would be themed around Napoleon and his deeds. This includes a recreation of the Battle of Waterloo, watch the beheading of Louis XVI and even some kind of attraction that would have guests skiing around the frozen corpses of horses and solders on a battlefield. Umm… I wouldn’t count on seeing this one built just yet.
(9/2/11) The planned amusement park tax hike in France has hit a brick wall as a group of lawmakers rejected it. Click here to read more.
(9/1/11) Our friends over at NewsParcs have posted an interesting piece on some political shenanigans going on in France in regards to the amount of tax charged to an amusement park ticket. The basic gist is that the French government is preparing to raise the normal 5.5% sales tax charged for theme park tickets to a whopping 19.6% which will bring in an estimated extra 90 million Euros. The parks are shocked, as this means they will have to raise their rates by 14.1% just to pay the tax, and not see any increased profit for themselves at all.
Predicting a downturn in attendance because of this, the parks are also speculating that they may be forced to dramatically cut costs, scale back major capital expansion projects as well as look into employee layoffs, none of which are good for the government either. There are some interesting responses by the parks near the end as well. Futuroscope claims if they need to shoulder the increased tax cost, it will cost them 7 million Euros… equivalent to 240 jobs. Nigloland has put a deal to buy a new coaster on hold because of this, because if the new tax passes, they wont be able to afford it. Other parks say that if it comes to pass, they may have financial difficulty paying off recent capital expansion projects added in the last couple of years.
What seems odd to me is that while currently theme parks are lumped in with zoos, botanical gardens, museums and carnival rides, the proposed change is only going to apply to theme parks, leaving the rest of their brethren allowed to flourish under the 5.5% tax rate still. So essentially they are targeting the theme park market to shoulder this huge tax burden for some reason, which just seems almost illegal to me, but I know nothing about French law…
Germany - (1/23/12) One of our readers stopped by a unique attraction in Hamburg, Germany this past week and took a tour of Miniature Wonderland, which features the world’s largest / longest miniature railroad model display. Much like taking a very close look at what is going on at a Legoland Miniland, there are a lot of interesting hijinx (including some adult action) going on with the figures in this mini world as well. Check it out over at RCPro.
(10/31/11) Two riders on an ‘octopus’ ride at a Bremen carnival in Germany were injured when the car they were riding it broke off from the rest of the ride and skidded into a safety railing. Click here for details.
(10/7/11) Following up to the coverage of Oktoberfest in Munich, we now get to see new pictures from Canstatter Wasen in Stuttgart.
(10/5/11) Ever wanted to visit the real Oktoberfest celebration in Munich, Germany? One of our readers did and has posted a ton of pictures from the wild event to their Facebook photo album. Check it out… the huge crowds, beer, food, dark rides, portable huge roller coasters and more!
(8/29/11) Long time readers may remember seeing this unique park in Germany many years back, when a Star Flyer was built inside an unused nuclear reactor cooling tower. At the time, we never saw any real views of the rest of the park, but you can catch a glimpse of Wunderland now in this article.
(1/19/11) Germany’s Therme Erding indoor pool attraction near Munich is set to add 10 more slides to the attraction for 2012. All of them look to be major attractions and rumored to be full of special lighting and sound effects.
Greece - (1/4/12) Greece’s first year-round Haunted Attraction has opened at the Allou Fun Park and was created by AtmosFEAR! Entertainment Group.
Indonesia - (2/8/12) A great photo trip report from new Trans Studios Indoor Theme Park in Indonesia, home of the new LIM launched Yamaha Racing Coaster (Premier Rides) can be found here. In addition to the cool new coaster, the indoor theme park is highly themed and actually has a number of interesting attractions, including a couple of new dark rides.
(9/26/11) Bad news for the Atlantis Water Adventure park in North Jakarta, Indonesia, as a themed section of fake rock wall next to one of the slides broke free, causing minor injuries to three adults and two children.
Iran - (10/21/11) The Theme Park Guy is back, this time with a quick look at the parks, coasters and attractions of Tehran, Iran. There is also pictures of a very small crazy looking yellow coaster (with cars that look like a soda can) that has to have the smallest tighest loop I’ve ever seen. Check it out!
Italy - (12/30/11) New concept artwork showing off the basic themes to be used in the proposed Cinecitta World theme park can be found here. Cinecitta World was a new theme park / studio concept proposed for an area near Rome, Italy back in 2009 I believe, but I’ve heard little more since then. They do also have an official website, though I’m not sure if it says anything about when the park may open, though back in 2009 they were hoping to have the first phase ready by 2011.
(11/28/11) Curious to see what Italy has to offer the traveling theme park fan? Then your in luck, as one of our readers has posted pictures and reviews of nine parks they visited during a tour of Italy in September, including Gardaland, Mirabilandia, Rainbow Magicland, Miragica, Movieland Studios and more. The report is in French, but I’m sure you can find a good online translator… or just enjoy the pictures.
(10/21/11) According to an article posted at TheParks.IT the company behind Edenlandia and Zoo of Naples has declared bankruptcy.
(8/5/11) Minitalia Leolandia Park in Italy (near Milan) will open the first Splash Battle style ride from Zamperla in 2012. You can read all the details over at ParksMania.
Japan - (4/10/12) What is being called the “Scariest ever” haunted house has opened in Kyoto, Japan last month as part of the Toei Kyoto Studio Park. It sounds like this is a revamp of a previously existing haunt, brining up to a new level of terror.
(9/15/11) A reader who spent some time in Japan this summer sent in a few brief reports about what has been going on at a few of the local parks. Benyland’s “Sky Jet” monorail has been closed due to damage caused by the March 11th earthquake. The park hopes to have it repaired in time to reopen it for the 2012 season.
On a similar note Sendai Highland has kept their shuttle loop coaster (Loop the Loop) closed since the earthquake as well. When questioned instead of stating it was down due to damage, they claim it is over concerns over power issues, however they were also doubtful it would reopen in 2012 either.
And finally Nagashima Spa Land has reported that they will likely focus on adding new attractions focused on drawing more children to the park. It will likely be another 5 years or so before they add a more serious thrill ride.
(7/20/11) While some of the Tokyo Dome attraction may still be closed for inspection following the earthquake, I’ve been told that may of the rides actually were closed even before the quake. The last high profile accident was a death that took place on the park’s Spinning Coaster Maihime in January. This coaster is actually a Maurer spinning coaster, and not unlike the accident last summer on Xtreme at Dixie Landin’, the car somehow threw the rider in mid ride. (Wow… maybe there is something wrong with those Maurer coaster spinning restraints.)
The article mentions that there were two other attraction accidents in the months before this as well. An employee lost three fingers while working on the park’s Tower Hacker attraction and Thunder Dolphin injured a girl on the ground when it somehow dropped “parts” from the ride.
While I’m not 100% sure of each ride’s status on the day of the earthquake, I’m just throwing it out there that it was possible some of these could have been down for other reasons as well.
(7/19/11) Screamscape sources tell us that many of the rides at Tokyo Dome are still closed following the earthquake in March. You can see a video report from Tokyo Dome posted on YouTube. The closed list includes Big O and Thunder Dolphin.
(5/4/10) A reader sent in this picture showing off what they claim is artwork for the proposed Paramount themed movie park for Osaka, Japan.
(4/8/10) Sun Capital Management Corp is attempting to gather financial support to secure a $1.5 billion to build a Paramount Pictures entertainment complex and theme park. The project could open as early as 2014 or 2015 in Osaka and would compete directly with Universal Studios Japan.
Jordan - (5/24/11) According to this article, a 184-acre themed entertainment resort called The Red Sea Astrarium is planned for Jordan, which bordera Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Syria. A highlight of the project will be a new Star Trek attraction (said to cost $1 billion) that will be developed by Paramount Recreation, opening in 2014.
Kuwait - (3/28/12) In an example of really going out of your way to find coaster credits, I present to you the latest odyssey at Malcom’s Page. It seems a small group decided to take a trip to Kuwait to check out all the parks and rides they could find. The list includes Cartoon Network World, Infunity Zone, Kuwait Entertainment City (which has a B&M Inverted coaster and a Schwarzkopf), 99 Village and several others. One of interest is Al-Sha'ab Leisure Park which features the SBNO Spiral Coaster… Intamin’s own attempt to copy Arrow’s Pipeline coaster concept which was built first in 1996 in South Korea before being shipped off to Kuwait after just three years. Odd… I never even knew this coaster existed before now.
Malaysia - (4/20/12) Some incredible HD footage, both off-ride and POV, from Supersonic Odyssey, a very unique indoor coaster experience from Intamin at Times Square Theme Park in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, was posted by Theme Park Review earlier today. Looks like a fun ride.
(1/20/12) WhiteWater West has announced that they will one of the world’s largest Abyss waterslides at Malaysia’s Sunway Lagoon waterpark.
The Netherlands - (12/30/10) I’ve been told that the owners of Toverland have come up with an idea for a new theme park project called Nature Wonder World for the south-east tip of the Netherlands near Brunssum. The master plan is to eventually create seven parks and attractions, themed around the natural wonders of the world, starting with The Grand Canyon. The first park has been given initial approval and will be built on the site of a former quarry (site here). If everything goes as planned, it should open in 2014 and cost around 800 million Euros. The remaining six parks and attractions would be built up between 2014 and 2035.
According to the promotional video posted along with this news article, the other six “wonders” are Mount Everest, Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, Victoria Falls (Zambia), Paricutin Volcano (Mexico), Rio de Janeiro, and the Aurora Borealis. The video shows off a bunch of ideas of what may be in store for the other wonders. You can also find a few close up pics of the park artwork here and even more info about the site itself and future phases of development in this PDF (may take a few minutes to load). It’s a great idea.. .now if only they can get the financing in order to make it a reality.
North Korea - (5/10/12) North Korea may be in for some interesting times, as the country’s new leader, Kim Jong-un went on a visit to the government operated Mangyongdae FunFair where he seemed fairly disgusted by the condition of the park, pointing out peeling paint on the coasters, calling the cracked pathways “pathetic” and while bending over to pluck out some grass growing through a crack in the pavement, he was heard to utter, “I had no idea the park could be so pitiful.” So he immediately appointed one of his vice-marshals from the People’s Army and tasked him with the task of brining the facility up to date and, “in line with the demands of the times.”
(11/3/11) Yesterday I think to some photos of the depressing looking Mangyondae FunFair. ThemeParks.ie has also posted pictures of the park showing off the park on a typical day. Themeparks.ie has also pointed out that there is a ‘new fair’ in North Korea known as the Kaeson Fair, which is more modern (renovated in 2009) and very busy by comparison to the Mangyondae site which was built in the ‘80s.
(11/2/11) Halloween may be over… but do you want to see something scary? How would you like to visit the Mangyongdae Funfair in North Korea? According to this report… it sounds like this small park is a place no one wants to visit.
Poland - (12/30/11) InPark Magazine has posted an exclusive update regarding the Adventure World Warsaw theme park in Poland.
(7/29/11) According to BlooLoop, Poland will open it’s own theme park in 2014 called Adventure World Warsaw. Details and concept artwork for the proposed theme park can be found here.
Russia - (12/13/11) The proposal to build the world’s largest Giant Wheel in Moscow seems to have stalled out for the moment, awaiting some kind of government approval needed before they can move ahead, despite having $300 million in funding pledged by investors. Click here to read more.
(11/11/11) The Russian government is considering a plan to add a massive 722 foot tall giant wheel in Moscow in order to increase tourism to the city. At a cost of $300 million, the Moscow View wheel would be 181 feet taller than the world’s current tallest giant wheel, the Singapore Flyer which stands 541 feet tall.
(3/30/11) The Lotte Group (owners of Lotte World in South Korea) are looking into the possibility of building a small Lotte theme park in Moscow, Russia.
South Korea - (2/10/12) A huge mega-trip update has been posted over at Trips-n-Pics showing off almost all the major theme parks in China and South Korea. It’s all in French however, but you can either just look at the pictures, or use a browser with a built in translator (like Chrome) to read it.
(1/30/12) An odd new interactive attraction called Live Park 4D has opened in Korea. A preview center called Live Park 4D World Tour has opened in Korea to show off the kind of technology they are working on for the attraction, which looks to take use of the Xbox Kinect technology to a grander scale combined with the use of RFID tags on guests.
If successful, they hope to open new Live Park locations in China and Singapore as well as North American locations in Las Vegas and the Los Angeles area. Check out the preview video embedded below or visit the official website, which also has more videos here.
(9/15/11) I’ve been sent a few notes for parks in Korea by one of our readers. Amusement Land at Children’s Park in Busan, Korea has reported that the park, along with the nearby zoo, will close for good in February 2012. Things are also not looking good for Me World in Busan, Korea, who is facing financial problems and may also be forced to close down.
(9/7/11) Check out pictures of an abandoned amusement park in South Korea that used to be called Okpo Land.
(11/4/10) The people behind the proposed Robot Land park in Korea answer some questions about the proposed theme park project.
(3/19/10) Theme Park News Direct has some more detailed information about the proposed Robotland after an interview with the company behind it all.
(2/15/10) Somehow I have doubts we’ll see this shape up quite the way it sounds but a new theme park experience called Robot Land is apparently being designed to open in 2012/2013 in Incheon, South Korea. It will have a Robot Water Park, Robot Battle Stadium and more. At the center of the park will be a massive replica of a Taekwon V (giant robot) that is said be twice as tall as the Statue of Liberty. Check out even more concept artwork posted to Gizmondo.
(12/9/09) TheThemeParkGuy found the site for the long in development, MGM Studios Park Korea during his trip to the region. Unfortunately the park is still not under construction yet on the site, but it looks as if the site has been cleared. There is an official website for the park now live, but it also says the park is planned to open by Late 2011. Better get cracking!
(11/20/09) We’ve got an update today on the long proposed MGM theme park in South Korea, which has been quite the elusive project to find much at all about ever since it was first announced a few years back. According to this article the park is planning to open by 2013 on South Korea’s Jeju Island. The current name for the park is MGM Hollywood Way and will cost an estimated $880 million, which will be paid by a consortium of Korean companies who will control the park. The park is one piece of a larger $6.55 billion plan for the island to turn it into a resort area, complete with other hotels, an airport, casinos and more.
Spain - (5/15/12) BlooLoop reports that the Valencia government in Spain is in talks with investors about building their own Ferrari World theme park very close to the site of the Ricardo Tormo racetrack.
Taiwan - (2/16/12) CraveCoasters has posted a brief article and preview of the new Leefoo Water Park on the way to Taiwan, opening in May 2012.
Turkmenistan - (12/2/11) TheThemeParkGuy has been on the move once again, this time taking time to visit the Turkmenistan’s capital Ashgabat, which features a somewhat neglected theme park called Turkmenbashi’s Land of Fairy Tales. Check out the photos and a brief review.
UAE News - (5/14/12) The Theme Park Guy is back with an all new construction update from Yas Waterworld in Abu Dhabi, near Ferrari World.
(5/7/12) Empire Industries has announced that their Dynamic Attractions unit has signed a contract to design, engineer and manufacture a “media based attraction for a theme park in the United Arab Emirates.” The contract is valued “in excess of $3.8 million” and “will be executed over the next twelve months.”
Just two months ago, the group also announced another deal worth $30 million to build another ‘media based attraction” over the next 2 years, which is assumed to be the new Harry Potter ride system going into Universal Hollywood. That said… I’ve got to wonder just who in the UAE is working on their own media based attration to open next year? Any thoughts?
(5/2/12) A new update from the Yas Island Waterworld featuring lots of new concept artwork now gives us a better look at the themeing on the way. Like the one image showing off the six giant snake heads that will be mounted to the end of a row of waterslides. We also get a peek at one of the suspended coaster cars, which will only hold four riders (2 rows of 2). Looks like the riders will be armed with a mounted hose to shoot water at the guests below. Check it all out over at The Theme Park Guy.
(4/18/12) According to a press release from WhiteWater West, the Yas Waterworld park in Abu Dhabi will feature their products for 12 of the 14 major attractions in the park. In addition to all the waterslide action the park will also be the first to offer SplashQuest, a live action video game style experience where guests can interact with features in the waterpark (or solve quests) through the use of a AquaGlove or SplashBand.
This sounds very similar to the AquaQuest system that was tested out for a limited time in 2009 at the famous Schlitterbahn waterpark in Texas as an off-shoot of Creative Kingdoms MagiQuest technology. Creative Kingdoms no longer even mentions AquaQuest in their product lineup, so I do wonder if they sold the concept to WhiteWater West to become SplashQuest. The gloves seen in the pictures on the WhiteWater West SplashQuest page look exactly like the AquaGloves used in the Schlitterbahn test run.
(4/2/12) The Theme Park Guy has posted brand new pictures of the Yas Island Water Park which includes some AMAZING aerial photos you really don’t want to miss. I think I figured out what it is about this park that has been really tickling my fancy… the fact that it’s all interwoven together into one simply amazing giant complex structure. You really don’t have any kind of water park quite like this anywhere else on Earth that I know of. Most waterparks form up from a starting lineup of standard attractions and add new things one at a time over the years… but this is just something else entirely. I think the closest thing I can compare it to was seeing pictures of the construction of Disney’s Blizzard Beach waterpark, which is saying quite a bit just by itself. I can’t wait to see it when it is finished.
(3/26/12) I still personally find the idea a little odd… and I’m just skeptical about if it will actually happen, but according to the news reports the Real Madrid Football team (aka: Soccer here in the US) is planning on building their very own island resort about an hour away from Dubai. The $1 billion plan is to build a resort with a stadium with an open view to the Persian Gulf, a “hologram football show” and even an amusement park style rides area. I have serious doubts it will get built, considering just how many other big projects have been announced in the area which failed to even break ground. Check out the promo video below, which claims it will be ready to open in January 2015.
(2/17/12) The official teaser website for Yas Waterworld Aqua Park has been lauched, featuring a few pieces of concept artwork showing off what the park should look like when finished.
(2/16/12) The Theme Park Guy is back with a new look at the Yas Waterworld Aqua Park project in Adu Dhabi. This is going to be one serious waterpark when it opens. There is still a ways to go, but you can already see twisted slides everywhere, fake rockwork, themed structures and a suspended coaster track weaving in and out of it all, begging riders to drop water bombs on the guests below.
(1/17/12) Screamscape sources confirm that the Yas Island inverted coaster appears to be a Vekoma coaster, and unlike any of their known off-the-shelf models we’ve seen before. Given that this is a waterpark after all, I wonder if Vekoma has finally found someone willing to build the first Splash Party coaster. Several years ago Vekoma pitched a concept, not unlike the Setpoint “wet” coaster concept (Flying Super Saturator / Roller Soaker) where the riders would each control their own “water bombs” or water cannons to drop on the people below, while guests watching below could man water cannons turrets and geyser blast buttons to try and soak the coaster riders.
(1/13/12) TheThemeParkGuy is back with a new construction report from Abu Dhabi and the Yas Island Water Park. He also found a little surprise… that the park has a Suspended or Inverted roller coaster of some kind already fairly well built out. Check it out.
(12/27/11) A new park project has been announced for Abu Dhabi called Adventure World Abu Dhabi. From the sound of things this is an off-shoot of another Adventure World project on the way on Warsaw, Poland, but I’ve got to admit, I really haven’t heard anything beyond the initial announcement for the Poland back that I read over at BlooLoop back in July 2011.
(10/17/11) The Theme Park Guy is back, this time with a quick look at the construction site for the Yas Island Water Park at the UAE next to Ferrari World.
(9/13/11) BlooLoop has a nice article all about the custom “Emirati theme” and special custom storyline created for the new Yas Island waterpark, which will tell the story of “The Lost Pearl”. “The story will take guests through more than 40 exciting rides, slides, and attractions, including a unique pearl diving show demonstrating traditional Emirati heritage. ” The new waterpark is currently under construction next to Ferrari World and is expected to open near the end of 2012.
(6/16/11) The opening of the Yas Island waterpark project next to Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi has been delayed until early 2013. You can read more here.
UK News - (5/14/12) I’ve been sent word about a unique new Haunt experience coming to the UK this July called “Horror Camp Live!” This is described as the UK’s first interactive horror camping experience that will take place in Lancashire on July’s Friday the 13th and Saturday the 14th. This will be a 13-hour overnight terror experience unlike anything experienced before as campers are placed into the middle of a live horror experience that will torture them throughout the night.
“Lead by over-enthusiastic camp leaders, Dawney and Davey, the thrill-seeking campers at Horror Camp Live! will start their fright-filled evening around a camp fire where a two-course buffet-style barbecue will be served. But the friendly camp fire ambiance will soon turn nasty as they are lead on a journey beyond the campground where demented serial killer Lockjaw lurks. Through a series of challenges and dare-based games, campers will be split from the rest of the group and endure both indoor and outdoor horrors intended to shock, scare and entertain.” Visit the official site for all the details on how you can get in the action.
Note that there are age limits for guests, and some interesting clues to be warned of in the terms and conditions section of the site, such as this, “you may be forcibly handled, moved, bound, hooded, chained and subjected to simulated torture by our scareactors. You may witness strong verbal and graphic visual sexual content which may be considered offensive in nature.”
(3/20/12) Disney and More has posted Part 1 of a trip report through the new Harry Potter Studio Tour at the WB Studio Tour.
(3/7/12) UK Park fans… take a look at the breakdown of 2012 pricing for your local parks as provided by UK Park News.
(3/6/12) Screamscape sources tell us that the Butterbeer formula to be used in the UK at the WB Studio Tour London will be the same one used at Universal Orlando.
(3/5/12) UK fans of Harry Potter will soon find Butterbeer a lot closed to them than Orlando, FL. According to a tweet from Warwick Davis, on site at the new WB Studio Tour London, The Making of Harry Potter tour will also have Butterbeer when it opens on March 31st. So I guess the only thing in question would be to know if they will be using the formula created by Universal Orlando or if they’ve come up with their own take on what Butterbeer should taste like.
(2/7/12) UK fans in need of a good scare this March will be happy to know about a new temporary attraction called Scarytales that will only run for three days (March 16-18). Click here for all the details.
(10/17/11) UK Haunt Fans may want to keep track of the latest updates at Scare Attractions who are covering all the local Haunts, like this latest review for the haunt at Tulley’s Farm.
(9/27/11) Oakwood Bowl, located next to Oakwood theme park, is creating their own horror house attraction for a very limited window: Oct. 26 – 29. You can read more details here.
(9/26/11) For our readers in the UK looking for a good fun haunt experience this fall, check out the Scare Kingdom Scream Park in the Lancashine countryside, that will feature six new attractions this year. Read more about it here.
(9/1/11) The Surf Rider flat ride at the Grand Parade in Skegness (UK) is to be removed after it broke in mid-ride, stranding 22 people and causing at least seven injuries. Click here to read more.
(8/31/11) A fun fair in the UK was the site of a strange accident when a grandmother and her 4 year old granddaughter were thrown from a portable log flume ride an injured. The injury to the grandmother’s leg was severe enough that it is believed her leg had to be amputated on site before being airlifted to a hospital.
(8/10/11) According to UK Park News, a new Chinese themed amusement park project may be in the works for Rotherham, Yorkshire. The park may be called Visions of China and feature several coasters and thrill rides.
(7/19/11) Want to see a fun preview site for an upcoming haunt coming to the UK this fall? Then check out the official website and preview video for Bunker 13, coming to Manga, Rotherham this October.
(1/21/11) BlooLoop reports that following WB’s purchase of the Leavesden Studios in the UK (Where all the Harry Potter films were shot) that they have tapped Thinkwell to design a one of a kind behind the scenes tour attraction based on the Potter films, including visits through actual sets used for the films.
Vietnam - (3/28/12) The Theme Park Guy is back from a trip to Vietnam where he checked out the early construction taking place for the Happyland Theme Park. Click here to see more.
(1/27/12) Five riders were injured at a park in Vietnam when the tower drop ride they were on suffered a cable malfunction and fell 16 meters. Four of the five riders were treated and released afterwards, though one is thought to have a more complex spinal injury. Click here for the details.
(12/27/11) TheThemeParkGuy took a visit to Vietnam, and checked out the site of the future Happyland theme park project, which is reported to cost $2 billion by the time it opens in 2014. In addition to the early site work pictures, he’s also got some concept artwork and model images to see, where it looks like the park’s basic layout has borrowed a bit from the Disney parks.
(5/2/11) The latest word about the Happyland theme park project in Vietnam is that the group has hired Sanderson Group to design it, who had previously designed the WB MovieWorld park in Australia. They claim that the group will begin construction on the new theme park this November, and shoot for a 2014 opening date.
(2/16/11) The Happyland Theme Park project in Vietnam just got a huge boost from Joe Jackson, father of Michael Jackson. Jackson was on site at the ground breaking and announced to be an investor in the 1000room five-star Happyland Hotel. A few other details about the Happyland complex did come out, as they report it will have a water park, film studio, theaters, riverfront boardwalk, restaurant and more when it opens in 2014, where they also hope to draw in 14 million visitors a year.
I do find it interesting that since it was first reported in late December the price tag for the resort has climbed from $600 million to over $2 billion now for the hotel / entertainment and theme park complex.
(12/29/10) Happyland Theme Park, a new $600 million project is reported to be on the way to Vietnam. The park will be located in the Long Ansouthern province and is expected to open in 2014 along with a 1000 room 5-star Happyland Hotel. No details were offered about what the theme park itself may look like or what kind of attractions it may contain.
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