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Send us your news and pictures. E-mail Keith Miller at kmiller@IAAPA.org.
 Sliding into History
“Wipe Out,” the giant slide at Morey’s Surfside Pier in Wildwoods, New Jersey, played host to sliders for the final time on Oct. 10, 2010. The 12- lane slide had entertained guests since 1968, when brothers Bill and Will Morey spotted a similar slide operating in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and were inspired to buy one of their own, marking their entrance into the amusement business. Morey’s is taking orders for memorial pieces of the slide at $50 each, with proceeds being donated to IAAPA’s archive preservation effort. www.moreyspiers.com
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Discovery Cove Unveiling Grand New Attraction
Orlando’s Discovery Cove will open a new addition in time for this summer’s crowds. Called The Grand Reef, the 2.5- acre zone will feature 10,000 creatures representing 125 species of fish, rays, and sharks. The reef’s signature attraction will be “SeaVenture,” an hour-long excursion for groups of up to six people whereby the guests will don dive helmets and descend a ladder to the floor of the reef. There they go on an underwater walking tour of the reef and encounter rays, lionfish, and a host of other species, and even get to touch a few along the way. The cost will be $59 per person. www.discoverycove.com |
Wax Stars Come to Blackpool
Merlin Entertainments will open the 11th Madame Tussauds wax museum in Blackpool, England, in April. Merlin says the attraction is “quite different” from anything Madame Tussauds has done before and will depict national heroes from television, film, and sports. www.madametussauds.com
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That’s One Big Pup
Katina, the oldest killer whale at SeaWorld Orlando at 34 years of age, gave birth to her seventh calf in October, the 16th killer whale born at the park. The male whale was 7 feet long and 350 pounds at birth. www.seaworld.com/orlando
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 Titanic Inspires a New Generation
In 2009, then 8-year-old Luke Copas of Kodak, Tennessee, wrote a book for a child authors’ conference about something that’s a consuming passion for him: the Titanic. Last summer, he visited the Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge and took his manuscript with him. He just happened t o show it to Mary Kellog g-Joslyn, the museum’s co-owner. She was so impressed with his talent and enthusiasm that, unbeknownst to him, she made a few calls and landed him a book deal! In mid-September, Luke’s entire school class was invited to the museum. He didn’t know why he was there at first—until he saw the first copy of his book, “Facts For Kids About the Titanic,” on sale in the book store. “That’s MY book!” he exclaimed. Kellogg-Joslyn was on hand to give him the good news. “He has an amazing talent,” she said. “The first time I read his book, I couldn’t believe my eyes.”
www.titanicpigeonforge.com
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Quassy’s ‘Wooden Warrior ’
Construction crews continue to erect the framework of “Wooden Warrior,” the brand new coaster at Quassy Amusement Park in Middlebury, Connecticut, on schedule to be ready for the upcoming season, the park’s 103rd year of operation. Cre ws are building more than 200 wooden bents that will support the ride’s 1,200 feet of track. Designed by The Gravity Group, the ride is the first new wooden coaster in that part of Connecticut since the 1930s. www.quassy.com
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Seals Survive Due to Help from Volunteers
The Vancouver Aquarium in British Columbia released 14 harbor seals back into the wild with the help of about 50 of the volunteers who assisted with their rehabilitation. T he aquariu m’s M a rine Mamm a l Rescue Center he l ps harbor seal pups that are abandone d, i njured , or sick . www.vanaqua.com |
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