Theme parks shell out $30 million on new attractions.They expect tourism upturn to spark a strong summer The four primary Southland theme parks are gearing up for the coming summer season with new rides and attractions that cost them an estimated $30 million. Officials at the parks -- Disneyland, Universal Studios Hollywood, Knott's Berry Farm Knott's Berry Farm is a brand name of two separate entities: a theme park in Buena Park, California, and a manufacturer of food specialty products (primarily jams and preserves) based in Placentia, California. and Magic Mountain -- said, despite the recent earthquake, they think the upcoming season will be a good one because of the improving economy. "Tourism was starting to improve before the earthquake (on Jan. 17). We think by the time of the start of the summer season, or maybe before, things will have returned to normal," said Bob Oxner, a spokesman for Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park Buena Park (bwā`nə), city (1990 pop. 68,784), Orange co., S Calif.; inc. 1953. Food processing, the manufacture of aircraft, and tourism are important to the city's economy. . "We fully expect this will be a good year." The two parks that are introducing major attractions/rides this year are Knott's and Magic Mountain in Valencia. The other two parks are introducing rides or attractions but on a smaller scale. Three of the four new attractions/rides have movie themes. Magic Mountain, the park that is known for its thrill rides, is opening a new 6.2-acre attraction called Gotham City This article is about the fictional place. For the real city sometimes referred to as "Gotham", see New York City. Gotham City, New Jersey is a fictional city appearing in DC Comics, and is best known as the home of Batman. Backlot backlot Noun an area outside a film or television studio used for outdoor filming late next month. The new area features Batman the Ride, a loop-the-loop thrill ride, as well as other Batman-related attractions. Magic Mountain officials would not reveal the cost of Gotham City but boasted it is the most expensive capital project in the history of the 22-year-old park. Tim O'Brien Tim O'Brien can refer to:
"Just the cost of that ride is considerable, so I think it's safe to say that this is a major investment for them," he said. Bonnie Rabjohn, a spokeswoman for the park, said starting in late April, the facility will also have a daily Police Academy Stunt Show Knott's Berry Farm's Wild West Stunt show debuted on October 8 1974. The show was written by Gary Salisbury and was only scheduled to run Monday through Friday during the Winter season in the Wagon Camp Theatre. . The show is based on the "Police Academy" movies. Magic Mountain is owned by Time Warner Time Warner Inc. (NYSE: TWX), formerly known as AOL Time Warner, is the world's largest media and entertainment conglomerate headquartered in New York City, with major operations in film, television, publishing, Internet service and telecommunications. Inc., which made the "Batman" and "Police Academy" movies. Magic Mountain does not release attendance figures but Rabjohn said 1993 was the park's best year. Industry sources estimated that the record for attendance had been 3.2 million in 1991. At Knott's Berry Farm, an attraction called Mystery Lodge will open on May 28. Mystery Lodge, said park officials, will cost $10 million to build and features a ride and other attractions with an American Indian American Indian or Native American or Amerindian or indigenous American Any member of the various aboriginal peoples of the Western Hemisphere, with the exception of the Eskimos (Inuit) and the Aleuts. theme. Job Oxner, a spokesman for the park, said Mystery Lodge was designed by BRC BRC Black Rock City (Burning Man) BRC British Retail Consortium BRC Business Resource Center (Small Business Administration) BRC Bisexual Resource Center BRC Black Radical Congress Imagination Arts in Burbank, a multimedia, high-tech company. "Mystery Lodge is a multimedia, special effects adventure," said Oxner. He said Mystery Lodge is the park's largest expansion since 1988. Knott's Berry Farm does not reveal attendance figures but Oxner said about 5 million people annually visit the park and the adjacent California MarketPlace, a retail shopping area. Industry sources estimated that attendance at the park dropped about 5 percent in 1993 from 1992. Universal Studios Hollywood in Universal City will open the Flinstone's Go Hollyrock show later this year to coincide with the release of the "Flinstone's" movie. Park officials would not reveal the cost of the show but industry sources estimated a price tag of between $3 million and $5 million. A spokeswoman for the park said the facility will be celebrating its 30th anniversary throughout 1994 with special events and shows. In recent years, Universal has opened major -- and expensive -- new attractions on a yearly basis, including the Back to the Future, Backdraft A backdraft is a situation which can occur when a fire is starved of oxygen; consequently combustion ceases but the fuel gases and smoke remain at high temperature. If oxygen is re-introduced to the fire, eg. and Earthquake features. Back to the Future cost $60 million to build. Universal does not release attendance figures but industry sources said in 1993 between 4.8 million and 5.1 million people visited the facility. Disneyland in Anaheim, the Southland's most popular theme park, is not adding a major new attraction this year. However, the park, which industry sources said has annual attendance exceeding 11 million, opened a new ride in January. The ride is called Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin and is part of Mickey's Toontown that opened a year ago. Car Toon Spin brings riders through a darkened dark·en v. dark·ened, dark·en·ing, dark·ens v.tr. 1. a. To make dark or darker. b. To give a darker hue to. 2. To fill with sadness; make gloomy. 3. hall where different images flash up. Industry sources estimated the ride cost about $4 million to build. John McClintock, a Disneyland spokesman, said the facility is currently working on a major attraction called Indiana Jones Adventure Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Forbidden Eye is a dark ride attraction at Disneyland. It opened on March 3, 1995. Based on the Indiana Jones films (despite the fact that they were funded and distributed by rival studios Paramount Pictures), guests are taken on an adventure that will open in about one year. "It will be one of the biggest things we've ever done," he said. |
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