2006
Golden Ticket Award Winners
View
the complete list of winners!
Click here to download
2006 Golden Ticket Awards Bonus Section PDF
file (14
mb)
Park, individual, supplier each
recipents of
2006 Publisher’s Pick
State
Fair of Texas ------Pat
Thomson------Bill
Robinson
The
granddaddy of all fairs, The State
Fair of Texas celebrates 120 years,
plans for bigger future
For
120 years, The State Fair of Texas has made
its home in Dallas, Texas. The Dallas State
Fair and Exposition, to which the present
State Fair of Texas traces its origin, was
chartered as a private corporation on Jan.
30, 1886, by a group of Dallas businessmen.
In 1904, the Texas State Fair sold its property
to the City of Dallas under an agreement
that set aside a period each fall to hold
the annual exposition.
The
reorganized fair prospered, establishing
new records for receipts and attendance
as 300,000 people streamed through the gates
in 1905. Automobile races and stunt flying
exhibitions became top attractions. Attendance
topped the 1 million mark in 1916. The
1920’s
brought significant development and increased
activity to the fairgrounds.
In
1930 the fair constructed the football
stadium now know as The Cotton Bowl. In
1934, the fair park grounds were selected
as the central exposition site for the proposed
Texas Centennial celebration and construction
began on a $25 million project that transformed
the existing fairgrounds into a masterpiece
of art and imagination. The 1936 Texas
Centennial Exposition attracted more than
6 million people during its six-month run.
Following
the Centennial, the fair’s success
continued with numerous marquee rides and
coasters including the Triple Track Racer
and later the Comet coaster. Most famous
was perhaps the 1950’s addition of
the fair’s mascot, Big Tex, a talking
52-foot tall cowboy.
But
to guests making their annual visit to the
Texas fair, two things stand out. A Fletcher’s
corny dog is a must have and the Texas Star
is a must do. Opening in 1985, the 212-foot-tall
Ferris wheel was the tallest wheel in North
America.
Today,
the 24-day fair draws more than 3 million
guests and looks more like a park than a
fair. That success is from the creative mind
of fair president Errol McKoy, a longtime
amusement industry veteran who started with
Six Flags Over Texas.
Under
McKoy’s
watchful eye, the fair now features more
than 300 exhibitors, 200 food vendors, 70
rides, livestock competitions, creative arts
contests, football and first-class entertainment.
His theme park roots are seen throughout
the grounds in signage, lighting, the 2,000-plus
trash cans and now with the planting of flowers
that is second only to Disney’s Epcot
for number of flowers planted. The future
looks even brighter with a sky ride, looping
coaster, observation tower and more planned
in the next few years.
Congratulations
to the State Fair of Texas
on your 120 outstanding years!
Top
Unable
to expand, Pat Thomson did what many
said couldn’t be done, moves Western
Playland to new site
El
Paso’s amusement park since 1960, Western
Playland is still El Paso’s fun park,
but it’s no longer in Texas. It’s
now across the state line in Sunland Park,
New Mexico.
After
46 years of operation, Western Playland is
set up for business on a new 25-acre site,
west of town in a growing entertainment district
that features a casino and a horse-race track
across the highway. Park owner Pat Thomson
has the family-geared park positioned for
success and growth for years to come.
But
the path to the future has had as many ups
and downs as a roller coaster ride. And it’s a
roller coaster, that was never built, causing
all the problems.
Park
founders, Leo Hines and Wally Thompson were
ready to retire. Son Pat, who started working
at the park at the age of 12, was the natural
choice to take over the park. As a result,
he took over the park in 1998 as president
and part owner. His management style led
to much success in the park overseeing the
installation of several new rides. But one
new ride Pat wanted, he could never get—a roller coaster.
Because
Western Playland was located in a county
park, Ascarate Park, it paid lease money
to the county for the land as well as a precentage
of the ticket sales. The amusement park was
the lifeline of the county park. The worn
out baseball fields and other park ammenities
never drew in the visitors like Western Playland
did.
The
first attempt to add a coaster was in 1990
when a deal had been reached to move an Arrow
loop and corkscrew coaster to the park, but
the county would not allow it. In 2000, Pat
thought he would try to build a new $2 million
wooden coaster on 1.5-acres of unused land
next to park. On paper it looked good. The
park would finally get its new signature
ride and the county would get more money
from the park on land rental and the increased
ticket revenues.
Once
again, the county commissioners said no.
That
turned out to be the last straw for Pat,
who then spent the next several years searching
for a way out. He wanted out of the county
park and out of his lease. He found the right
opportunity and quickly took advantage, making
plans to move the park.
On July 1, the new 23 ride facility opened
to the joys of the El Paso faithful. Two
new rides, a Miler family coaster and
a Larson Flying Scooter give the guests
the new rides they wanted, at least
until that signature roller coaster
arrives. And when it does, this time,
Pat Thomson won’t
have to get permission from the county.
For
his continued efforts, we salute Pat Thomson
as AT’s Person of the Year.
Top
Bill
Robinson’s marketing success outlasts
many parks, celebrates 45 years in business
Success brings longevity.
That’s
certainly the case for William H. “Bill” Robinson
and his advertising and marketing firm WHR
Inc. Celebrating 45 years in the business this
year is proof this Cincinnati-Ohio-based firm
is doing it right.
Bill’s
roots in the amusement industry began in April,
1962 when he took a job as a ride operator
in Kiddieland at LeSourdsville Lake / Americana
Amusement Park near Middletown, Ohio. Little
did this young man realize the path he had
just chosen.
During
his 21 years at the family-owned park, he
headed nearly every department at one time
or another, from group sales to operations
to marketing. Those marketing efforts opended
the door for him to start an in-house advertising
agency in 1977.
In
1983 Bill left Americana, and along with
a partner, started the marketing consulting
group—Adelman, Robinson & Associates,
Inc.—to provide a variety of marketing
services to amusement parks, waterparks and
others in the industry. In 1991, his partner
left the industry, and Bill formed his own
company William H. Robinson, Inc.
During
the past 42 years, Bill has served
two terms as a member of the IAAPA Board
of Directors. As a member of IAAPA’s Public Relations
Committee (1981-1986) he wrote the popular
column Promotions Corner in the associations
Funworld magazine. He has also served as chairman
of the Promotions and Advertising Scrapbook
Committee, and in 1986, he named, formed and
co-chaired the first IAAPA Brass Ring Awards.
Since
1974, Bill has received six service
awards from IAAPA for work in the amusement
industry. His clients have taken home the
brass time and time again, winning more than
100 IAAPA Brass Ring Awards. They have also
been repeat receipents of the Wave Review
Awards from the WWA and the Golden Token
Awards from IALEI. Bill and his associates
have also received advertising industry awards
for creative and production excellence including
the CLIO, ADDY and TELLY awards to name a
few.
To
date Bill has been assisted more than 50
amusement parks and related facilities with
their development of advertising and marketing
campaigns, as well as their group sales efforts.
From
the Benson’s, Hamel’s and Americana’s
of our past to Bill’s current list of
Indiana Beach, Lake Winnepesaukah and Knight’s
Action Park, we know those parks are like Allstate,
they’re in good hands.
Congratulations
Bill Robinson on “supplying” our
industry with 45 years of
outstanding work!
View
the complete list of winners!
Click here to download
2006 Golden Ticket Awards Bonus Section PDF
file (14
mb)
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