2008
Golden Ticket Awards - The Best of the
Best!
View
the complete list of winners!
Click here to download 2008 Golden Ticket
Awards Bonus Section PDF file (13.6
mb)
Park, individual, supplier each
recipents of
2008 Publisher’s Pick
Xocomil
Waterpark ------Paul
Nelson------Zamperla
Xocomil
waterpark a free sight to behold in
Guatemala
Quality.
It’s what every amusement facility strives
for. Some rise to the challenge to meet that
goal, some don’t.
For Ricardo Castillo,
quality was the number one goal when he set
out to build a theme park resort outside of Guatemala
City, Guatemala.
He pulled together 33,000 independent companies
(representing more than 400,000 employees)
and asked if they would contribute one-percent
of their total payroll each month to help fund
the construction of a themed resort. The catch,
admission to the theme parks would be free
to the workers who contribute to the fund.
Eighty-nine percent of all money collected
would go toward the construction of the resort,
with the remaining 11 percent going towards administrative
fees.
The resort began with a simple hotel. Pools,
cabins and restaurants would soon follow. In
Nov. 1997 the Xocomil waterpark opened to guests.
Designed by Canada’s Whitewater, this
heavily themed and landscaped park features
11 Whitewater attractions to choose from. After
entertaining more than 1 million guests in
its opening year, the park became a spring
board for the resort to build the Xetulul theme
park as well as more hotels and other amenities
on the property.
Thanks to the ground work laid by Xocomil,
the IRTRA Resort now employs 3,000 workers
and has entertained more than 38 million visitors
to date.
As the numbers will tell you, Xocomil is quality,
Disney quality and AT’s
Park of the Year.
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Paul
Nelson made Waldameer a career and success
story
Paul
Nelson had the best of both worlds.
At the young age of 11, he began work at Waldameer
Park in Erie, Pa. Little did he know that a
friendship his mother had with the parks owners
would result in him having two sets of parents
and a career at the park.
At that young age of 11 he made a promise to
the then owner of Waldameer, Alex Moeller,
that he would take care of his wife, Ruth,
should he die before her. The Moeller’s
had no children and he wanted to make sure
the park would be secured for the future. To
do that, the Moeller’s
adopted Paul, with the blessings of Paul’s
mom. He honored that promise taking care of
Ruth and his mom until their deaths, all the
while inherting and running a park.
During his 51 year tenture, he knew the park
needed its famous and signature Ravine Flyer
wooden roller coaster brought back to life.
What he didn’t know is that would take
15 years to get the coaster approved to be built.
But like every other challenge he has met in
life, Paul met the coaster challenges with
open arms. He resolved issues with neighbors,
the state, wetlands and more. He endured three
different coaster companies, but kept the same
designer, Larry Bill. Finally his building
permit was granted. Eighteen months later the
Ravine Flyer II made its debut.
With a daughter and son-in-law working in the
park, Waldameer’s future has never been
brighter. Amusement Today is honored
to name
Paul Nelson as our 2008 Person
of the Year.
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Zamperla
delivers 180+ rides per year, coasters
newest hit
For Italy-based Zamperla, one has to go back
to the mid-1800’s to trace its very
beginnings when Giovanni Zamperla started
a traveling equestrian circus to entertain
at special events in towns and villages.
The second generation, Antonio Zamperla, took ‘amusement’ to
a new level in the 1960’s when he started
the concept of building amusement rides.
Under the Zamperla brand, the company would
give birth to many must-have kiddie rides like
the Mini Airplane, the Convoy and the Balloon
Race. Zamperla would build a reputation for
its creative theming ideas, brightly painted
fiberglass decorations and affordable pricing.
Now led by the third generation, Alberto Zamperla,
the company has improved its quality and led
the industry in creativity that has allowed
the company to experience unprecedented growth.
Zamperla now produces more than 180 rides each
year and has a product catalog in excess of
60 different rides. It has expanded to the United
States and beyond to employ a global workforce
of 450 associates.
From the early day kiddie rides to major thrill
rides, Zamperla has built for every size of
park imaginable. Most recently, the company
has launched entire roller coaster and water
ride divisions.
The next time you are in a park and you hear
the laughter and screams of a child or a family
on a ride, it’s a good bet they are on
a Zamperla ride. AT salutes Zamperla as
our
2008 Supplier of the Year for its
longevity and creativity.
View
the complete list of winners!
Click here to download
2008 Golden Ticket Awards Bonus Section PDF
file (13.6
mb)
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