NEW BRAUNFELS, TEXAS–Among amusement and water parks, the best of the best are truly Golden. During a ceremony today at Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort, Amusement Today, the leading amusement trade monthly, announced its annual Golden Ticket Awards with a few surprising new winners among traditional repeaters.

The awards, based on surveys submitted by well-traveled park enthusiasts around the world, honor the top parks and rides as well as cleanest, friendliest and most efficient operations.

New this year was the Publisher's Pick chosen by Amusement Today Publisher Gary Slade. Winning the first-ever Publisher's Pick is Gary and Linda Hays, owners of Cliff's Amusement Park in Albuquerque, N.M., who last year took over construction of their wooden roller coaster, the New Mexico Rattler, after the manufacturer went bankrupt. The Hays' therefore were able to keep the construction crew employed, pay suppliers and provide New Mexico it's first major thrill ride as promised.

Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, repeated as the Best Park, and Schlitterbahn repeated as the Best Waterpark. Both parks have won these Golden Tickets in all six years of the awards. Other repeat winners were Holiday World & Splashin' Safari in Santa Claus, Ind., as Friendliest Park and as Cleanest Park, Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Va., for Best Landscaping, Fiesta Texas in San Antonio for Best Shows, Knoebels Amusement Resort in Elysburg, Pa., for Best Food, Paramount's Kings Island in Kings Mills, Ohio, for Best Kid's Area and Cedar Point for Capacity.

In two new categories, Busch Gardens Williamsburg was chosen the Most Beautiful Park, and Schlitterbahn the Most Beautiful Waterpark.

Among rides, competition was much more fierce resulting in some new winners and surprising showings. Superman Ride of Steel at Six Flags New England in Agawam, Mass., supplanted Cedar Point's Millennium Force as top steel roller coaster ending Cedar Point's five year reign atop that list, by Millennium Force the past two years and Magnum XL-200 before that. Magnum dropped to fourth this year behind Expedition GeForce at Holiday Park in Hassloch, Germany, the strongest showing so far by a non U.S. coaster.

Another non-U.S. ride topped the Best Water Ride (amusement park) category, Valhalla at Blackpool Pleasure Beach in England. The Best Waterpark Ride also saw a new winner this year, Zinga at Holiday World & Splashin' Safari.

The Amazing Adventures of Spider-man at Universal's Islands of Adventure in Orlando won Best Dark Ride, and Raven at Holiday World won Best Wood Coaster, both repeats. Dueling Dragons, the twin steel coasters at Islands of Adventure, won for Best Theming of an Attraction, and the Giant Drops from Intamin/Ride Trade won Best Non-Coaster Ride.

For a complete list winners, including the top 50 coasters and the top three of all other categories, visit www.amusementtoday.com.