September 1, 2011
The summer months provide the biggest boon in zoo attendance, but when crippling heat hovers for an extended period of time, zoo directors have to find ways to keep both animals and guests comfortable. The 500-acre North Carolina Zoological Park in Asheboro, N.C., is the first zoo designed as a natural-habitat facility, which means the ...
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September 1, 2011
The weather was record-breakingly hot last summer in parts of the country, and waterparks provided cool liquid thrills. And, as patrons sought bigger and better thrills, waterparks responded with innovation. SplashTacular, for example, a La Quinta, Calif.,-based company that provides the industry with waterpark attractions, recently installed its first pulse pounding 360Rush ride. The revolutionary ...
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September 1, 2011
As General Manager of Roaring Springs Waterpark in Meridian, Idaho, Frank Morandi oversees three pools plus other attractions in the park. His top tip for ensuring safe and clean water is to look at each pool differently. “Each pool has its own needs and maintenance requirements,” he said. “Here, the water comes from different wells, ...
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September 1, 2011
Waterparks provide a fun haven during the sizzling days of summer, and while guests are frolicking in the cool water, managers and maintenance specialists are making sure the water and park remain clean and safe. At Roaring Springs Waterpark in Meridian, Idaho, General Manager Frank Morandi and his certified pool experts monitor the 10-acre park, ...
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September 1, 2011
The backyard hose and swimming pool have stepped to the side to make way for water inflatables as summertime relief from the pervasive heat for everything from backyard play and group entertainment to parties, with a dash of thrill added. What to do for yet another birthday is not the issue, merely which water inflatable ...
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September 1, 2011
Waterparks offer the perfect attractions to keep guests cool and enjoying themselves. But other types of leisure entertainment facilities and companies can also offer respites from the heat, albeit without the high thrills afforded by waterpark rides. In this issue, we offer an expanded Waves waterpark section sure to spark your interest with stories on ...
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September 1, 2011
Visitors may come to botanic gardens to see some of the finest specimens nature has to offer, but they may also end up staying for the great food being served at these destinations around the country. And while some botanic gardens, like the Arnold Arboretum at Harvard University, may not have their own dining facilities, ...
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September 1, 2011
Maintain proper staffing levels. “That is probably the biggest problem that food service operators have,” said Al Zehnder, CEO of Zehnder’s Splash Village in Frankenmuth, Mich. “It’s important to maintain adequate staffing levels, and have a menu design that meets the time expectations of the guests.” Limit menu options. Diana Rodriguez of Calypso Bay Waterpark ...
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September 1, 2011
As concessions manager at Pirate’s Cove Family Fun Aquatic Center in Englewood, Colo., Leslie Boersma has endured some teasing for packing her lunch every day. “People have made fun of me for that,” said Boersma. “But it’s so hard to find something healthy to eat at an amusement park.” After a while, the powers that ...
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September 1, 2011
THE LARGE PARK REPORT LEGOLAND Florida: A Study in Reimagining a Park for the Future – On October 15, 2011, the only new United States theme park for 2011 will open. Contributor Chad Emerson explores how LEGOLAND’s first foray east of the Mississippi River in Florida marks a major change in strategy for how to ...
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