Volume 1, No. 7. May 4, 2001
Moving to higher ground
Installing an S&S Power Turbo Drop was statement enough, especially in the state of Maine. But Funtown Splashtown U.S.A. in Saco, Maine, wants to attain new heights in another facet of delivering entertainment and is spending US$2 million on ambient theming around its new ride opening this month, Dragon’s Descent.
At 220 feet (66 meters) tall to the tip of its flagpole, Dragon’s Descent will be the tallest people-conveyance structure in the state. Only incinerator chimneys and signal towers outreach the ride. "As towers go, there’s nothing like that here in the Northeast," said the park’s CEO and president, Kenneth Cormier.
Despite that, the most impressive element of the attraction might be the Chinese dragon at the foot of the ride. Built by Custom Creations, the dragon’s 31-foot long body arches 18 feet high to create the entrance to Dragon’s Descent. The dragon is part of perimeter theming, covering about 1 1/2 acres, that includes a new Mandarin Chinese themed two-story building containing the ride’s compressor unit and the operator’s room. Two former ticket booths refurbished in Chinese décor form part of the ride’s fencing, and an existing building is being renovated to house a gift shop selling items relative to Dragon’s Descent.
Cormier chose the Chinese theming as a suitable companion to his previous major capital project, 1998’s Excalibur wooden coaster with its load station themed on King Arthur’s castle. "I think (Dragon’s Descent) tied nicely with Excalibur and knights and slaying of the dragons, and the two rides are in close proximity to each other," Cormier said. "I thought Chinese because of the highly decorative Chinese style of buildings, plus the color scheme seemed very attractive to me." Even the Turbo Drop’s structure in bright white, red and yellow carries out the color scheme.
"I think it’s important to theme a newly developed area to make our park look more legitimate as a theme park as opposed to a run-of-the-mill, asphalt jungle type park," Cormier said. Along those lines this year will conclude the park’s transition from pay-as-you-go to all-day admission. Funtown Splashtown U.S.A. has been providing single admission tickets for 15 years but continued offering pay-as-you-go options. Three years ago Cormier fenced in the park and charged $3 minimum admission which, despite traditionalists’ complaints, resulted in increased attendance and revenue.
This year, he said, "With a new attraction coming in I felt it was the right time to eliminate tickets altogether and strictly go pay-one-price." Already publicizing that "walk-around season passes" are being eliminated this year, Cormier said he’s heard nary a feedback. "I don’t think we’re going to get anyone really creating a ruckus. We have molded the jig, so to speak."
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