Untitled Document

Volume 1, No. 8. May 18, 2001

It's a swinging ship!
Del Grosso's Amusement Park in Tipton, Pennsylvania, announces the arrival of the Sea Dragon May 6, 2001. Delivered by Chance Rides.

The era of Del Grosso's, formerly Bland's, began on a "drop-dead-gorgeous" Sunday, said Peter Gardella, the park's general manager. "It was a perfect amusement park day," he said. The park purchased the Sea Dragon, along with a Zamperla Balloon Chase that had not yet been readied for riding, from Great Escape & Splashwater Kingdom in Lake George, New York, and "Brownie," a carnival painter from Florida, created a new serpent scene on the ride. "The serpent coming in and out looks so real you think it's going to eat you," Gardella said. "This is a big league ride for us."

Meanwhile, the new name had nary a negative impact on the opening day crowd, though some people still insist on calling the park Bland's. "Eighty percent of the people say it's a smart move," Gardella said. The biggest vote was tallied at the gate: "We had probably the best opening day we've ever seen," Gardella said.

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