Volume 2, No. 9.   May 24, 2002

New Arrivals

It’s a theme park!
Happy Valley in Shenzhen, China, announces the arrival of its second phase, May 1, 2002. Measurements: 13 hectares (32 acres), four themed areas, 14 attractions, six restaurants and six concession stands. Delivered by Happy Valley Tourist Development, HUSS Maschinenfabrik, OD Hopkins, SCS Interactive and Vekoma.

At first, Happy Valley sought to spread joy via aesthetic beauty and cultural merit. Opened in October 1998, the 21-hectare (52-acre) park has seven themed areas with shows, historical replications, animal exhibits and some rides, but not too much excitement, said Louis Xiaoming Liu, a senior advisor for Happy Valley Tourist Development. “The first phase we tried to make something different,” he said. “Young people don’t really care, and kids don’t like it.”

Phase two he described as much more aggressive, especially in the ride category. The region known as Shangri La has a Vekoma suspended looping coaster and a number of domestically made games. Gold Mine has a Vekoma mine train plus several Old American West attractions and shows. Hurricane Bay includes a Hopkins 26-meter (86-foot) shoot-the-chute, a HUSS Top Spin and Flying Willy, and two small SCS Foam Factories plus laser-equipped bumper cars. The fourth new section is Sunshine Beach, a real beach with volleyball and sand sculpting areas.

Other than a special concert on the eve of phase two’s opening, Happy Valley didn’t throw much of a grand opening bash. No matter: 42,000 guests showed up at the park May 1, and 49,000 turned out the second day. Attendance then fell off to 47,000 on the third day. These are stellar numbers for a park whose previous record attendance was 28,000. “We didn’t expect people to receive this park so well,” Louis said. But, he noted, “we are giving young kids and teen-agers what they like.” Most popular ride? the Vekoma coaster. “People are waiting three or four hours to get on,” Louis said. “Crazy.”

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