Loop 032 printable

Volume 2, No. 8. May 10, 2002

Eric's Turn

Of friends and fun
Any time I need my enthusiasm batteries rejuvenated, I find visiting an amusement park usually does the trick, even though that’s my job. One park in particular always recharges my mood: Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio.

I was there last week to cover the opening of its 15th roller coaster, Wicked Twister (see story above). It is always a pleasure to not only experience the park itself (immaculate and fresh, even when it is closed to the public) but to enjoy the fellowship of the team that runs the park, like Vice President of Maintenance Monty Jasper (above center with Intamin President Sandor Kernacs on the right and me on the left). Spending a day touring the park with that management team reiterates the joy that comes when you successfully maintain high standards and professionalism. Meanwhile, sharing a first ride with CEO Dick Kinzel on a coaster reminds you of the child’s joy that our products bring even the highest-ranking members of our industry.

Another park that has a way of bringing an automatic smile to my face—even when I go nowhere near it—is Holiday World & Splashin' Safari in Santa Claus, Indiana. Being there is like stepping into a living Rockwell illustration in feel and friendliness. The operators there take the notion of "family park" to so many dimensions: the Koch family owns and operates it and the venue is geared for a family audience, but also it treats its staff and guests alike as part of the family. Even journalists, too. This week I received a birthday card from Holiday World signed by much of the management staff, a heartwarming surprise for which I want to express my sincere thanks.

I have maintained often that it is the people in this industry that keeps me in the industry. As a freelance writer I have covered dozens of trades, and the amusement industry by far has the friendliest and most dedicated personnel.

One organization within the industry that is among the best at fostering such dedication is the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, and we at THE LOOP are proud to announce that we have become members of the AZA. As with other trade associations, the AZA serves as a collegial network and provides training and government affairs services. The AZA also spearheads many environmental, conservation and animal welfare missions, utilizing its membership not only to help raise funds and awareness but also to lend professional expertise in incidences of animal crises around the world. The AZA also runs an arduous accreditation process, but the tag "AZA-acredited zoo" carries tremendous prestige because of the organization's high standards.

If you click to our home page or indexes you will see the AZA logo in the left-hand column, along with those of IAAPA and IAHA. All of those click through to those organizations’ web sites. Find time to explore those sites and discover for yourself the spirit of mission that underlies the motivation of so many of the operators and suppliers in the amusement industry.

Clarification
In the April 26, 2002, issue of THE LOOP, a New Arrival announcing the opening of Adventures in Imagination at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, listed only one supplier. The museum was delivered by Bruce Robinson, Sandlot Pictures, UV/FX, Bandit Lites and Maltbie. The motion theater was delivered by JHP Productions, MY Design and IWERKS. The full list has been added to THE LOOP, and we wanted to alert you to the change.