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The shut-down round-up

By Robert Niles
Published: November 14, 2008 at 10:40 AM
Three notes about closures and delayed openings at U.S. theme parks, from my e-mail this week:

Dollywood's shelved plans to open its Adventure Mountain obstacle play area next spring, delaying the project until 2010 for... you guessed it, "economic reasons."

The cost of Adventure Mountain - originally set for $5 million - has climbed closer to $7 million, said Pete Owens, spokesman for Dollywood. The rising cost of construction material is among the reasons the price has increased from original estimates, Owens said.

Legoland California's taken its new SeaLife aquarium down for rehab, just a few months after its opening. The park's second gate will be down until Dec. 26. From the press release:

Modifications being made to the Aquarium include adding an interactive LEGO sand castle building area; enhancing the LEGO animation in the Lost City of Atlantis display; adding décor to the Lake Tahoe area; remodeling the front and Park-side SEA LIFE entrances; and improvements to the interactive audio/visual technologies currently being used throughout the Aquarium.

I don't know whether to file this reader's e-mail under "People take jokes waaaay too seriously" or "Most depressing e-mail of the week":

Hello. I used to work for a theme park here in Myrtle Beach (Hard Rock Theme Park). It recently filed for bankrupcy. There is rumor that you may be purchasing this theme park. Is there any truth in this and if so will any of the employees be considered for rehire?

Readers' Opinions

From James Rao on November 14, 2008 at 12:49 PM
See, I am not the only one who thinks it would be a good idea for TPI readers to unite and buy Hard Rock! Make it happen, Mr. Niles!
From Mark Freedman on November 15, 2008 at 6:58 AM
It is depressing. The Hard Rock Park fiasco is a shining example of the type of corporate malfeasance and greed that's put us in this economic tailspin. The sense of desperation in that email is made all the worse because there's no light at the end of tunnel to suggest that person will be able to find employment anytime soon.
From Robert Niles on November 15, 2008 at 5:00 PM
I hear you, Mark. That writer cared enough about his/her job to research online what they thought might be a potential buyer and to send an e-mail. Employees who care are ones well worth keeping. It hurts me to see folks like that cast aside 'cause a bunch of management types didn't plan well enough.

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