NEWS
November 7, 2012 | By Brady MacDonald, Los Angeles Times staff writer
A pair of otherworldly photos from Superstorm Sandy will be forever etched in my memory of the historic hurricane. The first photo showed up in much of the mainstream media coverage and became a symbol of the storm: A seemingly intact roller coaster poking out of the Atlantic Ocean off the Jersey Shore like the skeleton of a sea serpent. The second image ricocheted around the Internet via social media sites and became a symbol of vulnerability and resilience following the storm: An undamaged carousel inside an eerily lit enclosure completely surrounded by water that looked like a glowing jewelry box floating off the New York City coast.
NEWS
November 2, 2012 | By Chris Erskine
Even the most diligent parent can lose a kid now and then - mostly now. A new product may help take some of the angst and desperation out of such an event. SafetyTats are temporary tattoos that read “If Lost, Please Call” and list a parent or guardian's cell number. They were invented by a mom named Michele Welsh, who as a precaution would write her cell number on her children's arms in crowded public venues, like theme parks. She explained to her three active boys to stay with Mommy and Daddy, but they were told that if they did get separated, they could show the numbers to an adult.
NEWS
October 9, 2012 | By Mary Forgione, Los Angeles Times Daily Travel & Deal blogger
The Angry Birds, the Bad Piggies, the eggs - you know the game-on drill. But what if you use your hands and feet instead of a smartphone app to move to the next level? That's the idea behind Angry Birds activity parks planned at three hotels in Finland - and they're not your typical amusement parks. "There will be different kinds of activities for children as well as for grown-ups," Iiro Rossi of Holiday Club Resorts wrote in an email. "There will be climbing, sliding, crawling, parkour, jumping, scoring, driving, playing, you name it. One thing missing are traditional rides usually seen in amusement parks.
CALIFORNIA | LOCAL
October 4, 2012 | By Maura Dolan, Los Angeles Times
DAVIS — The California Supreme Court grappled Wednesday with whether to hold amusement parks liable for injuries that occur during a ride's normal operation. Meeting for oral argument, the state high court considered a lawsuit filed by a woman who broke her wrist while riding a bumper car at the Great America amusement park in Northern California. She claimed the park had operated the ride negligently and should compensate her for the injury. Cedar Fair L.P., the company that owns the park, countered that riders assume responsibility for themselves when they knowingly hop on an attraction with inherent risks.
NEWS
August 22, 2012 | By Brady MacDonald
MASON, Ohio -- With 14 roller coasters, Kings Island ranks just behind North America's coaster capitals: California's Six Flags Magic Mountain (17), Ontario's Canada's Wonderland (16) and Ohio's Cedar Point (15). Photos: Top 10 Kings Island roller coasters Kings Island, just outside Cincinnati, traces its history to Ohio's Coney Island park, which dates to 1867 as one of the oldest amusement parks in the United States. Many of Coney Island's rides -- including Scrambler, Dodgem and Monster -- were relocated to Kings Island when the 364-acre theme park opened in 1972.
BUSINESS
August 4, 2012 | By Hugo Martín, Los Angeles Times
You can make reservations for an exclusive restaurant. And come this Halloween season you'll be able to make reservations for an exclusive scare. Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park — the theme park that 40 years ago introduced visitors to the now hugely popular Halloween mazes teeming with ghouls and monsters — will offer a premium maze for small groups apart from the crowds. Access to the exclusive maze, starting Sept. 21, will come with an extra charge. It will cost $60 for a group of up to six people, on top of admission to the park, which runs from $36 to $60 per person.