The end of summer usually means the end of amusement park season, too. But if you have one last opportunity to hit up a coaster or two, check out the best of the best as featured in Amusement Today's 2008 Golden Tickets awards.

This year the best amusement park honor went to Cedar Point in Ohio, which is known for its large roller coaster population. The best overall steel coaster award went, fittingly, to Superman: Ride of Steel at Six Flags New England; we can tell you from personal experience that it deserves the prize.

The Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort in Texas was named best place to get wet. And Holiday World in Santa Claus, Indiana was the big winner overall, with the best wooden coaster, The Voyage, the friendliest staff and the cleanest park. Surprisingly, Walt Disney World only received one award for the Illuminations fireworks show at Epcot, which was named the best outdoor night show production.

Related Stories:
· Amusement Today's Golden Ticket Awards [Official Site]
· Theme Parks coverage [Jaunted]

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Last summer, we rounded up the world's scariest roller coasters, but with another season wrapping up, it's time for another look at the most terrifying rides from around the globe.

While most coasters are impeccably safe--and the chances of stepping on a killer jellyfish at a theme park are infinitely slim--there's still an element of risk when you strap into a ride. So after the jump, allow us to present the scariest roller coasters of 2008.]]> pbb 2008-09-03T13:30:21-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/9/2/72945/56444

It might be time to starting planning another trip to central Florida to take in the latest and greatest theme park. The St. Petersburg Times is reporting that theme park giant Six Flags is thinking about opening a new park in the Tampa area. Apparently, this rumor has been cooking for some time, but recent developments have moved it to the front page.

Supposedly the park would be constructed on the current site of a large flea market or on the grounds of an old mining facility that is scheduled for renovation. Two hotels under construction in the area in question have fueled rumors that some big coasters are looking for a vacation home in Florida.

County officials are saying that nothing has been filed in regards to a new theme park, but they also say they're definitely open to chatting up Six Flags regarding the possibility. So for now, the rumor is still a rumor, but Manta may not be the only new coaster coming to Central Florida next year.

Related Stories:
· Rumor of Six Flags Theme Park Flies around Pasco Again [St. Petersburg Times]
· Theme Parks coverage [Jaunted]

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Back in May, we got plenty excited for the new Hard Rock Park in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Although the park appears to rock on paper, it doesn't seem to be as big a hit with tourists: The place is believed to have missed attendance expectations and earlier this month the park was forced to layoff about 30 employees.

The Myrtle Beach Sun News reports that park executives believe the number of workers that were released is "miniscule." Spokesman Jim Olecki says that the layoffs were expected due to seasonal changes in the theme park business and didn't seem to rule out additional firings in the future.

The competition isn't coming directly from other parks in the area but from the increasing costs of simply taking a vacation. As of now the park is scheduled to stay open through Labor Day and into the fall but whether it will keep rocking year-round--as originally planned--doesn't seem as certain.

Related Stories:
· Hard Rock Park Lays Off Employees [Myrtle Beach Sun News]
· Theme Parks coverage [Jaunted]

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Busch Gardens Europe in Williamsburg, Virginia is about to add some new stuff even with the looming threat of a sale hanging over its head. The park plans to add a Sesame Street-themed land with hopes of bringing more families to the park--or at least those who have a thing for Big Bird.

The new section will supposedly contain a "European-style" Sesame Street, and plans also call for a small kid-friendly coaster, log flume and water play areas. There will also be new retail and character dining so you can really get the full Sesame experience.

As the park moves forward with the expansion, the Globe Theatre in the England section of the park will be transformed into a 4D movie featuring everyone's favorite characters called "Sesame Street presents Lights, Camera, Imagination!" The park will be working overtime throughout the winter and hopes to have the new addition open by Spring 2009.

Related Stories:
·New Sesame Street Area Debuts in 2009, Expands Park's Boundaries and Kid Offerings [Busch Gardens]
·Theme Parks coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Busch Gardens]
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When we last left you, Shamu was looking for a passport as she was considering a permanent European vacation. Well, it looks like things continue to move in that direction according to the UK Times.

Owners of Parques Reunidos, one of Europe's leading amusement park operators, is reported to be considering a bid of the Anheuser-Bush theme parks. Candover, a British equity firm that took ownership of Parques in 2007, is rumored to have hired Morgan Stanley to draw up the plans. Industry experts think that Shamu and friends are worth somewhere between $2.5 and $4.5 billion.

It's thought that InBev, the new owners of Budweiser, will go along with the deal as they need to raise some cash to pay off their debt from buying something like 1,000,000 30-packs of Bud Light.

To make things even more complicated, Merlin Entertainment, owners of Legoland, is also supposedly interested on getting in on the action. We'll let you know where your admission fee is going as soon as they figure it out.

Related Stories:
·European Theme Park Giant Parques Reunidos Angles for US Rival [UK Times]
·Theme Parks coverage [Jaunted]

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Chris Brown and Rihanna made like a high school couple and recently enjoyed a day at the amusement park at Paramount's Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia. Aww, see, he's holding her stuff so she can go on the coasters!

Both singers have signed on to play VH-1 and Vogue's annual "Fashion Rocks" concert in New York City September 9, along with Beyonce, chart-topper Lil' Wayne and up-and-coming British chanteuse Duffy. Get your tickets now for the Radio City Music Hall event!

Related Stories:
· Rihanna Takes Home A Tattoo [Jaunted]
· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]

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