Theme park news roundup: New thrills on the way in 2011

Summer season is winding down, and that means it’s the time of year when theme parks start announcing their new attractions for the 2011 season. Here’s a look at the latest news and rumors about new attractions at U.S. theme parks:

Dollywood to open the Barnstormer

Dolly Parton’s theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, will add a $5.5 million ride called the Barnstormer. It’s designed to simulate stunt flying with the use of two pendulum arms. The ride will rise 81 feet in the air. Dollywood is also building a new barnyard-themed children’s play area around the Barnstormer.

The new ride will have a height requirement of 48 inches. It’s expected to open in March 2011.

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay launches teaser Web site

Construction of a new attraction has been going on for months at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, but the park has made no official announcements as to what the new ride will be. It is widely believed that the new attraction will be a roller coaster. Park officials have only said that there will be thrils and animal encounters.The Tampa, Florida, theme park has launched a teaser web site, BuschGardens2011.com, with videos of park officials talking about their big secret. The latest video is with design and engineering VP Mark Rose, who does reveal that the 2011 project will have the largest footprint of any attraction at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.

Cedar Point releases new ride clues on Facebook

Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, is giving fans of its Facebook page clues about a new 2011 attraction. So far, pictures of a windmill and a dinosaur have been posted.

The windmill picture links instructions for a class project on windy weather, and the dino image links to a site on dinosaurs for kids.

The theme park is promising that all will be revealed next week, on Aug. 24.

Hersheypark looking ahead to 2012

Often the first place that news about new theme park attractions emerges is through city and county construction permits that have to be obtained, and hearings that have to be held, when theme parks plan to build anything.

That’s exactly what happened this week in Derry Township, Pennsylvania, where Hersheypark theme park is building a new attraction for 2012.

At a municipal zoning meeting, Hersheypark officials revealed that new “marquee” attraction will be built in the park’s Comet Hollow area, and it will open in 2012. No word on what it will be, but the theme park is seeking permission for the new ride to have a maximum height of more than 212 feet.

Hidden Treasures: Bo’s Ice Cream, Tampa, Florida

When people typically think of Tampa, they think of the beach, nightlife and attractions. However when I think of my hometown, only one thing comes to mind – ice cream.

Bo’s Ice Cream, located at 7101 N. Florida Avenue, has been serving up tasty ice cream creations in the same location for more than 50 years. Bo’s has survived so long is because they only use the best quality ingredients when making their ice cream. While driving down the highway on any given afternoon, you will see a line winding down to the street with people from all over patiently waiting for their treat.

Bo’s is famous for their unique ice cream flavors and candy toppings. When I was a kid, all of my cones came “cherry dipped”, with a hard red candy coating. As an adult my new favorite is the blue raspberry dip. Just be sure to bring a friend (or five) if you decide you want the large size banana split.

Afternoons or early evenings are the best time to visit.

Stephie Mark is a Seed.com contributor.

Tampa Bay Political Getaway: Visit the Republican National Convention

Looking for a vacation with some meaning? Well, the Republican National Committee just announced that it’s selected Tampa Bay for its 2012 presidential convention. So, don an elephant hat and start pushing for access now! More than 40,000 visitors are expected to hit the city the week of the convention (August 27, 2012), more than 15,000 of which will be members of the media.

According to Paul Catoe, president and CEO of Tampa Bay & Company, “This will be the largest non-sporting event that Tampa Bay has ever hosted and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome the 2012 RNC to our vibrant destination.” He also noted, “Tampa Bay is a dynamic destination that offers warm weather and even warmer hospitality, and I know we will produce the most memorable convention ever.”

If the 2008 convention in Minneapolis can be used to gauge the impact, some big cash should flow through Tampa Bay, especially for the hospitality industry. At the last Republican National Convention, 2,800 new jobs were created, bringing with them $100 million in wages.

Catoe observed, “The 2012 convention will be held during a time period that historically one of our lowest periods of the year for hotel occupancy.” He continued, “Having an additional 40,000 visitors in our community will provide an economic boost for businesses both in the hospitality industry, as well as those indirectly involved.”

Florida in the sumer may be tough, but at least you’ll sweat to be a part of history.

[Via Cigar Reader]

Photo of the Day (4.27.10)

Today’s Photo of the Day is a little different from my usual selections, but it caught my eye because of a video I watched on Gadling last week. The shot is of Southwest’s ‘Florida One’, which was unveiled in Tampa on Friday. The aircraft will be joining the fleet on May 23 as Southwest’s 13th themed plane.

If you didn’t catch the video, you can see it after the jump – I was mesmerized to see the amount of detail that went into a paint job of this scale. Nicely shot Flying_photog!

If you have an aviation frame you’d like to share, head on over to Flickr and submit it to our group – it might just be the next Photo of the Day!

Pilot dies, passenger affects Hollywood ending

They say that the vast majority of problems you’ll encounter while flying are during takeoff. That’s what happened to Doug White and his family. Pilot Joe Cabuk’s head fell back, and he died.

In a display worthy of a Hollywood script, White got on the radio and was walked through the landing of the King Air in which he was promoted from passenger to captain. It did help that White had a pilot’s license, though he had never flown this particular type of plane.

And, he got his license in 1990 … and hadn’t been in the cockpit in 18 years.

Thirty minutes after leaving the ground, White returned “Niner Delta Whisky” – the craft’s name in airplane parlance – back to Earth. Though all were stressed, none was injured.

For his success, the once again pilot credits “focused fear.”