2017 Golden Ticket Awards Announced
The Golden Ticket Awards by Amusement Today are like the Oscars for amusement parks. Each year, a detailed survey is sent to a database of experienced and well-traveled amusement park fans around the world. The surveys are sent out in balanced geographical regions asking enthusiasts to rate the “best” in 23 categories. Amusement Today then tallies up those votes and presents Golden Ticket Awards to the winners. Each year the event is held at a different location. This year, Lake Compounce, the oldest operating amusement park in the United States, and Quassy Amusement Park rolled out the red carpet to host the event!
On Saturday Night (9/9/17), Amusement Today announced the winners of its prestigious 2017 Golden Ticket Awards, which were presented annually to the “Best of the Best” in the amusement industry for the 20th consecutive year.
Sit back and relax because the wait is over. The votes have been counted and the winners are…
Best Amusement Park- Europa-Park (Rust, Germany)
Best Steel Roller Coaster- Fury 325 / Carowinds (NC) (top 10 below)
Best Wood Roller Coaster- El Toro/ Six Flags Great Adventure (NJ )(top 10 below)
Best Indoor Roller Coaster- Revenge of the Mummy / Universal Studios (FL)
Best New Amusement Park Attraction of 2017- Mystic Timbers / Kings Island (OH)
Best New Water Park Attraction of 2017: Thunder Rapids / Six Flags Fiesta Texas (TX)
Best Water Park- Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort (New Braunfels, TX)
Best Children’s Park- Idelwild & SoakZone (PA)
Best Marine Life Park- SeaWorld Orlando (FL)
Best Seaside Life Park- Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk (CA)
Best Kid’s Area- Planet Snoopy / Kings Island (OH)
Cleanest Park- Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari (IN)
Friendliest Park- Dollywood (TN)
Best Shows- Dollywood (TN)
Best Landscaping- Busch Gardens Williamsburg (VA)
Best Food- Dollywood (TN)
Best Carousel- Knoebels Amusement Resort (PA)
Best Water Ride (In a Park)- Valhalla / Blackpool Pleasure Beach (England)
Best Water Park Ride- Wildebeest / Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari (IN)
Best Dark Ride- Tower of Terror / Walt Disney World (FL)
Best Funhouse- Noah’s Ark / Kennywood Park (PA)
Best Halloween Event- Halloween Horror Nights / Universal Orlando Resort (FL)
Best Christmas Event- Smoky Mountain Christmas / Dollywood (TN)
Every year Gary Slade, Publisher and Editor-In-Chief of Amusement Today, makes personal selections for the Publisher’s Pick Awards. Here are the selections he made this year:
Publishers Choice:
- Supplier of the Year- Intamin
- Person of the Year- Jerry Brick, Lake Compounce
- Renaissance Award- Ed Hart, GM / Kentucky Kingdom
- Park of the Year- Morgan’s Wonderland / San Antonio
Top 10 Best Steel Roller Coasters
1. Fury 325 / Carowinds
2. Millennium Force / Cedar Point
3. Superman: The Ride / Six Flags New England
4. Iron Rattler / Six Flags Fiesta Texas
5. Expedition GeForce / Holiday Park
6. Leviathan / Canada’s Wonderland
7. Nitro / Six Flags Great Adventure
8. Diamondback / Kings Island
9. New Texas Giant / Six Flags Over Texas
10. Maverick / Cedar Point
Top 10 Best Wood Roller Coasters
1. El Toro / Six Flags Great Adventure
2. Phoenix / Knoebels Amusement Resort
3. Boulder Dash / Lake Compounce
4. The Voyage / Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari
5. Lightning Rod / Dollywood
6. The Beast / Kings Island
7. Ravine Flyer II / Wadlameer
8. Thunderhead / Dollywood
9. Outlaw Run / Silver Dollar City
10. Gold Striker / California’s Great America
Next year the Golden Ticket Awards will heading to Branson, Missouri at Silver Dollar City!
For more information, visit the official Golden Ticket Awards site here.
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