Amusement Today Honors Best of The Best With 2022 Golden Ticket Awards

It’s that time of year again! This week industry professionals from across the globe tuned in online to honor the best of the best in the amusement industry.

The Golden Ticket Awards by Amusement Today are like the Oscars for amusement parks. Each year, a detailed survey is sent to experienced and well-traveled amusement park experts around the world. The surveys are sent out in balanced geographical regions asking not only industry fans, but also, (in some categories) industry suppliers, manufacturers and journalists to rank the “best of the best”. Amusement Today then tallies up those votes and presents “Golden Ticket Awards” to the winners of each category. Each year the event is held at a different location. This year’s event was presented at Six Flags Fiesta Texas.

The votes have been tallied and the winners are:

Best Amusement Park- Europa-Park (Rust, Germany)

Best Steel Roller Coaster – Fury 325 / Carowinds (NC)

Best Wood Roller Coaster- Phoenix/ Knoebels Amusement Resort (PA)

Best New Roller Coaster – Iron Gwazi / Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (FL)

Best New Family Attraction: Volkanu: Quest for the Golden Idol / Lost Island Theme Park (IA)

Best New Attraction Installation: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind / EPCOT (FL)

Best New Water Park Attraction: Medusa’s Slide Wheel / Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park Resort (WI)

Best Innovation – Double-sided lockers, Vlocker

Best Water Park- Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort (TX)

Best Marine Life Park/ Wildlife Park – SeaWorld Orlando (FL)

Best Kid’s Area- Wildwood Grove at Dollywood (TN)

Best Guest Experience – Dollywood (TN)

Most Beautiful Park – Busch Gardens Williamsburg (VA)

Best Family Park – Dutch Wonderland (PA)

Best Food – Knoebels Amusement Resort (PA)

Best New Show – “Christmas at the Southern Palace” / Six Flags Over Texas (TX)

Best Water Ride (In a Park) – Chiapas / Phantasialand (Germany)

Best Water Park Ride- Wildebeest / Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari (IN)

Best Dark Ride – Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance / Disney’s Hollywood Studios (FL)

Best Halloween Event of 2021 – Halloween Horror Nights / Universal Studios Orlando (FL)

Best Christmas Event of 2021 – Smoky Mountain Christmas / Dollywood (TN)

Breakout FEC of 2021: Meow Wolf Denver Convergence Station (CO)

AIMS International Safety Award – C.W. Craven

Golden Ticket LEGEND Award – Paul and Alethea Roads for the success of Wonderland Amusement Park.

Golden Ticket LEGEND Award – Dick Knoebel of Knoebels Amusement Resort for establishing a legacy of the finest principles, values, dedication and vision within the amusement industry.

Golden Ticket Leadership Award – Jeffrey Siebert, park president of Six Flags Fiesta Texas.

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:

Renaissance Award – Kennywood and Premier Rides for the rebirth of the Kangaroo
Park of the Year – Kings Island for its important history and its perfect celebration of it
Turnstile Award – Six Flags Fiesta Texas for its efforts in bringing guests back again and again

For more information, visit the official Golden Ticket Awards site here.

Visit the Amusement Park Community Facebook Group HERE and JOIN THE DISCUSSIONS!