DelGrosso’s park to add new rides
By Walt Frank, wfrank@altoonamirror.comFact Box
More amusement
Three new rides are scheduled to be up and running for the park's May 3 opening day:
YoYo: A swing ride that will replace Balloon Race
Pharaoh's Fury: A swinging ship that will replace the Sea Dragon
Dizzy Dragon: A kiddie ride
TIPTON - Despite tough economic times, DelGrosso's Amusement Park officials are making a major investment to improve the park for the 2009 season.
DelGrosso's has purchased three rides from Cypress Gardens in Winter Haven, Fla., and hopes to have them up and running for the May 3 opening day.
"They are very big investments. None of them are inexpensive. It is another major investment for us in going forward and expanding," said Carl Crider Jr., general manager.
Scott Crider, vice president of operations, said the cost would have been well over $1 million if the rides were purchased new. He declined to say what DelGrosso's paid.
"We had made a commitment to do something new for 2009. We feel very strongly in order to maintain and keep your business going, people are looking for new things. New things bring people to amusement parks," Scott Crider said.
The three rides, which are 2004 models, include YoYo, a swing ride which will replace Balloon Race; Pharaoh's Fury, a swinging ship, which will replace the Sea Dragon; and the Dizzy Dragon, a kiddie ride.
Scott Crider said the rides are all ones parents can go on with their children.
Park officials hope that with the price of gasoline well below last year's levels, they will enjoy a banner season.
A special season pass promotion of $59.99 has been extended through Easter. The regular price is $79.99.
Regular ride and water park prices will remain the same as last year, but food prices have been tweaked a bit to reflect the increased price of ingredients.
''Despite adding the new rides and the investment we made, we kept the prices the same,'' Carl Crider Jr. said.
DelGrosso's will hold three free concerts instead of four this summer. There will be one 90-minute concert each day instead of two shows, as was done in the past.
The park will continue to offer free parking and admission.
Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 946-7467.
