November 14, 2005

By Tim Gwozdz
MiBiz Network

MUSKEGON — Michigan’s Adventure Amusement Park is pumping more than $6 million into capital improvements for 2006.

The majority of the investment has been allocated to a new water ride dubbed Grand Rapids. Grand Rapids is a 1,500-foot-long rapid river ride. Sporting a logging era theme, Grand Rapids will whisk riders through a rocky canyon filled with geysers and a waterfall on circular rafts at a rate of 800 riders per hour. It will cost more than $5 million to build, and will be the largest single ride expenditure in the 50-year history of the park. Grand Rapids has been part of the park’s long-term strategic plan and will be located in the area near the Shivering Timbers wooden roller coaster and the Adventure Falls water ride.

"We are extremely excited about the addition of Grand Rapids and believe it is the perfect centerpiece for our Golden Anniversary Celebration. A ride like this is a signature ride in many parks across the country," said Camille Jourden-Mark, vice-president and general manager of Michigan's Adventure. "Our guests will love it."

Michigan’s Adventure in 2001 was purchased by Cedar Fair LP, parent company of several high-profile amusement parks such as Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio and Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, Calif. Since that time Cedar Fair has made over $18 million in capital improvements in Michigan’s Adventure.

In addition to Grand Rapids, the amusement park is adding Coasters, a ‘50s-style diner that will seat 90. Complete with period touches like a jukebox, neon fixtures and diner-style seating, Coasters will serve ‘50s favorites like hamburgers, cheeseburgers, french fries, milkshakes and malts. The 3,000-square-foot air-conditioned eatery will coast approximately $1.25 million to build and will be similar in design to the Coasters restaurants found at other Cedar Fair amusement parks.

The investments in Michigan’s Adventure are reaping their rewards. Jourden-Mark told MiBiz 2005 attendance at Michigan’s Adventure was up 18 percent over 2004.

“It was a fantastic summer. We had approximately 550,000 — by all means our best season ever,” she said. “It was the first time we ever went over that half-million mark.”

Michigan's Adventure has more than 60 rides and attractions including six roller coasters. Within the park is WildWater Adventure waterpark, Michigan's largest waterpark. It has body slides, tube slides, three wave pools, family raft slides and the Funnel of Fear —a giant funnel water slide that opened in 2005.

Michigan's Adventure will open for its 50th anniversary year on Saturday, May 20, 2006.

COPYRIGHT 2005. MIBIZ NETWORK.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

This article appeared in the November 14, 2005 issue of MiBiz, read by upper management executives in West and Southwest Michigan. Print subscriptions are free to qualified individuals who do business in West and Southwest Michigan. For further information about MiBiz Network, visit www.mibiz.com.