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It was quite a rideLaser has been sold. Park official won't identify buyer or give selling price.By Andrew C. MartelOf The Morning CallAugust 16, 2008After 22 years of double-loop thrills, Dorney Park has sold its roller-coaster known as Laser.The steel coaster, painted neon green and purple, will remain open through the end of the 2008 season, said Charles Hutchison, public relations manager for Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom.''Dorney Park is now evaluating concepts for future use and development of the ride footprint,'' Hutchison wrote in a statement. He said the park will probably announce its plans in the fall or winter.Hutchison declined to say who bought Laser or its selling price. But the asking price at one time was $1.2 million, according to Tommy Coffing, a broker of amusement-park equipment who advertised the Laser on his Web site. Coffing said he believed that asking price is a bargain.''Whoever got that got it for a steal,'' Coffing said, speculating that Laser's age might have been a reason for a relatively cheap price. ''They usually sell for a lot more than that.''The sale of Laser was part of Dorney officials' long-term plan, Hutchison said.''It's our business to purchase and sell rides,'' he said. ''It's a natural matter of course for an amusement park industry.''Amusement parks often swap out rides and other attractions to keep the experience fresh for repeat visitors, said David Mandt, a spokesman for the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions.He added that some parks will alternate between introducing a thrill ride and a more family-friendly attraction each year, so they maintain a variety of entertainment.Laser first opened at a park in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1979. It moved to Dorney in 1986 and was originally named Colossus, Hutchison said. It is a portable roller-coaster that is anchored to the ground by tanks of water, which makes it easily transportable.With the loss of Laser, the South Whitehall park will have eight thrill rides. Even with the sluggish economy, amusement parks are faring well. Attendance, was up 5.6 percent between 2000 and 2006, the most recent year for available data, according to the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions.Dorney Park's parent company, Cedar Fair Entertainment Co., reported last week that attendance at its 11 parks is up about 3 percent over last year, although it did not have individual park figures available.andrew.martel@mcall.com610-820-6527LASERManufacturer: Schwarzkopf of GermanyInstallation date: 1986Length: 2,200'Height: 93'Speed: 52 mphThrillingfeatures: The coaster's imposing drop rolls into two consecutive 360-degree vertical loops.Source: Dorney ParkCopyright ? 2008, The Morning Call
''Dorney Park is now evaluating concepts for future use and development of the ride footprint,'' Hutchison wrote in a statement. He said the park will probably announce its plans in the fall or winter.
GCI(unfortunatly) if they do infact get a new woodie.
Topic: Dorney's Laser sold? (Read 4101 times)
