Russ McCutcheon

RYE, N.Y. — Would Playland still be Playland without rides?

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Playland in 1931. Few stipulations were placed on developers’ proposals for the park, which is owned by Westchester County.

With expansive water views and Art Deco architecture, Rye Playland — the 1920s-era amusement park owned by Westchester County — has offered generations of children in the area their initial taste of cotton candy and first spin on the scream-inducing Dragon Coaster. But amid competition and shrinking budgets, Playland has been less than thrilling for the county, losing millions of dollars a year as its popularity steadily declines.

Now the Westchester County executive, Rob Astorino, wants to reimagine the amusement park. In 2010, he invited prospective entrepreneurs to think creatively about recasting 100 acres, which includes 50 rides, an ice rink, a swimming pool, a boardwalk, a beach and an artificial lake, all perched on the edge of Long Island Sound in this affluent community.

Mr. Astorino, who came to Playland as a boy and now brings his own children here, invited developers to do away with the amusement park entirely, if they chose, or to expand it. The only stipulations: public access to the beach and the boardwalk had to be maintained, and housing was off limits.

“What can we do to reinvent Playland for the 21st century?” asked Mr. Astorino, a Republican, who vowed to address the Playland problem when he ran for county executive in 2009. “The underlying theme should not necessarily be to make money, but it shouldn’t be a burden on taxpayers, either.”

A 19-member advisory committee assessed the dozen proposed plans last fall, ranking them according to their viability.

While three landed in the top category, county officials have taken pains to avoid calling them finalists, explaining that other proposals are still in contention. Mr. Astorino hopes to select a proposal by the end of the summer. The county’s Board of Legislators would then need to approve any contract. It is possible that none of the plans will be chosen, Mr. Astorino said.

County officials say that Playland is among only a few amusement parks in the United States owned and operated by a local government. The park opened in 1928, when thigh-baring bathing costumes first became popular for women, and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1987.

In recent years, Playland has become something of a money pit. The amusement park has lost $3 million to $5 million annually in recent years. Since 1991, the county has spent $36 million on capital improvements, including the rehabilitation of the bathhouses, the boathouse and the music tower, and the purchase of new rides. Nonetheless, some areas of the park look faded, with cracked asphalt, peeling paint and buckling boards on the boardwalk.

Perhaps as a result, fewer people have been attracted to the park each year. There were 418,000 visitors last year, down from one million in 2005. Only a third of visitors live in Westchester, with a majority traveling from the New York metropolitan area.

“It’s gotten rundown and just isn’t the attractive destination that it was even a few short years ago,” Mr. Astorino said.

Accidents in recent years further tarnished the park’s reputation. Two people have died on the Mind Scrambler ride, which whipped spinning cars around in a circle, including a 7-year-old girl who was thrown from it in 2004. It has since been dismantled. The next year, a 7-year-old boy died on Ye Old Mill, a gentle water ride in a dark tunnel, after he apparently climbed out of his boat and became pinned beneath an underwater conveyor belt.

While the request for proposals does not insist that the rides remain, it does encourage an understanding of the “memories and emotional connections since 1928.”

“The Dragon Coaster is sort of a rite of passage,” Mr. Astorino said.

Most of the dozen proposals keep the rides.

Of the committee’s top three picks, two came from experienced amusement-park operators, Central Amusement International and Standard Amusements. Their proposals called for more emphasis on the rides.

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Martinsville is the smallest track in NASCAR and opened its gates back in 1947 – Getty Images

It may be NASCARs smallest track but Martinsville Speedway is never at a loss for action.

The .526-mile paper clip speedway is legendary for providing some of the tightest racing in the Sprint Cup Series and one of the biggest challenges for drivers.

If anyone has been on a bumper car track at a fair or amusement park, thats how the restarts are at Martinsville, said Paul Menard. You go into turn one and everybody checks up. You hit the guy in front of you, and then you get hit from behind. It literally feels like a bumper car.

While the physical nature of racing at Martinsville gets most of the attention, theres also a mental aspect to racing at the tiny Virginia short track. Drivers have to keep emotions in check and focus for nearly four hours in order to have a successful day at Martinsville.

It is 500 laps of hard racing, said Jeff Burton. You have to be very precise. You never catch a break or get to say to yourself, you get to chill out here for a little while. Someone is always on your bumper or right next to you. People tend to get road rage at Martinsville because of the pressure and there is so much stuff in your face all the time.

Mentally, it is difficult to stay focused and not let everything that is going on around you let you make decisions that are wrong for you. You have to remember why you are there and who you are. You also have to stay focused on what you are doing on that lap that will get you there.

Jeff Gordon has made it to Martinsvilles victory lane seven times in his career although hes struggled in recent years. But the Hendrick Motorsports driver appears dialed in again this weekend. Gordon believes with more than 25 years experience racing at the track, that background will pay dividends in addition to having a fast racecar on Sunday.

Somebody like me – who has a lot of experience and who has also had success at a place like Martinsville – can continue to have that success because its not all about aerodynamics, Gordon said. Its not about a spring and shock and sway bar combination that all of the sudden makes your car fly.

I feel like Martinsville is that one place that I can go to every time and give good information back to the team to keep us fast throughout the race.

Experience and good equipment are certainly keys to success, but theres still that mental aspect drivers have to maintain.

Its a little bit hard to get your rhythm, but once you get going it kind of falls into place, said Sprint Cup Series point leader Greg Biffle. What happens though is its easy to get off. If you get off a little bit, its so hard to get going again and get back online and hit your braking points and do those kind of things, so it is kind of a challenging track being the slowest race track we go to as far as cornering speeds and braking and accelerating. You have to be very precise even though were going slow. You can get your feathers ruffled pretty easily at this race track.

Martinsville Speedway

Track Size: .526-mile

Race Length: 200 laps/263 miles

Banking/Corners: 12 degrees

Banking/Straights: 0 degrees

Qualifying/Race Data

2011 pole winner: Jamie McMurray, 96.509 mph 19.621 seconds

2011 race winner: Kevin Harvick, 74.195 mph, 4-3-11

Track qualifying record: Tony Stewart 98.083 mph, 19.306 seconds, 10-21-05

Track race record: Jeff Gordon 82.223 mph, 9-22-96

Race Facts

There have been 126 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Martinsville Speedway, one in the inaugural year and two races per year since 1950.

Curtis Turner won the pole for the first NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Martinsville in 1949. Red Byron won the first NASCAR Sprint Cup race.

56 drivers have won poles, led by Darrell Waltrip with eight. Jeff Gordon, with seven poles, can tie that mark this weekend.

Jeff Gordon, Mark Martin and Darrell Waltrip share the consecutive pole record, each with three.

46 different drivers have won, led by Richard Pettys 15.

Jeff Gordon leads active drivers with seven wins. Jimmie Johnson has six and Denny Hamlin has four.

19 races have been won from the pole, the last by Denny Hamlin in October 2010.

Petty Enterprises has won 19 races, more than any other organization. Hendrick Motorsports, with 18 wins, can tie that mark this weekend.

Kurt Busch won the 2002 fall race from the 36th starting position, the furthest back a race winner has started.

Three active drivers average a top-10: Jimmie Johnson 5.4, Denny Hamlin 6.4 and Jeff Gordon 6.8.

Youngest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Martinsville Speedway winner: Richard Petty 4/10/1960 22 years, 9 months, 8 days.

Oldest NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Martinsville Speedway winner: Harry Gant 9/22/1996 51 years, 8 months, 12 days

Whos Hot at Martinsville

Tony Stewart Memories of last Octobers stirring Martinsville victory are very much alive this weekend as Stewart roars into Sundays race with two victories in the first five races of the season. Stewart believes he can win anywhere these days and will be in the mix for another checkered flag.

Jimmie Johnson He owned Martinsville for an unbelievable stretch from 2006 through 2009. Johnson has cooled off a little in the last couple of seasons but he finishes second behind Stewart last fall and has a whole lot of momentum on his side these days.

Jeff Gordon A seven-time Martinsville Speedway winner, Gordon hasnt won one of the tracks storied Grandfather Clock trophies since 2005. But hes been very fast all weekend long and still knows his way around the Virginia short track.

Whos Not

Greg Biffle Like the rest of his Roush Fenway Racing stable Martinsville has not been a pretty place for Biffle. The Sprint Cup Series point leader carries a 22.4 career average finish into Sundays race.

Marcos Ambrose Started his Martinsville Sprint Cup career in a promising way including a front row qualifying effort in 2010. But the Richard Petty Motorsports driver does not have the finishes to show for any of that early effort with a career 24.0 average finish.

Kasey Kahne Kahne will have a big challenge ahead this weekend in his quest to turnaround the disappointing start to 2012.?The Hendrick Motorsports driver has only two Top 10 finishes in 16 career starts.

Notebook

Opened in September 1947 by H. Clay Earles, Martinsville, originally a dirt track, is one of the oldest continuously operating racetracks in the United States.

The first NASCAR-sanctioned race at Martinsville was on July 4, 1948.

The first NASCAR Sprint Cup race was Sept. 25, 1949.

The track was paved in 1955.

The first 500-lap event at Martinsville was in 1956.

Concrete corners were added atop asphalt in 1976. There have been 274 NASCAR Sprint Cup races in Virginia. 162 drivers in NASCARs three national series all-time have their home state recorded as Virginia.

There have been 18 race winners from Virginia in NASCARs three national series.

Visitors at Playland Amusement Park ride the Derby Racer in September 2011. / JOURNAL NEWS FILE PHOTO

Published March 11, 2012

GALVESTON  Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier will have its dramatic and highly publicized opening in the early summer.

Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier will have its dramatic and highly publicized opening in the early summer. Its predecessor, Electric Park, operated briefly along Seawall Boulevard in the early 20th century. The pleasure pier will provide fun for everyone; in contrast, Electric Park had an elitist appeal.

Reserving the local beaches and seaside amusements for a better class of visitors was a local priority during the first years of the 20th century. The 1900 Storm had destroyed Galvestons beach boardwalk, which drew an unsavory crowd.

In 1901, George Murdoch rebuilt his bathhouse along the beach and purchased property around it to prevent the return of a shabby Midway. Murdoch advocated bringing excursionists to Galveston. Electric Park, which opened five years later, was intended for genteel visitors. It also would further the island resorts aspiration to become the Coney Island of the South.

Galveston looked to New Yorks Coney Island, home of Luna Park, Steeplechase Park and Dreamland for inspiration. On Oct. 4, 1904, The Daily News announced a forthcoming local version of Dreamland. Galvestons amusements were to be served by weekend passenger-train excursions, drawing on the populations of Texas and surrounding states. Unlike its New York namesake, though, the attractions would meet the needs of people of good character.

During September 1904, William A. Gardner, secretary of the Galveston Business League, made a high priority of bringing an amusement park, such as they have at Coney Island or Atlantic City to give excursionists a reason to stay the night in Galveston.

In January 1905, The Daily News quoted an unidentified Indiana businessman, who remarked on Galvestons needs, including an amusement park: If the right kind of site could be had on the beach front for an amusement park, youd have no trouble whatever in getting the right kind of amusements to fill it.

Galveston was one of many locales across the nation to feature electric parks during the early 20th century. These were so-called trolley parks, served by electric streetcars that brought excursionists. The Galveston Tribune, May 28, 1906, said the amusement park not only would furnish a fine pleasure ground for its own people, but be a magnet to draw greater crowds of excursionists from upstate than ever before.

Owned by Galveston Electric Park and Amusement Co., Electric Park was built on the northeast quadrant and the east part of the northwest quadrant of Outlot 117. According to a Sanborn map of the park preserved in the Rosenberg Library, Electric Parks boundaries were about Avenue Q (north), Seawall Boulevard (south), 23rd Street (east) and 24th Street (west).

The amusement parks improvements totaled $51,560. The Crab Pavilion, a common feature of many period postcards, became part of the amusement park. The pavilion, which stood at 23rd Street and Seawall Boulevard, had been built in 1905.

Electric Park opened in May 1906 with free admission. It enthralled visitors with the Electric Theater, an aerial swing 50 feet high, Hales Tours of the World (an early form of motion picture), shooting galleries and a roller coaster called a Figure Eight. The Cave of the Winds catered to those who descended in darkness as gusts of air blew on them. Six thousand lights provided Gorgeous Electrical illumination that enabled guests to enjoy the attractions during summer evenings. Fireworks were an additional draw.

Electric Park fulfilled the traditional role of an amusement park by offering its visitors a multisensory experience. Instead of being bystanders, people directly interacted with its rides and concessions. Sounds, motions, colors and tastes all of these stimulated the senses, heightened enjoyment and excitement. Electric Parks rides allowed visitors to experience thrills in a safe, controlled manner; as well, the rides made thrills repeatable.

The Daily News, Sept. 1, 1906, said the amusement parks numerous electric lights, the dizzy whirl of the wing, Figure 8 and the dozen and one attractions, all combined to give enjoyment to the visitors.

Guests left their worries behind and spent an afternoon and evening, enjoying everything Electric Park offered. When they returned home, these individuals shared vivid memories with their friends, who found themselves tempted to visit the island resort.

In 1907, with no room to expand, Electric Park was rearranged, with the removal of some attractions and the installation of a Ferris wheel. School students throughout Galveston attended Electric Parks reopening in May 1907. Chutes Park, another amusement park, opened just west of Electric Park along Seawall Boulevard, providing additional thrills. In 1908, Electric Park gained the Tickler, which bounced riders around in cars traveling down an incline. No attractions were added in 1909.

The popular aerial swing was moved to Surf Amusement Park, which opened in May 1909 at 32nd and Boulevard

Electric Parks stay in Galveston was all too brief. In the fall of 1910, most of its buildings and attractions were demolished to facilitate filling behind the seawall. Its remaining structures, including the Crab Pavilion and carousel, were raised.

The carousel fell in the 1915 Storm. The heavily damaged Crab Pavilion was torn down in January 1916.

The bandstand had the greatest longevity. In July 1911, it was moved close to 22nd Street along Seawall Boulevard, becoming the site of open-air concerts. It was subsequently incorporated into Joyland Park, which operated in the vicinity between 1919 and 1928. Joyland Park was demolished in 1927-28 to make land available for a hotel that was never built.

Today, memories of Electric Park survive through photographs, printed material, a map and newspaper articles preserved in the Rosenberg Librarys Galveston and Texas History Center.

The history center (third floor) is open from 9 am to 6 pm Tuesdays through Saturdays to the general public. To donate materials on Electric Park, contact Casey Edward Greene, head of special Collections, at 409-763-8854, Ext. 117, or email cgreene(at)rosenberg-library.org.

Casey Edward Greene is head of special collections at The Rosenberg Librarys Galveston and Texas History Center. He can be reached at cgreene(at)rosenberg-library.org.The pleasure pier will provide fun for everyone; in contrast, Electric Park had an elitist appeal.

Reserving the local beaches and seaside amusements for a better class of visitors was a local priority during the first years of the 20th century. The 1900 Storm had destroyed Galvestons beach boardwalk, which drew an unsavory crowd.

In 1901, George Murdoch rebuilt his bathhouse along the beach and purchased property around it to prevent the return of a shabby Midway. Murdoch advocated bringing excursionists to Galveston. Electric Park, which opened five years later, was intended for genteel visitors. It also would further the island resorts aspiration to become the Coney Island of the South.

Galveston looked to New Yorks Coney Island, home of Luna Park, Steeplechase Park and Dreamland for inspiration. On Oct. 4, 1904, The Daily News announced a forthcoming local version of Dreamland. Galvestons amusements were to be served by weekend passenger-train excursions, drawing on the populations of Texas and surrounding states. Unlike its New York namesake, though, the attractions would meet the needs of people of good character.

During September 1904, William A. Gardner, secretary of the Galveston Business League, made a high priority of bringing an amusement park, such as they have at Coney Island or Atlantic City to give excursionists a reason to stay the night in Galveston.

In January 1905, The Daily News quoted an unidentified Indiana businessman, who remarked on Galvestons needs, including an amusement park: If the right kind of site could be had on the beach front for an amusement park, youd have no trouble whatever in getting the right kind of amusements to fill it.

Galveston was one of many locales across the nation to feature electric parks during the early 20th century. These were so-called trolley parks, served by electric streetcars that brought excursionists. The Galveston Tribune, May 28, 1906, said the amusement park not only would furnish a fine pleasure ground for its own people, but be a magnet to draw greater crowds of excursionists from upstate than ever before.

Owned by Galveston Electric Park and Amusement Co., Electric Park was built on the northeast quadrant and the east part of the northwest quadrant of Outlot 117. According to a Sanborn map of the park preserved in the Rosenberg Library, Electric Parks boundaries were about Avenue Q (north), Seawall Boulevard (south), 23rd Street (east) and 24th Street (west).

The amusement parks improvements totaled $51,560. The Crab Pavilion, a common feature of many period postcards, became part of the amusement park. The pavilion, which stood at 23rd Street and Seawall Boulevard, had been built in 1905.

Electric Park opened in May 1906 with free admission. It enthralled visitors with the Electric Theater, an aerial swing 50 feet high, Hales Tours of the World (an early form of motion picture), shooting galleries and a roller coaster called a Figure Eight. The Cave of the Winds catered to those who descended in darkness as gusts of air blew on them. Six thousand lights provided Gorgeous Electrical illumination that enabled guests to enjoy the attractions during summer evenings. Fireworks were an additional draw.

Electric Park fulfilled the traditional role of an amusement park by offering its visitors a multisensory experience. Instead of being bystanders, people directly interacted with its rides and concessions. Sounds, motions, colors and tastes all of these stimulated the senses, heightened enjoyment and excitement. Electric Parks rides allowed visitors to experience thrills in a safe, controlled manner; as well, the rides made thrills repeatable.

The Daily News, Sept. 1, 1906, said the amusement parks numerous electric lights, the dizzy whirl of the wing, Figure 8 and the dozen and one attractions, all combined to give enjoyment to the visitors.

Guests left their worries behind and spent an afternoon and evening, enjoying everything Electric Park offered. When they returned home, these individuals shared vivid memories with their friends, who found themselves tempted to visit the island resort.

In 1907, with no room to expand, Electric Park was rearranged, with the removal of some attractions and the installation of a Ferris wheel. School students throughout Galveston attended Electric Parks reopening in May 1907. Chutes Park, another amusement park, opened just west of Electric Park along Seawall Boulevard, providing additional thrills. In 1908, Electric Park gained the Tickler, which bounced riders around in cars traveling down an incline. No attractions were added in 1909.

The popular aerial swing was moved to Surf Amusement Park, which opened in May 1909 at 32nd and Boulevard

Electric Parks stay in Galveston was all too brief. In the fall of 1910, most of its buildings and attractions were demolished to facilitate filling behind the seawall. Its remaining structures, including the Crab Pavilion and carousel, were raised.

The carousel fell in the 1915 Storm. The heavily damaged Crab Pavilion was torn down in January 1916.

The bandstand had the greatest longevity. In July 1911, it was moved close to 22nd Street along Seawall Boulevard, becoming the site of open-air concerts. It was subsequently incorporated into Joyland Park, which operated in the vicinity between 1919 and 1928. Joyland Park was demolished in 1927-28 to make land available for a hotel that was never built.

Today, memories of Electric Park survive through photographs, printed material, a map and newspaper articles preserved in the Rosenberg Librarys Galveston and Texas History Center.

The history center (third floor) is open from 9 am to 6 pm Tuesdays through Saturdays to the general public. To donate materials on Electric Park, contact Casey Edward Greene, head of special Collections, at 409-763-8854, Ext. 117, or email cgreene(at)rosenberg-library.org.

Casey Edward Greene is head of special collections at The Rosenberg Librarys Galveston and Texas History Center. He can be reached at cgreene(at)rosenberg-library.org.

Copyright 2011 The Galveston County Daily News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Carowinds has put the wind into the faces of its guests #x96; a sky-high, 30-mph wind.

That#x92;s the fastest the new WindSeeker ride spins its riders #x96; up to 64 people at a time #x96; round and round, with the WindSeeker#x92;s swings extending to a 45-degree angle.

From near the top of the 30-story attraction, riders get a panoramic view of South Carolina and North Carolina, amusement park officials said, and on a clear day you can see about 30 miles.

Sausalito, CA — (SBWIRE) — 03/31/2012 — Sunny beaches, covered with frolicking families enjoying their day in the sun. Outdoor concerts, with audiences of thousands waiting to hear their favorite bands. Amusement parks, filled with carnival fans of all ages.

These are just a few examples of popular summertime activities that bring huge crowds together in one spot.

These are also examples of places that can be ideal aerial advertising venues for local businesses. Rather than spending hours trudging around a hot parking lot placing flyers under windshields that most people will probably just throw away, companies can hire a blimp, colorful aerial banners up to 120 feet long or other type of sky-related advertising that allows them to reach as many as an impressive 100,000 consumers in about one hour.

Since 2002, Aerial Media Services Inc. (AMS) has earned a well-deserved reputation for being one of the most outstanding companies in the ever-growing market of aerial advertising. The company assists businesses and advertising agencies of all sizes with their advertising campaigns. From start to finish, the staff at AMS prides itself on giving each and every client a productive and stress-free experience that will ultimately help increase brand recognition.

One of the most popular services that AMS provides is advertising blimps. Already a popular and well-known way to spread the word about a business–for example, most people are already familiar with Goodyear or MetLife–blimps or airships are an exciting and attention-grabbing type of aerial advertising.

“Ranging in all types and sizes from 10 ft. and up to 200 ft. in length. Passenger, remote, or tethered, indoor or outdoor, they are truly an extraordinary sight,” an article on the company’s website noted, adding that all of its blimps either have banners on each side or can be wrapped fully to display an advertiser’s logo, slogan, or message.

“Blimps maximize your aerial advertising both in the air and through potential television sponsorship opportunities, which create unique, memorable, lasting campaigns.”

Another type of eye-catching aerial advertising provided by AMS is skywriting services. As anyone who has ever stood on the ground watching a plane spell out letters and words knows quite well, this is an exceptional way to advertise a name or brand. For companies with more elaborate messages, a team of five airplanes can “skytype” a computer generated message that is several sentences long and up to 25 to 30 characters in length.

About Aerial Media Services, Inc
Founded in 2002, Aerial Media Services, Inc. (AMS) is the premiere company in the expanding market for aerial advertising. The company assists clients, companies and advertising agencies of all sizes in the production, placement, and fulfillment of worldwide aerial advertising campaigns. For more information, please visit http://www.aerial-media.com/

The New York State Senate passed a bill on Tuesday that will increase public knowledge about the safety of amusement park rides.The rides at county fairs, carnivals and amusement parks will now display signage that will direct people to the labor departments website for ride safety information. The website will have information the rides history such as inspections and violations.

WBTA asked State Senator Mike Ranzenhofer who supported the bill, if it was pushed forward because of the death of a war amputee on a roller coaster at DarienLake this past summer.

“You know it’s hard to say whether of not that was the reason why this bill passed. Certainly throughout my district and throughout the state there are literally millions and millions of people that come to the state to go to County fairs, amusement parks, that go to ride these rides,” said Ranzenhofer.

Ranzenhofer said he also doesn’t think the new law will negatively affect amusement parks business as usual based their ride information.

“If someone decides after looking at the information that they don’t want to go on a particular ride then they can certainly make an informed decision. I really don’t think that this is going to have a tremendous impact on whether somebody rides a ride or not, but again it’s information that’s available in the event that somebody wants to go take a look at it.” said Ranzenhofer.

Ranzenhofer said the new law just makes it easier for people to access information that they already inquired about from the department of labor.

Two years ago, Apollo Global Management tried to buy another Midwest-based amusement park company, but the deal soured when shareholders, big and small, protested that the offer was too low.

The proposal called for Apollo to buy Cedar Fair, the Sandusky, Ohio, owner of 11 amusement parks and seven water parks, including Sanduskys landmark Cedar Point, for $11.50 a share, or $635 million. Apollo also was going to take over Cedar Fairs $1.7 billion debt, for a total deal worth nearly $2.4 billion.

But Texas hedge fund Q Investments, which bought up shares after the offer surfaced, and longer-term investor Neuberger Berman said they would vote against the plan. They teamed up with local shareholders and got the deal canceled.

Cedar Fairs stock had fallen from a high of $44 in October 1997 to a low of $6 in early 2009. It was back up to $9 when Apollo made its $11.50 offer. On Friday, Cedar Fair shares closed at $29.59.

Neuberger Berman also is one of Great Wolfs biggest investors and also has spoken out against Apollos offer to Great Wolf. One portfolio manager has estimated the stock to be worth $8 to $9 a share.

Could a shareholder backlash sink the Great Wolf deal, too?

I see it as resembling the Cedar Fair debacle, said Leland Wykoff, a small investor who was involved in the shareholder revolt there. Wykoff, a cafe manager from Pigeon Forge, Tenn., also owns Great Wolf stock. Great Wolfs business is improving, credit is easing, and Great Wolf shares sold for up to $5.75 on Friday, the highest since 2008, and closed at $5.72 a share.

You have to wonder who is buying those shares. I dont think its people who are going to turn them over for $5 on (April) 10th, Wykoff said. I suspect theres a good likelihood the deal will not close.

But securities analyst Jeffrey Thomison, vice president of Hilliard Lyons, in Louisville, Ky., is not so sure. Thomison covers both Great Wolf and Cedar Fair and said the situations are different. Cedar Fair was hurt by the recession when Apollo made its offer. The bid didnt represent the companys full value, he said. But he added, I dont blame Apollo for making the offer. The entire concept of Wall Street is based on buy low and sell high.

In Great Wolfs case, the economy has improved and Great Wolf has fared well. Its stock had doubled from a 52-week low of $2.04.

We thought (Apollos $5) offer was a bit low. Not insultingly low, just a bit low, Thomison said.

He said a $6 offer price could be justified, based on Great Wolfs financials. It would add about $33 million to the cost, for a total $736 million package. Which is still, I think, a pretty good deal for Apollo. I suspect that emotionally, a lot of shareholders who were opposed to $5 will warm up to the $6, if that happens, Thomison said.

A spokesman for Apollo declined to comment Friday.

Apollo Global Management calls itself a contrarian, value-oriented investor that specializes in distressed businesses. Its co-founders, Leon Black and Josh Harris, were colleagues at Drexel Burnham Lambert, a major investment bank that failed in 1990.

Apollo had more than $75 billion in assets under management as of Dec. 31, 2011, with holdings in a wide variety of businesses, from industrial equipment manufacturer Rexnord, of Milwaukee, which staged its initial public stock offering this week, to Athlon Energy, an oil and natural gas company in Texas.

The Coney Island season gets underway this weekend with lots of additions and improvements this year. Brooklyn Reporter Jeanine Ramirez filed the following report.

City building inspectors put the famed Coney Island rides through their paces this week while workers washed down benches and put up new signs at Luna Park in preparation for the new season.

Even the soon-to-be 85-year-old Cyclone roller coaster has received a makeover, including work on the first drop to make it smoother and faster.

We completely took down the first valley, 270 feet of track, says Valerio Ferrari of coaster company Zamperla USA. Not just the track itself, but all the supports. We poured new foundation.

Over at Denos Wonder Wheel, lights like those that decorated the swinging cars some 30 years ago will shine once again. But this time, using solar energy.

Were bringing back a new solar powered system that works off of a battery that charges through the solar panels and lights up the lights, explains Dennis Vourderis of Denos Wonder Wheel Amusement Park.

Across the street, Scream Zone is undergoing an expansion with two new rides. A go-cart ride and a Sky Coaster attraction should be ready for Memorial Day.

Sky Coaster is a giant trapeze, explains Ferrari. Its 110 feet tall and people are going to lay on their stomach and basically fly over the boardwalk.

On the boardwalk, Nathans of Coney Island has expanded by tripling its size. It has its first gift shop and has added an Auntie Annes pretzel chain.

Work is also being done on other new boardwalk businesses like Toms Restaurant and the Beach Shop. And two longtime eateries are spiffing up for their big return; after nearly being kicked off the boardwalk, Rubys Bar Grill and Pauls Daughter have signed eight-year leases.

Everything is brand new, says Paul Georgoulakos of Pauls Daughter. Equipment, electric, plumbing, everything.

Most of the boardwalk businesses wont be ready until May, but the majority of the amusements are ready to give visitors a jolt. The traditional blessing of the rides will take place on Sunday at noon, marking the official start of the season.

During the past 43, Kenny Larimore has been in and seen every kind of bar and honky tonk imaginable One of those guys? No. Larimore is an amusement company repairman.

Larimore was busy working on a Golden Tee Complete Golf machine when a reporter approached him last week at Darlington Amusement Co., which handles video game and like apparatus repair in a 300-mile radius. He said the hard drive was bad in the machine.

Thats right, the amusement machines and games these days are all electronic. Gone with the wind are the days of the electro-mechanical jukeboxes and pinball machines.