Amusement Today

Amusement Today

Editor-in-Chief	Gary Slade
Categories	Amusement parks
Circulation	3,000
Publisher	Gary Slade
Founder	Gary Slade
Founded	1997
First issue	April 1997 (1997-04)
Country	United States
Based in	Arlington, Texas[1]
Language	English
Website	www.amusementtoday.com

Amusement Today is a monthly periodical that features articles, news, pictures and reviews about all things relating to the amusement park industry, including parks, rides, and ride manufacturers. The trade newspaper, which is based in Arlington, Texas, United States, was founded in January 1997 by Gary Slade, Virgil E. Moore III and Rick Tidrow.^[1] In 1997, Amusement Today won the Impact Award in the services category for "Best New Product" from the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA). A year later, in 1998, the magazine founded the Golden Ticket Awards, for which it has become best known for throughout the amusement park industry. On January 2, 2001, Slade bought out his two partners, giving him sole ownership of the paper.^[1] The paper has two full-time and two part-time staff members at its Arlington office, along with two full-time writers and several freelance writers in various parts of the world.^[2]

Golden Ticket Awards

It has been suggested that this article should be Golden Ticket Awards. (discuss ) (March 2023)

Every year, Amusement Today gives out awards to the best of the best in the amusement park industry in a ceremony known as the Golden Ticket Awards. The awards are handed out based on surveys given to experienced and well-traveled amusement park enthusiasts from around the world. The awards, which were first handed out in 1998, have been featured on the Discovery Channel and the Travel Channel.

2023 winners

2022 winners

2021 winners

2020 winners

2019 winners

2018 winners

2017 winners

2016 winners

2015 winners

2014 winners

2013 winners

2012 winners

2011 winners

2010 winners

2009 winners

2008 winners

2007 winners

2006 winners

2005 winners

2004 winners

2003 winners

2002 winners

2001 winners

2000 winners

1999 winners

1998 winners

Publisher's Picks

Host venues

Times hosting	Park/Resort	Years
3	Holiday World & Splashin' Safari	2001, 2006, 2011
3	Dollywood	2007, 2012, 2023
2	Cedar Point	2004, 2016
2	Six Flags Fiesta Texas	2005, 2022
1	Busch Gardens Williamsburg	2010
1	Kings Island	2002
1	Give Kids the World Village	2008
1	National Roller Coaster Museum and Archives	2021
1	Lake Compounce	2017
1	Legoland California	2009
1	Luna Park, Coney Island	2015
1	Quassy Amusement Park	2017
1	Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk	2013
1	Schlitterbahn	2003
1	SeaWorld San Diego	2014
1	Silver Dollar City	2018
1	Silverwood Theme Park	2019

• From 1998 to 2000, there was no Host Park; the awards were announced from Amusement Today's Arlington, Texas, office instead.
• The 2020 event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic that affected the amusement industry. Voting was not held in 2020 and regular categories were not awarded. Instead, a special category of industry leader awards was created along with publisher picks.

Former awards

• Best Carousel (2007-2018) Grand Carousel, Knoebels Amusement Resort
• Best Funhouse/Walk-Through (2008-2018)
• Best Indoor Roller Coaster (2007-2018)
• Best Seaside Park (2007-2018) - Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk (2007-2014, 2016–2018), Morey's Piers (2015)
• Best Shows (1998-2018) - Busch Gardens Williamsburg (1998), Six Flags Fiesta Texas (1999-2008), Dollywood (2009-2018)
  • The award for Best Shows was revamped after 2018, to just showcase a specific new show at a park.
• Cleanest Park (1998-2018) - Busch Gardens Williamsburg (1998-1999), Holiday World & Splashin' Safari (2000–2018)
• Friendliest Park (1998-2018) - Holiday World & Splashin' Safari (1998-2008, 2010–2011), Silver Dollar City (2009), Dollywood (2012–2018)

Repeat winners

• Best Amusement Park – Europa-Park for the last 7 years.
• Best Water Park – Schlitterbahn for all 24 years.
• Best Landscaping/Most Beautiful Park – Busch Gardens Williamsburg for 22 years
• Best Halloween Event –
  Universal Studios Orlando
  for 10 out of the 13 years the award has been given.
• Best Food –
  Knoebels
  for 18 out of last 19 years (tied once).
• Best Steel Roller Coaster – Fury 325 for the last 6 years.
• Best Wooden Roller Coaster - Phoenix, Knoebels, winner since 2018.
• Best Shows – Dollywood for the last 10 years.
• Best Indoor Waterpark – Schlitterbahn Galveston Island for all 8 years the award has been given.
• Best Outdoor Production Show – IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth at Epcot for 12 out of the 13 years the award has been given.

References

External links

• Golden Ticket Awards