Amusement Today
Table:
Category
2015 Recipient
Location/Park

Best New Ride (Amusement Park)
Fury 325
Carowinds

Best New Ride (Water Park)
Dive Bomber
Six Flags White Water

Best Park
Europa-Park
Rust, Germany

Best Waterpark
Schlitterbahn New Braunfels
New Braunfels, Texas

Best Children's Park
Idlewild and Soak Zone
Ligonier, Pennsylvania

Best Marine Life Park
SeaWorld Orlando
Orlando, Florida

Best Seaside Park
Morey's Piers
Wildwood, New Jersey

Best Kids’ Area
Kings Island
Mason, Ohio

Cleanest Park
Holiday World & Splashin' Safari
Santa Claus, Indiana

Friendliest Park
Dollywood
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Best Shows
Dollywood
Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Best Outdoor Show Production
IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth
Epcot

Best Landscaping
Busch Gardens Williamsburg
Williamsburg, Virginia

Best Food
Knoebels Amusement Resort
Elysburg, Pennsylvania

Best Carousel
Knoebels Amusement Resort
Elysburg, Pennsylvania

Best Water Ride (Park)
Valhalla
Blackpool Pleasure Beach

Best Water Park Ride
Wildebeest
Holiday World & Splashin' Safari

Best Dark Ride
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
Universal's Islands of Adventure

Best Indoor Water Park
Schlitterbahn Galveston Island
Galveston, Texas

Best Indoor Roller Coaster
Revenge of the Mummy: The Ride
Universal Studios Florida

Consulting the given table together with the context paragraphs below.

Respond to the question below: What was the population as of 2018 for the city that is the location of the amusement park that won the award for best waterpark ? Provide just your answer in a JSON object {"answer": "YOUR ANSWER"}. Use only the information given.

The Golden Ticket Award for Best New Ride is presented by Amusement Today to the best new attraction in amusement parks and water parks in the amusement park industry .
Fury 325 is a steel roller coaster located at Carowinds amusement park in Charlotte , North Carolina . Manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard , Fury 325 opened to the public on March 28 , 2015 . It features a 6,602-foot-long ( 2,012 m ) track that reaches a maximum height of 325 feet ( 99 m ) , making it the fifth-tallest roller coaster in the world and the tallest overall among roller coasters that use a traditional chain lift hill . Riders experience speeds of up to 95 miles per hour ( 153 km/h ) , winding through high-speed curves and passing over and under the park 's main entrance . Fury 325 has also been voted the world 's best steel coaster in Amusement Today 's Golden Ticket Awards for four consecutive years beginning in 2016 , ending Millennium Force 's six-year streak .
Carowinds is a 407-acre ( 165 ha ) amusement park , located adjacent to Interstate 77 in Charlotte , North Carolina . Although it has an official North Carolina address , the park is located along the North Carolina-South Carolina state line , with a portion of the park also located in Fort Mill , South Carolina . The park opened on March 31 , 1973 , at a cost of $ 70 million . This was the result of a four-year planning period spearheaded by Charlotte businessman Earl Patterson Hall , who was inspired to build the park by a 1956 trip to Disneyland and a dream of bringing the two states closer together . Owned and operated by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company , Carowinds also features a 27-acre ( 81,000 m2 ) water park , Carolina Harbor , which is included with park admission . The park has a Halloween event called SCarowinds and a winter event called WinterFest .
Six Flags White Water is a 69-acre ( 280,000 m2 ) water park located northwest of Atlanta , in unincorporated Cobb County , Georgia . Originally opening in 1984 as White Water Atlanta , the park became part of the Six Flags family of parks in 1999 . Today , it is marketed as a second gate to Six Flags Over Georgia , and the two parks often cross-promote each other . In 2012 , the park hosted 505,000 visitors , ranking it # 12 on the list of the top water parks in North America .
Europa-Park is the largest theme park in Germany , and the second most popular theme park resort in Europe , following Disneyland Paris . Europa-Park is located in Rust , in south-western Germany , between Freiburg im Breisgau and Strasbourg ( in neighboring France ) . The park is home to 13 roller coasters , the oldest being Alpenexpress Enzian , a powered coaster that speeds through a diamond mine , and the newest coaster being the Ba-a-a Express , a small kiddie roller coaster . Europa-Park has very high capacity roller coasters and attractions meaning the park can accommodate approximately 60,000 guests per day . It counted 5.7 million visitors in 2017 . It is also the location of the Euro Dance Festival . Since 2014 , Europa-Park has been named the world 's best amusement park by the Golden Ticket Awards . In November 2019 , Europa-Park 's Rulantica water park opened , along with a new themed hotel Krønasår .
Rust is a town in the district of Ortenau in Baden-Württemberg in Germany . It is also the home of the famous theme park Europa-Park . The Renaissance era Balthasar Castle is now part of the theme park . The protected floodplain forest Taubergießen is adjacent to Rust .
Schlitterbahn is an American brand of water parks and resorts owned by Cedar Fair . It was previously a company that was family-owned-and-operated by the Henry family that was based in New Braunfels , Texas . Schlitterbahn opened its first location , Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort , in 1979 . At its peak , the company consisted of five outdoor waterparks , two indoor waterparks , and three resorts . Schlitterbahn 's outdoor water parks are seasonally-operated , typically open from late April through mid-September , while its indoor locations operate year-round . Two parks are located in Texas . On June 13 , 2019 , Cedar Fair entered an agreement to acquire two of Schlitterbahn 's properties in Galveston and New Braunfels for $ 261 million . The deal , which closed in early July 2019 , gives Cedar Fair the option to purchase Schlitterbahn Waterpark Kansas City for $ 6 million within 120 days of the transaction which Cedar Fair declined to do . Additionally , the rights to the Schlitterbahn name were included in the acquisition .
New Braunfels ( /ˈbrɔːnfɛlz/ ( listen ) BRAWN-felz ) is a city in Comal and Guadalupe counties in the U.S. state of Texas known for its Germanic Heritage . It is the seat of Comal County . The city covers 44.9 square miles ( 116 km2 ) and has a 2018 estimated population of 84,612 .
Idlewild and Soak Zone , commonly known as Idlewild Park or simply Idlewild , is a children 's amusement park situated in the Laurel Highlands near Ligonier , Pennsylvania , United States , about 50 miles ( 80 km ) east of Pittsburgh , along US Route 30 . Founded in 1878 as a campground along the Ligonier Valley Railroad by Thomas Mellon , Idlewild is the oldest amusement park in Pennsylvania and the third oldest operating amusement park in the United States behind Lake Compounce and Cedar Point . The park has won several awards , including from industry publication Amusement Today as the best children 's park in the world . The park was established by the prominent Mellon family in 1878 , and remained family-owned for over 100 years . It expanded greatly throughout the first half of the 20th century , adding rides including a Philadelphia Toboggan Company Rollo Coaster in 1938 , one of the company 's earliest . The park is home to the Ligonier Highland Games , a Scottish athletic and cultural festival that has annually drawn over 10,000 spectators . In 1983 , the park was purchased by Kennywood Entertainment Company , which oversaw additional expansion , including an attraction designed and voiced by Fred Rogers based on his television show Mister Rogers ' Neighborhood . Since 2008 , the park , as well as others formerly under Kennywood Entertainment , have been owned by Spanish company Parques Reunidos and operated by their American subsidiary Palace Entertainment .
Ligonier is a borough in Westmoreland County , Pennsylvania , United States . The population was 1,573 at the 2010 census . Ligonier was settled in the 1760s . The borough is well known for nearby Idlewild Park , one of the oldest amusement parks in the country ; and nearby Seven Springs Mountain Resort . Another tourist attraction is Fort Ligonier Days , a parade and craft market that takes place every fall over the course of three days , and the Ligonier Country Market in the summer months . Ligonier is part of the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area . Ligonier is the site of a reconstruction of Fort Ligonier , an example of a frontier fort of the French and Indian War . Ligonier is also known for its downtown square , the Diamond , which has a bandstand in the middle .
SeaWorld Orlando is a theme park and marine zoological park , in Orlando , Florida . It is owned and operated by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment . When combined with its neighbor Discovery Cove and Aquatica , it forms SeaWorld Parks and Resorts Orlando , an entertainment complex consisting of the three parks and many hotels . In 2018 , SeaWorld Orlando hosted an estimated 4.594 million guests , ranking it the 10th most visited amusement park in the United States .
Orlando ( /ɔːrˈlændoʊ/ ) is a city in the U.S. state of Florida and the county seat of Orange County . Located in Central Florida , it is the center of the Orlando metropolitan area , which had a population of 2,509,831 , according to U.S. Census Bureau figures released in July 2017 . These figures make it the 23rd-largest metropolitan area in the United States , the sixth-largest metropolitan area in the Southern United States , and the third-largest metropolitan area in Florida . As of 2018 , Orlando had an estimated city-proper population of 285,713 , making it the 71st-largest city in the United States , the fourth-largest city in Florida , and the state 's largest inland city . The City of Orlando is nicknamed the City Beautiful , and its symbol is the Linton E. Allen Memorial Fountain , commonly referred to as simply the Lake Eola fountain at Lake Eola Park . The Orlando International Airport ( MCO ) is the thirteenth-busiest airport in the United States and the 29th-busiest in the world . Orlando is one of the most visited cities in the world primarily driven by tourism , major events , and convention traffic , in 2018 the city drew more than 75 million visitors . The two largest and most internationally renowned tourist attractions in the Orlando area include the Walt Disney World Resort , opened by the Walt Disney Company in 1971 , and located approximately 21 miles ( 34 km ) southwest of Downtown Orlando in Bay Lake ; and the Universal Orlando Resort , opened in 1990 as a major expansion of Universal Studios Florida . With the exception of Walt Disney World , most major attractions are located along International Drive with one of these attractions being the Wheel at ICON Park Orlando . The city is also one of the busiest American cities for conferences and conventions ; the Orange County Convention Center is the second-largest convention facility in the United States . Like other major cities in the Sun Belt , Orlando grew rapidly from the 1980s up into the first decade of the 21st century . Orlando is home to the University of Central Florida , which is the largest university campus in the United States in terms of enrollment as of 2015 [ update ] .
Moreys Piers & Beachfront Waterparks is a classic seaside amusement park located on The Wildwoods ' boardwalk in Wildwood and North Wildwood , New Jersey . The park has been family owned and operated since 1969 and is currently run by 2nd generation Morey Brothers , Will and Jack . Moreys Piers has over 100 rides and attractions . It includes three amusement piers and two beachfront waterparks .
Wildwood is a city in Cape May County , New Jersey , United States . It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area and is a popular summer resort destination along the Jersey Shore . As of the 2010 United States Census , the city 's year-round population was 5,325 , reflecting a decline of 111 ( -2.0% ) from the 5,436 counted in the 2000 Census , which had in turn increased by 952 ( +21.2% ) from the 4,484 counted in the 1990 Census . With visitors , the population can swell to 250,000 during the summer months . Wildwood was the first city in New Jersey to have a female mayor , Doris W. Bradway , who was ousted in a 1938 recall election . The Wildwoods is used as a collective term for the four communities located on Wildwood island that have Wildwood as part of the municipality name - the Borough of Wildwood Crest , City of Wildwood , Borough of West Wildwood and the City of North Wildwood - together with Diamond Beach , a portion of Lower Township situated on the island . The city , and the surrounding communities that share the name , derives its name from the wild flowers found in the area .
Kings Island is a 364-acre ( 147 ha ) amusement park located 24 miles ( 39 km ) northeast of Cincinnati in Mason , Ohio . Owned and operated by Cedar Fair , the park first opened in 1972 by the Taft Broadcasting Company . It was part of a larger effort to move and expand Coney Island , a popular resort destination along the banks of the Ohio River that was prone to frequent flooding . After more than $ 300 million in capital investments , the park features over 100 attractions including fourteen roller coasters and a 33-acre ( 13 ha ) water park . Early in its history , Kings Island has appeared in popular sitcoms and received widespread recognition for its record-breaking attractions and events . One of the park 's most well-known attractions , The Racer , is often credited with reviving worldwide interest in roller coasters during the 1970s . Others , such as The Beast and Banshee , have set several world records , some of which remain standing . The largest investment in park history is Orion , a giga coaster scheduled to open in 2020 . The park has also suffered through times of negative publicity , particularly surrounding the early demise of roller coasters The Bat and Son of Beast . Kings Island is divided into several themed sections and operates seasonally from early spring through the fall , partially reopening for Winterfest during the holiday season . In 2017 , Kings Island was the second-most visited seasonal amusement park in the United States behind Cedar Point , with an estimated 3.47 million visitors . It was third overall for seasonal attendance in North America , which was led by Canada 's Wonderland .
Mason is a city in southwestern Warren County , Ohio , United States , approximately 22 miles ( 35 km ) from downtown Cincinnati . As of the 2010 census , Mason 's population was 30,712 . Mason is home to Kings Island amusement park and one of the largest tennis stadiums in the world , the Lindner Family Tennis Center , home of the Western & Southern Open , one of the world 's top tennis tournaments for both men and women .
Holiday World & Splashin ' Safari ( known as Santa Claus Land prior to 1984 ) is a combination theme park and water park located near Interstate 64 and U.S. 231 in Santa Claus , Indiana , United States . The theme park is divided into four sections that celebrate Christmas , Halloween , Thanksgiving and the Fourth of July with rides , live entertainment , games , and attractions . Holiday World contains three wooden roller coasters : The Raven , The Legend , and The Voyage , as well as Thunderbird ( a Bolliger & Mabillard launched Wing Coaster ) and The Howler . The safari-themed water park includes the world 's two longest water coasters : Wildebeest and Guinness World Record Holder Mammoth , numerous family raft rides and water slides , two wave pools , junior-sized wave pool , two children's-sized water slide areas , a lazy river , two family tipping bucket .
Santa Claus is a town in Spencer County , Indiana , United States , in the southwestern part of the state . Located in Carter , Clay and Harrison Townships , it sits between Interstate 64 and the Ohio River . The population was 2,481 at the 2010 census , making it the largest community in Spencer County . The town was established in 1854 and known as Santa Fe ( pronounced fee ) . In 1856 , when the town was working to establish a post office , the Post Office Department refused their first application as there was already a Santa Fe , Indiana established with the Post Office Department . Several town meetings were held , during which the name Santa Claus was selected . The town has the world 's only post office to bear the name of the eponymous Christmas figure . Because of this popular name , the post office receives thousands of letters to Santa from all over the world each year . A group of volunteers known as Santa 's Elves ensures each child receives a reply from Santa Claus ; this tradition has been in existence since at least 1914 . Every year , the post office also creates a special Christmas hand-cancellation pictorial postmark for use during December , which also attracts mail from all over the world . The pictorial postmark is chosen each year from submissions from art students at nearby Heritage Hills and South Spencer High Schools . Santa Claus has grown substantially since the 1990 census , which recorded 927 residents .
Dollywood is a theme park jointly owned by entertainer Dolly Parton and Herschend Family Entertainment . It is located in the Knoxville-Smoky Mountains metroplex in Pigeon Forge , Tennessee . Hosting nearly 3 million guests in a typical season - mid-March to the Christmas holidays - Dollywood is the biggest ticketed tourist attraction in Tennessee . In addition to standard amusement park thrill rides , Dollywood features traditional crafts and music of the Smoky Mountain area . The park hosts a number of concerts and musical events each year , including appearances by Dolly Parton and her family as well as other national and local musical acts . It is also the site of the Southern Gospel Museum and Hall of Fame . The theme park is the anchor of Parton 's 150-acre ( 61 ha ) Dollywood amusement destination , which also includes the 35-acre ( 14 ha ) sister water park Dollywood 's Splash Country , the 20-acre ( 8.1 ha ) Dollywood 's DreamMore Resort and Spa , and the 5-acre ( 2.0 ha ) Dolly Parton 's Stampede Dinner Attraction .
Pigeon Forge is a mountain resort city in Sevier County , Tennessee , in the southeastern United States . As of the 2010 census , the city had a total population of 5,875 . Situated just 5 miles ( 8 km ) north of Great Smoky Mountains National Park , Pigeon Forge is a tourist destination that caters primarily to Southern culture and country music fans . The city 's attractions include Dollywood and Dollywood 's Splash Country as well as numerous gift shops , outlet malls , amusement rides , and musical theaters .
IllumiNations : Reflections of Earth was a nighttime show performed nightly at Epcot at the Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake , Florida . The show utilized fireworks , pyrotechnics , water fountains , fire effects , lasers , searchlights , and a large rotating globe with curved LED screens to create a visual production on the park 's World Showcase Lagoon . The show told the story of Earth and was divided into three movements titled Chaos , Order , and Meaning , emphasizing the idea of humanity as a single unified tribe on this planet . The lagoon was surrounded by nineteen large torches signifying the first 19 centuries of the common era , and the show culminated in the globe opening like a lotus blossom to reveal a twentieth torch , representing the now-completed 20th century . Created and directed by Don Dorsey , the show premiered on October 1 , 1999 as IllumiNations 2000 : Reflections of Earth as part of the Walt Disney World Millennium Celebration ; it was so successful that after the celebration ended the 2000 was dropped from the name and the show was continued . The show has received several awards throughout the years including 11 straight Best Outdoor Night Production Show Golden Ticket Awards ( 2005-2015 ) . The show 's final performance was on September 30 , 2019 and was replaced by Epcot Forever on October 1 , 2019 .
Epcot ( stylized as EPCOT ) is a theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake , Florida . It is owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company through its Parks , Experiences and Products division . Inspired by an unrealized concept developed by Walt Disney , the park opened on October 1 , 1982 , as EPCOT Center , and was the second of four theme parks built at Walt Disney World , after the Magic Kingdom . Spanning 305 acres ( 123 ha ) , more than twice the size of the Magic Kingdom park , Epcot is dedicated to the celebration of human achievement , namely technological innovation and international culture , and is often referred to as a permanent world 's fair . Epcot was originally conceived by Walt Disney during the early development of Walt Disney World , as an experimental planned community that would serve as a center for American innovation and urban living . Known as EPCOT , the idea included an urban city center , residential areas , churches , schools , and a series of mass transportation systems that would connect the community . After Disney 's death in 1966 , the EPCOT concept was abandoned as the company had uncertainty about maintaining an operating city . In the 1970s , WED Enterprises began developing a second theme park for the resort to supplement Magic Kingdom , as that park 's popularity grew . The new park maintained the idea of showcasing modern innovation and enterprise through avant-garde edutainment attractions , as well as the addition of a world nations exposition . The newly-designed park , featuring two sections - Future World and World Showcase - opened as EPCOT Center in 1982 . In 1994 , the park was renamed to Epcot , dropping the acronym and Center from the name . In 2018 , Epcot hosted 13.444 million guests , ranking it as the fourth-most-visited theme park in North America and the seventh-most-visited theme park in the world .
Busch Gardens Williamsburg ( formerly known as Busch Gardens Europe and Busch Gardens : The Old Country ) is a 383-acre ( 1.55 km2 ) theme park located in James City County , Virginia , United States . Located about sixty miles ( 100 km ) northwest of Virginia Beach , the park was developed by Anheuser-Busch ( A-B ) and is owned by SeaWorld Entertainment . It opened on May 16 , 1975 , adjacent to Anheuser-Busch 's brewery and near its other developments including the Kingsmill Resort complex . The park is themed around various European countries and as such was originally called Busch Gardens : The Old Country . In 1993 , the park was renamed Busch Gardens Williamsburg before briefly being named Busch Gardens Europe in 2006 until it returned to the Williamsburg name in 2008 . Similarly , its sister park in Florida was originally called Busch Gardens : The Dark Continent until it was officially renamed Busch Gardens Tampa Bay until a brief switch to Busch Gardens Africa from 2006 to 2008 . In 2015 , the estimated attendance of 2.78 million makes it the twentieth most-visited park in the US . In addition to its landscaping and European theme , Busch Gardens is widely known for its roller coasters , including Griffon , Alpengeist , and Apollo 's Chariot , which won No . 4 best steel coaster in 2012 from the Golden Ticket Awards .
Williamsburg is a city in the U.S. state of Virginia . As of the 2010 U.S. Census , the population was 14,068 . In 2018 , the population was estimated to be 14,896 . Located on the Virginia Peninsula , Williamsburg is in the northern part of the Hampton Roads metropolitan area . It is bordered by James City County and York County . Williamsburg was founded in 1632 as Middle Plantation , a fortified settlement on high ground between the James and York rivers . The city served as the capital of the Colony and Commonwealth of Virginia from 1699 to 1780 and was the center of political events in Virginia leading to the American Revolution . The College of William & Mary , established in 1693 , is the second-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and the only one of the nine colonial colleges located in the South ; its alumni include three U.S. Presidents as well as many other important figures in the nation 's early history . The city 's tourism-based economy is driven by Colonial Williamsburg , the restored Historic Area of the city . Along with nearby Jamestown and Yorktown , Williamsburg forms part of the Historic Triangle , which attracts more than four million tourists each year . Modern Williamsburg is also a college town , inhabited in large part by William & Mary students and staff .
Knoebels Amusement Resort ( /kəˈnoʊbəlz/ ) is a family-owned and operated amusement park , picnic grove , and campground in Elysburg , Pennsylvania . Opened in 1926 , it is America 's largest free-admission park . The park has more than 60 rides including three wooden roller coasters , one steel roller coaster , a 1913 carousel , and a haunted house dark ride . The amusement park is owned and operated by the Knoebel ( pronounced kuh-NO-bel ) family , who also operate a lumber yard next to the park . The park 's name has traditionally been spelled Knoebels without the apostrophe , and appears that way on all official park advertising and correspondence . The park straddles the line between Northumberland and Columbia Counties . The complex is mainly in the Columbia County townships of Cleveland and Franklin and is in Ralpho Township on the Northumberland County side of the South Branch Roaring Creek . The park and its rides have won awards from organizations such as Amusement Today , American Coaster Enthusiasts , and the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions . In 2014 , Travel Channel rated Knoebels one of their Top 10 Family Friendly Amusement Parks in the United States . America 's Number One Amusement Park In 2008 , the parks dark ride was the subject of a one-hour documentary , Laff In The Darks Behind The Scenes At Knoebels Haunted House .
Elysburg is a census-designated place ( CDP ) in Ralpho Township , Northumberland County , Pennsylvania , United States . It is seventy miles north of Harrisburg . The population was 2,194 at the 2010 census . The area 's biggest attraction is Knoebels Amusement Park , which is known for having two wooden roller coasters and free admission .
Valhalla is a large indoor dark flume ride at Pleasure Beach Blackpool in Lancashire , England . Opened on 14 June 2000 at a cost of £15 million . It is one of the longest indoor dark rides in the world at a duration of just over six minutes Both a dark ride and a water ride , Valhalla uses special effects which incorporate fire , water and snow . The ride is closed for refurbishment and will reopen for the 2021 season .
Blackpool Pleasure Beach is an amusement park situated in the South Shore area , of Blackpool , Lancashire , North West England . It is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the United Kingdom , and one of the top twenty most visited amusement parks in the world , with a peak estimate of 5.5 million visitors in 2007 . In 2014 it was voted as the best theme park in the United Kingdom and the ninth-best park in Europe by the Travelers ' Choice Awards . The park is host to many records , including the largest number of roller coasters of any park in the United Kingdom with ten , of which four are wooden : the Big Dipper , Blue Flyer , Grand National and Nickelodeon Streak . Many of the roller coasters in the park are record-breaking attractions . When it opened in 1994 , the Big One was the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world . It was also the steepest , with an incline angle of 65° and one of the longest , measuring 5,497 feet ( 1,675 m ) . Currently , the ride holds the record as the tallest roller coaster in the United Kingdom , standing at 213 ft ( 65 m ) , with a first drop of 205 ft ( 62 m ) . The park was the first in Europe to introduce a fully inverting steel coaster , Revolution and is the last remaining park in the world to still operate a Steeplechase roller coaster . The Grand National is one of only three Möbius loop coasters in existence , where a singular track loops around itself , offering a facsimile out-and-back layout and creating a racing effect on two parallel tracks . Sir Hiram Maxims Captive Flying Machine is the oldest amusement park ride in Europe having opened in August 1904 . At the cost of £15 million , Valhalla was one of the largest and most expensive indoor dark rides in the world .
Wildebeest is a water coaster at Holiday World & Splashin ' Safari in Santa Claus , Indiana , United States . It was designed and built beginning in 2009 by ProSlide Technology ; it opened on May 7 , 2010 . Wildebeest is named after the African mammal , keeping with the water park 's safari theme . When it was completed in 2010 , Wildebeest held the record for the world 's longest water coaster at 1,710 feet ( 520 m ) long . It held that record until May 11 , 2012 , when Mammoth , Holiday World 's second water coaster , took over the title at 1,763 feet ( 537 m ) long . In 2010 , Wildebeest was voted the world 's Best New Waterpark Ride at the Golden Ticket Awards , which are presented annually by Amusement Today magazine . Wildebeest was also awarded the Golden Ticket Award for Best Waterpark Ride in 2010 and 2011 .
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is a motion-based dark ride located in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter-themed areas of Islands of Adventure in Orlando , Florida ; Universal Studios Hollywood in Universal City , California , Universal Studios Japan in Osaka , Japan and is upcoming to Universal Studios Beijing in Beijing , China . The ride takes guests through scenes and environments in and around Hogwarts Castle from the Harry Potter series of books and films . Mark Woodbury , president of Universal Creative , described the ride as an in-depth look at the world of Harry Potter , which utilizes never-before-seen technology which transforms the theme park experience as you know it . The ride first opened at Islands of Adventure with The Wizarding World of Harry Potter on June 18 , 2010 ; subsequent versions opened at Universal Studios Japan on July 15 , 2014 , and at Universal Studios Hollywood on April 7 , 2016 .
Universal 's Islands of Adventure ( originally Universal Studios Islands of Adventure ) is a theme park located in Orlando , Florida . It opened on May 28 , 1999 , along with CityWalk , as part of an expansion that converted Universal Studios Florida into the Universal Orlando Resort . The resort 's slogan Vacation Like You Mean It was introduced in 2013 . Islands of Adventure is modeled after a journey of exploration , where guests embark on an adventure to visit a variety of themed islands . Initially , the park featured six islands . A seventh , The Wizarding World of Harry Potter , was added in 2010 , themed to the highly-successful Harry Potter franchise . It was Universal 's largest investment since the resort 's founding in 1990 . The expansion led to a significant increase in attendance , and in 2013 , Islands of Adventure ranked seventh domestically and eleventh internationally after hosting approximately 8.1 million guests . The eighth island , Skull Island , opened on July 13 , 2016 and is themed to the King Kong franchise .
Galveston ( /ˈɡælvɪstən/ GAL-vis-tən ) is a coastal resort city and port off the southeast coast on Galveston Island and Pelican Island in the American State of Texas . The community of 209.3 square miles ( 542 km2 ) , with a population of 47,743 in 2010 , is the county seat of surrounding Galveston County and second-largest municipality in the county . It is also within the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land metropolitan area at its southern end on the northwestern coast of the Gulf of Mexico . Galveston , or Galvez ' town , was named after the Spanish military and political leader in the 18th century : Bernardo de Gálvez y Madrid , Count of Gálvez ( 1746-1786 ) , who was born in Macharaviaya , Málaga , in the Kingdom of Spain . Galveston 's first European settlements on the Galveston Island were built around 1816 by French pirate Louis-Michel Aury to help the fledgling Republic of Mexico fight for independence from Spain , along with other colonies in the Western Hemisphere of the Americas in Central and South America in the 1810s and 1820s . The Port of Galveston was established in 1825 by the Congress of Mexico following its independence from Spain . The city was the main port for the fledgling Texas Navy during the Texas Revolution of 1836 , and later served temporarily as the new national capital of the Republic of Texas . During the 19th century , Galveston became a major U.S. commercial center and one of the largest ports in the United States . It was for a time , Texas ' largest city , known as the Queen City of the Gulf . It was devastated by the unexpected Galveston Hurricane of 1900 , whose effects included massive flooding and a storm surge which nearly wiped out the town . The natural disaster on the exposed barrier island is still ranked today as the deadliest in United States history , with an estimated death toll of 6,000 to 12,000 people . The city subsequently reemerged during the Prohibition era of 1919-1933 as a leading tourist hub and a center of illegal gambling , nicknamed the Free State of Galveston until this era ended in the 1950s with subsequent other economic and social development .
Revenge of the Mummy , officially named Revenge of the Mummy : The Ride , is an enclosed roller coaster based on the Mummy film franchise , located at Universal Studios Florida , Universal Studios Hollywood , Universal Studios Singapore using linear induction motors ( LIMs ) to launch riders from a complete standstill to a top speed of between 40 and 45 mph ( 64 and 72 km/h ) in a matter of seconds . All Revenge of the Mummy roller coasters have a minimum passenger height requirement of 48 inches ( 120 cm ) . Two versions of the attraction have the same track layout but different storylines ; however the attraction at Universal Studios Hollywood has an original layout and storyline . All three attractions are manufactured by Premier Rides , feature track switches by Dynamic Structures , and are themed by Universal Creative and ITEC Entertainment Corporation . Some of the alternate features of the Singapore version were designed by Adirondack Studios .
Universal Studios Florida is a theme park and production studio located in Orlando , Florida , United States . Opened on June 7 , 1990 , the park 's theme is the entertainment industry , in particular movies and television . Universal Studios Florida inspires its guests to ride the movies , and it features numerous attractions and live shows . The park is one component of the larger Universal Orlando Resort . In 2017 , the park hosted an estimated 10,198,000 visitors , ranking as the sixth most attended theme park in the United States , as well as the ninth most attended theme park worldwide .