Grabbing a round inner tube, he dives into a snaking cylinder. Seconds later, he's speeding down a water slide, screaming like a child. It's a daily beach party with Bob Marley reggae music and burgers sizzling on scores of grills. The park made a big splash when it opened in late 1998. But this year, on a hot summer day, only a few hundred people are chilling at Lakeview.
People say it's too far to come.
We like it, but it's also expensive. Such complaints are all too common at mainland amusement parks. An estimated 2,000 parks were launched in the mainland between 1994 and 1999. Part of the problem is overkill. Even one of the world's truly original attractions, the Great Wall, is swamped by artificial amusements like cable rides, bungee jumps and huge mountain slides.