
NJ’s Six Flags safari to be a park ride in 2013
By Wayne Parry
Topics: From the Wires, News
The nosy giraffes, fearless llamas and casual rhinos that motorists have had to maneuver around at a popular New Jersey theme park will be back again next year, but park staff will be doing the driving.
Six Flags Great Adventure told The Associated Press on Thursday it is combining its animal safari with its amusement and water parks into one attraction that it claims will be the world’s largest theme park next year, about 10 acres larger than Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Orlando.
“Never before have guests been able to experience a journey so close to that of a true African safari here in the U.S., said John Fitzgerald, the park’s president. “By combining the world’s most exotic animals with Six Flags’ signature entertainment, the Safari Off Road Adventure will be the most incredible animal adventure anywhere. Where else can you ride a wave, go on safari, and soar on world-record breaking coasters?”
The popular drive-thru safari in Jackson Township, about 50 miles southwest of New York City, is ending Sept. 30, but guests will be driven through a revamped safari area next year on park-provided open-air vehicles. They’ll even be able to pet or hand-feed some of the animals, and can ride a zip line above them for an extra fee.
When the current Wild Safari attraction closes its gates for the 2012 season this fall, it will undergo a massive renovation including a redesign of various simulated natural habitats and the creation of Camp Aventura.
Camp Aventura will be the main stop along the off-road excursion. Guests will be able to hand-feed or pet some of the animals, including exotic birds, snakes and other reptiles, rabbits, sheep and potbellied pigs. Guests also will be able to board a zip line in this area.
One of the main differences between the current drive-thru safari and next year’s attraction will be the ability to see some of the more popular animals more closely, said park spokeswoman Kristin Siebeneicher. While in their cars, motorists had to stay on the drive-thru safari’s paved roads, and often were at a distance from some of the larger or more exotic animals.
“It’s an off-road experience; the SUV travels wherever the animals are,” she said.
Siebeneicher said the largest theme park in the world currently is Disney’s Animal Kingdom at 500 acres. Six Flags Great Adventure will be 510, she said.
Six Flags currently provides tours of the safari for an additional price, but the most popular has proven to be its off-road VIP tour for 5 or 6 people. But the $150 price of that trip kept it out of reach for many guests. The 2013 off-road tours are designed to make that level of access more affordable to visitors.
The park will also add Big Wave Racer, a massive new water slide ride.
Six Flags currently charges $63 for a single-day admission, but is selling season passes for 2013 for the same price through Oct. 28. Ticket prices at the main gate will remain at $63 for a single day next year.
Siebeneicher would not say how much the publicly traded company is spending on the changes.
___
Wayne Parry can be reached at http://twitter.com/WayneParryAC
You Might Also Like
More Related Stories
-
House passes sweeping anti-abortion bill
-
Gun nuts' strangest subculture: Book clubs
-
Five easy steps for becoming a rape apologist
-
How Obamacare shortchanges low-wage workers
-
Hackers replace Brazil World Cup website with protest footage
-
Billion-dollar bioterror detection program under new scrutiny
-
GOP's war on women has a new face: Marsha Blackburn
-
War against Issa heats up, as Cummings releases IRS transcript
-
São Paulo anchors Brazilian protests
-
No, Brazilian riots are not an "overreaction" to fare hikes
-
Hacktivists strike north of the border
-
House hearing in celebration of NSA spying
-
Texas councilwoman outraged over billboard featuring gay couple
-
Miss Utah gives wonderfully succinct answer to question about women and work
-
GOP lawmaker: Extreme abortion ban justified because of masturbating fetuses
-
US begins peace talks with Taliban
-
Ray Kelly, who oversaw secret Muslim spying, slams NSA secrecy
-
Reputed Mafia captain tip behind new Hoffa body search
-
Gitmo "indefinite detainees" revealed
-
Pentagon to begin training women for elite combat roles by 2015
-
Unions give boost to Turkish protest movement
Featured Slide Shows
Gripping photos: The people of the Turkey protests (slideshow)
close X- Share on Twitter
- Share on Facebook
- Thumbnails
- Fullscreen
- 1 of 11
- Previous
- Next
-
The protests take on a festive element as police forces move out of the park and square. Wearing a gas mask, this young man dances to traditional Turkish music in front of Taksim Square’s Ataturk Monument.
-
In Gezi Park since March 31st, this protester, originally caught off-guard by the Government’s teargas and water cannons, went out and bought a Russian army mask from WWII, preparing for what was to come.
-
This rambunctious boy seems to be enjoying the chaos. After taking this picture he threw a stone at the already destroyed building in the background.
-
Forming a line, the police face off directly with protesters in Taksim Square. After a while, they retreated and there was a general cheer – a back-and-forth dance that has been common since the beginning of this protest.
-
An elderly woman in Gezi Park reads the news. The tent community occupying the park was violently destroyed on June 16th.
-
Many different groups had set up booths to promote their cause in Taksim Square and Gezi Park. Standing in front of one, this man waves his flag while posing with conviction.
-
Many home-remedies are used to minimize the effects of tear gas. This woman has put a milky solution on her face, removing her mask after the tear gas dissipated. Before sunrise, the police came again for another round of teargasing.
-
People capitalize on the uprising -- selling flags, beer, gas masks, sky lanterns and spray paint to name just a few of the popular items.
-
On Monday morning, June 11, the police execute a strong offensive. Many plain-clothed police officers, like the ones seen here, clash with protesters in the side streets away from the main stand-off in Taksim.
-
The authorities seem to be most aggressive in the night, pushing protesters away from the square and park. After being teargassed this young woman catches her breath with other protesters on Siraselviler Street.
-
Recent Slide Shows
-
Gripping photos: The people of the Turkey protests (slideshow)
-
The week in 10 pics
-
Photos: Turmoil and tear gas in Instanbul's Gezi Park - Slideshow
-
10 summer food festivals worth the pit stop
-
- Share on Twitter
- Share on Facebook
- Thumbnails
- Fullscreen
- 1 of 11
- Previous
- Next
-
The week in 10 pics
-
10 summer food festivals worth the pit stop
-
The week in 10 pics
-
The week in 10 pics
-
9 amazing drive-in movie theaters still standing
-
The week in 10 pics
-
The week in 10 pics
-
The week in 10 pics
-
The week in 10 pics
-
The week in 10 pics
-
The week in 10 pics
-
Netflix's April Fools' Day categories
-
The week in 10 pics
-
The week in 10 pics
-
The week in 10 pics
Related Videos
More Related Stories
-
House passes sweeping anti-abortion bill
-
Gun nuts' strangest subculture: Book clubs
-
Five easy steps for becoming a rape apologist
-
How Obamacare shortchanges low-wage workers
-
Hackers replace Brazil World Cup website with protest footage
-
Billion-dollar bioterror detection program under new scrutiny
-
GOP's war on women has a new face: Marsha Blackburn
-
War against Issa heats up, as Cummings releases IRS transcript
-
São Paulo anchors Brazilian protests
-
No, Brazilian riots are not an "overreaction" to fare hikes
-
Hacktivists strike north of the border
-
House hearing in celebration of NSA spying
-
Texas councilwoman outraged over billboard featuring gay couple
-
Miss Utah gives wonderfully succinct answer to question about women and work
-
GOP lawmaker: Extreme abortion ban justified because of masturbating fetuses
-
US begins peace talks with Taliban
-
Ray Kelly, who oversaw secret Muslim spying, slams NSA secrecy
-
Reputed Mafia captain tip behind new Hoffa body search
-
Gitmo "indefinite detainees" revealed
-
Pentagon to begin training women for elite combat roles by 2015
-
Unions give boost to Turkish protest movement
Most Read
-
Why Sarah Palin actually matters again Joan Walsh
-
GOP plan to appeal to millennials: "Make abortion funny" Alex Seitz-Wald
-
Why didn't anyone help? Mary Elizabeth Williams
-
Lynda Obst: Hollywood's completely broken Lynda Obst
-
To my daughter on Father's Day: Sorry I used to be a sexist Mo Elleithee
-
Rahm Emanuel is losing control of his city Mark Guarino
-
The best of Tumblr porn Tracy Clark-Flory
-
TSA agent allegedly tells teenage girl to "cover herself" Mary Elizabeth Williams
-
Museum that discriminates against people says it is being discriminated against Katie Mcdonough
-
Study: Reading novels makes us better thinkers Tom Jacobs, Pacific Standard

Popular on Reddit
links from salon.com

306 points307 points308 points | 7 comments

59 points60 points61 points | 21 comments


Comments
0 Comments