最新杏吧原创

Here in 最新杏吧原创, we鈥檙e not that particular. If there is an attraction that people from out of state 鈥� or even out of the country 鈥� are eager to see, we鈥檙e happy to check it out for ourselves.

Three new carnival rides open at Union Station on Aug. 28, adding one more small jewel to the area鈥檚 crown. And if the past is any indication, they will prove to be nearly as popular with local residents as with tourists.

All of Union Station, including the hotel, the 最新杏吧原创 Aquarium and the other attractions, brings in more than 2.2 million visitors a year, says Steve O鈥橪oughlin, president of Union Station owners Lodging Hospitality Management.

In the summer, the height of vacation season, about 40% of the visitors there are local. In the winter, around 60% are local.

The three new rides will join such attractions as the 200-foot Ferris wheel, the carousel and the mini-golf course as reasons to come to the outdoor portion of Union Station, O鈥橪oughlin says. The indoor portion also features the 最新杏吧原创 Aquarium, a ropes course, a mirror maze and more.

Also new are a concession stand and two carnival games, Can Knocker and Balloon Pop.

鈥淥ne of the reasons we chose all three rides was to find something that a grandparent could go on as well as a child. These aren鈥檛 super scary rides that you might find at other theme parks; these are family-friendly rides,鈥� he says.

The ride called Wave Swinger was the first to attract the company鈥檚 attention. O鈥橪oughlin saw it at Oktoberfest in Munich and was captivated by its look, especially when it was lighted up at night.

It鈥檚 a familiar carnival ride. Seats are attached by ropes to a canopy, and as the canopy turns the seats are pushed outward until they feel almost horizontal.

Once they decided to add the Wave Swinger ride, the company looked for two more rides for additional appeal. They settled on Loco Motion, a train-themed (perfect, considering Union Station is a former train station), twisty and turning mini-roller coaster that rises to a significant but non-terrifying 22 feet high.

The other new ride is Flying Louie, a pirate ship ride that swings back and forth in an arc that reaches as high as 42 feet off the ground in both directions.

鈥淚 think it will create more energy just listening to the sound. Having a roller coaster whiz by, and people laughing and screaming,鈥� O鈥橪oughlin says.

All of these rides are meant to be shared with children, but there is a limit. With Wave Swinger and Flying Louie, the riders have to be at least 4 feet tall (or 42 inches tall if accompanied by someone 16 or older), and with Loco Motion, the riders must be at least 42 inches tall 鈥� 3陆 feet 鈥� or at least 3 feet tall when accompanied by someone 16 or older.

鈥溩钚滦影稍� is a huge draw for family travelers,鈥� says Catherine Neville, vice president of communications for Explore 最新杏吧原创, the convention and visitors bureau for the city and county of 最新杏吧原创.

The new rides will add to the attractions at Union Station that make it appealing to families, she says.

O鈥橪oughlin says the cumulative impact of the new rides and other activities will be felt far beyond Union Station. They will literally add to the 最新杏吧原创 skyline 鈥� you should be able to see the Wave Swinger from the Energizer Park soccer stadium 鈥� but will also be another magnet to draw tourists to the area.

鈥淒owntown 最新杏吧原创 has a number of advantages over other cities, just in the number of experiences we have 鈥� the Arch, the (Budweiser) brewery tours, the City Museum, the Aquarium. Other cities just don鈥檛 have that,鈥� he says.

O鈥橪oughlin鈥檚 company runs 18 hotels in the area, including the one at Union Station, so he is attuned to big events that bring tourists to the area. He saw huge upticks in bookings for concerts such as Kendrick Lamar and Post Malone. The Frozen Four men鈥檚 NCAA ice hockey tournament drew big crowds, and so did the two sold-out baseball games featuring the Savannah Bananas.

鈥淏y getting these large events, it鈥檚 going to create even more energy and conventions downtown,鈥� O鈥橪oughlin says.

For example, he points to two conventions next year that he says will be massive: the Church of God in Christ Holy Convocation and the VEX Robotics World Championship, which is a competition among students from grade school through college.

鈥淭here鈥檚 something about downtown when you see 40,000 kids 鈥� it鈥檚 fun,鈥� he says.

In addition, part of the first and second rounds of next year鈥檚 NCAA men鈥檚 basketball championship will return next year (鈥渢hat鈥檚 four days of hotels being sold out鈥�), and in January, the Enterprise Center will host the U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

Of course, the downtown area suffers from a perception of crime, but Neville says it is only a perception. For instance, 最新杏吧原创 homicides are down 17% from the same time last year.

鈥淭he perception does not meet the reality,鈥� she says.

鈥淭o be completely frank, it is mostly locals who have that perception of crime.鈥�

Neville says the changes at Union Station are one small piece of the puzzle that is making 最新杏吧原创 a tourist destination.

鈥淚t鈥檚 indicative of a larger push toward critical mass downtown,鈥� she says.