On Saturday Night, Amusement Today announced the winners of its prestigious 2015 Golden Ticket Awards, which were presented annually to the “Best of the Best” in the amusement industry for the 18th consecutive year.
The results came from an international poll presented by Amusement Today, asking a database of selected theme park enthusiasts to choose their personal “bests” in 25 Categories.
After dethroning Cedar Point for the first time in 2014, Germany’s Europa Park retained the title of “Best Park in the World” with 24% of votes.
Best Park in the World Top 5 Vote Getters:
- Europa Park – Rust, Germany/24%
- Cedar Point – Sandusky, OH/14%
- Knoebels Amusement Resort – Elysburg, PA/11%
- Dollywood – Pigeon Forge, TN/9%
- Disneyland – Anaheim, CA/7%
Fury 325 at Carowinds ran away with the title of best new attraction of 2015 (Amusement Park), capturing 27% of the vote. The next highest vote getter was Wicked Cyclone at Six Flags New England with 14%.
Best New Attraction (Amusement Park) for 2015 Top 5:
- Fury 325 – Carowinds/27%
- Wicked Cyclone – Six Flags New England/14%
- Twisted Colossus – Six Flags Magic Mountain/13%
- Cu Chulainn – Tayto Park/10%
- Thunderbird – Holiday World/9.5%
It was a much closer race for best new attraction (water park) for 2015, with the top 4 vote getters being separated by only two percentage points of the vote. Dive Bomber at Six Flags White Water emerged as the victor, with 15% of the vote.
Best New Attraction (Water Park) for 2015 Top 5:
- Divebomber – Six Flags White Water/15%
- Slidezilla – Elitch Gardens/14%
- (Tie) Aqua Rocket – Raging Waters San Dimas & Slideboarding – Wet ‘n Wild Las Vegas/13%
- Anaconda – Kalahari Resorts (Poconos)/10%
Other 2015 Golden Ticket Award Winners Included:
Best Water Park: Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort, New Braunfels, Texas (18th win, 18th in a row, 1998-2014)
Best Children’s Park: Idlewild and SoakZone, Ligonier, Pa. (6th win, 6th win in a row 2010-2014)
Best Marine Life Park: SeaWorld Orlando, Orlando, Fla. (10th win, 10th in a row, 2006-2014)
Best Seaside Park: Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Santa Cruz, Calif. (9th win, 9th in a row, 2007-2014)
Best Kids Area: Planet Snoopy at Kings Island, Mason, OH (15th win, 15th in a row, 2001-2014)
Cleanest Park: Holiday World, Santa Claus Indiana (16th win, 16th in a row, 2000-2014)
Friendliest Park: Dollywood, Pigeon Forge, TN (4th win, 4th in a row, 2012-2014)
Best Shows: Dollywood, Pigeon Forge, TN (7th win, 7th in a row, 2009-2014)
Best Outdoor Show Production: Illuminations, Epcot, Lake Buena Vista, FL (11th win, 11th win in a row 2005-2014)
Best Landscaping: Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Williamsburg, VA (18th win, 18th win in a row, 1998-2014)
Best Food: Knoebels Amusement Resort, Elysburg, PA, (14th win, 2000-2011, 2013)
Best Carousel: Knoebels Amusement Resort, Elysburg, PA (11th win, 11th win in a row, 2001, 2004, 2007-2014)
Best Water Ride (Park): Valhalla, Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Blackpool, Lancanshire UK (3rd win, 2003, 2005)
Best Water Park Ride: Wildebeest, Holiday World and Splashin’ Safari, Santa Claus, IN (6th win, 6th in a row, 2010-2014)
Best Dark Ride: Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, Universal Studios Islands of Adventure, Orlando, FL (2nd win, 2nd win in a row, 2014)
Best Indoor Roller Coaster: Revenge of the Mummy, Universal Studios Florida, Orlando, FL, (8th win, 8th win in a row 2008-2014)
Best Funhouse/Walkthrough: Noah’s Ark, Kennywood, Idlewild, PA (6th win, 6th in a row, 2010-2014)
Best Halloween Event: Halloween Horror Nights, Universal Studios Florida, Orlando, FL (9th win, 8th in a row, 2006, 2008-2014)
Best Christmas Event: Dollywood, Pigeon Forge TN (8th win, 8th in a row, 2008-2014)
The Golden Ticket Awards Also Named Their Top 10 Wood and Steel Roller Coasters for 2015.
Wooden Coasters (Last Year’s Rank in Parentheses)
1. Boulder Dash – Lake Compounce, Bristol, CT (1)
2. El Toro – Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson, NJ (2)
3. Phoenix – Knoebels, Elysburg, PA (4)
4. The Voyage – Holiday World, Santa Claus, IN (3)
5. Thunderhead – Dollywood, Pigeon Forge, TN (5)
6. The Beast – Kings Island – Kings Mills, OH (8)
7. Ravine Flyer II – Waldameer, Erie, PA (6)
8. Outlaw Run – Silver Dollar City – Branson, MO (9)
9. Gold Striker – California’s Great America (Santa Clara, CA) (7)
10. Lightning Racer – Hersheypark – Hershey, PA (NR)
(Dropped from the Top 10: Balder, Liseburg, Sweden)
Top 10 Steel Coasters (2014 Rank in Parentheses)
1. Millenium Force – Cedar Point, Sandusky, OH (1)
2. Bizarro – Six Flags New England, Agawam, MA (2)
3. Expedition GeForce – Holiday Park, Hassloch, Germany (3)
4. Fury 325 – Carowinds, Charlotte, NC/Fort Mill, SC (NR)
5. Nitro – Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson, NJ (5)
6. Apollo’s Chariot – Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Williamsburg, VA (7)
7. Intimidator – Carowinds – Charlotte, NC/Fort Mill, SC (10)
8. Leviathan – Canada’s Wonderland, Vaughn, Ontario, Canada (6)
9. Nemesis – Alton Towers, Staffordshire, England (NR)
10. New Texas Giant – Six Flags Over Texas, Arlington, TX (8)
Dropped from rankings: Diamondback, Kings Island and Goliath, Six Flags Over Georgia.
What do you think about the 2015 Golden Ticket Award winners? Fair choices? Let us know in the comments below!
Very fair rating. My favorite roller coaster of all time is The Beast. I am glad to see it is still making the top 10 after nearly 37 years!