The Golden Ticket Awards | Presented by Amusement Today
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2011 GTA Winners
- The Golden Ticket Awards | Presented by Amusement Today
- 2011 GTA Winners
| Best New Ride for 2011 (Amusement Park) | ||
| New Texas Giant | Six Flags Over Texas | 45% |
| Cheetah Hunt | Busch Gardens Tampa Bay | 12% |
| Wooden Warrior | Quassy Amusement Park | 11% |
| Twister | Gröna Lund | 5% tie |
| Zippin Pippin | Bay Beach Amusement Park | 5% tie |
| Top | ||
| Best New Ride for 2011 (Waterpark) | ||
| The Falls | Schlitterbahn | 45% |
| Vanish Point | Water Country U.S.A. | 15% |
| Bombs Away | Raging Waters | 8% tie |
| Viper | NRH2O | 8% tie |
| Top | ||
| Best Park 2011 | ||
| Cedar Point | Sandusky, Ohio | 23% |
| Knoebels Amusement Resort | Elysburg, Pa. | 13% |
| Europa-Park | Rust, Germany | 12% |
| Dollywood | Pigeon Forge, Tenn. | 8% |
| Disneyland | Anahiem, Calif. | 7% |
| Universal’s Islands of Adventure | Orlando, Fla. | 6.50% |
| Busch Gardens Williamsburg | Williamsburg, Va. | 5.50% |
| Kennywood | West Mifflin, Pa. | 5% tie |
| Tokyo DisneySea | Tokyo, Japan | 5% tie |
| Holiday World | Santa Claus, Ind. | 4.5% tie |
| Pleasure Beach, Blackpool | Blackpool, England | 4.5% tie |
| Top | ||
| Best Waterpark 2011 | ||
| Schlitterbahn | New Braunfels, Texas | 66% |
| Splashin’ Safari | Santa Claus, Ind. | 14% |
| Blizzard Beach | Orlando, Fla. | 6% |
| Typhoon Lagoon | Orlando, Fla. | 5% |
| Noah’s Ark | Wisconsin Dells, Wis. | 4% |
| Top | ||
| Best Childern’s Park 2011 | ||
| Idlewild & SoakZone | Ligonier, Pa. | 30% |
| Legoland California | Carlsbad, Calif. | 25% |
| Fårup Sommerland | Saltum, Denmark | 11% |
| Legoland Windsor | Windsor, England | 10% |
| Dutch Wonderland | Lancaster, Pa. | 6% |
| Top | ||
| Best Marine Life Park 2011 | ||
| SeaWorld Orlando | Orlando, Fla. | 55% |
| SeaWorld San Antonio | San Antonio, Texas | 14% |
| Discovery Cove | Orlando, Fla. | 11% |
| SeaWorld San Diego | San Diego, Calif. | 10% |
| Six Flags Discovery Kingdom | Vallejo, Calif. | 6% |
| Top | ||
| Best Seaside Park 2011 | ||
| Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk | Santa Cruz, Calif. | 29% |
| Pleasure Beach Blackpool | Blackpool, England | 28% |
| Morey’s Piers | Wildwood, N.J. | 16% |
| Gröna Lund | Stockholm, Sweden | 5% |
| Kemah Boardwalk | Kemah, Texas | 4% |
| Top | ||
| Best Indoor Waterpark 2011 | ||
| Schlitterbahn Galveston Island | Galveston, Texas | 31% |
| Kalahari Resort | Sandusky, Ohio | 16% |
| Kalahari Resort | Wisconsin Dells, Wis. | 15% |
| World Waterpark | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada | 12% |
| Splash Landings | Staffordshire, England | 11% |
| Top | ||
| Friendliest Park 2011 | ||
| Holiday World | Santa Claus, Ind. | 32% |
| Dollywood | Pigeon Forge, Tenn | 25% |
| Knoebels Amusement Resort | Elysburg, Pa. | 13% |
| Silver Dollar City | Branson, Mo. | 12% |
| Beech Bend | Bowling Green, Ky. | 5% |
| Top | ||
| Cleanest Park 2011 | ||
| Holiday World | Santa Claus, Ind. | 35% |
| Busch Gardens Williamsburg | Williamsburg, Va. | 15% |
| Dollywood | Pigeon Forge, Tenn. | 10% |
| Magic Kingdom | Orlando, Fla. | 9% |
| Disneyland | Anaheim, Calif. | 8% |
| Top | ||
| Best Shows 2011 | ||
| Dollywood | Pigeon Forge, Tenn. | 30% |
| Six Flags Fiesta Texas | San Antonio, Texas | 28% |
| Silver Dollar City | Branson, Mo. | 10% |
| SeaWorld Orlando | Orlando, Fla. | 8% |
| Disney’s Hollywood Studios | Orlando, Fla. | 7% |
| Top | ||
| Best Food 2011 | ||
| Knoebels Amusement Resort | Elysburg, Pa. | 29% |
| Epcot | Orlando, Fla. | 17% |
| Dollywood | Pigeon Forge, Tenn. | 15% |
| Silver Dollar City | Branson, Mo. | 13% |
| Busch Gardens Williamsburg | Williamsburg, Va. | 7% |
| Top | ||
| Best Water Ride (Park) 2011 | ||
| Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls | Universal’s Islands of Adventure | 26% |
| Valhalla | Pleasure Beach, Blackpool | 19% |
| Pilgrim’s Plunge | Holiday World | 10% |
| Splash Mountain | Magic Kingdom | 9% |
| Journey to Atlantis | SeaWorld Orlando | 7% |
| Top | ||
| Best Waterpark Ride 2011 | ||
| Wildebeest | Splashin’ Safari | 34% |
| Master Blaster | Schlitterbahn | 24% |
| Dragon’s Revenge | Schlitterbahn | 13% |
| Congo River Expedition | Schlitterbahn | 8% |
| Zoombabwe | Splashin’ Safari | 5% |
| Top | ||
| Best Kid’s Area 2011 | ||
| Kings Island | Kings Mills, Ohio | 30% |
| Universal’s Islands of Adventure | Orlando, Fla. | 16% |
| Nickelodeon Universe | Bloomington, Minn. | 12% |
| Drayton Manor | Staffordshire, England | 8% |
| Efteling | Kaatsheuvel, The Netherlands | 7% |
| Top | ||
| Best Dark Ride 2011 | ||
| Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey | Universal’s Islands of Adventure | 26% |
| Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man | Universal’s Islands of Adventure | 23% |
| Twilight Zone Tower of Terror | Disney’s Hollywood Studios | 15% |
| Haunted Mansion | Knoebels Amusement Resort | 10% |
| Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye | Disneyland | 6% |
| Top | ||
| Best Outdoor Show Production 2011 | ||
| Epcot | Orlando, Fla. | 34% |
| Six Flags Fiesta Texas | San Antonio, Texas | 17% |
| Disney California Adventure | Anaheim, Calif. | 16% |
| Disneyland | Anaheim, Calif. | 10% tie |
| Magic Kingdom | Orlando, Fla. | 10% tie |
| Top | ||
| Best Landscaping 2011 | ||
| Busch Gardens Williamsburg | Williamsburg, Va. | 33% |
| Efteling | Kaatsheuvel, The Netherlands | 13% |
| Gilroy Gardens | Gilroy, Calif. | 12% |
| Dollywood | Pigeon Forge, Tenn. | 9% |
| Epcot | Orlando, Fla. | 7% |
| Top | ||
| Best Halloween Event 2011 | ||
| Universal Orlando Resort | Orlando, Fla. | 32% |
| Knott’s Berry Farm | Buena Park, Calif. | 26% |
| Knoebels Amusement Resort | Elysburg, Pa. | 16% |
| Kennywood | West Mifflin, Pa. | 10% |
| Europa-Park | Rust, Germany | 5% |
| Top | ||
| Best Christmas Event 2011 | ||
| Dollywood | Pigeon Forge, Tenn. | 38% |
| Silver Dollar City | Branson, Mo. | 14% |
| Magic Kingdom | Orlando, Fla. | 13.50% |
| Disneyland | Anaheim, Calif. | 10% |
| Disney’s Hollywood Studios | Orlando, Fla. | 7% |
| Top | ||
| Best Carousel 2011 | ||
| Knoebels Amusement Resort | Elysburg, Pa. | 55% |
| Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk | Santa Cruz, Calif. | 18% |
| Six Flags Over Georgia | Austell, Ga | 7% |
| Kennywood | West Mifflin, Pa. | 5% |
| Six Flags Great America | Gurnee, Ill. | 4% |
| Top | ||
| Best Indoor Coaster 2011 | ||
| Revenge of the Mummy | Universal Studios Orlando | 31% |
| Space Mountain | Disneyland | 15% |
| Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster | Disney’s Hollywood Studios | 13% |
| Mindbender | Galaxyland | 12% |
| Space Mountain | Magic Kingdom | 9% |
| Top | ||
| Best Funhouse / Walk-Through Attraction | ||
| Noah’s Ark | Kennywood | 24% |
| Frankenstein’s Castle | Indiana Beach | 23% |
| Noah’s Ark | Pleasure Beach, Blackpool | 15% |
| Ghost Ship | Morey’s Piers | 13% |
| Lustiga Huset | Gröna Lund | 12% |
| Top |
PUBLISHER’S PICKS:
Park of the Year: Grona Lund
Supplier of the Year: Chance Rides Manufacturing
GTA Legend: Richard L. Kinzel
| RANK | NAME | PARK | LOCATION | YEAR | SUPPLIER | POINTS |
| 1 | Millennium Force | Cedar Point | Sandusky, Ohio | 2000 | Intamin | 1540 |
| 2 | Bizarro | Six Flags New England | Agawam, Mass. | 2000 | Intamin | 1201 |
| 3 | Nitro | Six Flags Great Adventure | Jackson, N.J. | 2001 | B & M | 864 |
| 4 | Goliath | Six Flags Over Georgia | Austell, Ga. | 2006 | B & M | 794 |
| 5 | Phantom’s Revenge | Kennywood | West Mifflin, Pa. | 2001 | B & M | 756 |
| 6 | New Texas Giant | Six Flags Over Texas | Arlington, Texas | 2011 | Rocky Mountain | 743 |
| 7 (tie) | Apollo’s Chariot | Busch Gardens Williamsburg | Williamsburg, Va. | 1999 | B&M | 643 |
| 7 (tie) | Expedition GeForce | Holiday Park | Hassloch, Germany | 2001 | Intamin | 643 |
| 9 | Top Thrill Dragster | Cedar Point | Sandusky, Ohio | 2003 | Intamin | 627 |
| 10 | Magnum XL-200 | Cedar Point | Sandusky, Ohio | 1989 | Arrow | 510 |
| 11 | Diamondback | Kings Island | Kings Mills, Ohio | 2009 | B & M | 493 |
| 12 | Nemesis | Alton Towers | Staffordshire, England | 1994 | B & M | 470 |
| 13 | Intimidator 305 | Kings Dominion | Doswell, Va. | 2010 | IntaRide | 381 |
| 14 | Montu | Busch Gardens Tampa Bay | Tampa, Fla. | 1996 | B & M | 331 |
| 15 | Behemoth | Canada’s Wonderland | Vaughan, Ontario, Canada | 2008 | B & M | 278 |
| 16 | X2 | Six Flags Magic Mountain | Valencia, Calif. | 2002 | Arrow | 276 |
| 17 | Mind Bender | Six Flags Over Georgia | Austell, Ga. | 1978 | Schwarzkopf | 217 |
| 18 | Raptor | Cedar Point | Sandusky, Ohio | 1994 | B & M | 212 |
| 19 | Intimidator | Carowinds | Charlotte, N.C. | 2010 | B & M | 207 |
| 20 | Griffon | Busch Gardens Williamsburg | Williamsburg, Va. | 2007 | B & M | 190 |
| 21 | Maverick | Cedar Point | Sandusky, Ohio | 2007 | Intamin | 187 |
| 22 | SheiKra | Busch Gardens Tampa Bay | Tampa, Fla. | 2005 | B & M | 186 |
| 23 | Goliath | La Ronde | Montréal, Quebec, Canada | 2006 | B & M | 182 |
| 24 | Raging Bull | Six Flags Great America | Gurnee, Ill. | 1999 | B & M | 180 |
| 25 | Titan | Six Flags Over Texas | Arlington, Texas | 2001 | Giovanola | 178 |
| 26 | Steel Force | Dorney Park | Allentown, Pa. | 1997 | Morgan | 177 |
| 27 | Alpengeist | Busch Gardens Williamsburg | Williamsburg, Va. | 1997 | B & M | 156 |
| 28 | Dragon Challenge | Universal’s Islands of Adventure | Orlando, Fla. | 1999 | B & M | 149 |
| 29 (tie) | Ride of Steel | Darien Lake | Darien Center, N.Y. | 1999 | Intamin | 148 |
| 29 (tie) | Volcano: The Blast Coaster | Kings Dominion | Doswell, Va. | 1998 | Intamin | 148 |
| 31 | Kumba | Busch Gardens Tampa Bay | Tampa, Fla. | 1993 | B & M | 144 |
| 32 | Piraten | Djurs Sommerand | Jylland, Denmark | 2008 | Intamin | 130 |
| 33 | Kingda Ka | Six Flags Great Adventure | Jackson, N.J. | 2005 | Intamin | 129 |
| 34 | Blue Fire | Europa-Park | Rust, Germany | 2009 | Mack | 123 |
| 35 | Incredible Hulk Coaster | Universal’s Islands of Adventure | Orlando, Fla. | 1999 | B & M | 116 |
| 36 | Goliath | Walabi Holland | Biddinghulzen, The Netherlands | 2002 | Intamin | 108 |
| 37 | Powder Keg | Silver Dollar City | Branson, Mo. | 2005 | S & S | 102 |
| 38 | Superman Krypton Coaster | Six Flags Fiesta Texas | San Antonio, Texas | 2000 | B & M | 99 |
| 39 | Tatsu | Six Flags Magic Mountain | Valencia, Calif. | 2006 | B & M | 98 |
| 40 (tie) | Goliath | Six Flags Magic Mountain | Valencia, Calif. | 2000 | Giovanola | 97 |
| 40 (tie) | Superman Ride of Steel | Six Flags America | Largo, Md. | 2000 | Intamin | 97 |
| 42 | Shock Wave | Six Flags Over Texas | Arlington, Texas | 1978 | Schwarzkopf | 93 |
| 43 | Space Mountain | Disneyland | Anaheim, Calif. | 1977 | WED Imagineering | 87 |
| 44 | Sky Rocket | Kennywood | West Mifflin, Pa. | 2010 | Premier Rides | 85 |
| 45 (tie) | Manta | SeaWorld Orlando | Orlando, Fla. | 2009 | B & M | 84 |
| 45 (tie) | Olympia Looping | R. Barth and Sohn | Germany | 1989 | Schwarzkopf/BHS | 84 |
| 47 | Expedition Everest | Disney’s Animal Kingdom | Orlando, Fla. | 2006 | Vekoma/WED Imag. | 80 |
| 48 | Pepsi Max Big One | Pleasure Beach, Blackpool | Blackpool, England | 1994 | Arrow | 79 |
| 49 | Lisebergbanan | Liseberg | Gothenburg, Sweden | 1987 | Schwarzkopf | 75 |
| 50 | Mamba | Worlds of Fun | Kansas City, Mo. | 1998 | Morgan | 73 |
| RANK | NAME | PARK | LOCATION | YEAR | SUPPLIER | POINTS |
| 1 | The Voyage | Holiday World | Santa Claus, Ind. | 2006 | Gravity Group | 1631 |
| 2 | Phoenix | Knoebels Amusement Resort | Elysburg, Pa. | 1985 | Dinn/PTC-Schmeck | 1375 |
| 3 | El Toro | Six Flags Great Adventure | Jackson, N.J. | 2006 | Intamin | 1359 |
| 4 | Boulder Dash | Lake Compounce | Bristol, Conn. | 2000 | CCI | 1267 |
| 5 | Thunderhead | Dollywood | Pigeon Forge, Tenn. | 2004 | GCII | 1065 |
| 6 | Ravine Flyer II | Waldameer | Erie, Pa. | 2008 | Gravity Group | 969 |
| 7 | The Beast | Kings Island | Kings Mills, Ohio | 1979 | KECO | 591 |
| 8 | Hades | Mt. Olympus Theme Park | Wisconsin Dells, Wis. | 2005 | Gravity Group | 494 |
| 9 | Shivering Timbers | Michigan’s Adventure | Muskegon, Mich. | 1998 | CCI | 484 |
| 10 | Prowler | Worlds of Fun | Kansas City, Mo. | 2009 | GCII | 452 |
| 11 | Lightning Racer | Hersheypark | Hershey, Pa. | 2000 | GCII | 444 |
| 12 | The Raven | Holiday World | Santa Claus, Ind. | 1995 | CCI | 405 |
| 13 | Balder | Liseberg | Gothenburg, Sweden | 2003 | Intamin | 377 |
| 14 | Thunderbolt | Kennywood | West Mifflin, Pa. | 1968 | Vettel/Miller | 267 |
| 15 | Cyclone | Coney Island/Luna Park | Brooklyn, N.Y. | 1927 | Keenan/Baker | 264 |
| 16 | Kentucky Rumbler | Beech Bend | Bowling Green, Ky. | 2006 | GCII | 263 |
| 17 | Boardwalk Bullet | Kemah Boardwalk | Kemah, Texas | 2007 | M&V/Gravity Group | 241 |
| 18 | The Legend | Holiday World | Santa Claus, Ind. | 2000 | CCI | 240 |
| 19 | Comet | The Great Escape | Lake George, N.Y. | 1994 | PTC-Schmeck | 215 |
| 20 (tie) | Megafobia | Oakwood Theme Park | Pembrokshire, Wales | 1996 | CCI | 212 |
| 20 (tie) | Twister | Knoebels Amusement Resort | Elysburg, Pa. | 1999 | Fetterman-Knoebels | 212 |
| 22 | American Thunder | Six Flags St. Louis | Eureka, Mo. | 2008 | GCII | 196 |
| 23 | Jack Rabbit | Kennywood | West Mifflin, Pa. | 1920 | PTC – Miller | 195 |
| 24 | Cornball Express | Indiana Beach | Monticello, Ind. | 2004 | CCI | 179 |
| 25 | Grand National | Pleasure Beach, Blackpool | Blackpool, England | 1935 | Paige | 173 |
| 26 | Renegade | Valleyfair | Shakopee, Minn. | 2007 | GCII | 161 |
| 27 | GhostRider | Knott’s Berry Farm | Buena Park, Calif. | 1998 | CCI | 151 |
| 28 | Giant Dipper | Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk | Santa Cruz, Calif. | 1924 | Prior & Church/Looff | 147 |
| 29 | Colossos | Heide-Park | Soltau, Germany | 2001 | Intamin | 139 |
| 30 | Hellcat | Timber Falls | Wisconsin Dells, Wis. | 2004 | S&S | 138 |
| 31 | Tremors | Silverwood | Athol, Idaho | 1999 | CCI | 134 |
| 32 | Rampage | Alabama Adventure | Bessemer, Ala. | 1998 | CCI | 127 |
| 33 | Troy | Toverland | Sevenum, The Netherlands | 2007 | GCII | 123 |
| 34 | Playland Wooden Coaster | Playland at the PNE | Vancouver, B.C. Canada | 1958 | Phare | 118 |
| 35 | El Toro | Freizeitpark Plohn | Lengenfeld, Germany | 2009 | GCII | 111 |
| 36 (tie) | Apocalypse | Six Flags Magic Mountain | Valencia, Calif. | 2009 | GCII | 110 |
| 36 (tie) | Twister | Gröna Lund | Stockholm, Sweden | 2011 | Gravity Group | 110 |
| 38 | Thunderbird | PowerLand | Alahärmä, Finland | 2006 | GCII | 102 |
| 39 | T Express | Everland | Yongin-si, South Korea | 2008 | Intamin | 101 |
| 40 | Wooden Warrior | Quassy Amusement Park | Middlebury, Conn. | 2011 | Gravity Group | 99 |
| 41 | Viper | Six Flags Great America | Gurnee, Ill. | 1995 | Starkey/Six Flags | 95 |
| 42 | The Boss | Six Flags St. Louis | Eureka, Mo. | 2000 | CCI | 93 |
| 43 | Racer | Kennywood | West Mifflin, Pa. | 1927 | Miller | 86 |
| 44 (tie) | Wild Mouse | Pleasure Beach, Blackpool | Blackpool, England | 1958 | Wright | 74 |
| 44 (tie) | Zippin Pippin | Bay Beach Amusement Park | Green Bay, Wis. | 2011 | M&V/Gravity Group | 74 |
| 46 | Blue Streak | Conneaut Lake Park | Conneaut Lake, Pa. | 1938 | Vettel | 68 |
| 47 | Rattler | Six Flags Fiesta Texas | San Antonio, Texas | 1992 | Pierce | 65 |
| 48 | Rutschebanen | Tivoli Gardens | Copenhagen, Denmark | ca. 1915 | unknown | 62 |
| 49 | Blue Streak | Cedar Point | Sandusky, Ohio | 1964 | PTC-Hoover | 60 |
| 50 | Tonnerre de Zeus | Parc Asterix | Plailly, France | 1997 | CCI | 52 |
