2015 GTA Winners – The Golden Ticket Awards | Presented by Amusement Today

The 2015 Golden Ticket Awards were hosted at Victorian Gardens, NYC Bus Tour, Luna Park at Coney Island (New York).

Best New Attraction for 2015 (Amusement Park)
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%
Top
Best New Ride for 2015 (Water Park)
Dive Bomber	Six Flags White Water	15%
Slidezilla	Elitch Gardens	14%
Aqua Rocket	Raging Water San Dimas	13% (tie)
Slideboarding	Wet ‘n’ Wild Las Vegas	13% (tie)
Anaconda	Kalahari Resorts – Poconos	10%
Top
Best Park
Europa-Park	Rust, Germany	24%
Cedar Point	Sandusky, Ohio	14%
Knoebels Amusement Resort	Elysburg, Pa.	11%
Dollywood	Pigeon Forge, Tenn.	9%
Disneyland	Anaheim, Calif.	7%
Blackpool Pleasure Beach	Blackpool, England	5% (tie)
Busch Gardens Williamsburg	Williamsburg, Va.	5% (tie)
Universal’s Islands of Adventure	Orlando, Fla.	4.5%
Alton Towers	Straffordshire, England	4% (tie)
Holiday World	Santa Claus, Ind.	4% (tie)
Magic Kingdom	Orlando, Fla.	4% (tie)
Toyko Disney Sea	Toyko, Japan	4% (tie)
Top
Best Water Park
Schlitterbahn	New Braunfels, Texas	52%
Splashin’ Safari	Santa Claus, Ind.	19%
Dollywood’s Splash Country	Pigeon Forge, Tenn.	6%
Aquatica	Orlando, Fla.	5%
Typhoon Lagoon	Orlando, Fla.	4%
Top
Best Children’s Park
Idlewild & SoakZone	Ligonier, Pa.	21%
Storybook Land	Egg Harbor Twp., N.J.	20%
Story Land	Glen, N.H.	9%
Legoland Windsor	Windsor, England	8%
Legoland California	Carlsbad, Calif.	7% (tie)
Legoland Florida	Winterhaven, Fla.	7% (tie)
Top
Best Marine Life Park
SeaWorld Orlando	Orlando, Fla.	55%
SeaWorld San Diego	San Diego, Calif.	10%
Discovery Cove	Orlando, Fla.	9%
SeaWorld San Antonio	San Antonio, Texas	8%
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom	Vallejo, Calif.	7%
Top
Best Seaside Park
Morey’s Piers	Wildwood, N.J.	27%
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk	Santa Cruz, Calif.	26.5%
Blackpool Pleasure Beach	Blackpool, England	26%
Gröna Lund	Stockhom, Sweden	12%
Top
Best Kids’ Area
Kings Island	Mason, Ohio	27%
Efteling	Kaatsheuvel, Netherlands	10%
Universal’s Islands of Adventure	Orlando, Fla.	9.5%
Kings Dominion	Doswell, Va.	8%
Blackpool Pleasure Beach	Blackpool, England	6% (tie)
Nockelodeon Universe	Bloomington, Minn.	6% (tie)
Top
Cleanest Park
Holiday World	Santa Claus, Ind.	25%
Dollywood	Pigeon Forge, Tenn.	14%
Busch Gardens Williamsburg	Williamsburg, Va.	11%
Europa-Park	Rust, Germany	9%
Disneyland	Anaheim, Calif.	8%
Top
Friendliest Park
Dollywood	Pigeon Forge, Tenn.	35%
Holiday World	Santa Claus, Ind.	18%
Knoebel’s Amusement Resort	Elysburg, Pa.	12%
Adventure Island	Southend-on-Sea, England	9%
Silver Dollar City	Branson, Mo.	8%
Top
Best Shows
Dollywood	Pigeon Forge, Tenn.	42%
Six Flags Fiesta Texas	San Antonio, Texas	11%
Silver Dollar City	Branson, Mo.	8%
Europa-Park	Rust, Germany	7%
Disney California Adventure	Anaheim, Calif	6%
Top
Best Outdoor Show Production
Illuminations	Epcot	24%
World of Color	Disney California Adventure	15%
Fantasmic!	Disney’s Hollywood Studios	12%
Fantasmic!	Disneyland	11%
Lone Star Nights	Six Flags Fiesta Texas	9%
Top
Best Landscaping
Busch Gardens Williamsburg	Williamsburg Va.	29%
Gilroy Gardens	Gilroy, Calif.	17%
Efteling	Kaatsheuvel, Netherlands	11%
Alton Towers	Staffordshire, England	9%
Dollywood	Pigeon Forge, Tenn.	7%
Top
Best Food
Knoebel’s Amusement Resort	Elysburg, Pa.	23%
Dollywood	Pigeon Forge, Tenn.	20%
Epcot	Orlando, Fla.	16%
Silver Dollar City	Branson, Mo.	9%
Europa-Park	Rust, Germany	7%
Top
Best Carousel
Knoebels Amusement Resort	Elysburg, Pa.	40%
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk	Santa Cruz, Calif.	10%
Six Flags Great America	Gurnee, Ill.	6%
Efteling	Kaatsheuvel, the Netherlands	5% (tie)
Six Flags Over Georgia	Austell, Ga.	5% (tie)
Top
Best Water Ride (Park)
Valhalla	Blackpool Pleasure Beach	28%
Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls	Universal’s Islands of Adventure	19%
Splash Mountain	Disneyland	9%
Mountain Slidewinder	Dollywood	7%
Timber Mountain Log Ride	Knott’s Berry Farm	6%
Top
Best Water Park Ride
Wildebeest	Splashin’ Safari	25%
Mammoth	Splashin’ Safari	18%
Master Blaster	Schlitterbahn	14%
The Falls	Schlitterbahn	9%
Verrückt	Schlitterbahn, Kansas City	8%
Top
Best Dark Ride
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey	Universal’s Islands of Adventure	13%
Twilight Zone Tower of Terror	Disney’s Hollywood Studios	12%
Harry Potter / Escape from Gingotts	Universal Studios Orlando	9%
The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man	Universal’s Islands of Adventure	8.5%
Haunted Mansion	Knoebels Amusement Resort	7%
Top
Best Indoor Water Park
Schlitterbahn Galveston Island	Galveston, Texas	28%
Kalahari Resort	Sandusky, Ohio	17%
Kalahari Resort	Wisconsin Dells, Wis.	12%
World Waterpark	Edmonton, Alberta, Canada	11%
Splash Landings	Staffordshire, England	6%
Top
Best Indoor Roller Coaster
Revenge of the Mummy	Universal Studios Orlando	23%
Space Mountain	Disneyland	12%
Winjas	Phantasialand	11%
Black Diamond	Knoebels Amusement Resort	10%
Mindbender	Galaxyland	7% (tie)
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster	Disney’s Hollywood Studios	7% (tie)
Top
Best Funhouse/Walk-Through
Noah’s Ark	Kennywood	27%
Ghost Ship	Morey’s Piers	23%
Gasten Ghost Hotel	Liseberg	12%
Frankenstein’s Castle	Indiana Beach	10%
Lustiga Huset	Gröna Lund	8%
Top
Best Halloween Event
Universal Studios Orlando	Orlando, Fla.	28%
Knott’s Berry Farm	Buena Park, Calif.	18%
Knoebels Amusement Resort	Elysburg, Pa.	11%
Kennywood	West Mifflin, Pa.	8%
Busch Gardens Tampa	Tampa, Fla.	6%
Top
Best Christmas Event
Dollywood	Pigeon Forge, Tenn.	40%
Disneyland	Anaheim, Calif.	10%
Silver Dollar City	Branson, Mo.	9%
Magic Kingdom	Orlando, Fla.	6%
Europa-Park	Rust, Germany	5.5%
Top

Personally chosen by Gary Slade, publisher and editor-in-chief of Amusement Today, this year’s Publisher’s Pick Awards were presented in the following categories:
• Renaissance Award – Huck Finn’s Playland for moving and restoring the sheltered Hoffman’s Playland attractions;
• Turnstile Award – Quassy Amusement Park for its continued efforts in reinvestment and rebuilding;
• Park of the Year – Lagoon Amusement Park for the longtime dedication of the Freed family and its staff in preserving Utah history and a national treasure; and
• Person of the Year – Alberto Zamperla and Valerio Ferrari for their vision, strength and dedication of Astarted the rebirth of Coney Island.

2015’s Top Steel Roller Coasters

RANK	NAME	PARK	LOCATION	YEAR	SUPPLIER	POINTS
1	Millennium Force	Cedar Point	Sandusky, Ohio	2000	Intamin	1205
2	Bizarro	Six Flags New England	Agawam, Mass.	2000	Intamin	929
3	Expedition GeForce	Holiday Park	Hassloch, Germany	2001	Intamin	714
4	Fury 325	Carowinds	Charlotte, N.C.	2015	B&M	671
5	Nitro	Six Flags Great Adventure	Jackson, N.J.	2001	B&M	650
6	Apollo’s Chariot	Busch Gardens Williamsburg	Williamsburg, Va.	1999	B&M	597
7	Intimidator	Carowinds	Charlotte, N.C.	2010	B&M	499
8	Leviathan	Canada’s Wonderland	Vaughan, Ontario, Canada	2012	B&M	491
9	Nemesis	Alton Towers	Staffordshire, England	1994	B&M	462
10	New Texas Giant	Six Flags Over Texas	Arlington, Texas	2011	Rocky Mountain	450
11	Diamondback	Kings Island	Mason, Ohio	2009	B&M	440
12	Goliath	Six Flags Over Georgia	Austell, Ga.	2006	B&M	427
13	Top Thrill Dragster	Cedar Point	Sandusky, Ohio	2003	Intamin	408
14	Phantom’s Revenge	Kennywood	West Mifflin, Pa.	2001	Morgan	405
15	Magnum XL-200	Cedar Point	Sandusky, Ohio	1999	Arrow	355
16	Intimidator 305	Kings Dominion	Doswell, Va.	2010	Intamin	315
17	Blue Fire Megacoaster	Europa-Park	Rust, Germany	2009	Mack	302
18	Behemoth	Canada’s Wonderland	Vaughan, Ontario, Canada	2008	B&M	301
19	Iron Rattler	Six Flags Fiesta Texas	San Antonio, Texas	2013	Rocky Mountain	294
20 (tie)	Banshee	Kings Island	Mason, Ohio	2014	B&M	275
20 (tie)	X2	Six Flags Magic Mountain	Valencia, Calif.	2002	Arrow	275
22	Maverick	Cedar Point	Sandusky, Ohio	2007	Intamin	257
23	Wicked Cyclone	Six Flags New England	Agawam, Mass.	2015	Rocky Mountain	251
24	Montu	Busch Gardens Tampa	Tampa, Fla.	1996	B&M	238
25	Skyrush	Hersheypark	Hershey, Pa.	2012	Intamin	219
26	Alpengeist	Busch Gardens Williamsburg	Williamsburg, Va.	1997	B&M	207
27	Mind Bender	Six Flags Over Georgia	Austell, Ga.	1978	Schwarzkopf	200
28	Twisted Colossus	Six Flags Magic Mountain	Valencia, Calif.	2015	Rocky Mountain	193
29	Black Mamba	Phantasialand	Brühl, Germany	2006	B&M	183
30	The Swarm	Thorpe Park	Churtsey, England	2012	B&M	154
31 (tie)	Raging Bull	Six Flags Great America	Gurnee, Ill.	1999	B&M	138
31 (tie)	Wild Eagle	Dollywood	Pigeon Forge, Tenn.	2012	B&M	138
33	Griffon	Busch Gardens Williamsburg	Williamsburg, Va.	2007	B&M	136
34	Helix	Liseberg	Gothenburg, Sweden	2014	Mack	127
35	Lisebergbanan	Liseberg	Gothenburg, Sweden	1987	Schwarzkopf	114
36	Goliath	La Ronde	Montreal, Quebec, Canada	2006	B&M	110
37	Cheetah Hunt	Busch Gardens Tampa	Tampa, Fla.	2011	Intamin	109
38 (tie)	Air	Alton Towers	Staffordshire, England	2002	B&M	108
38 (tie)	Kumba	Busch Gardens Tampa	Tampa, Fla.	1993	B&M	108
38 (tie)	Lightning Run	Kentucky Kingdom	Louisville, Ky.	2014	Chance	108
41	Shock Wave	Six Flags Over Texas	Arlington, Texas	1978	Schwarzkopf	107
42	SheiKra	Busch Gardens Tampa	Tampa, Fla.	2005	B&M	105
43	Manta	SeaWorld Orlando	Orlando, Fla.	2009	B&M	101
44	Bizarro	Six Flags Great Adventure	Jackson, N.J.	1999	B&M	96
45	Steel Force	Dorney Park	Allentown, Pa.	1998	Morgan	92
46	Whizzer	Six Flags Great America	Gurnee, Ill.	1976	Schwarzkopf	90
47	Expedition Everest	Disney’s Animal Kingdom	Orlando, Fla.	2006	Vekoma	89
48	Olympia Looping	owner: R. Barth & Sohn KB	(traveling)	1989	Schwarzkopf	86
49 (tie)	Kingda Ka	Six Flags Great Adventure	Jackson, N.J.	2005	Intamin	83
49 (tie)	Medusa Steel Coaster	Six Flags Mexico	Mexico City, Mexico	2014	Rocky Mountain	83

2015’s Top Wooden Roller Coasters

RANK	NAME	PARK	LOCATION	YEAR	SUPPLIER	POINTS
1	Boulder Dash	Lake Compounce	Bristol, Conn.	2000	Custom Coasters	1625
2	El Toro	Six Flags Great Adventure	Jackson,N.J.	2006	Intamin	1464
3	Phoenix	Knoebels Amusement Resort	Elysburg, Pa.	1985	Dinn – PTC/Schmeck	1301
4	The Voyage	Holiday World	Santa Claus, Ind.	2006	Gravity Group	1184
5	Thunderhead	Dollywood	Pigeon Forge, Tenn.	2004	Great Coasters Int.	904
6	The Beast	Kings Island	Mason, Ohio	1979	KECO	740
7	Ravine Flyer II	Waldameer	Erie, Pa.	2008	Gravity Group	722
8	Outlaw Run	Silver Dollar City	Branson, Mo.	2013	Rocky Mountain	637
9	Gold Striker	California’s Great America	Santa Clara, Calif.	2013	Great Coasters Int.	560
10	Lightning Racer	Hersheypark	Hershey, Pa.	2000	Great Coasters Int.	421
11	Balder	Liseberg	Gothenburg, Sweden	2003	Intamin	391
12	The Raven	Holiday World	Santa Claus, Ind.	1995	Custom Coasters	286
13	Giant Dipper	Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk	Santa Cruz, Calif.	1924	Prior & Church/Looff	278
14	Goliath	Six Flags Great America	Gurnee, Ill.	2014	Rocky Mountain	269
15	Thunderbolt	Kennywood	West Mifflin, Pa	1927	Vettel/Miller	265
16	Cyclone	Luna Park/Coney Island	Brookyn, N.Y.	1927	Keenan/Baker	242
17	Prowler	Worlds of Fun	Kansas City, Mo.	2009	Great Coasters Int.	231
18	Troy	Toverland	Sevenum, the Netherlands	2007	Great Coasters Int.	229
19	Cú Chulainn	Tayto Park	Ashbourne, Ireland	2015	Gravity Group	228
20	Shivering Timbers	Michigan’s Adventure	Muskegon, Mich.	1998	Custom Coasters	219
21 (tie)	Flying Turns	Knoebels Amusement Resort	Elysburg, Pa.	2013	Knoebels	211
21 (tie)	Jack Rabbit	Kennywood	West Mifflin, Pa.	1920	PTC/Miller	211
23	Colossos	Heide Park	Soltau, Germany	2001	Intamin	207
24	Comet	The Great Escape	Lake George, N.Y.	1994	PTC/Schmeck	198
25	The Legend	Holiday World	Santa Claus, Ind.	2000	Custom Coasters	193
26	Wild Mouse	Blackpool Pleasure Beach	Blackpool, England	1958	Wright, Blackpool	185
27	Megafobia	Oakwood	Pembrokeshire, Wales	1996	Custom Coasters	171
28	Rampage	Alabama’s Splash Adventure	Bessemer, Ala.	1998	Custom Coasters	167
29	Wodan Timbur Coaster	Europa-Park	Rust, Germany	2012	Great Coasters Int.	158
30	Playland Wooden Coaster	Playland at the PNE	Vancouver, B.C., Canada	1959	Phare	157
31	Hades 360	Mount Olympus	Wisconsin Dells, Wis.	2005	Gravity Group	156
32	Tremors	Silverwood	Athol, Idaho	1999	Custom Coasters	152
33	Kentucky Rumbler	Beech Bend	Bowling Green, Ky.	2006	Great Coasters Int.	149
34	Grand National	Blackpool Pleasure Beach	Blackpool, England	1935	Paige	140
35 (tie)	Blue Streak	Cedar Point	Sandusky, Ohio	1964	PTC/Hoover	133
35 (tie)	Blue Streak	Conneaut Lake Park	Conneaut Lake, Pa.	1938	Vettel	133
37	El Toro	Freizeitpark Plohn	Lengenfeld, Germany	2009	Great Coasters Int.	132
38	Wooden Warrior	Quassy Amusement Park	Middlebury, Conn.	2011	Gravity Group	130
39	American Thunder	Six Flags St. Louis	Eureka, Mo.	2009	Great Coasters Int.	123
40	White Lightning	Fun Spot America	Orlando, Fla.	2013	Great Coasters Int.	115
41	Twister	Knoebels Amusement Resort	Elysburg, Pa.	1999	Fetterman/Knoebels	98
42	The Boss	Six Flags St. Louis	Eureka, Mo.	2000	Custom Coasters	91
43	Boardwalk Bullet	Kemah Boardwalk	Kemah, Texas	2007	M&V/Gravity Group	88
44	Twister	Gröna Lund	Stockholm, Sweden	2011	Gravity Group	83
45 (tie)	Comet	Hersheypark	Hershey, Pa.	1946	PTC/Schmeck	78
45 (tie)	Zippin Pippin	Bay Beach	Green Bay, Wis.	2011	M&V	78
47	T Express	Everland	Yongin-si, South Korea	2008	Intamin	74
48 (tie)	Big Dipper	Blackpool Pleasure Beach	Blackpool, England	1923	PTC/Miller	70
48 (tie)	Tonnerre de Zeus	Parc Asterix	Plailly, France	1997	Custom Coasters	70
50	Racer	Kennywood	West Mifflin, Pa.	1927	PTC/Miller	69