Golden Ticket Awards salute Horror Nights, Rise of the Resistance, Dollywood
Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights reached Legend status, and the Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park was named best dark ride during the Golden Ticket Awards presentation this weekend.
Horror Nights had won the Halloween category 15 times, as had Dollywood’s Smoky Mountain Christmas for its holiday category. Both categories have now been retired by Amusement Today, an industry magazine that runs the annual Golden Ticket Awards.
Dollywood, located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, won five Golden Tickets this year, including best family coaster (Big Bear Mountain), best new show (“From the Heart”), most beautiful, best guest experience and best kids’ area.
Holiday World and Surfin’ Safari, operating out of Santa Claus, Indiana, won for best water park ride (Wildebeest), best new innovation and best new theme concept. The latter category, awarded for the first time, was given to the park’s Good Gravy roller coaster. That attraction’s gravy boat-inspired vehicle was displayed at last year’s IAAPA Expo at Orange County Convention Center.
Among other winners were Europa-Park for best park and best new roller coaster (Voltron Nevera) and Carowinds’ Fury 325 as best steel coaster for the eighth consecutive time. The complete list of winners can be seen at goldenticketawards.com.
The ceremony was held in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, home of Kennywood, an attraction that opened in 1899.
It was the second consecutive win for Rise of the Resistance, which debuted in late 2019. The ride, which operates inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, was also the winner for best new attraction installation of 2020/2021.
Previous retired categories and Legends from Central Florida include SeaWorld Orlando (best marine life park), Revenge of the Mummy at Universal Studios Florida (best indoor coaster) and Pamela Landwirth, CEO of Kissimmee-based Give Kids the World, a nonprofit that provides vacations to children with critical illnesses and their families.
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