Theme parks avoid economic roller coaster

The economy has been in a freefall and stock prices have been on a rough roller coaster, but business at amusement parks such as Rossville's Lake Winnepesaukah has been a much smoother ride.

At Lake Winnie, spokeswoman Talley Green said 2009 was a better year than 2008, when gas prices and rainy weather hurt attendance. She classified 2009 as "a good year" but said she hopes 2010 will be better.

PDF: 2009 Lake winnie report

"We're looking for a good, hot, sunny summer," she said. "I think, like any business, we want a better year this year, but every business always wants that."

According to a report from the Themed Entertainment Association released earlier this week, theme parks in North America saw a 1 percent decrease in visitation for 2009 compared to 2008. Only seven of the 21 biggest theme parks in North America saw an increase in visitors from 2008 to 2009.

Ms. Green said the only major difference she had noticed in dealing with customers at Lake Winnie is that more people seemed to ask about specials, trying to save a few dollars on the admission price.

David Mandt, a spokesman for the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, said overall amusement park visitation did not take a great hit because of the recession, but visitor patterns shifted.

"People may go to different parks, they may go to parks closer to home, but they still carve out time for family entertainment and to visit parks," he said.

BY THE NUMBERS* 185.6 million -- Total theme park attendance for top 25 worldwide parks, a decline of 0.2 percent from 2008.* 121.4 million -- Total visits to the top 20 parks in North America, a decline of 1.1 percent from 2008.* 12.8 million -- Total visitation to top 15 waterparks in U.S., a growth of 3.0 percent from 2008Source: Themed Entertainment Association

That's a familiar story to Calhoun, Ga., said resident Beth Petty, who was at Lake Winnie on Thursday with her sons Jeremiah, 8, and Matthew, 6. She said the family had traveled to Disney World and Pigeon Forge, Tenn., in previous years but hadn't made any big trips since 2007. She said the boys

enjoy Lake Winnie, and she enjoys the shorter trip.

"It's a lot less expensive, too," she said.

Fort Oglethorpe resident Jimmy Slatton said that, when it comes to choices in the family budget, the decision is clear.

"You make the sacrifices for the little ones," he said, holding his 3-year-old son J.P. "You really don't think about what you're giving up."

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