
ORLANDO, Fla., May 20 (UPI) -- SeaWorld officials in Orlando, Fla., say they hope their new Manta roller coaster helps attract visitors to the theme park despite the poor economic climate.
"It's critical that this is a home run," Dan Brown, general manager of SeaWorld, Discovery Cove and Aquatica, told the Orlando Sentinel. "And we think it's going to be."
Although SeaWorld executives won't reveal how much the new ride cost, they have described it as the most expensive attraction ever constructed by Busch Entertainment Corp.
Manta, which officially opens Friday, combines a 56-mph inverted roller coaster with a walk-through aquarium filled with 300 species of rays, the Sentinel said.
"It's a good little insurance policy," Steve Baker, president of Baker Leisure Group and a former Walt Disney World executive, said of the new roller coaster. "It gives (SeaWorld marketers) a little bit of leverage. If they had nothing to talk about, plus the economy is bad, they'd be scratching their heads."
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WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., May 27 (UPI) --
Bluegrass legend Arthel "Doc" Watson was in critical condition following colon surgery at a hospital in Winston-Salem, N.C., his representative said.
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MIAMI, May 27 (UPI) --
Reconnaissance aircraft revealed sub-tropical storm Beryl had gained strength Sunday as it brought wind and rain to the Southeastern U.S. coast.
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To avoid a meltdown in 2006, Ford Motor Co. mortgaged the farm putting up its assets – including its Blue Oval logo, and F-150 pickup and iconic Mustang trademarks – to secure $23.5 billion in credit.
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ANCHORAGE, Alaska, May 27 (UPI) --
A black bear didn't go over a river but went to the woods after scampering through residential and industrial areas of Anchorage, Alaska, police said.
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