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From Trespassing to Trailblazing: Developing Santa's Village p. 54 Tips for Creating a Press Kit p. 64 JULY/AUGUST 2025 Inside the multi-billion-dollar “Blue Economy” THE WATER PARK ISSUEKeeping up with changing trends and rising costs is tough. Making custom, consistent, scratch-quality pizzas that keep people lining up? Actually, that’s pretty easy. MORE PIZZA. NO PROBLEMS. • Partially topped with sauce and cheese • Customize to make on-trend recipes • Bake from frozen, serve and satisfy everyone Scan here to see the difference. © 2025 SCHWAN’S FOOD SERVICE, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Just choose VILLA PRIMA ® SCRATCH READY ® Pizza.INSIDE | JULY/AUGUST 2025 54SkyPark at Santa’s Village: How a California Classic Reimagined Itself A long-shuttered attraction transforms into an eco-friendly adventure 40Lagoon Boom Inside the multi- billion-dollar “Blue Economy” L E G A C Y E N T E R T A I N M E N T / B A T A V IA 46Disney Goes Natural in the Atlantic How Disney Cruise Line’s Lookout Cay at Lighthouse respectfully rose in the Atlantic D I S N E Y C R U I S E L I N E S 50Wet ’n Late 10 tips on how to present an after hours event at water parks A Q U A T I C A PALM VALLEY GOLD COAST ON THE COVER: Evermore Resort Orlando’s Blue Hole allows bathers to swing into an 8-acre pool. PHOTO: SCOTT FAIS DIGITAL STYLING: JOSH MILLER2 Funworld | JULY/AUGUST 2025 | IAAPA.org/Funworld O—OKLAHOMA’S OKANA OASIS OPENS Chickasaw Nation’s landmark leisure investment generates excitement and economic growth … 7 O—DISPATCH … 10 O—REGIONAL UPDATES … 12 O—MOVERS & SHAKERS … 20 O—MANUFACTURER AND SUPPLIER NEWS … 21 O—PEOPLE OF THE ATTRACTIONS Peter Lehman Sounds Off About Attractions … 24 O—IAAPA SAFETY CORNER Enhanced Aquatic Monitoring Using Video and AI … 25 O—THOUGHT LEADERSHIP Shaping Teams, Advocacy, and Leadership at Morey’s Piers … 26 O—THE SUSTAINABILITY SPOT IAAPA elevates the awareness of sustainability … 27 O—TECHNOLOGY How AI agents can solve internal business bottlenecks … 28 JULY/AUGUST 2025 VOLUME XL • ISSUE 4 Funworld is a member benefit of IAAPA, the global association for the attractions industry. ASSOCIATION NEWS AND BENEFITS IAAPA EXPO EUROPE PREVIEW … 30 LEADERSHIP Michael Shelton Steps Into IAAPA COO and Executive Vice President Role … 32 IAAPA Leadership Visits Brazil to Engage Growing Market … 33 IAAPA FOUNDATION Investing in Tomorrow's Talent … 33 IAAPA HONORS … 34 HQ Host an Event at the IAAPA Headquarters … 35 MEMBERSHIP IAAPA Stands with Members Every Step of the Way … 36 Member Benefits … 37 CALENDAR … 38 DEPARTMENTS AD INDEX … 66 MIC DROP … 68 ® BUSINESS RESOURCES FUNWORLD’S INDUSTRY INSIGHTS LAUNCH INSIDE | JULY/AUGUST 2025 Visit IAAPA.org/News for leading industry news in the IAAPA News Hub. CITY MUSEUMVANCOUVER AQUARIUM 593… 2… 1… Get the Party Started! 62Close Encounters of the Otter Kind 64How (and Why) to Create a Press Kit AQUATIC DEVELOPMENT GROUP4 Funworld | JULY/AUGUST 2025 | IAAPA.org/Funworld Funworld (ISSN 08923752; mailed in Canada under IPM #0902179) is published bimonthly by IAAPA, 4155 West Taft Vineland Road, Orlando, FL 32837; phone: +1 321-319-7600. Periodicals postage paid at Orlando, FL, and additional offices. The purpose, function, and nonprofit status of this organization have not changed during the preceding 12 months. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Funworld, 4155 West Taft Vineland Road, Orlando, FL 32837. ©2025 IAAPA. No material or part thereof may be reproduced or printed without the written consent of IAAPA. Ride-along may be enclosed. DISCLAIMER. IAAPA makes no representations or warranties about the accu- racy or suitability of any information or materials in this publication; all such content is provided on an as-is basis. IAAPA hereby disclaims all warranties regarding the contents of this publication, including without limitation all war- ranties of title, non-infringement, merchantability, and fitness for a particular purpose. IAAPA does not guarantee, warrant, or endorse the information, products, or services of any corporation, organization, or person. IAAPA shall not be liable for any loss, damage, injury, claim, or otherwise, whether an action in contract or tort and further shall not be liable for any lost profits, or direct, indirect, special, punitive, or consequential damages of any kind (including without limitation attorneys’ fees and expenses). 4155 West Taft Vineland Road | Orlando, FL 32837 USA +1 321-319-7600 Funworld Magazine Team Senior Director, Global Editorial and Digital Content Scott Fais SFais@IAAPA.org Managing Editor, Funworld Magazine Michael Costello MCostello@IAAPA.org Associate Editor, Funworld Magazine Avery Matteo AMatteo@IAAPA.org Contributing Editor Juliana Gilling julianagilling@gmail.com Manager, Global Advertising and Sales Kelsey O’Hearne Bohl KBohl@IAAPA.org Production Manager Michelle Wandres MWandres@IAAPA.org Get industry headlines delivered to your inbox. Subscribe to IAAPA News Daily by sending your email address to DailyNewsletter@IAAPA.org IAAPA.org/Funworld IAAPA Chairman of the Board Massimiliano Freddi IAAPA President and CEO Jakob Wahl IAAPA Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Michael Shelton IAAPA Asia Pacific Vice President and Executive Director Jack Chan IAAPA Europe, Middle East, Africa Executive Director and Vice President Peter van der Schans IAAPA Latin America, Caribbean Vice President and Executive Director Paulina Reyes IAAPA North America Vice President and Executive Director Rob McNicholas Contact us for advertising info at +1 321-319-7682 or email at Advertising@IAAPA.org ® ENDLESS SURF Rope Drop Build It … and They Will Surf The plowed plot in the circle below may look barren now, but come 2026, a new surf park will welcome adventure seekers. The Point Surf Park and partner Endless Surf broke ground on a 10.5-acre site near the Sebastian Inlet on Florida’s east coast. The Point will use Endless Surf’s ES36 technology, known for its pneumatic hardware that can generate waves lasting up to 19 seconds.. For more on the inland “lagoon boom,” the current trend of building giant, resort-style pools, turn to p. 40. E N D L E S S S U R FSeamless Access to Surf Parks with Axess The Axess SMART TERMINAL 600 adapts flexibly to the needs of your surf park visitors: barrier free entrance module (ADA), individual opening and closing speed as well as hands-free ticket reading. teamaxess.com Axess Americas Events Inc. Contact Ren Steyn on r.steyn@teamaxess.com Glide Through the Gates Without a Scratch!Family Fun Mastered Y W C A S u n ‘ N F u Vortex-Intl.com M e l i à S o l F a l c ó , S Story Land Moo Lagoon, USA B r i t a n n i a L e i s Learn more about our solutions +7 Launch IAAPA.org/Funworld | JULY/AUGUST 2025 | Funworld c ON A CHILLY FEBRUARY MORNING IN OKLAHOMA, the Chickasaw Nation celebrated a warm achievement: opening the Okana Resort & Indoor Waterpark in Oklahoma City. The expansive $400 million destination com- bines a 100,000-square-foot indoor water park—one of the largest in the region—with a 4.5-acre outdoor adventure lagoon. The resort also features an 11-story, 404-room hotel, a 20,000-square-foot family entertainment center, a spa, multiple food and beverage facilities, a 1,500-seat outdoor amphitheater, and conference center space. Okana’s themed water park and other attractions are designed to appeal to everyone, not just thrill-seekers. Managing Director Ken Leone describes the facility as “an elevated and modern resort experience.” Brian Szydlosky, water park general manager at Okana, says, “We are bringing a world-class indoor water park experience to the region—something that hasn’t been done at this scale before in Oklahoma.” This momentous project represents a bold vision for the futures of Oklahoma City and the Chickasaw Nation. The resort sits on the downtown riverfront next to the First Americans Museum, which is also operated by the Chickasaw Nation. Oklahoma’s Okana Oasis Opens Chickasaw Nation’s landmark leisure investment generates excitement and economic growth by Juliana Gilling WATER PARK RESORTS AQUATIC DEVELOPMENT GROUP The large tipping bucket at the top of Okana's indoor water park unleashes a flood of water into the play area.Next >