Golden Ticket Awards 2023

(eap) This year, the “Golden Ticket Awards (GTA)” were presented for the 25^th time. Launched in 1998 by US Amusement Today magazine, the “Best of the Best” in the amusement industry are elected annually. This year, the awards ceremony was held at Dollywood’s “DreamMore Resort”. Host Dollywood claimed five of the 23 awards in the categories “Best Amusement Park”, “Best Family Coaster of 2023” with “Big Bear Mountain”, “Best Kids’ Area”, “Best Guests Experience” and “Best Christmas Event of 2022”.

Cedar Fair Entertainment Company won almost as many awards. The Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort in New Braunfels, Texas, won the award in the “World’s Best Water Park” category for the 25^th time in a row. Also, honoured with a Golden Ticket Award for the 8^th time was Carowind’s giga-coaster “Fury 325”. In addition, the park in Noth Carolina was able to take home the “Turnstile Award” for its new themed area “Aeronautica Landing”.

In addition, two European parks were able to make it into the list of winners. On the one hand, the British park Blackpool Pleasure Beach won the award in the category “Best Water Ride” with its water ride “Valhalla” and on the other hand, Puy du Fou France received an award for their new show “Le Mime et l’Etoile” (EAP issue 3/2023).

Overview of the first-placed winners:

1. Best Amusement Park: Dollywood
2. Best Water Park: Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort
3. Best Family Park of 2023: Dutch Wonderland
4. Best Family Coaster of 2023: Big Bear Mountain at Dollywood
5. Best Water Park Ride: Mammoth at Splashin’ Safari
6. Best Wooden Coaster: Phoenix at Knoebels Amusement Resort
7. Best Steel Coaster: Fury 325
8. Best Kids’ Area: Dollywood
9. Best Guests Experience: Dollywood
10. Breakout Family Entertainment Center of 2023: Fun Land of Fredericksburg
11. Best Halloween Event of 2022: Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando
12. Most Beautiful Park: Busch Gardens Williamsburg
13. Best Christmas Event of 2022: Smoky Mountain Christmas at Dollywood
14. Best Food of 2023: Knoebels Amusement Resort
15. Best New Show of 2023: Le Mime et l’Etoile at Puy du Fou France
16. Best Water Ride: Valhalla at Blackpool Pleasure Beach
17. Best Dark Ride: Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
18. Best New Attraction Installation of 2023: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT
19. Best New Water Park Ride of 2023: Rocket Blast at Waldameer & Water World
20. Best Innovation of 2023: 208 ReTraK by Rocky Mountain Construction
21. Leadership Award: Eric Anderson, Quassy Amusement Park
22. Renaissance Award: Kennywood
23. Turnstile Award: Carowinds ■