With the successful launch of its newest family attraction, the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium in London, Ripley Entertainment is more than half way through its aggressive two-year expansion program.
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Despite the sharp downturn in the economy, London marked the eighth new attraction opened during 2008 for the quirky Orlando-based small attractions company. There are seven more attractions in various stages of planning and construction set to open during 2009.
More than 13 million visitors are expected to visit a Ripley attraction in 2008, according to Jim Pattison Jr., president of Ripley Entertainment Inc., who is leading the expansion charge. “Our style of family attractions are in great demand throughout the world, ” Pattison notes. “When leisure attraction developers need something fresh and exciting for their market, they come to us. We have 12 very different and proven family brands of attractions that can work in just about any location in the world.”
By the end of 2009, there will be 75 Ripley attractions in 13 countries representing 12 different brands. New Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditoriums are set for Veracruz, Mexico; Bahrain; Jeju Island, Korea; and Surfers’ Paradise in Australia. New Ripley’s Marvelous Mirror Mazes will open adjacent to the Bahrain and Korea odditoriums and a Ripley’s Laser Maze will join the other attractions in Bahrain.
The eight new attractions that have opened in 2008 are: Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditoriums in San Antonio, Texas; Bangalore, India; and London, England. Ripley’s Marvelous Mirror Mazes have opened in Gatlinburg, Tenn.; Myrtle Beach, S.C.; Bangalore, India; and London. A Louis Tussaud’s Wax Museum also opened this year in Bangalore, India.
Ripley Entertainment, the global authority on the weird, strange and bizarre, is also focusing on a significant commitment to major upgrades and renovation to its existing facilities, and continues to be vigilant of additional business prospects as well. “Whenever the economy shifts directions, new opportunities are always created and we will continue to be on the lookout for those, ” Pattison adds.
In addition to its successful family attraction business, Ripley Entertainment’s publishing division sells more than a million books a year; it’s Believe It or Not! television series is aired several times a week on the Biography Channel; a new TV series is in the planning stages; a major Hollywood movie is nearing production; and it’s licensing and franchise division has inked several major deals so far in 2008. www.ripleyentertainment.com
About Ripley Entertainment Inc.
Ripley Entertainment Inc. (ripleys.com), keepers of the venerable Ripley’s Believe It or Not! brand, is a global leader in location-based entertainment. More than 13 million guests visit its 68 attractions operating in 12 countries annually. The Orlando-based company also has divisions that oversee publishing, licensing and broadcast operations. Ripley Entertainment is a Jim Pattison Company, the third-largest privately held company in Canada.
Contact:
Tim O’Brien, VP Communications, Ripley Entertainment Inc. Obrien@ripleys.com
Office – 615-646-7465 Cell – 615-496-5949
