Tag: Vacation

WonderWorks bridges the gap between education and entertainment for vacationers

Posted by Rick Laney – June 29, 2010

Pigeon Forge, Tenn. – With summer vacation in full swing, parents and educators are singing the praises of WonderWorks – one of Pigeon Forge’s premier vacation destinations.  By combining fun, completely interactive zones with science, art and physical challenges, WonderWorks is a comprehensive learning experience where visitors’ imaginations can run wild.

WonderWorks, is an amusement park for the mind or an easier way to describe it is as an  indoor theme park that opened in 2006 and has nearly 60,000 square feet of fun for all ages. Housed in an upside down building (you have to see it to be believe it), WonderWorks appears to have been ripped from its foundation and set back down on its roof.  Beneath its fascinating exterior, WonderWorks features a myriad of hands-on learning experiences, demonstrations and activities utilizing some of the most sophisticated graphic and audio presentation techniques available.

“Parents want to be involved in their child’s education,” said Andrea Wilson, Ph.D., the educational manager at WonderWorks.  “Here at WonderWorks, the kids have a great time – and they make lasting memories with their family and friends – but it also influences their educational journey for the rest of their lives.  They get more value here than they do from putt-putt or go-carts.  Children leave this building with knowledge they didn’t have when they walked in.”

"Mind Ball" at WonderWorks

Inside WonderWorks, guests find 120 interactive adventures that are divided into separate themed zones.  The “Challenge Zone” includes a rock climbing wall, physical and psychological endurance competitions and even a “bed of nails” to lie on.  In the “Space Zone,” visitors are entertained with interactive, 3-D films about outer space plus a life-size re-creation of space suit they can try on for size, a Mercury Space Capsule, and simulators that allow guests to land the Discovery Space Shuttle as it glides in from outer space.

WonderWorks also houses a “Sound and Light Zone,” a “Natural Disaster Zone” (where guests can experience a 6.0 earthquake), and the “Control Center” where visitors ride the roller coaster they created in a coaster simulator.

The museum aligns with a variety of state educational standards for educators & students, and all lesson plans have multiple curriculum components. Students may participate in each exhibit on-site, but classroom discussion should follow each one individually. The lessons range from studying the Scientific Method and Newton’s Laws to learning about sound energy and natural disasters. Below are examples of the exhibits at WonderWorks and the lessons for each:

  • Mind Ball – Two people compete to see who can relax and clear their mind the fastest.  Unlike most competitive situations where the focus on winning creates an anxious, adrenaline-driven state of mind, the new Mind Ball challenge reverses the expectations of those competing.  You can’t win at Mind Ball by desperately focusing on winning – you only win by relaxing your mind and focusing on as little as possible.  At the Mind Ball challenge, students learn how alpha and theta waves affect their brains. 

  • Velocity Ball – The student will throw a ball at a screen between one and three times. The student chooses one of seven famous batters, and then attempts to throw the ball where the batter would hit. The screen will tell the student the success of their pitch and the speed; next, students will analyze the collective data. This individual exhibit teaches students about gravity, Newton’s Laws, muscular system, push/pull, force and motion and measuring with non-standard units. Exhibits with similar lessons include “How High Can You Jump?,” “Rock Climbing Wall,” and “Robotic Arms.”
  • Pulley Seat – The student will try to pull him/herself up on each of the three pulley seats. It’s important that the teacher point out to the students that the complexity of the process is variant upon the number of pulleys. Students then discuss: why some have an easier time pulling themselves up based on size or athletic ability; how much force must be exerted to pull yourself up, etc. This exhibit teaches about: simple machines, Newton’s Laws, gravity, push/pull and force and motion. “Air Cannons” is an exhibit with similar significance.
  • Are You a Risk Taker? – The students will answer 20 true or false questions based on personal feelings or experiences. Next, they place their hand on a sensor and it will light up a category which they fall under based on their answers. The categories for risk are high, medium and low. They write down their level of risk and later discuss the collective data as a class. This exhibit teaches students: probability and central measures of tendency such as mean, median and mode, among other lessons. Similar exhibits include “Safe Crackers,” “One in a Million,” and “What Are the Odds?”

 

  • Space Weight – Students will step up on the scale and write down their weights for the Earth, Moon and Mars. Weight being identified at various places helps students understand that there are different places in the sky, but also that their body does not change but their weight does. The scale not only gives pound measurements, but students can elaborate this by converting to metric units once they are back in the classroom, and a graph can be made for collective weight in each location. This exercise teaches students about objects in space, gravity, measuring with non-standard units and planets. Similar exhibits include “Cosmic Discovery,” “Space Information Center,” and “Space Update.”

 

  • Floor Piano – Students have the opportunity to play “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” or “Hush Little Baby.” The keys on the floor piano are labeled as per their musical name. To play the song, students must correctly match the note on the piano with the note name on the page. This is an extremely difficult task because stepping on the notes is not the origination of the sound, but the sensors as to proper body placement. The Floor Piano teaches that our ears process different sounds differently, and that it is difficult to play an actual piano.  Sound energy is the main educational focus. Similar activities include “Sound Labs” and “Roaring Lion.”

 

  • Quake Café – Students will ride in the Earthquake Café and experience a 6.0 level earthquake which can lead to an in-class discussion about the effects of natural disasters and their affect on the ground, buildings and erosion. This exhibit teaches students about safety procedures, natural disasters, Newton’s Laws, and force and motion. Comparable lessons are taught in “Hurricane Hole,” and “Natural Disasters.” 

Many WonderWorks exhibits feature data collection cards for individuals or classes to use. In addition, there are coloring sheets for those students who may be interested. There is also a WonderWorks Test and Scavenger Hunt worksheet to quiz the students on what they learn at the museum.

Learning and playing at WonderWorks

Richard Van Huss, the director of federal programs for Elizabethton City Schools, said, “It is rare, in this day and time, to find a learning experience that is so entertaining for children.”

From an entertainment standpoint, WonderWorks is the #1 indoor attraction in Pigeon Forge.  Every evening, WonderWorks comes to life with the “Hoot N’ Holler” Dinner Show – one of the most popular shows in the Great Smoky Mountains.  For years, visitors have enjoyed a fantastic three-course dinner with their family while experiencing the 90-minute performance featuring “Scraps,” whose antics leave guests rolling in the aisles with laughter.

The new “Wonders of Magic” show at WonderWorks features nationally-recognized magician Terry Evanswood.  In addition to Evanswood’s daily performances of “Wonders of Magic” at WonderWorks, a new museum called the “Hall of Magic” just opened inside WonderWorks showcasing some of magic’s most treasured artifacts from legendary magicians like Harry Houdini, Howard Thurston and Harry Blackstone.  WonderWorks also features the WonderDog Café where guests can enjoy the world-famous WonderDog with its secret recipe chili sauce without ever leaving the attraction.

ValueVacation tickets to WonderWorks are available in a variety of packages that meet the needs of any size family.  To learn more about WonderWorks, the Hoot N’Holler Dinner Show and the new Wonders of Magic show featuring Terry Evanswood, visit www.WonderWorksTN.com or call 865-868-1800.

WonderWorks operates from 9 a.m. to midnight every day.  We also operate in Orlando, Fla. and will open soon in Panama City, Fla. and Myrtle Beach, S.C.

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Media Contact
Rick Laney
(865) 584-0550
rlaney@ackermannpr.com

Well over 135,000 “passengers” have boarded the new Titanic Museum Attraction in just seven weeks

Posted by Rick Laney – June 9, 2010

Knoxville, Tenn. – The new Titanic Museum Attraction in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. has been open for just two months and already more than 135,000 “passengers” have toured the painstakingly authentic recreation of the world’s most famous ship.

Titanic Museum Attraction in Tennessee

The world’s largest Titanic Museum Attraction, which is also the newest major attraction in the popular resort area surrounding the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, is exceeding its business projections in all areas and sells completely out of tickets on most days. Because of the overwhelming response to the new museum, visitors are being urged to purchase tickets in advance or to make reservations by phone.

“I came down from Ohio specifically for the Titanic Museum Attraction,” said Amy Polczynski.  “I fully expected it to be amazing – but it far exceeded all of my expectations.  From the costumed crew members who meet you outside to the exact recreations of the grand staircase and first class suite, everything is so authentic.  It literally makes you feel as though you are standing on board the Titanic.

“In addition to the interior and exterior of the museum, the hundreds of actual Titanic artifacts that are on display are simply breathtaking.  To stand there and look at the actual master key that opened all of the first class suites, and the handwritten letters from those on board the ship, it just transports you back to 1912 – you feel like you are literally there.”

The Titanic Museum Attraction opened in April with a star-studded weekend-long Grand Opening hosted by Regis Philbin.  The event also featured numerous descendants and family members of those on board the Titanic and included a christening of the ship by Captain Edward J. Smith.

Titanic Museum Attraction is a half-scale, permanent, three-deck recreation of the Titanic.  The museum houses 20 galleries to display nearly 400 authentic, priceless Titanic artifacts that were either carried from the ship and into lifeboats by passengers and crew, or were found afloat soon after the sinking and quickly salvaged by rescue boats.

The Isidor and Ida Straus Suite at Titanic Museum Attraction

Inside the Titanic Museum Attraction, visitors find full-size recreations (built to actual Titanic blueprints) of Third-Class quarters, a First-Class suite, dining rooms and – the museum’s centerpiece – a $1 million exact reproduction of the Titanic’s Grand Staircase.  The First-Class suite in the Titanic Museum Attraction, which is dedicated to Isidor and Ida Straus who co-owned Macy’s Department Stores, was also the cabin used in James Cameron’s blockbuster movie Titanic as Rose’s suite.

“What we have created is special in so many ways,” said John Joslyn, co-owner of the Titanic Museum Attraction.  “It is truly a museum – with hundreds of priceless artifacts from the Titanic, but it is also an overall experience for our guests.  They get to talk to crew members and maids who know the detailed story of the ship and her passengers.  Visitors are able to touch an iceberg and feel the 28-degree water exactly as it was on that fateful night.

“While you’re visiting the Titanic Museum Attraction, you truly become a passenger on board the Titanic.  It’s a complete experience that honors and respects the ship and its passengers by keeping their stories alive.  It’s a one-of-a-kind place that you have to experience to fully understand.”

In addition to being a world class museum in the truest sense of the word, Titanic Museum Attraction is also highly interactive and offers a hands-on experience for children, teenagers and adults.  The ship is anchored in water to create the illusion of Titanic at sea, and a two-hour self-guided tour gives guests the sensation of sailing on the original ship’s 1912 maiden voyage. Upon entry, each guest receives a boarding pass bearing the name of an actual Titanic passenger or crew member whose fate is revealed on the Memorial Wall at tour end. Along the way, powerful emotions surface as guests:

  • Walk Titanic’s Grand Staircase
  • Touch the frozen surface of an “iceberg”
  • Feel the chill of that fateful “Starry Night”
  • Study some of the largest, most detailed Titanic models ever built
  • Grip the ship’s wheel and follow the Captain’s commands
  • Tour world-class galleries and the rare historical artifacts they hold
  • Sit in a Titanic lifeboat and listen to actual survivors tell their stories
  • Send an SOS from the Marconi Wireless Room
  • Test their balance while standing on mini-decks built to show the ever-steeper slope of Titanic as she sank
  • Watch children eight years and younger explore the special interactive Tot-Titanic Play-and-Learn Room
  • Dive to Titanic’s wreck site via spectacular underwater camera footage

The Titanic Museum Attraction – which is conveniently located to all areas of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville – is now open every day from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. ET.  Tickets are available online at www.TitanicPigeonForge.com and visitors are strongly urged to purchase tickets in advance or make reservations by calling 1-800-381-7670.

Cedar Bay Entertainment, which owns and operates Titanic Museum Attraction, is a privately owned entertainment and development company headquartered in Branson, Missouri, the site of Cedar Bay’s first Titanic Museum Attraction. Since its April 2006 grand opening, it has welcomed more than 2,200,000 guests.

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Media Contact
Rick Laney
(865) 584-0550
rlaney@ackermannpr.com

Wilderness at the Smokies resort provides free water safety training during National Water Safety Month

Posted by Rick Laney – May 27, 2010

Sevierville, Tenn. –  Wilderness at the Smokies resort in Sevierville, Tenn. conducted free water safety training programs during National Water Safety Month in May.  The programs, which were available to school groups, community groups and church groups, taught the basics of water safety and rescue techniques.

Because of its commitment to water safety, and the highly trained staff at Wilderness at the Smokies resort, Wilderness at the Smokies management allocated facilities and the water safety staff to the training programs.

“Nothing we do here at Wilderness at the Smokies resort is as important as water safety,” said Dave McGregor, General Manager at Wilderness at the Smokies resort.  “We want our guests to have a great, relaxing experience at our waterparks – but safety will always be our top priority.  Our safety experts are simply the best in the business at what they do, and National Water Safety Month gave us an opportunity to share that with our community.”

Water safety traing at Wilderness at the Smokies Resort.

Each and every lifeguard at Wilderness at the Smokies is Ellis Trained and Certified – and they meet the industry’s absolute highest training standards.  Ellis Training involves some of the most rigorous physical and academic testing in the world – and it doesn’t stop at certification.  Ellis Certification requires that every lifeguard working at Wilderness at the Smokies goes through a safety audit and additional training every year. Over and above the stringent Ellis requirements, Wilderness at the Smokies randomly tests and challenges its lifeguards on a weekly basis to ensure the highest level of safety for our guests.

When you look at the 1,000 waterparks in the United States – and the approximately 80 million people who visit waterparks each and every year – the safety record is extraordinary.  Waterparks continue to provide the absolute safest place for families to play in the water together. Statistically, you are far more likely to be injured riding a bicycle or ironing your clothes than you are at a waterpark.  Compared to other recreational aquatic activities, both guarded and unguarded – including community pools, beaches, lakes, etc. – waterparks have the lowest risk of drowning.  As members of the World Waterpark Association (WWA), Wilderness at the Smokies supports any and all industry efforts to enhance the already amazingly safe environment we provide for our guests.

For more information about Wilderness at the Smokies resort, visit www.WildernessAtTheSmokies.com.  For more information about National Water Safety Month, visit www.WaterSafetyMonth.org.

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Media Contact
Rick Laney
(865) 584-0550
rlaney@ackermannpr.com

Internationally-recognized magician Terry Evanswood makes new, permanent home at WonderWorks

Posted by Rick Laney – April 27, 2010

Terry Evanswood

Terry Evanswood at WonderWorks

Pigeon Forge, Tenn. – The movies have the “Oscar” and magic has the “Merlin.”  Both are highly sought-after awards given only to the most outstanding performers and artists.  WonderWorks in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. is now the permanent home to Terry Evanswood, one of a very select group of magicians to ever earn a Merlin.  Harry Blackstone, Doug Henning, Siegfried & Roy, and David Copperfield are a few of the past Merlin winners.

In addition to Evanswood’s daily performances of “Wonders of Magic” at WonderWorks, a new museum called the “Hall of Magic” just opened inside WonderWorks showcasing some of magic’s most treasured artifacts from legendary magicians like Harry Houdini, Howard Thurston and Harry Blackstone.  A huge collection of priceless props, costumes, autographs, mechanical toys, memorabilia and antique magic sets are now on display in the free Hall of Magic museum.

Over the years, Evanswood has thrilled audiences with his performances throughout the world, with some of his biggest fans being other famous magicians.  Now that Evanswood has found a home at the popular WonderWorks attraction in Pigeon Forge, he is within a one-day drive of most major cities in the Eastern U.S. and a must-see for visitors to Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

“When I begin my show,” Evanswood said, “I look out and see an audience full of children, parents and grandparents. By the time I am half-way through my performance, I look out on each and every face and I see an entire audience of kids.  The look of complete awe and wonderment on their faces turns every single person in the room into a child.  That’s the most impressive magic trick I can ever hope to perform.”

Merlin Award

Terry Evanswood's Merlin Award in the Hall of Magic Museum at WonderWorks

Evanswood, who knew he wanted to be a magician since he was 9 years old, has performed in front of well over a million people (including being invited twice to perform at the White House in Washington, D.C.).  Along with his cast – Brittany McElroy. Natasha Volvacheva, Linda Black and Mike Phillips –  Evanswood continues to thrill huge crowds daily at WonderWorks with magic, illusions, sleight-of-hand, Houdini-style escapes and a dose of comedy.

WonderWorks, is an indoor theme park that opened in 2006 and has nearly 60,000 square feet of fun for all ages. WonderWorks is housed in an upside down building (you have to see it to be believe it).  The building appears to have been ripped from its foundation and set back down on its roof.

Inside WonderWorks, guests will find 120 interactive adventures that include the “Challenge Zone” with a rock wall climbing, physical and psychological endurance competitions and even a “bed of nails” to lie on.  In the “Space Zone,” visitors are entertained with interactive, 3-D films about outer space plus life-size recreations of space suits they can try on for size, a Mercury Space Capsule, and simulators that allow guests to land the Discovery Space Shuttle as it glides in from outer space.

WonderWorks also houses a “Sound and Light Zone,” a “Natural Disaster Zone” (where guests can experience a 5.3 earthquake), and the “Control Center” where visitors create roller coasters on computers and then get to ride the roller coaster they created in a coaster simulator.  WonderWorks also features the WonderDog Café where guests can enjoy the world-famous WonderDog with its secret recipe chili sauce without ever leaving the attraction.

Every evening, WonderWorks comes to life with the “Hoot N’Holler” dinner show – one of the most popular shows in the Great Smoky Mountains.  For years, visitors have enjoyed a fantastic three-course dinner with their family while experiencing the 90-minute performance featuring “Scraps,” whose antics leave guests rolling in the aisles with laughter.  Kids are always FREE at the Hoot N’ Holler diner show with a paying adult.

ValueVacation tickets to WonderWorks are available in a variety of packages that meet the needs of any size family.  To learn more about WonderWorks, the Hoot N’Holler dinner show and the new Wonders of Magic show featuring Terry Evanswood, visit www.WonderWorksTN.com or call 865-868-1800.

WonderWorks operates from 9 a.m. to midnight every day.  We also operate in Orlando, Fla. and will open soon in Panama City, Fla. and Myrtle Beach, S.C.

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Media Contact
Rick Laney
(865) 584-0550
rlaney@ackermannpr.com

Wilderness at the Smokies brings year-round opportunities to conference, convention and meeting planners

Posted by Rick Laney – March 30, 2010

Sevierville, Tenn. – Wilderness at the Smokies resort is changing the way conference, convention and meeting planners view and utilize the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee.  Always popular as a spring, summer and fall destination, the area’s newest resort is drawing year-round events to its 700-acre Sevierville, Tenn. property.

Conveniently located next to the 200,000 square-foot Sevierville Event Center, Wilderness at the Smokies offers 234 mountain modern guest rooms and 472 multi-room suites in addition to condominiums at the Wyndham Resort on the Wilderness property.  Wilderness at the Smokies resort also boasts two outdoor waterparks, a nearly four-acre indoor waterpark and 36-holes of championship golf.

Wilderness at the Smokies Resort

With a 108,000 square-foot exhibit hall, a 19,000 square-foot ballroom, more than 1,600 parking spaces, ten covered loading bays, two nearby airports, and less than a full day’s drive for 75 percent of the U.S. population, the Sevierville Event Center at Wilderness at the Smokies resort is quickly becoming one of the region’s most popular conference, convention and meeting destinations.

Since opening less than two years ago, Wilderness at the Smokies resort has hosted meetings, conferences and conventions ranging from family reunions to major national events like the Phil Waldrep Ministries “Celebrate America” conference in October with keynote speaker former President George W. Bush which was attended by nearly 10,000 people.

“We work hard to make sure the meetings our guests host are fun and easy,” says Dottie Clabough, director of sales for Wilderness at the Smokies. “Our facility offers multiple meeting room options, six executive suites, and if you need more space, we have the Sevierville Events Center, which is connected to our Events Center Hotel.

“When your guests are done with a busy day in the board room, they, along with their families, will welcome the opportunity to kick back and relax in our fabulous waterparks, on Eagle’s Landing championship golf course, or at our restaurants,” says Clabough. “We even have a trolley service available to us that goes to many popular shows and attractions in nearby Pigeon Forge. It is perfect for spouse’s programs or evening activities.

President George W. Bush speaks at Wilderness at the Smokies

“When guests come to our property, they can park their cars and not worry about driving during their stay. Everything they could want or need is all right here.”

Wilderness at the Smokies resort opened in June 2008 with the Stone Hill Lodge and Salamander Springs outdoor waterpark adjacent to the Sevierville Event Center.  Six months later, River Lodge and the Wild WaterDome indoor waterpark were added.  In May 2009, Wilderness at the Smokies expanded again with the addition of Lake Wilderness, the resort’s second outdoor waterpark.  Lake Wilderness features Cataloochee Creek Adventure River, the Wilderness Rapids Wave Pool and poolside cabanas.

Wilderness at the Smokies, located minutes from Interstate 40 and situated in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, is establishing a new standard for conferences, conventions and meetings in East Tennessee.  With two 18-hole golf courses, two outdoor waterparks, an indoor waterpark with a wave pool and surf rider, hot tubs, and countless waterslides and attractions, Wilderness at the Smokies has something for all age groups.  For more information about Wilderness at the Smokies, visit www.WildernessAtTheSmokies.com.

Media Contact
Rick Laney
(865) 584-0550
rlaney@ackermannpr.com