Daily Archive for March 28th, 2008

What we know about Niagara’s Fury

Published
by
Graham
on March 28, 2008
in Niagara Falls Attractions and Niagara Falls Developments
. 19 Comments

niagaras_fury_logo.jpg

Based on the article from the Niagara Falls Reporter (thanks Rob for the link; for everyone else… be sure to check out the article, it’s a good one) and other things I’ve been able to find out, here is what Niagara’s Fury is shaping up to be (along with other details about the renovations at Table Rock Place):

  1. It’s hard to get full details on what is going on as workers had to sign non-disclosure agreements.
  2. The main entrance will be via the walkway, which enters the main building on the second floor, into a large foyer. There will be kiosks, info booths, etc. You can see an artists rendering of this on the Table Rock development page of the Niagara Parks site.
  3. There will be a two-level observation area which overlooks the Falls. Near there is also where the new restaurant will be.
  4. Also near there will be the entrance to Niagara’s Fury.
  5. After purchasing a ticket, you will enter into a waiting area. You’ll then enter a large room. As the Niagara Falls Report mentioned, “One source told me that Niagara’s Fury is a type of floating theater where an indoor waterfall surrounds visitors and a multimedia display takes place on, in and around the cascades that immerses you in the history and power of the world’s most famous waterfalls.” I’m sure the area isn’t actually going to be floating (bobbing up and down), but there will be water around you.
  6. The presentation will be on a screen that wraps around the room (I don’t know if it is a big screen, a full 360º video or a dome screen). Obviously the sound will be pretty intense. Apparently there will be other effects as well such as rain, snow, lightning, and more. The whole purpose of all of this is to experience the crashing, cracking, erosion, water, and more that it took to create the Falls.
  7. The main part of the attraction will last about 15 minutes.
  8. The Niagara Falls Reporter quoted the Niagara Falls Review as sayingit will be a Universal Studios type attraction. I’ve never been, but apparently it will be like the Twister attraction (follow the link for a brief video of that attraction).
  9. I have no idea what the cost of the ride will be, but I would assume it would be pricey… $15 maybe? It’s hard to tell, but building all of this is going to be expensive and they are going to want to make the money back somehow.

It sounds fantastic! Just a couple of other thoughts… I’ve mentioned before that it seems like a strange place to have the attraction. If you want to experience the power of the Falls, then go to the free lookout that is 20 ft away, or go down to the Journey Behind the Falls. Also, there just seems to be so much hype surround this, it seems that it will be almost impossible for the attraction to live up to that hype, no matter how good it is.

Niagara Entertainment in 2008 Includes Vegas-Style Magic, Bird Shows & Live Music All Around the Ontario Vacation Destination

Published
by
Graham
on March 28, 2008
in Niagara Falls Attractions and Niagara Falls Events
. 0 Comments

Here is a press release from Market Wire (via Yahoo! Finance):

Spring is around the corner in Niagara Falls, and this season Niagara entertainment is heating up with world-renowned musicians, magicians, and more. The impressive list of live entertainment venues and events around Niagara Falls includes Avalon Ballroom at the Fallsview Casino, Greg Frewin Theatre, Bird Kingdom, Spring in Bloom Concert, and the Oh Canada Eh? Dinner Show.

‘Secure document’ date set; Homeland Security says June 1, 2009 is firm target date

Published
by
Graham
on March 28, 2008
in Niagara Falls News and Niagara Falls Travel
. 0 Comments

From the Niagara Falls Review:

It’s official. Travellers entering the United States by land, sea and air will require a passport “or other secure document” as identification iorder to be permitted into the Land of the Free.

“We are on course to implement and enforce the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative which is an important step forward in securing the homeland,” said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. “Limiting and standardizing the types of documents presented will result in a more secure and efficient border. We will continue to encourage cross-border travel and trade while at the same time decreasing identity theft and fraud.”

That’s good news to Arlene White, executive director of the Binational Tourism Alliance.

“This is good,” she said, moments after the Department of Homeland Security sent out the media release announcing the date travellers from Canada, the United States, Mexico and some parts of the Caribbean - countries that traditionally gave oral declarations or a birth certificate or drivers licence when entering the country - will need to enter the U.S.

Out go the lights

Published
by
Graham
on March 28, 2008
in Niagara Falls Events and Niagara Falls News
. 0 Comments

From Niagara This Week:

Saturday night between 8-9 p.m. is something Stan Sammy has been waiting for a long time.

There are a number of interesting things happening among the stars these days, said the president of the Niagara Centre chapter of the Royal Astronomy Society of Canada. Saturn’s ring and five or six of its moons can be clearly viewed through a telescope and the a nebula in the Orion constellation (a bright patch of gas and dust in outer space) can be seen by the naked eye.

But what has Sammy really excited is the skies over Niagara will be extra dark thanks to the region’s participation in Earth Hour, a global movement spearheaded by the World Wildlife Fund to raise awareness about energy conservation.