Teen Wins "Name The Boat" Contest At Six Flags Darien Lake

Darien Center, NY -- The Lackawanna teen who won the Name-The-Boat contest for Six Flags Darien Lake's new ride, Shipwreck Falls, helped dedicate the ship at an unveiling ceremony this morning (Thursday) at the park.

Don Meyers, Jr., 14, unveiled the new name with the help of Looney Tunes characters Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck to the applause of park guests and officials. The double-decker, wooden motor boat now boasts the name "On The Rocks" as it rests on a sand-filled island complete with lifesavers, lobster traps and, of course, rocks.

"It was a lot of fun to involve the public in a first-time contest like this," said Jill Storms, public relations manager. "And, we're so thrilled that our winner happens to be a season pass-holder who already is a fan of our park. Don now has unique bragging rights."

Nearly 500 entries were submitted during the contest's run in June. Some guests submitted ballots at the park and others participated online at www.sixflags.com/darienlake. That's how Don entered the contest.

"I was just searching on the [Six Flags Darien Lake] website like I always do and I saw the contest," he said. "So I sent in three names. I was so surprised [that] I won."

Because Don already has a season pass for this year, he was awarded a pass for the 2003 season. He was joined at the ceremony by his parents, Don Sr. and Lisa, and his cousin. After the ceremony, Don took a refreshing ride on Shipwreck Falls with its 50-foot waterfall dive and tidal-wave splash, passing right by the shipwreck with "On The Rocks" in blue and yellow. He then spent the day in the park with his family.

The Lackawanna teen is an incoming freshman at Timon Bishop St. Jude in Buffalo.