Ten New Nickelodeon Rides and Attractions For Paramount's Great America

Santa Clara, CA -- The stars of Nickelodeon, the number one network for kids, step off-screen and come to life at Paramount's Great America when the park introduces 10 new Nickelodeon rides and attractions and opens the gates on March 29, 2003.

"This is truly an exciting year for Paramount's Great America as we introduce 10 new rides that are specifically geared toward families who watch Nickelodeon at home," said Tim Fisher, executive vice president and general manager of Paramount's Great America. "We are committed to creating a family environment complete with rides and entertainment for moms, dads and kids."

Inside the front gate, families will be greeted daily by Nickelodeon's top characters. As they make their way through the park, kids of all ages will dash to the Action FX Theater, where the highest rated kids show on TV magically transforms into a dazzling new ride, "SpongeBob SquarePants 3-D."

In the ocean-motion action adventure "SpongeBob SquarePants 3-D," park guests join SpongeBob as the newest batch of fry cook recruits at the Krusty Krab (SpongeBob's place of employment) to embark on a quest to create the ultimate Krabby patty in the undersea world of Bikini Bottom (SpongeBob's hometown). Through the use of magical viewing goggles and moving seats, guests are strapped in for the blockbuster ride of the summertime. This motion-simulator movie experience combines eye-popping 3-D effects, non-stop edge-of-your-seat movement which is synchronized with the action projected on the gigantic silver screen and hilarious hi-jinx for a one-of-a-kind family adventure.

Continuing through the park, guests big and small will discover the epicenter of excitement in Nickelodeon(TM) Central, a brand new expanded area where kids are in charge. The Nicktoon stars kids know and love from their favorite television shows come to life in a variety of rides and attractions.

Easily located by the giant green dinosaur that hovers over the entrance to the ride is the new adventure, Rugrats(TM) Runaway Reptar. The roller coaster experience is based on an episode of The Rugrat's titled "Runaway Reptar," in which the Rugrats' favorite green dinosaur comes to life in the babies' dreams. Families board the coaster and travel down a trail of messy destruction with The Rugrats when this typically good dinosaur turns very bad.

The Wild Thornberrys(TM) travel the world to explore the jungles and the rain forests. Those adventures are now the focus of two new attractions in Nickelodeon Central. In The Wild Thornberrys Rain Maze kids can meet Eliza Thornberry and Donnie and their animal friends as they navigate through the family's wet-and-wild rainforest adventure. Additionally, kids will go "coco-nuts" when they ride The Wild Thornberrys Treetop Lookout, a high-flying adventure to the top of a 30-ft. tall coconut tree.

SpongeBob's Boatmobiles is a new attraction complete with SpongeBob SquarePants' natural environment (lots of water), his pineapple home and his pal Patrick. And even though SpongeBob is still having trouble passing Mrs. Puff's Driving School, kids (and willing parents) can dive in and take a watery whirl in a SpongeBob speedboat.

The new Dora's Dune Buggies ride is based on the number one rated TV show for preschoolers, Dora the Explorer that airs on Nick Jr. Dora is always going places in a dune buggy driven by her friend, Hedgehog. Now kids can take control of their very own interactive dune buggies.

There will be more chances than ever before for kids to meet and hug the celebrities from their favorite Nickelodeon television shows when all of the Nicktoons appear in Celebration Plaza for Nicktoons LIVE at 5. (Presented once daily at 5 p.m.)

Paramount's Great America will also host a special stage presentation of Slime Time Live in the Nickelodeon Theater. Some lucky audience members step on stage to play the same wild interactive games they see on TV while others get to pick who gets covered in green slime.

Once guests ride SpongeBob's Boatmobiles and see SpongeBob SquarePants 3-D, they will want to hang around in Nickelodeon Central to meet SpongeBob SquarePants himself! For the first time ever, SpongeBob will be at Paramount's Great America to greet his fans.

Families will also enjoy a whole new dining experience in the Nicktoons Café, a new restaurant located in the heart of Nickelodeon Central. Nickelodeon Central includes and expands the area formerly known as Nickelodeon(R) Splat City.

Bay Area families who haven't visited Paramount's Great America in awhile will find the park re-energized with new family focused amenities, including increased stroller parking, more baby changing stations and new family bathrooms. In addition, guests will enjoy new family-focused pricing and discounts on admission tickets. The new updates will make traveling with children easier and more affordable at Paramount's Great America.

Paramount's Great America has the most kids' rides, the most coasters, and the most water rides in Northern California. And, it's the only place in the Bay Area where kids can meet and play with their favorite Nickelodeon friends.

Paramount's Great America opens for the 2003 season -- weekends only -- beginning Saturday, March 29, 2003. For more information about Paramount's Great America, visit the park's web site at paramountsgreatamerica.com.