Once upon a time in the enchanted land of Elvira, there lived a young boy named Max. Max was no ordinary boy, for he possessed the rare gift of being able to bring drawings to life. Every page of his sketchbook held a world waiting to be explored and a story waiting to unfold. Max's imagination knew no bounds, and his drawings were filled with magnificent creatures, daring adventures, and mystical lands. One day, as Max wandered through the magical forest near his home, he stumbled upon an old, tattered book hidden beneath a pile of leaves. Intrigued, Max quickly grabbed the book and began to flip through its pages.
Magic Springs responds to climate change affecting guests, workers
Hot Southern summers are peak season at Magic Springs, outside of Hot Springs, and the amusement and water park is making preparations to deal with predictions of even hotter summers down the road.
There are safeguards in place to protect guests and employees in a region where the summertime temperatures regularly reached into the triple digits when it opened in the late 1970s. The park gives out free ice water and prioritizes shade structures and mister fans.
In a written response to submitted questions, Park General Manager Jessyka Hanna said Magic Springs is now broadcasting in-park announcements about the importance of drinking water and adding electrolytes. Management partnered with Pepsi this year to add more "hydration stations," and there are plans to add more bench seating under shade trees and air-conditioning units around the property.
Extreme weather is affecting the Arkansas Twister, the park's wooden roller coaster.
"The rainy season -- along with the increased temperatures -- affect the longevity of the wood used to build it, so it's more expensive to maintain and update," Hanna wrote, adding that existing park structures and fencing built with wood are being replaced with longer-lasting infrastructure made with fiber cement and composite decking.
"In general, the cost of parts, labor and material have increased but the bigger issue is the lead time on parts and materials. In the past, we could still get parts quickly, even from our overseas manufacturers. That has changed significantly in the last several years; some parts have lead times as long as 54 weeks. It is hard to prepare for that, especially when our operating season is only six months long."
She also confirmed that the park costs more to insure now.
Magic Springs reopened the park in 2000, unveiling a water park within its footprint for the first time. Hanna said this was a business decision reflecting Arkansas' climate; since then, coinciding with increasingly hot summers, management has more than tripled the number of water attractions.
Extreme heat is also affecting water temperatures, she said. In response, the park drains and adds new, cooler water to each pool, and certified operators on staff handle the water chemistry.
When heat indices reach more than 100 degrees for an extended period of time, the park stops serving soda at its team member areas and starts serving lighter food options.
"This was welcomed by our team; safety is a top priority," Hanna wrote. "We offer rotations and additional breaks to staff that are working outside, enabling the incredible guest experience while keeping themselves healthy."
This summer also saw what Hanna called "significant weather disadvantages."
"In addition to the extreme heat, we had more frequent rain and more lightning storms than have been recorded in at least 10 years," she wrote. "Of course, this is relative to park operation, so we measure its effect on the park based on operating hours and the day of the week. The forecast alone can impact our attendance, too."
Rain or lightning affected 43% of Magic Springs' operating days this July and on more than 30% of total operating days this season. Hanna acknowledged guests' frustrations when the park shuts down to wait out an electrical storm; rides and attractions close for 30 minutes after each lightning strike within 10 miles. For several years, the park has given guests a ticket for another day at the park if rides are shut down for an hour.
"We put all our efforts into packing the most fun possible into the summer months. We've never been able to control the weather and that will continue amid climate change," Hanna wrote. "At a high level, extreme weather impacts how often folks visit the park. Lower guest volume impacts our overall revenue, but we are still able to operate. When it rains, we do our best to stay open and work around the weather; we still have operators for our rides, keep our stores open for business and serve food."
She anticipates that Magic Springs will continue to see special events, like the "Magic Screams" Halloween event, grow as the park looks to continue attracting guests. Magic Screams also offers non-ride holiday experiences, which makes weather less of a factor.
"We are aware of how special the park is to Arkansas as its only theme and water park, and we are proud to serve our city and state with such an amazing attraction," Hanna wrote. "Despite the challenges, we had a great summer season and do have plans to continue making investments in the park in the years to come."
CORRECTION: Jessyka Hanna, general manager of Magic Springs, responded to questions from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette about steps that the amusement and water park has taken in response to high summer temperatures. An earlier version of this story incorrectly attributed the responses, and a subsequent update included an incorrect spelling of Hanna's name.
Magic Springs in the Rain
Ever since I bought my house (six years ago…where has the time gone. ) I have also bought a season pass to Magic Springs, a local theme and water park that’s not too far from my house. I usually go at least once a week and so far this year I have only been once and I got rained on…oops!! In all fairness since I have switched back to night shift it has been hard to get up and going during the daylight hours. Plus I have just been busy every day that I’m off work. Ugh. I hate being super busy but it always seems to be that way during the summer.
Now I know some of you are probably thinking WHY in the world does a single 30-something year old lady with no kids go to a theme/water park? To swim and lay out of course!! Giving up access to my apartment complex’s pool was not cool, especially during these steamy hot Arkansas summers so going to Magic Springs and hanging out in the wave pool makes me feel better!! HA!!
Of course the day that I decided to go and get my season pass and walk around the park for the first time this year it decided to rain. It sprinkled on my way there but my weather app said there should be clear skies for the rest of the day. WRONG!! LOL!! But that’s ok, I wasn’t planning on swimming since I had other things to do that day and I did get some pretty neat pics of the theme park!!
One of my favorite rides of all times is the carousel. I have loved carousels for as long as I can remember and even to this day I will ride one (or at least photograph it) if I stumble across one. Magic Springs has been open since the late 70’s so Im pretty sure this is the same carousel that I rode when I was a little girl.
Here are some photos of carousels I took in Bryant Park in NYC and on the Steel Pier in Atlantic City in New Jersey! I told you I loved carousels. HA!!
My all-time favorite ride at Magic Springs is the log ride. Unfortunately it was shut down the day I went so I didn’t get any good pics of it but it SO DANG FUN. I still ride it at least once every year!!
Another of my favorite rides is the Plummet Summit. This is a water ride that is mostly for the people standing on the bridge in front of it. If you stand on the bridge when the ride is going then you get soaked when the ride comes down the summit. It is perfect the perfect way to cool off on days that are super hot!!
A newer ride that just opened a couple years ago is the SkyShark. This is probably the one ride in the park you won’t catch me on because I am terrified of heights!! It’s basically a mix of skydiving, hang-gliding and bungee jumping all in one!
I didn’t get to check out the roller coasters before to started pouring but trust me when I say Magic Springs has some good ones!! I took shelter under this little covered bridge and fed the fish during the worst of the down pour.
Now on to my very favorite part of Magic Springs…the water park. I love me some Crystal Falls. They have expanded it a few times over the years and there are now a couple of pools, a huge splash pad, a wave pool, tons of slides and a lazy river!
I can’t wait until I am off work one day and it’s hot and sunny enough for me to hit up that water park!! I need to keep this beach tan alive somehow…HA.
Have you ever been to Magic Springs??
What’s your favorite theme or water park??
The House of Mountfathom
'THE HOUSE OF MOUNTFATHOM is the kind of book that turned me into a reader in the first place. It has the same clever interweaving of history and fantasy that I so admired in Nigel McDowell's previous books but is also filled with an utterly infectious kind of delight. The characters are so vivid and the world brims with the most gorgeous detail. And if this wasn't enough, the language itself is a pure joy. Nigel McDowell has left an extraordinary legacy behind, something of the imagination and something of the soul.' Eimear McBride, multi-award-winning author of A GIRL IS A HALF-FORMED THING
'Lyrical, ominous and utterly original, with a passionate sense of place and history, THE HOUSE OF MOUNTFATHOM is one of those books that pushes strange roots down into your mind.' Frances Hardinge, Costa Award-winning author of THE LIE TREE
Luke Mountfathom knows he is special and odd. He is told so by everyone he knows. His parents are special and odd too - they are the keepers of the House of Mountfathom, a magnificent stately home where the wrong door could take you to a far away land, and strange animals appear to stalk the grounds at midnight. The house is his home - but it is also the headquarters of the Driochta, a magic-weaving group of poets, artists, politicians and activists charged with keeping the peace in Ireland. They have many powers - have mastered Mirror-Predicting and Smoke-Summoning and Storm-Breaching - and a final ability: that of Mogrifying; taking on a unique animal form.
But Luke's idyllic existence at Mountfathom cannot last. Word reaches the House of protests across Ireland. There is a wish for independence, a rising discontent and scenes of violence that even the Driochta cannot control. In Dublin, death and disease is running rife in the tenements; a darkness is clogging the air, and is intent on staying. And when things quickly spin out of control for the Driochta, it is up to Luke, his cat Morrigan and his best friend Killian to worm out the heart of the evil in their land.
Intrigued, Max quickly grabbed the book and began to flip through its pages. To his amazement, the pages were filled with incredible illustrations of fantastical creatures and mythical beings. Unable to contain his excitement, Max raced home to his sketchbook, eager to bring the creatures in the book to life.
With a flick of his pencil, Max watched as a magnificent unicorn sprang to life, galloping through his bedroom. He was astounded by the power of his gift and the wonders it could create. As Max explored the book further, he discovered a tale of a lost kingdom in need of a hero. The kingdom had fallen into darkness, plagued by an evil sorcerer who had stolen the magic crystals that kept the land in harmony. The rightful ruler of the kingdom had been imprisoned, and the people lived in fear and despair. Filled with a sense of purpose, Max set out on a journey to find the stolen crystals and free the captive ruler. Together with his newly created companions, a mischievous pixie and a wise old owl, Max ventured into the unknown. Along the way, they encountered challenging obstacles and dangerous adversaries, but Max's unwavering determination and creativity always prevailed. Through the power of his illustrations, Max brought forth armies of courageous knights, magnificent dragons, and loyal unicorns to aid in their quest. His sketches came to life, battling against the darkness and restoring hope to the people of the kingdom. The climax of the tale came when Max faced the evil sorcerer in an epic battle of wits and magic. Drawing upon his courage and the strengths of his creations, Max outsmarted the sorcerer and reclaimed the stolen crystals. The kingdom was bathed in a dazzling light as the magic was restored, and the captive ruler was freed. As a reward for his bravery and ingenuity, Max was granted a permanent place in the enchanted land of Elvira. From that day forward, he became known as the legendary artist of Elvira, inspiring generations with his ability to bring dreams to life through the stroke of his pencil. In this magical male illustrated tale, we witness the extraordinary powers of a young boy and his ability to use art to make a difference. Max's journey reminds us of the boundless possibilities that lie within our own imaginations and the power that we hold to shape our own destinies..
Reviews for "Unraveling the Charms of Male-Guided Illustrated Stories"
1. Sarah - 2 stars - I was really excited to read "Magical Male Illustrated Tale" based on the description and the beautiful cover art, but I ended up being quite disappointed. The story felt disjointed and confusing, with too many characters and plotlines that were never fully developed. It felt like the author was trying too hard to be clever and unique, but it just didn't work for me. I also found the writing style to be overly flowery and pretentious. Overall, I couldn't connect with the story or the characters, and I was left feeling underwhelmed.
2. Mark - 1 star - I really struggled to get through "Magical Male Illustrated Tale". The story was overly convoluted and hard to follow, with too many unnecessary details and subplots. The pacing was extremely slow, and I found myself skimming through pages just to get to the end. The characters lacked depth and were difficult to relate to, making it hard for me to care about their fates. I also found the magical elements to be poorly explained and inconsistent. Overall, I was disappointed by this book and would not recommend it to others.
3. Emily - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Magical Male Illustrated Tale" as a fan of fantasy novels, but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The story was overly predictable, with cliched plot twists and characters that felt like cardboard cutouts. The dialogue was often cheesy and unrealistic, and I found myself cringing at some of the interactions. Additionally, the pacing was uneven, with moments of action followed by long stretches of nothing happening. Overall, I was left feeling underwhelmed and unsatisfied by this book.