The Attractions Group Podcast
Theme park industry news and analysis as well as interviews with Attractions Industry leaders.
Episodes
Season 5, Episode 037
Join the Attractions Group Podcast for an exclusive deep dive with Eugene Naughton, President of The Dollywood Company. In this episode, Eugene shares the "secret sauce" behind Dollywood’s world-class guest experience, their industry-leading 93% host retention rate, and the highly anticipated 2026 opening of Nightflight Expedition.
Matt Miller (America’s Theme Park Technologist) joins us as a guest host, pinc...
This episode of "The Attractions Group Podcast" features an interview with Matt Eckert, the President and CEO of Holiday World & Splashin' Safari, who stops by to talk about 2026.
Hosts, David and Clete, begin by discussing recent roller coaster rankings from USA Today, sharing their own strong (and sometimes humorous) opinions on the list. The conversation then shifts to Holiday World's recent accolades, including its high ran...
How do you resurrect a legend?
Just three days before its world premiere, we sit down with Drew Edward Hunter, Creative Lead for Sally Dark Rides, to discuss the design, development, and debut of Kings Island’s "Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare."
"To the Faithful...": Relive the magic of the original 1992 classic! We dive deep into the return of the Maestro and how this "new" attraction honors the legacy of the original Phantom T...
With Clete away in Chicago, David is in the studio and is joined by special Guest Host: Matt Miller of Innovated Studios. Known across the industry as "America's Theme Park Technologist,"
Matt joins David to peel back the curtain on how technology is reshaping the guest experience. In
This Episode:
- The Origins of a Technologist: We dive into Matt’s unique career path and how he earned the title of America's Theme Park Techn...
Join Clete Reinberger and David Detling on the Attractions Group Podcast as they welcome back a very special guest: Elizabeth Ringas, President of American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE)! In this deep-dive episode, we explore the current state of the coaster community, the massive lineup for Coaster Con 2026, and the bittersweet transition as El...
Welcome to Opening Day Eve! 🎢
This week on The Attractions Group Podcast, hosts Clete Reinberger and David Detling are pulling back the curtain on the "unofficial" side of the theme park industry. After putting out a call to industry professionals on LinkedIn and social media, the responses flooded in—covering the weird, the odd, the funny, and the flat-out gross things that park guests do.
From the "Blue Puke" cleanup at Kings Is...
How do you sustain "world-class" hospitality for over three decades at the most famous vacation destination on Earth?
In this episode of the Attractions Group Podcast, hosts Clete Reinberger and David Detling are joined by Jeff Korte, a 36-year veteran of The Walt Disney Company. Jeff has navigated the massive evolution of the Hospitality sector within the attractions industry—from the foundational service models of the 1990s to th...
Theme Park News & Industry Analysis with Special Guest Matt Miller
This week on the Attractions Group Podcast, hosts David Detling and Clete Reinberger dive into a massive week of theme park news, construction updates, and corporate shifts. Joining the show is America’s Theme Park Technologist, Matt Miller of Innovated Studios in Orlando, to provide a technical breakdown of the most anticipated attractions of 2026.
In This Epis...The landscape of the theme park industry just shifted forever. In this emergency breakdown, hosts Clete Reinberger and David Detling dive deep into the massive March 5th announcement: Six Flags Entertainment Corporation is divesting seven of its regional properties in a $331 million deal with EPR Properties and the newly emerging operator, Enchanted Parks, LLC.
The Attractions Group Podcast | Season5, Episode 27
Clete and David officially at the 1-year mark hosting the tAG Podcast!
In this episode, we’re moving beyond the "year in review" and diving straight into the heavy hitters shaping the future of themed entertainment. From Disney’s corporate strategy to the "death" of the American mall, we’re breaking down the business of fun.
In this episode, we discuss:
- The D’Amaro Era: A dee...
2026 is already shaping up to be one of the most transformative years the attractions industry has seen in decades—and the news isn’t slowing down.
In Season 5, Episode 26 of the Attractions Group Podcast, hosts David Detling and Clete Reinberger break down the biggest theme park, amusement park, and attractions industry news heading into 2026.
🔥 In this episode, we cover:
- The most anticipated new attractions opening in 2026
- ...
After decades of shaping the global attractions industry, David Mandt (Former IAAPA Chief Governance Officer & Executive Director of the IAAPA Foundation) has officially retired—and he’s joining us for his first exclusive interview since stepping down at the end of 2025!
Hosts David Detling and Clete Reinberger sit down wi...
Welcome to another exciting year for the Attractions Group Podcast!
Buckle up for an awesome ride, we're excited that you are joining us!
We break down what Christmas looks like for theme parks heading into 2025, how seasonal events are evolving, and what recent announcements mean for the future of the attractions industry. Then we zoom out to discuss why Qiddiya City matters, how Six Flags’ global expansion is changing the landsca...
🎢 Six Flags New CEO John Reilly: IAAPA Fallout & What's Next | Attractions Group Podcast
The biggest attractions business news is here! Join hosts Clete Reinberger and David Detling for a deep-dive analysis into the monumental leadership shift at Six Flags Entertainment Corporation. Veteran operator John Reilly has been named the new President and CEO, and this episode breaks down exactly what that means for the future of Six ...
Join hosts David Detling and Clete Reinberger for a deep-dive breakdown of everything that went down at IAAPA Expo 2025 — the biggest global gathering for rides, tech, attractions, and themed entertainment.
Whether you’re in operations, design, guest experience, or leadership, this episode gives you an insider-level look at the products, people, and innovations shaping the future of our industry.
- 🚀 A full reaction to Nightfli...
Join Alex & Isabelle from the Attractions Group and the Energy Efficiency Group (both based in Cincinnati!) for this "high-voltage" webinar on a critical, often overlooked, strategy for massive energy savings at theme parks, zoos, waterparks, and large attractions.
These venues are powerhouses of energy consumption, running thousands of horsepower of inductive loads, including:
-
Rides and Attractions: Motors for roller coa...
⛰️ Attractions Group Podcast: A Smoky Mountain Expedition with Dollywood President Eugene Naughton 🎢
Join hosts Clete Reinberger and David Detling for a fascinating deep dive with a true industry visionary, Mr. Eugene Naughton, President of The Dollywood Company!
In this must-listen episode, we go straight to the heart of the Smoky Mountains to discuss what it truly takes to operate a world-class resort in the attraction-rich Pi...
Get ready for a deep dive into the thrilling world of coaster history! 🎢 In this episode, hosts David Detling and Clete Reinberger sit down with two incredible guests from the National Roller Coaster Museum and Archives (NRCMA) in Texas: Kris Rowberry and Mark Rosenzweig.
Kris and Mark pull back the curtain on the massive und...
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