NASHUA, N.H. — On Tuesday, March 7, 2023, Gary Slade, the owner and publisher of Arlington, Texas-based Amusement Today was inducted into the NEAAPA Hall of Fame during the group’s 110th Anniversary Education Conference and Annual Meeting in Nashua, New Hampshire.
“Through Amusement Today, Gary has been creating industry- wide awareness of stories about attractions large and small throughout our region and around the globe,” said Ed Hodgdon, NEAAPA’s Secretary. “We are proud of Gary’s accomplishments and honored to induct him into our Hall of Fame.”
Gary Slade has been a pillar in the attractions industry for 45 years, starting as a ride operator at Six Flags Over Texas in 1978. He would parlay his photography skills into a side gig by working with industry suppliers, documenting newly opened attractions that they could use in future marketing efforts. Wanting to do more in the industry, Gary took the advice of three departed Texas friends: Bruce Neal of Six Flags Over Texas; Sherrie Brammall of Schlitterbahn Waterpark and Paul Roads of Wonderland Park — each of whom encouraged him to use his newspaper background and launch a new trade newspaper for the amusement industry, and Amusement Today was born in April 1997.
