Here's a June 15, 2014 Associated Press article:
Thomas the Tank Engine chugs its way to Edaville
A short excerpt:
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Associated Press
Thomas Land, being built on about 11 of Edaville's 250 acres, will have 14 rides based on the television show, with the highlight being a 20-minute train ride on a life-sized Thomas the Tank Engine. A roller coaster, drop tower, Ferris wheel and other rides will feature more Thomas characters, including Toby, Cranky the Crane and Harold the Helicopter. Children will even be able to meet Sir Topham Hatt, the railroad's administrator.
and another:
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Adding Thomas Land will turn Edaville from a regional attraction to a national attraction, [Edaville owner Jon Delli Priscoli] said. He expects attendance, currently at about 250,000 people a year, to quadruple.
and
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Edaville, already one of the town's largest employers, is expected to triple its workforce from about 100 to 300 full- and part-time employees, he said.
--
Chris Webster