WATER MANIA
3/29/2007 10:05:49 AM by Stacy Wynn
Grab the family and dive into America’s wettest theme parks. We promise you’ll be drenched, and leave soaked from head to toe.
Waterparks have come a long way from the original slides built on towers or hills where guests simply climbed to the top, slid to the bottom and repeated. Today, imagination seems the only limit, as technology allows for flumes that twist and turn in every direction. New designs move riders up and down a slide path. Oscillating and bowl rides are the latest crazes, as well as water coasters. Now that we’ve got you inspired, check out these top waterparks.
Knott’s Soak City, Orange County
You may not think of Knott’s Berry Farm when you first try to list the country’s elite waterparks, but think again. Adjacent to the original Knott’s Berry Farm theme park, Knott’s Soak City is a 13-acre water adventure park with 21 of the most exciting water rides currently available. Sixteen of those are stimulating speed, tube and body slides. All of it is balanced out by the 750,000-gallon Tidal Wave Bay (whose name says it all) as well as the one-third-mile Sunset River and the three-story Toyota Beach House, which boasts 200 water guns, nozzles, sprayers and other interactive surprises for non-stop action.
The latest addition to the wet-action fun is the Pacific Spin, a four-person tube slide down a 32-foot long tunnel that drops riders 75 feet into a six-story funnel of swirling water that ends in a waterfall splash. Other notable splashes include the Old Man Falls that offers three separate single-rider high-speed slides, all 62 feet high. At a 39-foot starting height is the Malibu Run which has four individual single-person inner-tube slides, both in open flume and enclosed, dark flume configurations. The Laguna Storm water tower offers three separate single and double innertube-enclosed flumes starting from a platform 43 feet high. Banzai Falls sends riders down one of six multi-lane speed slides for a 41-foot run of pure adrenaline.
Like Knott’s Berry Farm theme park, Soak City is a family affair. The youngsters will be enthralled with Gremmie Lagoon, a hands-on water playground for the little ones complete with giant turtles, crabs and a mischievous submarine-swallowing octopus.
Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort, Texas
Translated, the Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort in New Braunfels, Texas, means “slippery road.” And that’s just what this 65-acre waterpark, numbered among the world’s largest, features on a grand scale. Miles of “slippery road” water result in a paradise of unparalleled entertainment and fun with slides, water rides, three uphill water coasters which are a Schlitterbahn invention, a simulated surfing site, and a tidal wave river, to name just a few of the park’s 40-plus attractions. There is something for everyone — from young children to adults, from the meek to the wild.
Anchoring the massive park is the Blastenhoff Tower which slides guests into their choice of several rides. One particularly unique ride is the Black Knight, the park’s first dark ride crafted of twisting twin tunnels of black fiberglass. Riders cruise on tandem inner tubes through five stories of loops and curves laid out for maximum enjoyment. Another favorite is the Master Blaster, voted “America’s Best Waterpark Ride” for several years running. As Schlitterbahn’s highest, steepest uphill water coaster, the 1,000-foot-long thrill-ride begins 60 feet in the air to swoop guests in two-person boats through a coaster-style series of hills and valleys. Screams and smiles are virtually guaranteed. The Banzai Pipeline offers 250-foot-long dual slides of twisting fiberglass that begin 40 feet in the air.
A change of pace is offered at the Sandbar Hot Tub. Nestled in the Congo River, the hot tub relaxes with gentle air bubbles and a Raindrop Shower. Then it’s back to the action on the Hillside Tube Chute. This was the first tube chute on site and has been renovated to traverse 550 feet of new river rapids that hook up with the original Hillside Tube Chute for a quarter-mile float from the base of the Castle to the Lagoon, with an energizing tunnel detour. These rides just touch on the wide variety of thrills available. The waterpark can easily take two days or more to experience thoroughly.
Six Flags White Water, Los Angeles
The name Six Flags is synonymous with amusement park fun, and Six Flags Hurricane Harbor in Los Angeles does the firm proud. The infamous Tornado sucks riders into the Tornado experience at 75 feet in the air. They then blast down a 132-foot-long tunnel, which deposits them into a gigantic, open-ended funnel. The special four-person cloverleaf tubes make this a thrilling group activity as the tube hugs the inside of the funnel wetting all with 5,500 gallons of swirling funnel water. As if that weren’t enough, the exhilarating experience ends with a waterfall splash down through the funnel mouth into a refreshing catch pool below. A specialized viewing platform lets friends, family and waiting riders watch all the action. The Tornado is designed to carry passengers at a maximum speed of 35 feet per second.
The Tornado doesn’t stand alone when it comes to truly awesome water rides. The Black Summet offers five slides including two of the tallest fully enclosed speed slides in Southern California. Lightening Falls boasts three turning, twisting open tube slides named Typhoon Tube, Tornado Twist and Thunder Trough — and yes, they are as exciting as they sound. The competitive spirit will find its match in the Bamboo Racer attraction, which offers distinctive six-lane racing. The 64-foot Taboo Tower turns the crumbled remains of an ancient temple into three breath-stealing speed rides.
The Lizard Lagoon creates a protected tropical beach environment that encompasses a 7,000-square-foot shallow recreational pool with basketball hoops, bordered by seating and water-spouting raintrees, a water volleyball court, bamboo shaded lounge chairs and the Reptile Ridge tower featuring five body slides. Next door is Six Flags Magic Mountain with 17 serious roller coasters, including the fastest, tallest and longest flying coaster, Tatsu, and more than 100 rides, games and attractions.
Water Country USA, Virginia
Water Country USA sets state-of-the-art water rides, slides, entertainment, dining and shopping to a ‘50s and ‘60s surf theme. As the largest water park in the mid-Atlantic, this Williamsburg, Virginia waterpark is not content to rest on its laurels and is instead constantly working to improve its offerings. The latest attraction is the Hubba Hubba Highway, a free-floating interactive river adventure with drenching coconuts and cool geysers traversing 1,500 feet in length and covering 3.5 acres. If that sounds too tame for the thrill-seeker in you, hop aboard the Meltdown Racers, a high-speed toboggan race that will get the blood of even the most adventurous guest flowing.
Slide enthusiasts can surf the pipes of Malibu Pipeline, sprint through the waterfalls of Big Daddy Falls, enjoy the drop at the end of the tame-named yet exciting Lemon Drop, or ponder a variety of options on the Jet Scream quadruple slides. Wild Thang offers hair-raising twists and turns; Atomic Breakers is a space-age splashdown; and Rampage’s gut-turning vertical plunge ends in a refreshing dip. Kids will enjoy such safe adventures as the H20 UFO, Cow-A-Bunga and Kid’s Kingdom.
If togetherness is the theme of the trip, the entire family will have fun on the Rambling River that leads to Adventure Isle. Nitro Racer’s six-lane slide encourages healthy water competition between family and friends. To keep your energy up, the park offers five strategically placed food service areas.
Whatever you do, be sure you’ve checked out Aquaziod, the mid-Atlantic’s largest special-effects sci-fi raft ride, before you leave the park.
Wet ‘n’ Wild, Orlando, FL
Holding the honor of being the largest water park in the ultra-amusement-oriented city of Orlando is no easy task; nor is holding the title “America’s #1 Water Park” as voted by Amusement Business magazine. In order to maintain its lofty status, Wet ‘n’ Wild caters to thrill seekers of all ages with 30 acres of highly adventurous to tame slides, fumes, surf and sun.
The kudos continue with the Bomb Bay, ranked as Florida’s Greatest Thrill Ride by Orlando magazine. The ride simulates the fuselage of a bomber plane as the rider enters a bomb-like capsule before the floor drops out from beneath, plunging the rider down an astounding 76-foot nearly vertical slide. Blue Niagra offers racing speed, splitting turns and plenty of splashing through 300 feet of intertwined looping tubes starting six stories above ground and ending with an awesome splash landing.
Still awing tourists and locals alike is Wet ‘n’ Wild’s first signature ride, the Der Stuka. This six-story speed slide offers an unparalleled “free fall” experience down a 250-foot slide. The rider eventually coasts to a stop along a 115-foot-long water runway, their heart in their throat. More unique entertainment can be found aboard the Hydra Fighter, which allows riders to create their own unique water ride experience. After being seated in back-to-back swings equipped with water cannons, all hell breaks loose. Riders control how high and fast their swing goes by regulating the water pressure, or as in most cases, not really regulating it at all but going straight for full-blast. Ever ridden a body coaster? Wet ‘n’ Wild’s swirling body coaster drops you from an elevated chute into a giant open waterbowl that spins in circles before a grand finale splash landing.
Kneeboarding enthusiasts and those who have never tried the sport but always wanted to will want to get in line for the Knee Ski attraction. The lake course is challenging enough to keep even veteran knee skiers entertained, yet the half-mile course is approachable to enthusiastic beginners. After all this non-stop exhilaration, take a cruise down the Lazy River before heading off to Orlando’s famous nightlife.