SEPTEMBER 2010
Waterparks in N.J., Mass. and Georgia all
see additions
Six Flags adds to the waterpark fun at three properties
Thanks to exceptionally hot weather, the 2010 summer season has
been a busy one at North America's waterparks. Three Six Flags
properties — Six Flags Hurricane Harbor in Jackson, N.J., Six Flags
New England in Agawam, Mass. and Six Flags White Water in Atlanta,
Ga. – all introduced major expansions, which enticed visitors even
more to drop in for a chance to beat the heat.
The trio of improvements
include:
Six Flags Hurricane Harbor, Jackson, N.J.
Six Flags Hurricane
Harbor kicked off its 10th Anniversary season on May 29 with a
new 60-foot Tornado slide.
Supplied by Canada's ProSlide Technology,
the Tornado blasts thrillseekers down a 132-foot long vortex tunnel
and into a 60-foot wide funnel. During the journey, guests fly
into the eye of the storm, swishing from side-to-side by more than
5,000 gallons of water before being released into a calm catch
pool. Guests can enjoy Tornado together in specially-designed,
cloverleafshaped tubes that seat four. Those not brave enough to
take on this new thrilling adventure can ride out the storm from
the observation platform which features a view of all the action.
The Tornado touched down between the waterpark’s tube slides 'Bada
Bing, Bada Bang, Bada Boom! and the speed slide complex Jurahnimo,
Cannonball & Wahini Falls.'
Six Flags New England's Hurricane
Harbor, Agawam, Mass.
Mr. Six beckons families to splash and play
in New England's largest water park with the addtion of Mr. Six’s
Splash Island, 16,000-square-feet of drenching thrills and relaxation.
Mr. Six’s Splash Island boasts a 30,000-gallon shaded wavepool
designed specifically for the little ones; and, a 150-foot interactive
lazy river with dumping coconuts, rain curtains and squirting effects
to keep kids cool in the hot New England sun. The fun continues
with water bubblers and fountains throughout the area. Parents
can relax in style with ten new luxury cabanas set poolside that
offer lounge chairs, personal lockers, refrigerators, a flat screen
TV and personal wait staff.
Along with Six Flags own designer providing
conceptual design and project management, major suppliers for the
Hurricane Harbor expansion include: Gylnn Geotechnical Engineering
(project engineers); Murphy's Waves LTD (primary layout design
and wave equipment); Family Fun Pools (water movment and fiberglass
river channel walls); and Funtraptions, Inc. (interactive pool
and river features).
Also new for the 2010 season is a Johnny Rockets
restaurant located next to Mr. Six’s Splash Island.
Six Flags White
Water, Atlanta, Ga.
Guests are finding themselves wiggling with
excitement as Six Flags White Water introduced its newest attraction
in May 2010. The largest waterpark in the Southeast transformed
into the wiggliest and wettest family destination with the introduction
of North America's first Wiggles Water World.
Wiggles Water World
boast five interactive sections spread over a 40,000-squarefoot
area. The centerpiece is S.S. Feathersword,
a 25–foottall interactive play ship. Guests are invited to become
Captain Feathersword's first mate while exploring water cannons,
telescopes, net climbs, secret crawl–throughs, port-holes and various
slides.
And the fun doesn't stop there as adventure seekers can
visit Wags the Dog's Kennel Slide Tower, splash around in Henry
the Octopus's Pop Jets, explore Dorothy the Dinosaur's Spray Garden
or take a ride on the Big Red Car Slide. The whole family can even
grab a bite to eat at the Yummy Yummy Cafe.
Major suppliers for
Wiggles Water World include: FunWorks Design Group, New Braunfels,
Texas (interactive play ship); Waterworks, International, High
Ridge, Mo. (modular water play systems); and Playtime LLC, Englewood,
Colo. (waterplay structures).
"The Wiggles have touched the
hearts of children for over 18 years and we are thrilled at the
opportunity to bring this unique family experience to our water
park," said Six Flags Atlanta Properties Park President Melinda
Ashcraft. "Wiggles Water World is the first of its kind in
North America and has made 2010 a very special season." —
Scott Rutherford
READ MORE IN THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE OF AMUSEMENT TODAY
BRIEF
Splash Country at Dollywood reports numbers are up, thanks
to hot, dry summer
It seems the unusually hot summer weather has been beneficial
to attendance numbers at most waterparks. This is especially
true in the southern states.
In an effort to beat the heat,
crowds have been flocking in droves to Dollywood's Splash
Country, which is situated adjacent to Dollywood in Pigeon
Forge, Tenn.
Pete Owens of Dollywood and Splash Country sums
it up: "Splash Country has done really well. We're up
about 15 percent over where we were last year," he said. "We've
exceeded our season pass sales quota. All of those things
indicate that it's going to be a pretty good year."
Splash
Country's shady, densely forested location makes it a perfect
place to find respite from the soaring southern temperatures
and oppressive humidity. The lack of rainy days this season
also played a major role in the attendance jump.
"In
2009, there were about 40 percent of the days impacted by
rain," added Owens. "It's less than five percent
this year that we've had days that were significantly impacted
by rain." |
|
