Waterpark coming to Norman next year

By Joy HamptonThe Norman Transcript



Water wars are taking shape in greater Northeast Tarrant County.The city-owned NRH {-2}O in North Richland Hills is adding a $1.7 million ride, and construction is ongoing at the soon-to-open $10 million Hawaiian Falls in Roanoke.And not too far away, in Grapevine, construction continues on a water park that is expected to open this summer for resort guests at the Gaylord Texan.The battle for water park patrons is on.Roanoke City Manager Jimmy Stathatos said that despite the number of local water parks, Roanoke should have no problem drawing big crowds, considering its location on the Denton-Tarrant county border. The city has already established itself as a dining destination.”Hawaiian Falls will have one of the largest water features in North America in terms of the amount of people it will hold — more than 2,000 at one time,” he said. “I think everyone’s lucky there are so many choices.”The main reason water parks are popular is simple.”Mainly because it’s hot,” said Aleatha Ezra, spokeswoman for the World Waterpark Association.That’s especially true in North Texas, where we eclipsed 100 degrees 21 times last summer.Ezra said attendance at North America’s roughly 1,000 water parks is in the neighborhood of 80 million.

The Viper NRH {-2}O puts an average of $4 million a year into North Richland Hills’ coffers, city spokeswoman Stephanie Hee said. The city adds an attraction every other year or so to help ensure that the park keeps bringing in about 250,000 guests each summer.This year, it’s a doozy. The Viper is a family-oriented thrill ride, Hee said.”It takes four riders instead of two, and you’re all facing one another so you can see the excitement on their faces while you’re riding,” she said.Hee said the Viper is a 430-foot slide that’s 43.2 feet high and ends with a 20-foot-wide “mega tube” where the rafts slosh back and forth before they slip out across a pool. It should be finished before the park opens next month, Hee said.The Viper will be the first one in North America, said Lesley Baker, senior marketing manager with WhiteWater West Industries. Other Vipers are being built in China and Dubai.The slide will be the first major addition to the park since 2009, when Beachside Bay opened with a white-sand beach, sand volleyball court and pool. The balance of $2.1 million borrowed last year for NRH {-2}O improvements is destined for a two-story food services building with a covered pavilion and an observation deck overlooking the wave pool and volleyball games.”So far we’re doing good,” Hee said. “Hopefully we won’t have inclement weather to delay construction.”

In Roanoke, Hawaiian Falls, which already has water parks in Mansfield, Garland and The Colony, will operate the Roanoke-owned park under a 40-year lease.Officials expect the park to generate $200,000 in sales tax revenue in its first year, said Debra Wallace, assistant city manager and chief financial officer.Hawaiian Falls spokesman David Alvey said the park will include “the biggest and the best, the world’s largest water playground.”Mega WaterWorld will be six stories tall and have a dozen slides coming off it, Alvey said.”We designed it for families to be able to play together on it,” he said.The lowest level is designed for toddlers, Alvey said.”This ground-floor level also has water wheels and interactive features,” he said. “The first level has small slides for preschoolers to slide down with their siblings or parents. As you venture higher up into the play structure, the slides and features are meant to appeal to older kids and their parents.”The park will also have a 16,000-square-foot wave pool and lazy river, Alvey said. But he expects people to line up for two “dumping buckets” that send 500 to 1,000 gallons at a time cascading onto them.

Private Parks, While NRH {-2}O is expanding and Hawaiian Falls is coming, other privately owned parks will certainly draw their share of water lovers.Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine was built as an indoor water park resort and features nine huge slides, six pools, a water fort and a lazy river that are ensconced in the 80,000-square-foot Bear Track Landing. Resort guests are protected from the weather year-round in an environment that’s kept at 84 degrees, and the water is heated as well. Summer guests may also enjoy the 84,000-square-foot Raccoon Lagoon outdoor water park.Just down the street is the Gaylord Texan, which plans to opens its water park for clients this summer, spokeswoman Stacey Rendelman said. Attractions include a 10-acre pool with a 600-foot lazy river and a water tower that spills from 200 feet in the air. Resort guests also enjoy a 6,000-square-foot lagoon, a 27-foot-tall winding water slide, a two-person zip line, three horseshoe hot pools and sun decks with seating for 1,200.Arlington’s Hurricane Harbor is still the granddaddy of water parks and has dozens of slides and other features that attract so many people on hot days that — from cars zipping by on Interstate 20 — the towers and pools look like stirred-up fire ant mounds.But its challengers are gaining on it.This report includes material from the Star-Telegram archives.Terry Evans, 817-390-7620

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MURRIETA––The wading pool and plastic slide can stay stored in the garage this summer with a water park set to open by late May.

Construction for the first phase of the new water park going in at Mulligan Family Fun Center began Tuesday, March 1.

The project is set to be completed in five phases. This first phase, costing $1.5 million, consists of a 104-foot wide water play area, containing five slides, multi-level platforms, interactive aquatic controls, vibrant colors, spray nozzles and a Big Splash Pumping Station. Mulligan’s hopes to have it open by Memorial Day weekend.

Below the structure, however, will be a water run-off zone rather than a pool. The area will have a full staff of water attendants.

The structure will replace their Blaster Boat attraction, which is now closed indefinitely. However, none of the other attractions are going to be affected, and remain open, assured Scott Agajanian, group sales and marketing manager at Mulligan’s Family Fun Center.

Phase one also includes the addition of bathrooms with showers and locker rooms. This gives guests a place to get cleaned and dried off, especially if they want to enjoy other attractions after playing in the water.

Use of the water area will be included in a day pass, so guests have the option to enjoy all of the attractions. “There’s nothing more fun than going on the go-carts soaking wet, especially on a hot day,” said Agajanian.

Lounge chairs will be set up around the structure for guests who want to relax in the sun; cabanas will also be available for those who prefer to lounge in the shade. Plans to move concessions closer to the water area are in progress, and this area will allow for parties and events.

The play area is ultimately designed for children ages 3 to 13, but Agajanian says he is excited to go on the slides too. A water park Advertisement

DMM Note Investors ]gives another option for a family outing, which is needed in the growing area.

Comments left on different online articles about the water park, on other local news websites, show that residents are excited about the addition, especially for their families.

Summers in Murrieta, according to the Weather Channel website, average around 92 degrees in June, go to 98 degrees in July and August, and then back down to 93 in September.

It is not uncommon, however, for temperatures to go past 100 degrees. This climate not only requires a water park, according Agajanian, it also provides a long season for a water park since weather is warm almost year round. The water attractions would be closed during the winter months he added.

In past years a water park was planned to open in Temecula. Clearwater Waterpark Development of Orange County was behind the proposed park, Splash Canyon.

There are water parks in neighboring counties and in Palm Springs, but none that serve Southwest Riverside County.

Mulligan Family Fun Center can put in the park quickly, said Agajanian. Currently with the economy many amusement parks are not expanding, but Mulligan’s feels it can provide the anticipated park.

The timeline for the park’s completion is estimated at five years. The finished project will include more slides and a lazy river, a round pool of continuously moving water guests can float around in on inner tubes.

The only change that is being thought about is downsizing from two mini-golf courses to one course.

The center will keep all its other activities, and the inside area will remain untouched, said Agajanian. They will just have a water park too.

Eventually though, it is possible guests will be able to pay for admission to either the Family Fun Center or the water park, after it becomes a place one can spend an entire day at, said Agajanian.

UK VAT changes for 4 Jan 2011

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The standard rate of VAT in the UK is changing to 20% on the 4th of January 2011!

Legoland water park gets prestigious industry award
By Lori Weisberg

Monday, October 11, 2010 at 7:51 p.m.

Legoland’s new $12 million water park, which debuted earlier this year, has landed the Carlsbad theme park a major industry award, presented by an association of water attraction professionals.

The park was chosen for the Industry Innovation Award, which recognizes how well an organization sets itself apart from others in its ability to move the industry “to a new or higher plane.”

“The Worldwater Park Board of Directors considers new services, techniques and attractions and how those offerings help advance the industry in some way to keep it fresh and inspired,” said Gina Kellogg, of the World Waterpark Association.

The 5.5-acre water park, which opened in May, includes a number of features, including four slides that branch from a 45-toot-tall tower, and the Orange Rush slide, which allows four people in a raft to glide down a 312-foot-long tube.

Geared for families with children ages 2 to 12, the park also has a wading pool for toddlers and a “lazy river” where people can build rafts and lounge while getting sprayed by life-size Lego “friends.”

“The fact that our Water Park is Lego-themed and geared toward young children and their families is what truly separates Legoland Water Park from any other water park in the world,” said Peter Ronchetti, general manager of Legoland California Resort. “I’m glad to say the reaction has been very positive and despite the rather untraditional summer weather and continuing economic stress in the market, we have had a very strong season and will be once again reporting record attendance numbers this year.”

Cameron Park, Ca., August 24, 2010 –Scott Drummond, President of Agile Software and Marketing, received notification that their product PartyCenterSoftware.com, is a finalist for the “Innovation of the year” award presented by the Play Providers Association (PPA), arguably the UK’s most influential association for the fun industry.  “It was great to see our PartyCenterSoftware.com program be recognized for the contributions it is making to help the fun industry.  As a previous operator I understand the struggles that our customers go through and we have found a solution to help make both their lives and their profit better!”

Drummond will be exhibiting at the Leisure International Week in Birmingham, UK in late September and along with 9 other finalist will display his PartyCenterSoftware.com product to be voted on by members of the PPA.  He hopes to bring home top prize for his newly released version of his online party booking and facility management software. “This will be our first year exhibiting at LIW so I am very excited to meet many of our customers in person and if we can bring home the award it will make for one great trip!  I’m just thankful for our customers and all they do to help us grow as a business”, said Drummond.

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By Justin McClelland, Staff Writer
1:56 PM Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Becky Fusco her son, Bobby, and husband Jeff, ride the log ride on Wednesday, July 7, 2010, at Kings Island in Mason. The Columbus family came to park as part of A Kid Again day, where sick children and their families were provided free admittance to the park. Bobby has MPPH Syndrome. Staff photo by Apryl Pilolli

MASON —Concerned about her son’s safety, Becky Fusco researched each ride at Kings Island before her family attended the amusement park.

Bobby Fusco, 5, has MPPH Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that causes seizures, mental retardation, and confines him to a wheelchair.

But, as Fusco and her husband, Jeff, entered the park on Wednesday, July 7, they threw caution to the wind and boarded the water log flume ride, carrying their son. A few minutes later, they emerged, dripping with water and all smiles.

“It was terrific,” Fusco said.

The Fuscos were invited to Kings Island at no cost as part of A Kid Again day at the park.

A Kid Again is a non-profit organization that helps children with life threatening illnesses and their families by providing group oriented “adventure” activities, like outings to sports games, parties, and the annual trip to Kings Island at no cost to the family.

“Events like this get us out of the house,” Becky Fusco said. “Seeing other wheelchairs and Read more…

Is Your Leadership Showing
By: Beth Standlee, TrainerTainment

I believe that most people that read this newsletter are leaders, supervisors, owners, and influencers of some kind. We all influence or have some leadership roles with someone or ones in our lives. How are you showing up when it comes to leadership?

Whether you believe in scripture or not, Exodus provides great insight to the visual presence of leadership. Exodus 13:21 says that God lead his people out of Egypt with a cloud by day and fire by night. When I read this scripture it struck me that leadership has a real presence that others can see. It takes different shape depending on the situation.

In the fast paced world we live in, people move in and out of our businesses very quickly. Those that show themselves as leaders demand to be promoted. Our young leaders today have a confidence that they can get the job done, but may lack the wisdom of what leadership looks like. Oh wait, that can apply to mature leaders too!
I don’t know that I’m an expert in what leadership looks like but I have noticed that these 5 things inspire others to follow:

1. CARE: Great leaders show that they care. John Maxwell teaches Read more…

Jim Stinson • Staff writer • May 7, 2010
JFSTINSO@DemocratandChronicle.com

Luis Mario Herrera, left, and Jeff Shank work on Swirl City, a four-slide water ride that's part of Darien Lake's newest attraction, SplashTown, the 10-acre water park set to open on May 21. (JEN RYNDA staff photographer)

But they are optimistic about 2010 and beyond, and they’re making the investments to prove it.

Darien Lake Theme Park Resort is spending at least $7 million on its water park, adding three major rides. On Thursday, about 100 workers continued plowing, painting, nailing and adding large glass fiber tubes for the new rides.

The theme park rides will open Saturday, with the newly christened “SplashTown” opening May 21 and the new water rides on May 28.

The region’s other major amusement and water parks, Seabreeze in Irondequoit and Roseland in Canandaigua, are set to open on May 22 and June 26, respectively. Operators of all three parks are hoping Read more…