| Press Release: | Valdosta, GA- It’s official! Ground was broken today for Wild Adventures’ Splash Island water park. The much-anticipated attraction is slated to open Memorial Day weekend for loads of refreshing fun. And if that weren’t enough big news, it was announced that the park’s second new roller coaster of the year, Swamp Thing, will be opening this Spring! Additionally, Wild Adventures is adding even more shows, concerts and special events to its already impressive entertainment line-up.
Get set for wet!! Springing forth from Wild Adventures in Summer 2003 is Splash Island, a totally wet Wild Adventure to keep guests cool and refreshed. Ground was broken today to commence construction of the multi-million dollar attraction. The first phase of the water park will feature the Rain Fortress, a large wet-play interactive area that can hold up to 500 people at a time. From the top of a 42-foot high water dump-bucket, to the numerous slides, rope ladders and platforms, the Rain Fortress offers loads of slippery fun. Folks will be able to brave the surf at Catchawave Bay the 20,000 square foot wave pool, where you can ride a four-footer or gently bob on the waves in an inner tube. The little ones will enjoy Tadpole Cove, a much gentler area of the wave pool adjacent to the beach-front entrance. Take a relaxing ride down Paradise River featuring over 1,000 feet of lazy twists and turns. But watch out - the river is not as “lazy” as it appears! Our more adventurous water-lovers will get a kick out of Double-Dip Zip, the 40-foot tall twin tube-slide complex that rounds out the first phase of Splash Island.
Wild Adventures also announced today that construction on a brand new roller coaster has already begun, with a Spring opening anticipated for Swamp Thing. Suspended coaster action for all ages is set to soar and swoop over the park’s Swamp Area. Fans of the Hangman’s suspended coaster style, but not the upside-down loops, will thrill to 1,122 feet of twisting, turning peaks and valleys at speeds of up to 40 kph! More danger lurks as you are whisked perilously close to the snapping jaws of our fearsome gators. No retrieving any lost articles on this coaster! Out of the depths of the murky bog comes fearsome family fun…It’s Swamp Thing!
Already new to the park this year is Fiesta Express! The children’s coaster started thrilling youngsters in January and its mini mouse-style cars are a perfect introduction to the fine art of roller coaster riding.
Bigger and better seasonal celebrations will be presented in 2003. An all-new event, Snow Days, is currently ongoing at the park. Visitors are enjoying sledding, ice skating and other winter fun not usually found in South Georgia. Expect Snow Days to become an annual event at Wild Adventures. HalloScream will offer more thrills and chills this fall with an all-new Haunted Train Ride, additional haunted houses and more spooks and specters. Gentler fun for the children will also be expanded with special story times, face painting and other activities for the little ones. Christmas is the most beautiful time of year at Wild Adventures and this year’s Christmas Wonderland will continue to be a tradition that families won’t want to miss. All the favorite Yuletide treats will be back, along with some new experiences for guests to enjoy. Wonderland Express will make regular tours through almost a mile of brilliant animated displays, with festive singalongs and caroling as part of the ride. Nightly Christmas concerts are planned with well-known artists performing throughout the season and other treats are in store for guests as well.
Look for a spectacular ice show to debut as part of the permanent entertainment line-up for 2003. Wild Adventures on Ice will grace the ice rink all year long, with special shows for HalloScream and Christmas Wonderland planned as well. The popular Mapapas African Acrobats will be back for the Spring and Summer, entertaining guests in the African Pridelands with their unique blend of juggling and tumbling. Look for over 40 spectacular concerts to visit the All Star Amphitheater, including Sawyer Brown, Jan. 18th; Ashanti, Feb. 1st; George Jones, Feb. 8th; Clay Walker, Feb. 22nd; See Spot Rock Christian rock tour, Mar. 1st; Martina McBride, Mar. 8th; Creedence Clearwater Revisited, March 22nd; Diamond Rio & Darryl Worley, Mar. 29th; Delirious?, Apr. 12th; Willie Nelson, Apr. 19th; Beach Boys, Apr. 26th; Doobie Brothers, May 24th; Charlie Daniels Band, May 31st; Lee Ann Womack, June 21st and Chubby Checker, Sept. 20th.
An exciting year is planned for 2003 as Wild Adventures continues to grow and keep it’s lead as the largest privately-owned theme park with a ticketed gate admission in North America. With more new rides, Splash Island water park, new shows and events, reasonably priced tickets and short ride lines, Wild Adventures will continue to provide the greatest entertainment value in the south. |
