New Outdoor Water Parks Slide into 2005

With dozens of water parks already keeping people cool throughout the U.S., the water park boom shows no signs of cooling down. Established parks are pumping millions of dollars into new and expanded attractions, and entire new parks will be offering more water-based fun this year. Do you want to know where you can get soaked this season? Check out these new citadels of slides.

Hurricane Harbor

New Six Flags Water Park
Hurricane Harbor at Six Flags Great America, IL

One of the few Six Flags locations without a water park, the drought will be over when the Chicago-area park debuts Hurricane Harbor this season. The 13-acre water park will feature Skull Island, an enormous interactive water play structure. It will include dozens of water gotchas and gizmos to get yourself and everyone around you soaked. Every few minutes, three tipping buckets will unload a torrent of water. The park will also include a slew of water slides, a huge wave pool, a lazy river, and a family raft ride. Best of all, the world-class water park will be included in the general admission price to Six Flags Great America. To see a rendering of Skull Island, go to the Six Flags Water Parks 2005 Preview Photo Gallery.

For more info about the 2005 season at Six Flags water parks, go to Typhoons and Hurricanes Forecast for Six Flags Water Parks

Wildwater Kingdom

New water park (with remnants of an existing water park)
Wildwater Kingdom Water Park at Geauga Lake, OH

A little history may be in order: A few years ago, Six Flags bought the property once known as Geauga Lake and the adjoining SeaWorld Ohio, added a Hurricane Harbor water park and called the whole thing Six Flags Worlds of Adventure. Cedar Fair (the folks who run Cedar Point and other parks) bought the property from Six Flags in 2004 and reverted back to the Geauga Lake name. They closed the marine life park and are building the new Wildwater Kingdom in its place. Phase one of the new park is opening this season and will inlcude Splash Landing, an interactive water play area with a dump bucket, Liquid Lightning, a funnel ride, the Riptide Run lazy river, the 100-foot-tall Thunder Falls water slide tower, and the Coral Cove activity area. For 2005, Geauga Lake will keep some of the former water park's attractions open, including a wave pool.

Bahama Beach Water Park

New Water Park in Dallas, TX
Bahama Beach

Bahama Beach is a medium-sized water park with a good collection of attractions including the Coconut Cove interactive water play area with a dump bucket, The Tortugas Express, a multi-lane mat racing ride, the Bermuda Triangle waters slides, and the Calypso Cooler lazy river.

Gulf Islands Waterpark

New Water Park in Gulfport, MS
Gulf Islands Waterpark

Gulf Islands Waterpark is a good-sized water park with a fun collection of attractions including two(!) uphill water coasters: the Horn Island Blaster, which uses "traditional" two-person rafts, and The Camille Cutter, a family raft water coaster. Other attractions include the Pelican Bay interactive water play area with a dump bucket, the WaveLand wave pool, and the Lazy Pearl lazy river.

Daytona Lagoon Water Park

Reopened Water Park in Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Lagoon

After a few-years absence, Daytona Lagoon, located in Daytona Beach at Oceanwalk Village, reopened this season. Attractions include the Treasure Lagoon wave pool, the Pelican Drift lazy river, Cast-A-Way Bay, an interactive water play area with a dump bucket, and the usual water park complement of water slides. For the more adventurous, the park offers the Adventure Mountain speed slides. The water park is part of an entertainment center that also includes go-karts, mini-golf, an arcade, lazer tag, rock climbing, and a sports bar and grill. If that's not enough to keep you busy, I guess you could always take a dip in the ocean.

Splash Island at Cypress Gardens

New Water Park in Winter Haven, FL
Splash Island

Cypress Gardens continues its remarkable makeover with a new water park.