It may be November, but the workers at Water World are busy getting two new rides ready for the upcoming summer season.
“We’re really excited about our new attractions,” said Steve Loose, general manager at Water World. “And we think everyone else will be excited too.”
Water World will become the first water park in the state to offer a water coaster ride.
“It will be the first ride in the state that will not only go down the hill but also uphill five different times,” he said.
The new attraction will utilize state-of-the-art hydro-magnetic technology, Loose said, explaining that the ride uses linear induction motors to attract the steel in the rubber boat-like seats that take riders to the top of the 40-foot hill.
Once at the top, “it releases you up and down five more hills, does a camelback and goes around a curve before a 360-degree splashdown,” added Terry Barnhart, project manager.
“It’s like a roller coaster, only on water,” explained Loose.
According to communications director Joann Cortez, the park has been looking into this type of attraction for several years.
“Water World likes to be on the cutting edge,” Cortez said. “And with this new technology we’ll be the first in the whole Rocky Mountain region to offer such a ride.”
The water park is also contemplating adding some audio to the attraction.
“Since it has a feel of a classic roller coaster, we want you to recall that moment as you’re taken up the hill hearing click, click, click,” Cortez added. “We think people will get a real kick out of that.”
Loose said the total ride experience will take about a minute and a half and about 700 people per hour can enjoy what he calls “the first premier attraction that we’ve built since 1993 when we put in the Voyage to the Center of the Earth.”
Next to the yet-unnamed attraction will be another new ride, also yet to be named.
“It is a straight-down ride, which is somewhat unique because we actually did some research where we went to Disney Parks and rode a similar ride,” Loose said. The testers came back saying “it was really a lot of fun.”
“It’s not nearly as expensive as the coaster ride, but we think it will be a ride that is totally different than what we have,” Loose said. “It’s going to add another unique flavor to our park – something that’s a different kind of ride than we have.”
The ride will drop in a straight line but offer three different dips and two or three tunnel sections.
“It’s going to be a quick ride, probably five to 20 seconds,” Loose said.
“You’ll hardly be over your first scream by the time you’re done, it’s that fast,” Cortez added.
Both rides are expected to have height restrictions. But, Cortez said, being adjacent to the Big Top Family Fun Zone will be great for families of all ages.
“This is definitely a family-friendly area because mom can lounge in the big top lazy river area with her younger kids while the older ones are playing at Turbo Racer or the new attractions,” she said.
Patrons of the water park can keep a close eye on the day-to-day construction of the two new attractions that will cost approximately $5 million by logging onto waterworldcolorado.com.