Wild Waves Theme Park

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Wild Waves Theme Park
190px
New Logo as of 2007
Slogan goWILD
Location 36201 Enchanted Parkway S, Federal Way, Washington
Coordinates Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Owner CNL Lifestyle Properties
Operated by Norpoint Entertainment
Opened 1977
Previous names - Enchanted Village

- Wild Waves and Enchanted Village

- Enchanted Parks
Operating season May to December
Area 70+ Acres
Rides
Total 44
Roller coasters 4
Water rides 16
Website http://www.wildwaves.com

Wild Waves Theme Park is an amusement park in Federal Way, Washington. Opened in 1977 as The Enchanted Village, [1] the park is a popular summer destination in the Pacific Northwest and it's Washington's only Water and Amusement Park.

History

Founding, early years

Hooks Lagoon

The Enchanted Village theme park was first opened in 1977 by Byron Betts. The initial 12-acre (49,000 m2) park site held only a half-dozen rides. In 1984, Wild Waves Waterpark was built adjacent to Enchanted Village;[2] the combined amusement complex became known as Enchanted Parks. In 1991, co-owners Michael Moodenbaugh and Jeff Stock paid $8 million for Enchanted Parks. In 1993, Moodenbaugh traded his share of Enchanted Parks, Inc. for shares in their jointly owned amusement park in Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada called Boblo Island Amusement Park, Inc. In 1993, Jeff Stock purchased several rides from Boblo Island. Stock then sold his shares of Enchanted Parks, Inc. In late 2000 to Six Flags for $19.3 million.[3] In 2000 the park had grown to over 70 acres (280,000 m2), with more than 20 rides, and was the Northwest's largest waterpark.[1] In 2002 and 2003, major expansion took place, with the addition of several new attractions, many manufactured by Zamperla and S&S Power. Also in 2002, approximately 1000 seasonal workers were employed for positions as rides operators and food service workers. Many of these seasonal workers are also students of local high schools.[4]

Ownership changes

Aerial view, with the large Wave Pool visible to the right

In April 2007, Six Flags sold the park to Orlando-based real estate investment trust CNL Income Properties (which leases the park to PARC Management).[5]

In January 2010, PARC Management had defaulted on its lease with CNL for Wild Waves and a majority of its other parks. Wild Waves was then assumed under the new management of Norpoint Entertainment (owned by previous Wild Waves owner Jeff Stock). Stock implemented many changes to the park in 2011 including a new water ride for that season.

As of the CNL Income Properties acquisition, the park was renamed Wild Waves Theme Park. Under new ownership, the park has also since adopted a new logo. Other parks owned by CNL Income Properties include Darien Lake Theme Park Resort in western New York, Elitch Gardens, Frontier City, SplashTown Waterpark, White Water Bay, and Waterworld Concord, all of which were sold in a $312 million purchase from Six Flags.[6]

Events

Wild Waves Theme Park holds an annual Fright Fest Halloween Celebration which is a staple in the Federal Way & Washington community.

In 2013, Wild Waves Theme Park held it's second ever 'Holiday With Lights', an event featuring more than one million Christmas lights. This event comes back every year now.

Rides

Water Rides

Wave Pool
  • Konga Slides
  • Konga River
  • Wave Pool
  • Hooks Lagoon
  • Activity Pool
  • Zooma Falls
  • Raging Rapids
  • Riptide
  • Warming Tubs
  • Mountain Dew Slides (New in 2015)

Thrill Rides

  • Timberhawk - Ride Of Prey
  • The Wild Thing (Painted Yellow & Green in 2010, Layout was once green)
  • Klondike Gold Rusher
  • Ring of Fire
  • Disk'o Flashback
  • I-5 Sky Dive (additional cost)
  • Timber Axe
  • Lumberjack Falls
  • Soarin' Eagle Zip Line (additional cost)

Family Rides

  • The Gambler (Spinning roulette wheel)
  • Dodgem's Bumper Cars
  • The Tip Top (Spinning Tea Cups)
  • Pirate Ship From Boblo Island Amusement Park - co-owner Michael Moodenbaugh
  • The Paratrooper
  • 1906 Antique Carousel
  • The Hang Glider
  • Ferris Wheel (Duplicated from Clackamas Town Center)
  • The Scrambler
  • The Kiddie Coaster (Painted pink in 2010, The layout was once green and supports were once blue, now red)
  • Kang-A-Bounce
  • Downhill Tubin' by Stevens Pass

Kiddie Rides

  • Enchanted Railway
  • Red Baron
  • Space Racer
  • Frog Hopper (Tree-Top style ride)
  • Kiddie Boats
  • Kiddie Combo
  • Kiddie Cars
  • Wagon Train

Services

  • Cabana Rentals
  • Locker Rentals
  • Lost & Found
  • First Aid

Gallery

  • Wild Waves slide tower.jpg
  • Wild Waves slide tower 2.jpg
  • Lounge chairs at Wild Waves Water Park.jpg

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Washington State's Enchanted Parks Announces Plans to Add Two World-Class Roller Coasters by 2003. PR Newswire. 5 October 2000.
  2. ↑ ThrillNetwork.com - Wild Waves/Enchanted Village page
  3. ↑ Six Flags buys Enchanted Parks. Associated Press Newswires. 8 December 2000.
  4. ↑ Six Flags to Add 10 New Rides at Federal Way, Wash., Amusement Park. KRTBN Knight-Ridder Tribune Business News: Tacoma News Tribune. 22 February 2002
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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