Wild Waves Theme Park

Wild Waves Theme Park is an amusement park in Federal Way, Washington. Opened in 1977^[1], the park is a popular summer destination in the Pacific Northwest and is the biggest of its kind in the area.

History

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 1992 park chief executive Jeff Stock paid $8 million for Enchanted Parks. Late in 2000 Six Flags purchased the park 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 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]

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]

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 upstate 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].

In 2009 the adult ticket price at the gate is $35.99 + sales tax and children admission (under 48") is $29.99 + tax. Discounted tickets are available online for $28.99. Additionally, a discounted season pass is available online for $74.99, $79.99 at the gate. A Print@Home fee of $3.00 is required when purchasing online. General parking is $10.00 and V.I.P., bus, and RV parking are all $15.00 in 2009.^[7]

Rides/Attractions

Water Park

• Zooma Falls
• Hook's Lagoon
• Konga River
• Bonzai Giant Waterslide
• Python Bonzai Giant Waterslide
• Rampage Bonzai Giant Waterslide
• Bobsled Bonzai Giant Waterslide
• Konga River Tube Slides
• Wavepool
• Raging River
• Speed Slides
• Arrowhead Splashdown
• Activity Pool
• Warming Tub

Theme Park (Dry rides)

Old West Territory

• Timberhawk: Ride of Prey (Added in 2003. It is a wooden roller coaster built by S&S Power.)
• The Gambler (Added in 2002. It was made by Chance Rides.)
• Dodge'ms Bumper Cars (Added in 2002. It was made by Zamperla)
• The Wagon Train (Added in 2002. It was made by Zamperla)
• Giant Sack Slide

Northwest Territory

• Lumberjack Falls (Added in 2002. It was made by Zamperla)
• The Klondike Gold Rusher (Added in 2002. It was made by Zamperla, and is a Zig Zag Coaster model.)
• The Timber Axe (Added in 2002. It was made by Zamperla)
• The Tip Top (Hrubetz Tip Top ride that opened in 1977).

The Hill

• Enchanted Railway (Added in 2002. It was made by Zamperla)
• Red Baron
• Pirate Ship (a standard Huss Pirate ship that opened in 1995).
• Paratrooper (Hrubetz hydraulic lift Paratrooper that opened with the park).

Park Center

• Wild Thing (Added in 1997. It was purchased on April 16, 1996 from the auction of Rocky Point Amusement Park in Warwick, Rhode Island. It was built by Arrow Dynamics, and is a Loop & Corkscrew model.)
• 1906 Antique Carousel
• Ring of Fire (Larson Ring of Fire that opened in 1990).
• Octopus (standard Eyerly Octopus. The original one opened with the park, but it was old and broke, so they replaced it).
• Hang Glider (Added in 2002. It was made by Zamperla)
• Disk "O" Flashback (Added in 2008 pre-season. Replaced the Kiddie Pool near the Ring of Fire. Zamperla)
• Ferris Wheel (Chance Giant Wheel that opened with the park).
• Falling Star (Chance Falling Star added in 1986).
• I-5 Sky Dive (Added in 1999. Includes a 125-foot (38 m) free fall.^[1] It is the only ride in the park which requires extra payment to ride.)

Kid's Kingdom

• Scrambler (Eli Bridge Scrambler added in 1988).
• Kiddie Coaster (Added in 1997. It was made by Zamperla, and is a Tornado model.)
• Kang A Bounce (Added in 2007. It was made by Zamperla) This ride replaced the Dangler (Wave Swinger)
• Space Racer
• Ferris Wheel (a kid-sized version of a Ferris wheel).
• Boat Ride (It is called the Kiddie Boats in the park.)
• Kiddie Combo
• Miniature Car Ride (It is called the Kiddie Cars in the park.)
• The Tree Topper (A Frog Hopper model, it was made by S&S Power)

Carnival Games/Attractions

• Long Shot
• Center Water Race
• Vertical Water Race
• Ring Toss
• Mini Muscles
• Goblet Toss
• Bank-A-Ball
• Short Shot
• Milk Can
• Balloon Darts
• Block Buster
• Break-A-Plate
• Arcade

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} 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. ^ "Florida REIT buys Wild Waves in seven-park deal". Seattle.Bizjournals.com, 3 May 2007. http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2007/04/09/daily3.html?surround=lfn. 
6. ^ "CNL Income Properties Purchase". TheRealEstateBloggers.com, 3 May 2007. http://www.therealestatebloggers.com/2007/04/10/6-former-six-flags-parks-sold-to-cnl-income-properties-reit/. 
7. ^ "Welcome to Wild Waves!". wildwaves.com, 28 April 2009. http://www.wildwaves.com/parkinfo.php. 

External links

• Wild Waves Official Website
• ThrillNetwork.com - Wild Waves/Enchanted Village page
• Wild Waves & Enchanted Village on Ultimate Rollercoaster
• Wild Waves section of CoasterGallery.com

Coordinates: 47°16′21″N 122°18′41″W / 47.2725°N 122.3115°W / 47.2725; -122.3115 (Wild Waves Theme Park)