Water park
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A water park is an amusement park that features waterplay areas, such as water slides, splash pads, spraygrounds (water playgrounds), lazy rivers, or other recreational bathing environments. Water parks in more current states of development may also be equipped with some type of artificial surfing or bodyboarding environment such as a wave pool or a FlowRider.
Contents
- 1 Evolution of waterparks
- 2 Indoor water parks
- 3 Water park-like spaces
- 4 Water park locations
- 4.1 Australia
- 4.2 Canada
- 4.3 Finland
- 4.4 France
- 4.5 Germany
- 4.6 Greece
- 4.7 India
- 4.8 Japan
- 4.9 Latvia
- 4.10 Malaysia
- 4.11 Netherlands
- 4.12 Norway
- 4.13 Portugal
- 4.14 Russia
- 4.15 Spain
- 4.16 Sweden
- 4.17 United Arab Emirates
- 4.18 United Kingdom
- 4.19 United States
- 4.19.1 Alabama
- 4.19.2 Alaska
- 4.19.3 Arizona
- 4.19.4 California
- 4.19.5 Colorado
- 4.19.6 Florida
- 4.19.7 Georgia
- 4.19.8 Hawaii
- 4.19.9 Idaho
- 4.19.10 Indiana
- 4.19.11 Illinois
- 4.19.12 Michigan
- 4.19.13 Minnesota
- 4.19.14 Missouri
- 4.19.15 New Hampshire
- 4.19.16 New Jersey
- 4.19.17 New York
- 4.19.18 North Carolina
- 4.19.19 Ohio
- 4.19.20 Pennsylvania
- 4.19.21 Tennessee
- 4.19.22 Texas
- 4.19.23 Utah
- 4.19.24 Virginia
- 4.19.25 Washington
- 4.19.26 Wisconsin
- 5 Defunct Water Parks
- 6 External links
Evolution of waterparks
The very idea for a water park may have been inspired by a Hungarian spa.[[Citing sources citation needed]] Some waterparks are more spa-oriented, e.g. Schwaben Quellen, a member of European Waterparks Association (EWA) has no water slides, but instead has lots of saunas, steam rooms, "adventure showers", and relaxation-oriented waterplay areas.Waterparks emerging from spas continue to more closely resemble mountain resorts as they become four-season destinations. Therefore the whole amusement and leisure time industry is getting even more concentrated as the winter sports are mixing up with the summertime water rides - in time and space. A process of concentration can be observed in the hybrid segments of theme-, amusement-, and waterparks.
Waterparks have become increasingly popular since they began in the 1950's. The United States has the largest and most concentrated waterpark market, with over a thousand waterparks currently and dozens of new parks opening each year. Major organizations are IAAPA (International Associotion of Amusement Parks and Attractions; [www.iaapa.org]) and WWA (World Waterpark Association; [www.waterparks.org]).
With eighteen indoor water parks, Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, is recognized as the "Water Park Capital of the World." It boasts America's largest indoor and outdoor water parks -- see Noah's Ark and [Kalahari Resort]).
Indoor water parks
Indoor waterparks were a phenomenon that started in the Wisconsin Dells in the 1990s but have since caught on quickly in many areas. Usually resort hotels featuring massive indoor waterparks that are often reserved exclusively for overnight guests, companies like Great Wolf Resorts and Kalahari Resorts have branched out from their origin in the Dells to open new locations around the country. The largest indoor water park in the United States is the [Water Park Of America]in Bloomington Minnesota which opened in April 2006. The premier UK indoor waterpark is the [Sandcastle Waterworld] at Blackpool England which has a Master Blaster, the worlds longest inddor rollesr coaster style ride.Water park-like spaces
Spaces that are similar to waterparks include spas (a continuum from the original evolution of waterparks from spas), urban beaches, and splash pads, as well as smaller waterplay areas such as waterslides in many hotels and public pools. For example, the Delta Chelsea hotel in Toronto features a four story waterslide called the "corkscrew".Water park locations
Australia
- Magic Mountain in Adelaide, South Australia
- Wet'n'Wild Water World in the Gold Coast, Queensland
- Jamberoo Recreation Park in Jamberoo, New South Wales
Canada
- Magic Mountain in Moncton, New Brunswick
- Soak City, which is part of Ontario Place, in Toronto
- Wild Water Kingdom in Brampton, Ontario
- World Waterpark in West Edmonton Mall - the largest indoor waterpark in North America
- Village Vacances Valcartier, near Quebec city, Quebec - the largest waterpark in Canada
- Canada's Wonderland contains Splash Works just outside of Toronto, Ontario
- Casino Niagara in Niagara Falls, Ontario
- Great Wolf Lodge, also in Niagara Falls, Ontario
- Mont Saint Sauveur , north of Montreal , Quebec
Finland
- Serena Aqua Park in Espoo, near the Finnish capital Helsinki, the biggest indoor water amusement park in Europe, also a large outdoor section, many different pools and slides, a sauna
- Almost every Finnish spa has also a big water park department
France
- Seven Aqualand parks
Germany
- Schwaben Quellen in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg ("Schwabia Fountains" in English), a member of European Waterparks Association (EWA)
- Tropical Islands in Briesen, Brandenburg with the largest tropical indoor pool in the world
Greece
- Waterland in Thessaloniki ,Greece , a member of European Waterparks Association (EWA)
India
- Essel World in Mumbai
- Kishkinda in Chennai, Tamil Nadu
- Tikuji-Ni-Wadi in Thane, Maharashtra
Japan
- Ocean Dome in Miyazaki - the world's largest indoor waterpark
Latvia
Malaysia
Netherlands
- Tikibad in Wassenaar
Norway
- Bø Sommarland in Bø
Portugal
Russia
- Transvaal Park in Moscow - in 2004 27 people were killed when a roof collapsed
Spain
- Seven Aqualand parks
Sweden
- Aqua Nova in Borlänge
- Gustavsvik in Örebro
- Nordpoolen in Boden
- Paradisbadet in Örnsköldsvik
United Arab Emirates
- Dreamland Aqua Park in the Emirate of Umm al Quwain
- Wild Wadi Water Park in Jumeirah, Emirate of Dubai
United Kingdom
- Cariba Creek - a water park located at the Alton Towers theme park in Staffordshire, England. Residents of the on-site hotels get free admission to the water park.
- Sandcastle Waterworld at Blackpool, Lancashire is the water park with the world's longest indoor master blaster ride.
- Water World in Festival Park, Stoke-on-Trent, North Staffordshire, attracts over 400,000 visitors per year.
- Splashdown in Poole, Southern England, features over ten waterslides in a huge indoor facility and attracts thousands of visitors every year.
United States
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
- Sunsplash Water Park, Mesa, Arizona
- Waterworld, Phoenix, Arizona
- Big Surf, Tempe, Arizona
California
- Golfland Sunsplash, Roseville, California
- Knott's Soak City USA, Buena Park, California, Chula Vista, California, and Palm Springs, California
- Raging Waters, San Dimas, California and San Jose, California
- Six Flags Hurricane Harbor, Valencia, California
- Wild Rivers, Irvine, California
Colorado
Florida
- Disney's Blizzard Beach and Disney's Typhoon Lagoon, Lake Buena Vista, Florida (located at the Walt Disney World Resort)
- Wet 'n Wild, Orlando, Florida (owned by Universal Studios)
- Rapids Water Park, West Palm Beach, Florida
- Adventure Island, Tampa Bay, Florida
Georgia
- Six Flags White Water, Atlanta, Georgia
- Splash Island, Valdosta, Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
- Roaring Springs Waterpark, Meridian, Idaho
Indiana
- Splashing Safari, Santa Claus, Indiana (part of Holiday World)
- Tropicanoe Cove, Lafayette, Indiana (next to Columbian Park Zoo)
Illinois
- Splash Country, Aurora, Illinois
- Magic Waters, Rockford, Illinois
Michigan
- Wild Water Adventure, near Muskegon, Michigan (located at Michigan's Adventure)
Minnesota
- Whitewater Country, Shakopee, Minnesota (located at Valleyfair)
- [Water Park Of America] - Bloomington Minnesota
- [Grand Rios Water Park Hotel] - Brooklyn Park
- [Wildwoods Water Park Holiday Inn Hotel] - Otsego
Missouri
- Oceans of Fun, Kansas City, Missouri
- White Water Branson, Branson, Missouri
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
- Enchanted Forest/Water Safari, Old Forge, New York
- The Great Escape & Splashwater Kingdom, Queensbury, New York
- Martin's Fantasy Island, Grand Island, New York
- Raging Rivers, Rochester, New York
- Roseland Waterpark, Canandaigua, New York
- Six Flags Darien Lake, Darien Center, New York
- Splash Down Park, Fishkill, New York
- Splish Splash, Riverhead, New York
- Thunder Island, Fulton, New York
- Water Slide World, Lake George, New York
- Zoom Flume, East Durham, New York
North Carolina
- Wet 'n Wild, Greensboro, North Carolina (owned by Universal Studios)
Ohio
- Soak City at Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio
- Boomerang Bay at Paramount's Kings Island, in Mason, Ohio
Pennsylvania
- Sandcastle, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Splash Lagoon, Erie, Pennsylvania
- Wildwater Kingdom, Allentown, Pennsylvania
Tennessee
Texas
- Schlitterbahn, Galveston, Texas, New Braunfels, Texas (the largest in the United States), and South Padre Island, Texas
- Six Flags Hurricane Harbor, Arlington, Texas
- Six Flags Splashtown, Spring CDP in northern Harris County, Texas
- Splashtown San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas
Utah
- Raging Waters, Salt Lake City, Utah
Virginia
- Massanutten WaterPark, near Harrisonburg, Virginia (indoor/outdoor waterpark that opened in December 2005)
- Water Country, USA, near Williamsburg, Virginia
- SplashDown Water Park
- Water Mine Family Swimmin' Hole
Washington
Wisconsin
- Kalahari Resort and Convention Center, (America's Largest Indoor Waterpark) [link]
- Noah's Ark, Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
- The Waters of Minocqua, Minocqua, Wisconsin
Defunct Water Parks
- Disney's River Country, Orlando, Florida
- Heritage USA, Fort Mill, South Carolina
- Manteca Waterslides, Manteca, California
- Six Flags WaterWorld, Houston, Texas
- Water Mania, Kissimmee, Florida
- Wet 'n Wild, Las Vegas, Nevada
- Wet 'n Wild, Garland, Texas
External links
- [World Waterpark Association]
- [European Waterpark Association]
- [Waterparks.com directory of waterparks]
- [IndoorWaterParks.net directory of indoor water parks]
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