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.
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Evolution of waterparks from spas
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. In fact, the very idea for a water park may have been inspired by a Hungarian spa.
A new technology, is likely to bring major changes in the concept of waterpark industry. A Hungarian invention, Creek-Surfing (www.creeksurfing.hu) which combines the the fun of skiing with the adventures of getting wet in an aquapark in a hot summer day makes waterparks possible sites for doing winter sports all seasons. The ski slope can be used for covering an indoor waterpark or being a central unit on which many-many watersildes and other attractions may run down aside. Looking from an evolutional point of view: Creek Surfing fits in the picture. Waterparks emerging from spas continue to get closer to mountain resorts in their efforts for going 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 has become more and more popular since the 50's. Over a thousand waterparks can be found in the United States and a few dozens of new parks opens each year so this can be considered as the largest and most concentrated market of waterparks. Major organizations are IAAPA (International Associotion of Amusement Parks and Attractions; www.iaapa.org) a WWA (World Waterpark Association; www.wwa.org).
List of water parks
Notable water parks include:
- Netherlands
- Tikibad in Wassenaar
- United States
- Noah's Ark in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin (the largest in the United States)
- Raging Waters in San Dimas, California and San Jose, California
- Water World in Federal Heights, Colorado (in the Denver metropolitan area)
- Water Mania in Kissimmee, Florida
- Schlitterbahns, located in New Braunfels, Texas, and South Padre Island, Texas
- Wet 'n Wild, located in Orlando, Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; and Greensboro, North Carolina. Owned by Universal Studios.
- Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon, located at the Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Florida
- Valleyfair in Shakopee, Minnesota - not wholly a waterpark, but includes a waterpark (Whitewater Country) and several of its most prominent rides are water rides, including a log flume ride.
- Germany
- Schwaben Quellen ("Schwabia Sources" in English), a member of European Waterparks Association (EWA).
- Canada
- Wild Water Kingdom
- Ontario Place (not wholly a waterpark, but has a waterpark as part of the space).
External links
- Wisconsin Dells - RainTree Resort (http://www.dellsraintree.com/)
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 storey waterslide called the "corkscrew".