Volume 3, No. 3. February 14, 2003
Sliding
into prosperity
The two pieces of
news came three weeks apart but, taken together, they summarize a five-year
transition.
On Wednesday, Camelbeach Waterpark on Camelback Ski Resort in Tannersville,
Pennsylvania, announced installation of a three-slide complex for the 2003 season
(see Extra!
Extra!). On January 22, the resort had announced it was dismantling its
Alpine Slide. Opened in 1977, the 3,200-foot-long slide descending from near
the top of Camelback was one of the first such attractions to open in North
America.
When it opened, it represented the major reason to visit the resort in the summer.
But in 1998, Camelback Ski Corporation opened a small waterpark. That waterpark
has consistently grown in attendance and expanded in size. By removing the Alpine
Slide—indeed, in placing the new speed slide complex on land occupied by
the Alpine Slide—Camelback is acknowledging that it no longer should be
considered a ski resort with a waterpark.
The opposite may soon be true. Now drawing about 300,000 guests per summer,
and with an annual growth rate consistently hovering around 30 percent, the
waterpark will soon outdraw the winter business, said Dave Johnson, assistant
director of sales and marketing. In fact, buried low in this week’s press
release announcing the water slide complex was more relevant news pertaining
to the state of Camelbeach: in addition to the slides the waterpark this year
is adding lounge areas, widening walkways, making food stand improvements and
expanding rest rooms.
“We’re facing growing pains now and trying to keep ahead of the crowds,”
Johnson said. “The crowds haven’t overwhelmed us, yet. But we can
think a little more long-term now that we know we can stick around.”
Announcement of the Alpine Slide’s demise drew some complaints on the resort’s
Internet message board, but no substantial outcry, Johnson said. Besides, the
park knew the slide’s popularity was slipping because it had been closely
tracking usage, starting with bar-coded wristbands in 2000. The wristband, part
of admission to the waterpark, allowed up to five free rides on the Alpine Slide.
“Less than half of the people even rode it one time,” Johnson said.
“So that pointed out that this is no longer the reason people are coming
here.” And that was a season before Camelbeach even had its wave pool.
The past two years the park has been charging extra for riding the Alpine Slide,
and guests had to go through the waterpark gate (and pay at least the $10.95
spectator ticket) to get to the slide. Though the park stopped actively marketing
the slide, some guests paid the price to ride it. But not enough to get in the
way of the waterpark’s expansion.
“We probably could have found other places to put something, but the Alpine
Slide had just completed its 26th year, so it was nearing the end of its life
span,” Johnson said. “Was it worth it to maintain this ride that’s
losing popularity year after year, or better to put that land to use in something
that’s seeing 30 percent growth?”
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