Volume 1, No. 9. June 1, 2001
It's
a waterpark!
NBGS International announces the arrival of Schlitterbahn
Beach Waterpark on South Padre Island, Texas, May 25, 2001. Measurements: 26
acres, four Master Blasters, one lazy river with conveyor belt, locks, wave
maker and rapids, two rapid river chutes, one flow rider, three waterslides,
one interactive play area in a kiddie pool, nine eateries/bars, two retail outlets,
two shows, 5,000 total capacity. Delivered by NBGS, Aloha, American Turbine,
Anchor Industries, Azusa, CA International Conveyor, Gateway, Hydrotech, ITT
Flygt, Precision Dynamics, Sevior, United Industries, Van Stone, Wave Loch,
Wunsch & Associates.
Andrew Welch described the moment
as resembling the start of a Le Mans auto race. Upon word that the park's Rio
Aventura lazy river—featuring NBGS' patented transportainment system—was
open, guests poured into the water grabbing tubes and parking at the foot of
the conveyor belt that lifts river riders from the Rio's lowest to highest
elevation. "People were running from everywhere," said Welch of Biwater Leisure,
who was on holiday at the park. "It was a spectacular sight."
So was the park for Island residents and visitors from the Rio Grande Valley
and over the Mexican border. Though heavy construction continued to move the
park toward it's official late June grand opening, the gigantic, thatched palm-frond
roof shelters, called palapas, and life-size sand castle—the park's centerpiece
structure which eventually will boast 200 interactive elements plus fireworks
for a nightly show—left jaws agape. The fabricated concrete sand castle
looks so realistic, NBGS CEO and Schlitterbahn Beach visionary Jeff Henry said,
that "Yankees (anyone living north of the Rio Grande Valley) keep asking us,
'How do you make the sand stay up?'"
As artistically stunning as the visuals are in this park, it's the technology
that sets it apart from all that's gone before. Guests can spend the entire
day playing on the interlinked river, chutes, and Master Blasters without ever
touching ground. The transportainment system uses a patented conveyor belt and
a four-lock structure that allow riders to circumnavigate the multi-level river
without leaving their tubes. Each Master Blaster has its own "floating queue"
which, combined, amount to 1,000 feet (303 meters). Though the Blasters and
lock were not yet operating on Day One, the conveyor belt drew a happy crowd,
none happier than the first official rider: Henry himself.
"The highlight of my day was riding that belt," said Henry, his inaugural ride
coming after an all-night blitz to clear the parking lot of building material
and the wayfares of dirt and equipment. While it may have been a race to get
the park ready for the advertised opening day, the sight of guests racing into
the water at the opening call made everybody's day.
For a complete profile of Schlitterbahn Beach Waterpark, see the next issue
of Amusement Today.
©2001, Minton Enterprises LLC
All rights reserved