Volume 3, No. 10. May 23, 2003
New Arrivals
It’s
a water funnel!
Holiday World and Splashin’ Safari in Santa Claus, Indiana, announces the
arrival of Zinga, May 17, 2003. Measurements: 78 feet tall (24 meters),
396 feet long (120 meters), 9-foot (3-meter) diameter of tunnel, 60-foot (18-meter)
diameter of funnel, 40-second ride time, four-passenger cloverleaf tubes. Delivered
by ProSlide Technologies and Sevylor U.S.A.
Will Koch knew last autumn he wanted to put a new, high-capacity ride in his
Splashin’ Safari waterpark, but he hadn’t decided which ride. Then,
ProSlide President Richard Hunter approached Koch with an offer. “We’ve
got this crazy ride, would you guys consider looking at it?” Koch recalled
Hunter asking. What Hunter showed the Holiday World staff was a giant funnel
sitting on its side. Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari married the newfangled
funnel, which ProSlide is calling the Tornado, to the company’s 108 dark
slide and, Zinga! there it was.
“It’s impressive,” Koch said. “Just the sheer size is impressive.”
But would it ride right? Splashin’ Safari’s is the first-ever installation
of the Tornado, and that had pros and cons for Koch, whose park has never before
installed a prototype. “It’s good to be first; that’s something
to hang your hat on,” he said. “But, you always worry that it won’t
perform as advertised. We worried about that right up until people rode it.”
The slide performed exactly as expected, Koch said, and now he has high expectations
that Zinga will draw another season of record crowds.
“It’s been well received so far, and it looks great,” he said.
“It looks good on TV newscasts, which is good because we haven’t gotten
our commercial shot because the weather has been so crummy.” On opening
day Saturday the skies were overcast but at least the temperatures were in the
80s (27 Celsius). The park did not stage any special event for Zinga's
opening except to host several radio remotes from the park. The media had been
invited for a preview look the previous Wednesday, and TV images from that gathering
provided all the oomph Zinga needed.
Don’t mistake the lack of ceremony for lack of respect for the ride, though.
“It’s a little scary (installing a prototype),” Koch said, “but,
boy! I love being able to say, ‘We’re the only one in the world.’
Boy! that’s fun. That does my heart good.”
THE LOOP is written and produced by Eric Minton, Minton Enterprises, LLC. To see more examples of Eric Minton's work and Minton Enterprises services, visit www.ericminton.com.
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