Rapids Water Park
| Location | 6566 North Military Trail, Riviera Beach, Florida, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Opened | 1979 |
| Owner | EPR Properties(Not RJ) |
| Operated by | Premier Parks, LLC[1] |
| General manager | Bryan Megrath [2] |
| Attendance | 400,000 [3] |
| Area | 25 acres (100,000 m2) |
| Attractions | |
| Water rides | 36 |
| Website | www |
Rapids Water Park is a water park in Riviera Beach, Florida, USA, that occupies 30 acres near I-95.
The park includes 42 slides and attractions, including a wave pool (up to six-foot waves), dual seven-story speed slides, and a quarter-mile lazy river. There are also slides for children and toddlers.
History
The park was founded in 1979, on 4 acres (16,000 m2) of land with four water slides. It has since grown to 30 acres (120,000 m2), housing 35 slides, among other water-related attractions. In 2009, the park bought 2.2 acres (8,900 m2) just north of the park for $2.2 million.[4]
In 2000, Miami born rapper, Trina shot her video "Pull Over" at the Park.
In 2009, the MTV reality show Jersey Shore requested to film at the park, but were denied.[5]
Rapids Water Park celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2009, inviting the racecar driver Danica Patrick to the park for the festivities.[6]
The park appears in the film Donnie Brasco during the water park scene.
Attractions
The park's website breaks the intensity of their rides and attractions into three categories:
Biggest
The most intense rides includes:
- Big Thunder - A dark ProSlide Tornado with a funnel at the end. The funnel is open, 60 feet (18 m) in diameter and 55 feet (17 m) in length.
- Black Thunder - Another ProSlide Tornado slide, taking place completely in the dark.
- Raging Rapids - Four-rider raft slide.
- Riptide Raftin' - Five-rider raft slide.
- Brain Drain - Dual trapdoor water slide with a seven-story tall drop, 8 seconds long.
Coolest
Rides and attractions designed for all ages include:
- Baby Blue - Single rider.
- Big Red - Single or two-rider raft.
- Body Blasters - Two dark slides, 1,000 feet (300 m) long.
- Old Yellar - The park's original four open-air water slides. Single-rider.
- Pirate's Plunge - Two speed slides;
- Tubin' Tornadoes - Two single- or double-rider raft dark slides.
Wettest
Child- and family-friendly rides and areas include:
- Alligator Alley - A smaller-scale version of Criss Crossing.
- Big Surf - A wave pool covering 25,000 square feet (2,300 m2).
- Criss Crossing - A pool guest can attempt to jump across using slippery, floating objects and an over-head net.
- FlowRider - continuous 35 mph simulated wave pool.
- Lazy River - A lazy river ride that can be used for transportation around the park.
- Splash Hill - Eight slides, including two racing slides and two dark slides.
- Splish Splash Lagoon - Three family slides and play pools.
- BareFootin' Bay- A water play structure with interactive features like sprayers, 3 slides and a giant pineapple tipping bucket.
In popular culture
The music video for the song "Empty Threat" by the band Chvrches was shot at the park[7]
Lacrosse player Chazz Woodson visited it for a New Balance commercial.[8]
References
- ^ "Wet'n'Wild Phoenix, Hawaii to Add accesso eCommerce, Mobile Ticketing" (Press release). Premier Parks LLC. 20 January 2014. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
- ^ Bennett, Bruce. A bummer of a summer for local teens seeking work. The Palm Beach Post. Ret 7-30-2010.
- ^ Ostrowski, Jeff. Rapids Water Park gets new landlord, new operator, but no other changes for now. Palm Beach Post. 7-3-2012.
- ^ Ostrowski, Jeff. What economic slide? Water park buys site. The Palm Beach Post. Ret 7-30-2010.
- ^ Streeter, Leslie Gray. The Ultimate Jersey Girl Contest Launched to Counter Image of Jersey Shore Archived 2010-07-27 at the Wayback Machine. The Palm Beach Post. Ret 7-30-2010.
- ^ Danica Patrick Connects With Fans At Rapids Water Park 30th Anniversary Celebrations Archived 2010-04-20 at the Wayback Machine. Auto Racing Daily. Retrieved July 30, 2010.
- ^ "GOTH | DAY | OUT". 2016-01-05. Retrieved 2016-07-20.
- ^ "Chazz Woodson", Wikipedia, 2020-01-11, retrieved 2020-02-27