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Wild Waves Theme Park

Coordinates: 47°16′21″N 122°18′41″W / 47.2725°N 122.3115°W / 47.2725; -122.3115 (Wild Waves Theme Park)
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Wild Waves Theme and Water Park
Previously known as - "Wild Waves and Enchanted Village" (2016)

- "Wild Waves Theme Park" (2002-2015) - Wild Waves and Enchanted Village - Enchanted Parks (1984)

- "Enchanted Village" (1977-1983)
Location36201 Enchanted Parkway S, Federal Way, Washington
Coordinates47°16′21″N 122°18′41″W / 47.2725°N 122.3115°W / 47.2725; -122.3115 (Wild Waves Theme Park)
Opened1977
OwnerEPR Properties
Operated byPremier Parks, LLC
SlogangoWILD
Operating seasonMay to December
Area70+ Acres
Attractions
Total44
Roller coasters4
Water rides16
Websitehttp://www.wildwaves.com

Wild Waves Theme & Water Park is an amusement park and water park in Federal Way, Washington. Opened in 1977 as The Enchanted Village,[1] the park is a popular summer destination in the Pacific Northwest and it is Washington's only water and amusement park. The park's name was reverted to Wild Waves Water Park and Enchanted Village Amusement Park in April 2016, and once again changed to Wild Waves Theme and Water Park in November 2016, as a result of the park's acquisition by EPR Properties.

History

Founding and early years

Hooks Lagoon

The Enchanted Village theme park was first opened in 1977 by Byron Betts. The initial 12-acre (49,000 m2) park site held only a half-dozen rides. In 1984, Wild Waves Waterpark was built adjacent to Enchanted Village;[2] the combined amusement complex became known as Enchanted Parks. In 1991, co-owners Michael Moodenbaugh and Jeff Stock paid $8 million for Enchanted Parks. In 1993, Moodenbaugh traded his share of Enchanted Parks, Inc. for shares in their jointly owned amusement park in Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada called Boblo Island Amusement Park, Inc. In 1993, Jeff Stock purchased several rides from Boblo Island. Stock then sold his shares of Enchanted Parks, Inc. in late 2000 to Six Flags for $19.3 million.[3] In 2000 the park had grown to over 70 acres (280,000 m2), with more than 20 rides, and was the Northwest's largest waterpark.[1] In 2002 and 2003, major expansion took place, with the addition of several new attractions, many manufactured by Zamperla and S&S Power. Also in 2002, approximately 1000 seasonal workers were employed for positions as rides operators and food service workers. Many of these seasonal workers are also students of local high schools.[4] The park's name was reverted to Enchanted Village and Wild Waves Water Park for the 2016 season to once again split the park into two separate parks instead of one.

Ownership changes

Aerial view, with the large Wave Pool visible to the right

In November 2016 Wild Waves was sold to EPR Properties, based in Kansas City, Mo. EPR scooped up the 70-acre Federal Way attraction and more than a dozen other theme parks and other properties from Orlando-based investment company CNL Lifestyle Properties. The total price of all the properties was $456 million, although there was no specific price disclosed for Wild Waves. The park is now being run by Premier Parks.

In April 2007, Six Flags sold the park to Orlando-based real estate investment trust CNL Income Properties (which leases the park to PARC Management).[5]

In January 2010, PARC Management had defaulted on its lease with CNL for Wild Waves and a majority of its other parks. Wild Waves was then assumed under the new management of Norpoint Entertainment (owned by previous Wild Waves owner Jeff Stock). Stock implemented many changes to the park in 2011 including a new water ride for that season.

As of the CNL Income Properties acquisition, the park was named Wild Waves Theme & Water Park. Under new ownership, the park has also since adopted a new logo. Other parks owned by CNL Income Properties include Darien Lake Theme Park Resort in western New York, Elitch Gardens, Frontier City, SplashTown Waterpark, White Water Bay, and Waterworld Concord, all of which were sold in a $312 million purchase from Six Flags.[6]

August 2016 drowning accident

On August 20, 2016, a 33-year-old man died in the Activity Pool due to drowning.[7] A police report noted multiple missed chances to attempt a rescue.[8] According to the report, children reported a body at the bottom of the pool to a lifeguard, who “believed that they were pranking him and did not think anything of it."[9] In a statement released by police, Wild Waves said they are actively reviewing the accident, their safety protocols, and the actions taken by staff.[10]

Events

Wild Waves Theme & Water Park holds an annual Fright Fest halloween celebration which is a staple in the Federal Way and Washington community.

In 2013, Wild Waves Theme & Water Park held its second ever Holiday with Lights, an event featuring more than one million Christmas lights. This event comes back every year now.

Rides

Water rides

Wave Pool
  • Konga Slides (Repainted in 2014)
  • Konga River
  • Wave Pool
  • Hooks Lagoon
  • Activity Pool
  • Zooma Falls
  • Raging Rapids
  • Riptide
  • Warming Tubs
  • Mountain Dew Slide Complex (Added in 2015)

Thrill rides

  • Timberhawk - Ride of Prey
  • The Wild Thing (Painted yellow and blue in 2010. Layout was once green)
  • Klondike Gold Rusher
  • Ring of Fire
  • Disk'o Flashback
  • I-5 Sky Dive (additional cost)
  • Timber Axe
  • Lumberjack Falls
  • Soarin' Eagle Zip Line (additional cost)
  • Brain Drain (Added in 2016)

Family rides

  • The Gambler (Spinning roulette wheel)
  • Dodgem's Bumper Cars
  • Pirate Ship (from Boblo Island Amusement Park - co-owner Michael Moodenbaugh)
  • The Paratrooper
  • 1906 Antique Carousel
  • The Hang Glider
  • Ferris Wheel (Duplicated from Clackamas Town Center)
  • The Scrambler
  • The Kiddie Coaster (Painted pink in 2010. The layout was once green and supports were once blue, now red)
  • Kang-A-Bounce
  • Downhill Tubin' by Stevens Pass

Kiddie rides

  • Enchanted Railway
  • Red Baron
  • Space Racer
  • Frog Hopper (Tree-Top style ride)
  • Kiddie Boats
  • Kiddie Combo
  • Safari Jeeps (Use to be kiddie cars until around 2011)
  • Wagon Train
  • Coastal Clipper (new 2017)

Services

  • Cabana rentals
  • Locker rentals
  • Tube rentals
  • Lost and found
  • First aid
  • ATM
  • Hooks Lagoon
    Hooks Lagoon
  • Lounge chairs (have since been replaced)
    Lounge chairs (have since been replaced)

References

  1. ^ a b Washington State's Enchanted Parks Announces Plans to Add Two World-Class Roller Coasters by 2003. PR Newswire. 5 October 2000.
  2. ^ ThrillNetwork.com - Wild Waves/Enchanted Village page
  3. ^ Six Flags buys Enchanted Parks. Associated Press Newswires. 8 December 2000.
  4. ^ Six Flags to Add 10 New Rides at Federal Way, Wash., Amusement Park. KRTBN Knight-Ridder Tribune Business News: Tacoma News Tribune. 22 February 2002
  5. ^ Sound, Puget (9 April 2007). "Florida REIT buys Wild Waves in seven-park deal". Seattle.Bizjournals.com, 3 May 2007.
  6. ^ "CNL Income Properties Purchase". TheRealEstateBloggers.com, 3 May 2007.
  7. ^ "Man dies at Wild Waves water park in apparent drowning". CBS News, 21 August 2016.
  8. ^ "Police report shows missed chances in Wild Waves drowning". KOMO News, 22 August 2016.
  9. ^ "Police report: Wild Waves lifeguard didn't believe kids who reported body in pool". The Seattle Times, 23 August 2016.
  10. ^ "Man Who Drowned at Wild Waves Water Park Might Have Been Underwater 15 Minutes Before Lifeguards Spotted Him: Reports". People, 23 August 2016.
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