The first project I'll be reviewing is Wild Adventures Theme Park in Valdosta, Georgia. With its humble beginnings in 1996 as a petting zoo, Wild Adventures became one of the fastest growing theme parks in the nation. Roller coasters, thrill rides, and family rides were added to the property, turning this roadside animal attraction into a sprawling theme park. In 2003, Splash Island Water Park was added to the property, providing guests with tube slides, a lazy river, and other wet rides; all of which were included with theme park admission. The year 2004 was a giant leap for the little theme park. Wild Adventures purchased Cypress Gardens in Winter Haven, Florida, making a new theme park chain, under the command of the new Adventure Parks Group.
Things were looking well for the Adventure Parks Group, until the cost to repair the damages that three major hurricanes caused to Cypress Gardens proved to be too much. The Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and the parks were to be sold to the highest bidder. Land South Adventures purchased Cypress Gardens, and Wild Adventures was purchased by Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation. Herschend's more famous properties include Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, TN; Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO; and Stone Mountain Park in Atlanta, GA.
The new owners have already begun sprucing up the park to meet its standards. Before Herschend, there was a very small area at the front of the park named Safari Sam's Base Camp, which consisted of guest services, first aid, a large gift shop, and other amenities one might find at the entrance of most theme parks. From there, guests entered Bugsville, where cardboard cutouts of larger-than-life rulers and spools of string lined the midway. Herschend removed the cutouts and combined the two sections into the Base Camp. However, the insect-related names of the attractions remain, such as the Maurer Sohne Wild Mouse "Bug Out" and the Vekoma Roller Skater "Ant Farm Express" (pictured).
Things were looking well for the Adventure Parks Group, until the cost to repair the damages that three major hurricanes caused to Cypress Gardens proved to be too much. The Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and the parks were to be sold to the highest bidder. Land South Adventures purchased Cypress Gardens, and Wild Adventures was purchased by Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation. Herschend's more famous properties include Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, TN; Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO; and Stone Mountain Park in Atlanta, GA.
The new owners have already begun sprucing up the park to meet its standards. Before Herschend, there was a very small area at the front of the park named Safari Sam's Base Camp, which consisted of guest services, first aid, a large gift shop, and other amenities one might find at the entrance of most theme parks. From there, guests entered Bugsville, where cardboard cutouts of larger-than-life rulers and spools of string lined the midway. Herschend removed the cutouts and combined the two sections into the Base Camp. However, the insect-related names of the attractions remain, such as the Maurer Sohne Wild Mouse "Bug Out" and the Vekoma Roller Skater "Ant Farm Express" (pictured).
The former entrance to Bugsville now is a call to adventure. Cardboard cutouts once lined this midway, but removing them has given this avenue a much cleaner, friendlier feel to it. The metal fence surrounding Ant Farm Express is much more subtle than the cutouts and provides guests with better views of the coaster. Most of this entrance sign was kept the same. This sign was once themed to look like giant matchsticks to give the illusion that guests were shrunk down to bug-size, but the ends of the "matchsticks" were removed.
When Herschend purchased Wild Adventures, they had their work cut out for them. Wild Adventures was great in size but had nothing really going for it. Many rides were stock models straight out of catalogs. Even major roller coasters, such as the Vekoma Suspended Looping Coaster "Hangman" and the Vekoma Boomerang Coaster "Boomerang" had standard layouts and similar coasters were considered minor attractions at other theme parks. The park's only coaster that was completely unique was "Cheetah", a Custom Coasters International out-and-back wooden coaster. On top of that, there was not much theme in the theme park. There were some decorations, some decent signage, and the attractions were divided into themed sections and named accordingly; however, the line between "theme park" and "amusement park" was still blurred.
The most recent coaster added and last coaster under former management, "Swamp Thing", a Vekoma Suspended Family Coaster, swoops over an alligator exhibit. This is one of the better examples of theming in the park. The installation of Swamp Thing showed more effort was put into the attraction as a whole, but Swamp Thing still proved to be a minor attraction.
Admittedly, some of the larger coasters, such as Hangman and Boomerang, are difficult to theme because they are standard models. Given that, those coasters came out nicely. Some thematic elements could enhance the coaster's footprint and surrounding area though. A simple story could also support the coasters. Herschend could perform "coaster makeovers", a slightly smaller version of what Six Flags did with X2 at Six Flags Magic Mountain, or the Bizarro coasters at Six Flags New England and Six Flags Great Adventure. Perhaps not giant flamethrowers and fog tunnels, but Cheetah and Boomerang could use new trains at the least. Boomerang could get a new station and entryway, Hangman could add some "ghost town" elements to the ride area, and Cheetah could even get a full queue and story.
Boomerang was the first coaster installation at Wild Adventures. It is interesting how the model name of the coaster matched the Australian theme of the area perfectly. However, that idea was not expanded upon.
In typical theme park fashion, the themed lands of Wild Adventures circle a central lagoon. The lagoon provides great views of most of the park. The lagoon will play a large role in one of the attraction concepts.
The newest attraction added to the theme park, and the first added under Herschend management, shows much promise. The Rattler, a Moser Sidewinder flat ride, adds several thematic elements to the area. The entrance to the ride includes excellent signage and theming that is well above par for the park. Everything from the architecture of the queue to the lampposts and the foliage fit excellently within the central theme of the ride. The queue even has two rattlesnake exhibits for guests to enjoy while they wait to ride. With the addition of The Rattler, it is especially exciting to see what Herschend holds for the future of the park.
All in all, Wild Adventures is a great park. It may have seemed like I was overly critical of the park, but being the theme park geek that I am, that is my curse. Ever since Miracle Strip Park in Panama City, FL closed in 2004, Wild Adventures has been my homepark. I've been to Wild Adventures many times and it is a lot of fun. The park has great potential under its new management, and I expect it to shake up the amusement industry in the coming years.
When Herschend purchased Wild Adventures, they had their work cut out for them. Wild Adventures was great in size but had nothing really going for it. Many rides were stock models straight out of catalogs. Even major roller coasters, such as the Vekoma Suspended Looping Coaster "Hangman" and the Vekoma Boomerang Coaster "Boomerang" had standard layouts and similar coasters were considered minor attractions at other theme parks. The park's only coaster that was completely unique was "Cheetah", a Custom Coasters International out-and-back wooden coaster. On top of that, there was not much theme in the theme park. There were some decorations, some decent signage, and the attractions were divided into themed sections and named accordingly; however, the line between "theme park" and "amusement park" was still blurred.
The most recent coaster added and last coaster under former management, "Swamp Thing", a Vekoma Suspended Family Coaster, swoops over an alligator exhibit. This is one of the better examples of theming in the park. The installation of Swamp Thing showed more effort was put into the attraction as a whole, but Swamp Thing still proved to be a minor attraction.
Admittedly, some of the larger coasters, such as Hangman and Boomerang, are difficult to theme because they are standard models. Given that, those coasters came out nicely. Some thematic elements could enhance the coaster's footprint and surrounding area though. A simple story could also support the coasters. Herschend could perform "coaster makeovers", a slightly smaller version of what Six Flags did with X2 at Six Flags Magic Mountain, or the Bizarro coasters at Six Flags New England and Six Flags Great Adventure. Perhaps not giant flamethrowers and fog tunnels, but Cheetah and Boomerang could use new trains at the least. Boomerang could get a new station and entryway, Hangman could add some "ghost town" elements to the ride area, and Cheetah could even get a full queue and story.
Boomerang was the first coaster installation at Wild Adventures. It is interesting how the model name of the coaster matched the Australian theme of the area perfectly. However, that idea was not expanded upon.
In typical theme park fashion, the themed lands of Wild Adventures circle a central lagoon. The lagoon provides great views of most of the park. The lagoon will play a large role in one of the attraction concepts.
The newest attraction added to the theme park, and the first added under Herschend management, shows much promise. The Rattler, a Moser Sidewinder flat ride, adds several thematic elements to the area. The entrance to the ride includes excellent signage and theming that is well above par for the park. Everything from the architecture of the queue to the lampposts and the foliage fit excellently within the central theme of the ride. The queue even has two rattlesnake exhibits for guests to enjoy while they wait to ride. With the addition of The Rattler, it is especially exciting to see what Herschend holds for the future of the park.
All in all, Wild Adventures is a great park. It may have seemed like I was overly critical of the park, but being the theme park geek that I am, that is my curse. Ever since Miracle Strip Park in Panama City, FL closed in 2004, Wild Adventures has been my homepark. I've been to Wild Adventures many times and it is a lot of fun. The park has great potential under its new management, and I expect it to shake up the amusement industry in the coming years.
In this project, there will be three attraction concepts:
Hurricane - an Intamin Mega-Lite coaster
Maji - a Mack log flume
The Great Firefly Adventure - an interactive dark ride experience
Other photos:
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