Wet 'n Wild Emerald Pointe

Wet 'n Wild Emerald Pointe
LocationGreensboro, North Carolina, United States
Coordinates36°0′27″N 79°50′25″W / 36.00750°N 79.84028°W / 36.00750; -79.84028
OwnerParques Reunidos
Operated byPalace Entertainment
OpenedSeptember 1983; 41 years ago (1983-09)
Previous namesAqua Gardens
Water Country USA
Emerald Pointe
Operating seasonMemorial Day – Labor Day
StatusOperating
Visitors per annum406,000 [1]
Area40 acres (160,000 m2)
Pools5 [2] pools
Water slides15 [2] water slides
Children's areas2 [2] children's areas
Websitewww.emeraldpointe.com

Wet 'n Wild Emerald Pointe (often simply referred to as Wet 'n Wild or Emerald Pointe) is a water park located in Greensboro, North Carolina, United States, and part of the Wet 'n Wild chain. There are 40 rides and attractions, including 5 pools, 2 children's areas, and one of the largest wave pools in the country.[3] The Themed Entertainment Association has ranked the park 20th in North America in terms of attendance, of which they had 407,000 visitors as of 2015.[1] Major regional competitors are Carowinds' Carolina Harbor in Charlotte, North Carolina and Dollywood's Splash Waterpark in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

History

Originally named Aqua Gardens, the park opened in 1984 after a preview run in September 1983. Aqua Gardens was originally supposed to have an indoor mall, but due to financial problems, the mall was never built. From 1985 to 1986, it used the name Water Country USA. In 1986, it was purchased by a local company and renamed Emerald Pointe. In March 1999 Ogden Corp purchased the property, along with Raging Waters and Wet 'n Wild's assets, and renamed the park Wet 'n Wild Emerald Pointe. In 2019, the newest attraction "Bombs Away" was revealed at the end of the season to the public and was originally slated to open for the 2020 season. Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, it has been delayed to open for the 2022 Season. [4]

Rides and attractions

Current attractions

Name Opened Manufacturer Type
Bermuda Triangle (formerly Serpentine Slides) 2023 (1995/1996) iSlide Enclosed body slide
Bombs Away 2022 Proslide Free fall and enclosed body slide
Riptide Racer 2015 Fibrart Four racing mat slides
Dr. Von Dark's Tunnel of Terror 2009 ProSlide Enclosed funnel tube slide
Dragon's Den 2005 Proslide "Toilet Bowl" open tube slide
Tropical Drop 2004 Proslide Small body slide
The Edge 2004 Water Fun Half-pipe water slide
Double Barrel Blast 1996 Proslide Two short freefall body slides
Shipwreck Cove 1984 Large pool
Lazee River 1986 Lazy river
Leisure Lagoon 1984 Small pool
Raging Rapids 1986 Inline tube slide
Runaway Raft Ride 1997 Proslide Inline tube slide
Splash Island 2000 ADG Children's area
Scooter Run 2000 Proslide Small inline tube slide
Happy Harbor 1994 Children's area
Cyclone Zone 1995 Toroid-shaped pool
Daredevil Drop 1998 Proslide Freefall body slide
Thunder Bay Wave Pool 1986 Wave pool
Twin Twisters 2000 Proslide Two enclosed body slides
Soak Zone 2013 Children's area

Former attractions

Name Opened Closed Manufacturer Type
Bonzai Pipeline/Speed Slides 1984 2014 Two freefall tube slides
White Water Run 1984 2008 Three inline tube slides, Twister, Dragon’s Tail, and Easy Rider.
Skycoaster 1994 2008 Skycoaster
Pirate's Plunge 1984 2001 Pulley ride
Hydra Fighter II 2001 2003 Caprio Water roller coaster

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "2015 Theme Index" (PDF). Themed Entertainment Association (TEA). Themed Entertainment Association (TEA). Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  2. ^ a b c "List of Attractions at Wet 'n Wild". Wet 'n Wild Emerald Pointe. Wet 'n Wild Emerald Point. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  3. ^ "Wet 'n Wild Emerald Pointe Park Info". Wet 'n Wild Emerald Point. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  4. ^ Joyner, Amy. "Riding a Wave of Success at Emerald Pointe". News & Record Greensboro. Retrieved 5 January 2017.