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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 & Water Park
Previously known as
    • Enchanted Village
    •  (1977–83)
    • Enchanted Parks
    •  (1984)
    • Wild Waves and Enchanted Village
    •  (1984–2006)
    • Wild Waves Theme Park
    •  (2007–2016)
    • Wild Waves and Enchanted Village
    • (park was split into 2 different parks)
    •  (2016)
    • Wild Waves Theme & Water Park
    •  (2017–present)
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)
StatusOperating
Opened1977
OwnerEPR Properties
Operated byPremier Parks, LLC
SlogangoWILD
Operating seasonMay to October
Area70+ Acres
Attractions
Total
    • Theme park: 25
    • Water park: 10
    • Total: 35
Roller coasters4
Water rides10
Websitewildwaves.com

Wild Waves Theme & Water Park is an amusement park and water park in Federal Way, Washington. Opened in 1977 as The Enchanted Village (with its accompanying water park, Wild Waves, opening in 1984),[1] the park is a popular summer destination in the Pacific Northwest. 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

[edit]

Founding through today

[edit]
Hooks Lagoon

The Enchanted Village theme park was first opened on May 28, 1977, by Byron Betts, operator of Point Defiance Park in Tacoma.[2] Betts had previously planned to open an amusement park in 1961 near the SeaTac Mall, but plans fell through. The initial 12-acre (49,000 m2) park site held only a half-dozen rides and included a playground, wading pool, and petting zoo.[3] The 24-acre (9.7 ha) Wild Waves Waterpark was built adjacent to Enchanted Village and opened on August 4, 1984;[4][5] 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.[6] In 1997, the park purchased the Loop Corkscrew roller coaster from the defunct Rocky Point Amusement Park in Warwick, Rhode Island and renamed the ride the Wild Thing.[7] 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.[8] 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. This was accomplished by having a second entrance at the top of the parking lot to enter Enchanted Village and the main entrance was used to enter Wild Waves Water Park. Ticket holders could purchase a pass to just Wild Waves or just Enchanted Village. They could also purchase a more expensive park hopper pass. Season pass members got park hopper access free with their membership. In the 2017 season, this system was removed and the entire park became Wild Waves Theme and Water Park. This change was due to many complaints that the park hopping ticket system was too complicated. In 2020, the park did not open due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Tickets and season passes were rolled over into 2021. During the 2021 season, there were many COVID mitigation strategies in place such as reservations, distancing, and masks.

Ownership changes

[edit]
Aerial view, with the large Wave Pool visible to the right

In April 2007, Six Flags sold the park to Orlando-based real estate investment trust CNL Income Properties, which leased the park to PARC Management.[9]

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 placed 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.

With the CNL Income Properties acquisition, the park was named Wild Waves Theme & Water Park. Other parks owned by CNL included Darien Lake Theme Park Resort, Elitch Gardens, Frontier City, SplashTown Waterpark, White Water Bay, and Waterworld California, all of which were bought in a $312 million purchase from Six Flags.[10]

In November 2016, Wild Waves and the other CNL properties were sold to EPR Properties, based in Kansas City, Missouri. The total price of all the properties was $456 million, although there was no specific price disclosed for Wild Waves. The parks were placed under the management of Premier Parks, LLC.

August 2016 drowning accident

[edit]

On August 20, 2016, a 33-year-old man died in the Activity Pool due to drowning.[11] A police report noted multiple missed chances to attempt a rescue.[12] 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."[13] In a statement released by police, Wild Waves said they actively reviewed the accident, their safety protocols, and the actions taken by staff.[14]

Rides

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Roller Coasters

[edit]
Roller Coaster Opened Manufacturer Type
Wild Thing 1997 Arrow Dynamics Loop and Corkscrew
Kiddie Coaster 1997 Zamperla Single Helix Powered Coaster
Klondike Gold Rusher 2002 Zig-Zag Coaster
Timberhawk: Ride of Prey 2003 S&S Wooden Coaster

Water rides

[edit]
Wave Pool
  • Konga Slides
  • Konga River
  • Wave Pool
  • Hooks Lagoon
  • Activity Pool
  • Zooma Falls
  • Raging River Ride
  • Riptide
  • Pacific Plunge Slide Complex (formerly called Mountain Dew Slide Complex)

Thrill rides

[edit]
Name Opened Manufacturer Model
Lumberjack Falls 1995 Intamin Shoot-the-Chutes
Disk'it 2009 Zamperla Disk'o Coaster
Soarin' Eagle Zip Line 2010 Soaring Eagle Zip Line (additional cost)
Brain Drain 2016 S&S - Sansei Technologies Double Shot
I-5 Sky Dive 2017 Sky Fun 1 Sky Coaster (additional cost)
Timber Axe 2018 Zamperla Hawk

Family rides

[edit]
Name Opened Manufacturer Model
Dodg’ems Bumper Cars 1977 Soli of Italy Bumper Cars
Gambler 1977 Chance Rides Trabant
Antique Carousel 1977 Philadelphia Toboggan Company Carousel
Ferris Wheel 1977 Eli Bridge Company Ferris Wheel
Scrambler 1977 Scrambler
Wagon Train 1980 Chance Rides Train Ride
Pirate Ship 1999 Chance Morgan Pirate Ship
Hang Glider 2005 Zamperla Kite Flyer
Kang-A-Bounce 2008 Jump Around

Kiddie rides

[edit]
Name Opened Manufacturer Model
Enchanted Railway 1977 Chance Rides Train Ride
Red Baron 1977 Allan Herschell Company Red Baron
Kiddie Boats 1977 Boat ride
Safari Jeeps 1999 Unknown Jeep Ride
Coastal Clipper 2000 Zamperla Rockin' Tug
Frog Hopper 2001 S&S - Sansei Technologies Frog Hopper
Kiddie Combo 2005 Zamperla Jump Around

Former Rides

[edit]
  • Warming Tubs (Closed 2020)
  • Ring of Fire (Closed 2020)
  • Space Racer (Closed 2020)
  • The Paratrooper (Closed 2020)
  • Falling Star (Closed 2011)
  • Tip Top (Closed 2018)
  • Downhill Tubin' (Closed 2020)
  • Speed Slides/Hydro Slides and Green Slides (Closed 2014) Later replaced by Pacific Plunge Slides in 2015
  • Octopus ride (Closed 2013)
  • Wagon Train (Closed 2024)

Rides announced but never built

[edit]
  • The Enterprise (construction began but was halted for a unknown reason, does not operate today, planned to be in the ride area below Soarin' Eagle Zip Line, Announced 2016, as of 2023, has not opened)
  • Shark Frenzy (Announced 2020, but was halted due to covid. May return in 2024 season or later)
  • Wave Pool: There is a wave pool, but in 2020, it was supposed to get a new wave system and a new screen. It has since revived both items.

Services

[edit]
[edit]
  • Hooks Lagoon
    Hooks Lagoon
  • Lounge chairs (have since been replaced)
    Lounge chairs (have since been replaced)

References

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  1. ^ a b Washington State's Enchanted Parks Announces Plans to Add Two World-Class Roller Coasters by 2003. PR Newswire. October 5, 2000.
  2. ^ "Saturday opener for park". The News Tribune. May 24, 1977. p. B12. Retrieved September 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Green, Randy (July 17, 1977). "Discovering Federal Way's 'enchanted' playground". The Seattle Times. p. 4.
  4. ^ Song, John (August 8, 1984). "Slap! Splat! Surf's up in Federal Way". The News Tribune. p. A1. Retrieved September 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Sypher, Richard (July 8, 1984). "Making waves in Federal Way". The News Tribune. p. H1. Retrieved September 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Six Flags buys Enchanted Parks. Associated Press Newswires. December 8, 2000.
  7. ^ "Ride Rocky Point's Corkscrew Once Again". WPRO. January 6, 2015. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
  8. ^ Six Flags to Add 10 New Rides at Federal Way, Wash., Amusement Park. KRTBN Knight-Ridder Tribune Business News: Tacoma News Tribune. February 22, 2002
  9. ^ Sound, Puget (April 9, 2007). "Florida REIT buys Wild Waves in seven-park deal". Seattle.Bizjournals.com, May 3, 2007.
  10. ^ "CNL Income Properties Purchase". TheRealEstateBloggers.com, May 3, 2007.
  11. ^ "Man dies at Wild Waves water park in apparent drowning". CBS News, August 21, 2016. August 21, 2016.
  12. ^ "Police report shows missed chances in Wild Waves drowning". KOMO News, August 22, 2016. August 22, 2016.
  13. ^ "Police report: Wild Waves lifeguard didn't believe kids who reported body in pool". The Seattle Times, August 23, 2016. August 22, 2016.
  14. ^ "Man Who Drowned at Wild Waves Water Park Might Have Been Underwater 15 Minutes Before Lifeguards Spotted Him: Reports". People, August 23, 2016.
[edit]
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