Chattanooga to receive new waterpark

[BeemerBoy]

http://www.newschannel9.com/news/park_964751___article.html/water_ridge.html

 

$6 million Water Park Slated for East Ridge

Expected to Open in May 2008

Kim Fields

November 27, 2007 - 10:49AM

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There's no need to go to Pigeon Forge or Atlanta for water fun this summer..

 

East Ridge may soon be home to a 14-acre water park. The park would be built off the 5700 block of Ringgold Road. Its rides are said to rival Six Flags or Splash Country.

 

Many residents we spoke to this afternoon say they are for the plan.

 

Developers with the Alabama-based company "Splash Valley" took a ride today to tour the land, which used to house a mobile home park.

They say it would have 12 rides, one, never seen before in the U-S.

Dollywood's Splash Country is about 30 acres and has about 23 water adventure slides.

 

"It seems like it would bring in more people and help East Ridge out and it would give something for the kids to do," Amanda Buckner said.

 

The developers tell us they've already paid $12 million for the property, which is already zoned for recreational use.

 

They hope to have it opened by May, which some residents say will be just in time for some summer fun for kids.

 

"East Ridge doesn't have a lot of things for kids to do except the movies," Buckner said.

 

The City Council must approve the plans, and there are two public hearings to discuss the issue. One is scheduled tonight at 6:30 at East Ridge City Hall. The second is Thursday at 9 a.m.

Mayor Mike Steele says work will begin almost immediately and construction will be done on a fast track so the park will be ready to open in May of 2008.

 

 

The council voted unanimously to approve Splash Valley, a 14-acre site featuring a water roller coaster, a massive wave pool capable of allowing surfing, a 1,000-foot lazy river, a large kids’ play park and three on-site restaurants. Developer David Mayes said he and his partner Shawn Callahan hope to open the park for business by May 2008.

 

 

Although it's not set in stone, there seems to be little opposition to the project, and I'd expect this to go through with no problem (of course, then again, what do I know, right?). One other note, it's been reported elsewhere that the actually price tag is around $12 million, not $6 million as originally reported.

 

Anyway, personally I wish Lake Winnie would have done something like this long ago, but oh well, it's right up the road and the region will benefit from this either way. Also, the mention of something "never before seen in the US" is somewhat intruiging. Any thoughts?

[jarmor]

Has this park start construction yet?

[BeemerBoy]

^ Nope. City leaders are meeting one more time Thursday to hear public comments, and then vote again. No one voiced opposition at Tuesday's meeting, and I highly doubt anyone will Thursday either. The site has been cleared and zoned, but construction has not begun yet. Despite the somewhat short time frame, they're pretty confident in the May '08 opening.

 

EDIT:

a massive wave pool capable of allowing surfing

*fingers crossed on this one*

[Flippero95]

It sounds like a great idea for Chattanooga. When we lived in Nashvegas, we would drive down once or twice a year for the aquarium, or just to tour around, ride the carousel etc... I'm sure we would have made the trip for an awesome water park!

[sam06pr]

Another Waterpark??? what a way to keep depleting our water resources lol

[BeemerBoy]

Splash Valley, The East Ridge Water Park, Gets A Green Light

Submitted by Bill Mitchell on November 29, 2007 - 1:02pm. News

Splash ValleyNot all the "T's" are crossed and the "I's" dotted yet...but the developers of Splash Valley got city approval with no one speaking against the proposal.

 

Developers David Mayes and Shawn Callahan did answer some questions on life guards and water quality at the public hearing at city hall this morning.

 

Mayes said the park will hire 36 life guards..with 18 on duty at all times at the 14-acre tract on Ringgold road.

 

Hamilton County has problems finding enough life guards..but Mayes says his park lifeguards will be paid more..and will be trained by a certified staff member.

 

Whitewater Park in Atlanta has been closed at times because of poor water quality...but Mayes says each ride at his park will be monitored separately by state of the art equipment.

 

Splash ValleyMayor Mike Steele says the idea has strong public support. "I think everybody in East Ridge in the last couple of days has woke up with a new sense of pride...and people are looking at our community as a community bring these kind of projects to."

 

Other questions raised today were wastewater run-off and traffic congestion.

 

The developers and city officials say those issues are being addressed.

 

 

 

[BeemerBoy]

Just a quick update on this one. Ground has already been broken, and park officials expect the park to be open by the end of May. The website is up, although not completely finished.

 

The rides page shows examples of what the park will have. Obviously not the biggest park in the world, but it certainly appears that the park will indeed have a "Deluge-type" slide.

 

So to those of you in the area to visit Lake Winnie, now you have a little something else to enjoy.

[NINCUB]

I live like 2 mins away... and all I have seen is a ugly "privacy" fence surronding the front. I don't see how on earth they will have this open by May!

 

I will try to go by tomorrow and take some pics!

[BeemerBoy]

^ Yeah, I was wondering what the site actually looked like. This was taken from the Times Free Press:

 

Developers broke ground on the $12 million Splash Valley Water Park in East Ridge today.

 

Around 200 people gathered under a tent at the construction site.

 

East Ridge and Hamilton County officials lauded the project.

 

Developers David Mayes and Shawn Callahan plan to open the park by the end of May.

 

Now the park is little more than grass and trees at what was once a mobile home dealership on Ringgold Road.

 

Developers say the 12-acre park will spring up quickly. The rides are manufactured elsewhere and delivered ready-made, they said.

I would assume that water park construction is quite a bit faster than other parks, but we'll see, I guess.

[Hand 0f Time]

14 Acres sure don't seem like it has much of a place to have a waterpark.

[Swimace]

Does anybody know what the one-of-a-kind ride they were talking about is? The article said that one of the rides at this park has never been seen in the US but I haven't seen anything past that.

[NINCUB]

Here are a couple of pics of Splash Valley! The orange fencing is horrible. I think they are just trying to grab everyone's attention that drives passed.

 

The East Ridge " town newsletter" has a full page about the new park. They are offering Season Passes to E.R. residents or anyone who works here in E.R. for 49.99. Which seems kinda high as a special for a small park that isn't even opened yet. This offer is only good through the end of April. They also have signs up "now taken applications online" on the orange fence. The website is still under construction and applications can't actually be submitted at this time.

 

I'll check periodically as it would be kinda fun to get construction pics as the park progresses.

It doesn't look like they have started anything as of yet.

The "coming soon" sign and that hideous orange covered fencing.

[NINCUB]

The sign advising "Future home of..." removed!

 

It doesn't look like the economy will let the Chattanooga area get a water park. The sign in front of the lot is now For lease or Sale and the orange fabric on the fence has been removed.

 

Also the site is still out on the web without any updates.