NEWS: Schlitterbahn park coming to Ft. Lauderdale, FL

[aimster]

First Winter Haven loses the Indians and gets Legoland, and now this. So what happens if Lakeland was to lose the Tigers, could we get a Six Flags or Cedar Fair park to replace them?

 

Heh. That will never happen. The Tigers have been in Lakeland for almost 100 years (or something like that). Plus the land Joker Marchant Stadium/Tiger Town is on isn't big enough for a park like that (I know Joker/Tiger Town like the back of my hand). But it *is* easier to get to that area off I-4 than it is to get to where Legoland is in Winter Haven (for those who don't know, you have to go WAY off the highway and go through that little ghetto town).

[BeemerBoy]

First Winter Haven loses the Indians and gets Legoland, and now this. So what happens if Lakeland was to lose the Tigers, could we get a Six Flags or Cedar Fair park to replace them?

 

Heh. That will never happen. The Tigers have been in Lakeland for almost 100 years (or something like that).

The Dodgers left "Dodgertown" in Vero after 60 years there. Anything's possible.

[ginzo]

They believe that neighborhood streets will become unsafe.

 

I can understand the noise and traffic concerns, but unsafe??? Someone needs to stick these gomers in a home.

[krazekiddd]

^I'm pretty sure the streets in Fort Lauderdale are already unsafe.

[krazekiddd]

I didn't realize its almost been a year since the last post on this!

 

Found this lovely article online. I couldn't find anything on the Fort Lauderdale City Website to confirm it but they seem to update the meeting plans a few months after it happens.

 

Schlitterbahn Article

 

Schlitterbahn Fort Lauderdale!! Comming Soon!!

Published by David in Discover Florida, Eye On South Florida on October 26th, 2011

 

The long-running question of what to do with the area around Fort Lauderdale’s Lockhart Stadium was finally answered Tuesday when city commissioners endorsed a plan for a $110 million water park.

 

The park, to be located near Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport and the Cypress Creek Road business area, would be developed by Schlitterbahn Waterparks, which has locations in Texas and Kansas City. The company also worked on a latter phase of the Atlantis resort in Nassau.

 

No city or county funding would be needed, according to a letter written by the city.

 

A main feature at the park would be a Transportainment river system, which would move guests throughout the park, according to a proposal Schlitterbahn gave the city. The version at Rio Aventura, Schlitterbahn’s park in South Padre Island, Texas, is a half-mile long.

 

Guests begin by entering from a variety of beaches scattered throughout the park or from a wave pool by riding on a conveyor system called the AquaVeyer.

 

They float through slow-moving water and whitewater rapids, detouring through two tube chutes and three Master Blaster uphill water coasters, the proposal says. Water injectors are used to push riders uphill.

 

Another feature is the Tidal Wave River, which is described as a computer-controlled, endless river with adjustable wave action.

[beatle11]

There are photo's here on the official Schlitterbahn site showing the park logo and some renderings.

 

http://www.schlitterbahn.com/news/photos/photos.htm

Edited November 1, 2011 by jedimaster1227

[Jew]

I'm glad this looks like it is moving forward. Should make for an excellent add on to a cruise! Much better than spending the night in ghetto downtown Miami by the port.

[Hockeyman55]

I've been waiting forever to hear any bit of news on this. Living about 15 min away I'm excited to get my first taste of a Schlitterbahn water park. I stumbled upon the proposal they submitted to Ft Laudedale and looks pretty cool. Building a lazy river with dark portions around the current stadium and on two corners Flo riders along with the adjacent waterpark and tree houses. Looks like quiet the place. I've got a copy of the proposal on my work computer and can post some pages tomorrow if anyone's interested.

[David H]

If it's even remotely as good as the original park or even half as good as the one in Galveston, then this is great news for water park fans and residents of the area.

 

And no one does better enthusiast events than the Schlitterbahn company!

[Hockeyman55]

Here is Schlitterbahn's proposal for Ft Lauderdale.

[krazekiddd]

I've been waiting forever to hear any bit of news on this. Living about 15 min away I'm excited to get my first taste of a Schlitterbahn water park.

 

Tell me about it. I work on Cypress and Powerline. I'll have to see it every day.

[Hockeyman55]

^ Yeah you can almost watch during the day everyone having fun from where you are at work lol. Or even better head over there on your lunch break. After hearing everyone rave about Schlitterbahn parks its great we are getting one in our own back yard.

[gisco]

The plan looks pretty cool for the park.

[decay1009]

We lose the Hurricane, but get a Water Park....I'd say we win!

[jedimaster1227]

http://miami.cbslocal.com/2013/12/03/approval-expected-for-110m-water-park-in-ft-lauderdale/

 

A $110 million waterpark in Ft. Lauderdale, the likes of which have never been seen before, may finally get off the drawing board and be built.

 

The City of Ft. Lauderdale confirms they are nearing the end of negotiations with the Federal Aviation Administration and hope the deal for the water park will be finalized by late December or early January 2014.

 

“We’ve submitted a term sheet to the FAA, an outline with all the particulars they need to know,” city spokesman Chaz Adams tells CBS 4 News.

 

“Construction could start as early as next year,” said Ft. Lauderdale Mayor Jack Seiler.

 

Seiler has been a huge proponent of the project since the city starting talking about building a water park back in 2009.

 

“When we started talking about it then, it was the height of the recession and we thought it would create thousands of jobs. But now we’re seeing 48 months of tourism growth, five percent unemployment. It’s going to add to the jobs but it’s going to create an exciting destination for Ft. Lauderdale.”

 

 

Seiler concedes the FAA has been slow to bless the project.

 

“It’s a tough issue. The executive airport is one of the top ten in the country. But there’s room for both out there. They want to make sure when the deal is done that the agreement is a fair market value. No one is getting a sweetheart deal.”

 

The 64-acre site is next to the Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport, just off Commercial Boulevard and west of I-95. The old Ft. Lauderdale stadium that used to be the spring training home of the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles will be demolished. But Lockhart Stadium next door will be refurbished and incorporated into the design plan.

 

Mayor Seiler said the location is ideal because it can accommodate extra traffic. The site is close to the interstate, the turnpike and borders Commercial Boulevard to the south and Cypress Creek Road to the north. It is close to the interstate, the Florida turnpike and Commercial Boulevard and Schlitterbahn, the Dallas based Waterpark Company, will run the park and pay nearly one million dollars a year in rental fees to the city.

 

The 110 million dollar park will have state of the art water slides and a lazy river ride on inner tubes that will circle Lockhart Stadium.

 

Families, like the Hoods who are visiting from New York, told CBS4’s Joan Murray they would come back to South Florida just to experience the new water park.

 

Seven-year-old Sebastian said he can’t wait to experience the “water slides, and spray. It’s something for kids!”

 

Sebastian’s idea is exactly what the city has in mind.

[simaticable]

It's great that this park could finally get off the drawing board and be built.

[Midgetman82]

I am drooling over the layout for the lazy river! If there's one thing I love more than water slides, it's a long, (hopefully) lush lazy river! Park looks great, and the addition of the soccer arena/lazy river really adds something you don't see everyday.

[Mrlittle]

I had no idea that Schlitterbahn was trying to build a park in Florida. I really liked my short visit many years back to Ft. Lauderdale. It had a tourist city feel to me so a new water park would probably do very well. I still think Ft. Lauderdale would be a good place to put the polercoaster but that's a different thread.

[Jew]

Wow, two years and still no finalized plans? Hopefully the deal goes through.

[coasternut]

Wow, I'm a local and didn't know anything about this. It would be good for tourism.

We used to have (many years ago) a 6 Flags water park down here, just off I95. It's now a shopping mall. I just wish someone would put some money and effort into the Dania Hurricane woodie, that's just rotting for years.

[Hockeyman55]

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/fl-fort-lauderdale-schlitterbahn-20140522,0,5873024.story

 

One step closer to happening

[jedimaster1227]

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/destinations/florida/fort-lauderdale/fl-lauderdale-schlitterbahn-update-20150716-story.html

 

Schlitterbahn: the word seems vaguely naughty. But within a couple of years it may well become a staple of the vocabulary of local fun-seeking kids.

 

That's because after years of wrangling, development of the massive water park (schlitterbahn is German for "slippery road") has come closer to reality, with the city poised to purchase the land on which it will rise.

 

"It'll be the biggest and baddest park we've ever built," said Jeff Henry, whose family owns the Texas-based company. The park will have "groundbreaking technology that we've yet to apply anywhere else," he said. "Some of it is very, very cool."

 

Five years ago, the city selected Schlitterbahn to bring its water slides, wave pools and treehouse-style hotel rooms to the Fort Lauderdale Stadium property next to Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport, which owns the site.

 

Every time a deal was reached, it seemed, a new obstacle would be raised by the Federal Aviation Administration, which wanted the city-run airport to receive a fair rent for the property.

 

But now the city and Schlitterbahn are on the verge of signing a lease that will shift the project into high gear.

 

"Once we sign the lease, we are committed," said Joe Cerrone, president of Recreational Design & Construction, which is working with Schlitterbahn on the project. He anticipates a spring 2018 opening.

 

Schlitterbahn opened its first park in 1979 and now has four in Texas and one in Kansas City, Kansas. The Kansas park is home to Verruckt. Not only is it the world's tallest water slide at 168-feet-7-inches, it also has a second, 50-foot drop.

 

That's the kind of thrill Fort Lauderdale visitors can expect, Henry said. He declined to discuss new rides because he doesn't want to give away secrets his competitors could take advantage of.

 

"It'll be a year-round facility that'll have everything all of our other parks have and then some new stuff," Henry said. "We're always working on new, crazy things."

 

The last outside obstacle to the park was removed this month when the FAA agreed the property isn't needed for future airport expansion, allowing the city to buy the land from the airport. The city's first $1.3 million payment on the $12.1 million purchase is due Aug. 1.

 

Schlitterbahn's price tag for the park, put at $110 million in 2010, is probably higher now because the cost of construction materials has risen, Henry said. The park will be substantially larger than Rapids Water Park in Riviera Beach.

 

The 64-acre site includes Fort Lauderdale Stadium, a one-time spring training home for the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles, and Lockhart Stadium, where the Fort Lauderdale Strikers soccer team plays. It is a half-mile west of Interstate 95, north of Commercial Boulevard.

 

The park will include coasters that shoot patrons up slides as well as down. Its river ride will have rapids and drops. Its waterways are interconnected so visitors never have to climb out of their inner tubes. Deluxe treehouse-styled hotel rooms will line the resort.

 

You won't have to pay to park and there won't be rental fees for inner tubes, life jackets or the use of picnic tables. You can even pack a cooler and bring your own lunch.

 

The main portion of the water park will be built on Fort Lauderdale Stadium, with the old facade fashioned into a castle-like park entrance. Schlitterbahn will also build four soccer fields on the south end of the property for use by schools and athletic organizations.

 

And the project will renovate Lockhart Stadium. The company, Henry said, has considered water park elements that "went all the way around and all the way through" Lockhart.

 

The company had been talking about developing the project in phases, but Henry said Thursday he hopes it can be done "all at once." Company officials will meet with Striker representatives to "gauge their interest in possibly managing and funding the improvements to the stadium in some form," Cerrone said.

 

Broward County hasn't had a major water park for more than 20 years, since Six Flags Atlantis closed in Hollywood. While Atlantis was a popular spot, its property along I-95 became too valuable and it was developed into Oakwood Plaza.

 

Henry said he's had his eye on the airport property for 16 years.

 

"It'll probably be the best water park that's ever been built," he bragged. "It's my last one probably."

Edited July 19, 2015 by jedimaster1227