"Water Magic" Attraction - Pigeon Forge,TN - 2013

[coasterfreaky]

www.wbir.com/rss/article/144136/2/Water-Magic-set-to-make-big-splash-in-Pigeon-Forge

 

The creators of the Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge (and Branson, MO) are planning to open a 'water attraction in Pigeon Forge in 2013. They are saying it is not a waterpark, but details are sparse.

 

Attractions include "a 100-foot kinetic energy sculpture to the engaging Emporium Square presided over by "The Wizard," the attraction aims to live up to its motto of "Get Me Wet." According to the article this will be a $40 million dollar attraction. By comparison the Titanic Museum was $26 million, so this will be big whatever it is. It will be located across the street from the Titanic Museum.

[BigDipper 80]

Hmmm... water, tens of millions of dollars, sounds like World of Color 2.0!!!!

 

In all seriousness though... I wonder what this will actually turn into.

[BeemerBoy]

"Get Me Wet."

Too easy.

[coasterfreaky]

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2010/nov/23/titanic-museum-developers-plan-40-million-pigeon-f/?partner=RSS

 

Here's a tiny bit of new info:

PIGEON FORGE — The owners of the Titanic Museum in Pigeon Forge announced today plans to build a $40 million water attraction on the Parkway.

 

The project, called Water Magic, is scheduled to open in 2013 across from the Titanic Museum.

 

Water Magic is to offer interactive experiences with water but will not be a water park, said John Joslyn, one of the owners.

One feature will give visitors the sensation of walking on water and another will be a maze with water and mirrors.

More details as they become available online and in Wednesday’s News Sentinel.

 

For another comparison - Dolly's Splash Country was $20 million initial investment in 2000/2001.

[PKI Jizzman]

"Get Me Wet."

Too easy.

 

Bahaha. You beat me to it.

[coasterfreaky]

Lots more details here! (Like a water-powered funhouse on steroids!)http://www.themountainpress.com/view/full_story/10413862/article--Joslyns-plan-Water-Magic-?instance=main_article

 

By DEREK HODGES

 

Staff Writer, The Mountain Press

 

PIGEON FORGE — John and Mary Joslyn, developers of the Titanic Museum attraction, will be diving into some uncharted waters in the coming months as they sink $40 million into a new attraction called Water Magic.

 

John Joslyn is in town today to announce the plans for a handful of tracts he purchased in the 2100 block of the Parkway just across from and south of Titanic, ending a long period of speculation about why he’s been buying the land. Described by spokesman Rick Laney as “the water component of a children’s museum,” the attraction will actually be far from museum but not quite a water park.

 

“It’s a little hard to explain. I have told people it’s what the Disney park Epcot would do if it were building a water attraction,” Laney says. “It is an attraction dedicated specifically to water, the neat things you can do and the ways you can play with water. It’s an entire attraction built around playing with water. Like everything the Joslyns have been involved with, Water Magic will leave its guests amazed and in awe.”

 

The entrance to the fully enclosed attraction will feature a 100-foot kinetic energy sculpture topped by a 1,000-gallon water bucket that topples over on a regular basis, sending water cascading down onto the grand entry plaza.

 

From that splashy introduction, guests will make their way through Emporium Square, a two-story atrium with a kaleidoscope of water-driven gadgetry. Throughout, fountains in every shape, size and description will spout water in time to music, Laney says. At center stage of that area will be the wizard of water, who is described as having a “devilish sense of humor and loves to make people wet.”

 

The real adventure for each visitor will really start in portals leading out of Emporium Square, each flowing into a different gallery offering a fun experience with water, from the mysterious to the slippery to the mesmerizing to the reflective and hypnotic. One will create the illusion of walking on water, another will offer a Water Tunnel with a surprise introduction and a further will open to a mirror maze that features, of course, water, Laney explains.

 

At the center of the attraction will be the Water Theater, where a specially developed production called “Imagination Rhapsody” will play, featuring a musical cacophony of water jets and swaying water spouts. Guests will also have the opportunity to orchestrate their own water symphonies, with a wrong note opening the potential composer will get a bit soggy.

 

The site will also include a deep sea exhibition area, where visitors will have the chance to experience what a dive to the ocean floor is like, complete with the challenges and creatures of the briny deep. Down the hall will be the Bubble Room, where the young and young at heart can explore the workings of bubbles.

 

“Like a water-powered funhouse on steroids, Water Magic is where guests can opt for complete and total immersion,” Laney says. “Our motto is, ‘Get me wet.’ Our objective throughout the attraction is to entertain with a splash of edutainment. And not to worry, body driers flank each gallery to blow-dry any wetness.”

 

Those driers mean there’s no need to wear a bathing suite to Water Magic, despite the threat of wet, Laney says.

 

The expansion is one the Joslyns have apparently had in mind for some time, having determined that the local tourism market is the right place for them to expand after ventures in other areas. There is no indication yet when construction will begin or when the attraction might open.

 

“When we came to East Tennessee last April, we had evaluated a number of tourism markets,” John Joslyn says. “We have experience in Orlando and in Branson, so we truly believed our concepts would succeed here. We’ve surpassed our projections here in Pigeon Forge in almost every way, so it should come as no surprise that we want to build our next major attraction here. I can assure you, Water Magic will exceed any of your expectations — this one is simply going to blow you away.

 

“Water Magic will be one of the world’s most innovative and magical family themed attractions. Full of water but not a water park, Water Magic will introduce a new dimension in family entertainment for all generations.”

 

Ttianic has proven hugely popular, attracting more than 100,000 people for every month since it opened. While the Joslyns have another of the ship-shaped museum attractions in Branson and operate some other attractions, this is their first foray into water.

 

“I got into the water in the 1980s with Titanic and for the past 25 years I haven’t been able to get out,” Joslyn recalled bemusedly, harkening back to explorations of the famous sunken oceanliner that he was part of. “I don’t know what I’ll do next, but chances are it will involve water.”

 

The property will be under the control of Westgate Entertainment, a Joslyn company handling such developments. The proprietary innovations they make here could become part of future Westgate projects, Laney says.

 

To make way for the construction, a trio of theaters are expected to be razed soon, with the end of the year expected to bring final curtain for Magic Beyond Belief, Kick’n Country and Memories Theater. The first two of those are owned by Fee Hedrick Family Entertainment, officials of which say they hope to find positions for the workers who will be left unemployed by the move. A number of entertainers from all three properties have reportedly already found new jobs at other entertainment properties.

 

dhodges@themountainpress.com

 

Read more: The Mountain Press - Joslyns plan Water Magic

[BeemerBoy]

“Water Magic will be one of the world’s most innovative and magical family themed attractions. Full of water but not a water park...

This should definitely lead to some interesting marketing. Just like Disney insisting that Animal Kingdom is Nahtazu (not a zoo)!

 

 

 

Honestly though, this project does sound rather interesting. I'm anxiously awaiting more details!

[WFChris]

“devilish sense of humor and loves to make people wet.”

 

Who is the target audience for this place????

[BarryH]

^Since he loves water and being wet, the target audience is obviously Dan.

[coasterfreaky]

More coverage, with renderings!

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2010/nov/24/water-wonderland-water-magic-2013/

 

Press Release:

http://www.prlog.org/11094903-one-of-kind-new-40-million-water-magic-attraction-will-make-huge-splash-in-pigeon-forge.html

[SharkTums]

This is very odd. I really don't know what to make of this place or if I would go visit it. I have a feeling I'm not alone in my opinion as well. Kind of seems like a blown up version of a small water area in a children's museum!?!?

[ernierocker]

^With the water tunnel from Poseidon.

[larrygator]

^and probably the Mystic Fountain also

[SharkTums]

Just to clarify my post, I'm picturing a ton of stuff like this:

 

The Children's area of the Deutches Museum

[chadster]

Sounds like another childrens science museum to me, their target market will be really small.

[Moose]

^For the chunk of change they are planning on spending to build this place, I hope they have a bigger target market in mind.

[chadster]

me too