NEWS: Wet n' Wild Las Vegas Announced!

[Twister II]

Saw this on the news yesterday:

 

http://www.8newsnow.com/story/15219580/new-waterpark-in-the-works-for-las-vegas

 

LAS VEGAS -- A new 26-acre waterpark is making a splash in Las Vegas, creating jobs and boosting the bottom line for businesses. Clark County Commissioners unanimously voted for the park and aquatics center, saying they are a few months away from a groundbreaking.

 

The park will be built near Fort Apache and Warm Springs. The county expects about 400 jobs -- 200 to build the facilities and 200 to operate them. Businesses in the area excited about being flooded with more customers.

 

"Right now it's ok, but I think it's going to be more customers," said Pia Taing with Benjarong Thai Restaurant.

 

Not far from the restaurant Taing manages is Raw Health, where the owner Robin Shaw is thinking about the health of the community.

 

"There's just a lot of vacancies, a lot of empty resident spots, lot of empty commercial spots. So by bringing this project over here, it might make certain people aware of this and say, 'Hey, maybe I should move here or I'll start doing some business here,'" she said.

 

"We plan on moving forward, they plan on moving forward and it was a seven to zero vote," said County Commissioner Susan Brager. "It's going to be in the southwest section of our community, great access to freeways, people seeing what's out there. Wet n' Wild was over the top and that's how this is going to be, along with that aquatics center and a park in the very front of it."

 

The Howard Hughes Company, who is supporting the project, has several other parks in Texas called Hawaiian Falls. Owners say they want to keep the name of this park a secret until the groundbreaking, but it's no secret they will be open for business Memorial Day of 2012.

 

I dont get it. Ground breaking in a few months, and opening up an entire water park before memorial day???? Little far fetched much? The area the park is proposed at is a dirty plot, not even fences or construction crews on site. Lets see now long this one will last...

Edited June 28, 2013 by jedimaster1227

[QueerRudie]

A great concept- but consider this:

 

The Wet and Wild here in North Phoenix was a county park until W&W took it over in 2008/9- they were able to gut the older park, install 16 slides and renovate everything in six months, so I'd expect that to not be so far fetched as you'd think- at least in theory.

[chadster]

Warm Springs and Fort Apache, interesting location choice.

[John Knotts]

Also keep in mind that not every aspect of the park needs to be finished before opening. They can stagger the openings of certain rides to keep interest. I REALLY hope this happens. Las Vegas without a waterpark is like a TPR trip without an Intamin!

[DBJ]

That's good news for Vegas! I do get a sense from the sketches that it is a modest proposal, at least compared to that indoor ski resort / waterpark that never happened. Looks like a lazy river, a slide tower, kid's area, wave pool. With their experience with the other water parks, pretty sure they would be able to give out a semi-accurate timeline for completion of phase 1 of the park.

[Twister II]

A great concept- but consider this:

 

The Wet and Wild here in North Phoenix was a county park until W&W took it over in 2008/9- they were able to gut the older park, install 16 slides and renovate everything in six months, so I'd expect that to not be so far fetched as you'd think- at least in theory.

However Water World still had most everything installed - only needed to put in a few pumps here and there with some new paint.

 

Las Vegas really is a perfect market for a water park. Put it just south of the strip, get it sponsored by a hotel, that way it can have shuttle service/package deals for the park and hotel. A water park here has endless capabilities, but starting off small does seem to be a smart choice now.

[dj snow]

About the only things they kept in the transition to Wet 'n Wild Phoenix from Waterworld were the wave pool, river, buildings and one slide tower (but not the slides themselves--just the tower structure). All the waterslides are new, and everything else rehabbed. So it was a substantial demolition/construction project - and they did have a somewhat late opening for its first season.

 

That said, I think, based on the scale of the Hawaiian Falls parks that these Vegas folks have been associated with, this will be a smaller-scale park that should be able to be put up fairly quickly. I've seen similar-sized waterpark projects completed in just three months, so it is possible. Hope it all comes together!

[Mr Stratosphere]

This was on the news today and all over our local news' Facebook pages. Looks like its actually going to come true! Something Vegas has needed for a long time. I know it looks small, but hey, it's a start right!!!

 

They officially gave the park's name "Splash Canyon"

 

It will be located on the south west side of the Las Vegas Strip.

 

Check out the link below.

Splash Canyon Waterpark

 

[SharkTums]

I wonder if these are new slides or coming out from the desert where they've been abandoned for quite some time?

 

Anyone know the supplier? I suppose I could ask today at IAAPA.

[gisco]

The location makes it sound like it is on the Strip. I checked the map and it is miles away. This is a park for locals.

[Ace Of Spades]

Finally, FINALLY, a developer in Vegas appealing to the local market! Can't wait for this to open!

[disneyfan1313]

So why didn't water parks work in vegas in the past? Was it because the "family friendly" push failed or lack of demand?

[SharkTums]

^I'm not an expert, but I think the problem with Wet n Wild was a few things:

 

- On the strip so locals avoided it and tourists didn't go to Vegas for a water park

- Land was worth a ton of money before the big downturn

- Too large a park to support

 

I think this new project has a ton of potential, hopefully they do well!

[gisco]

^I'm not an expert, but I think the problem with Wet n Wild was a few things:

 

- On the strip so locals avoided it and tourists didn't go to Vegas for a water park

- Land was worth a ton of money before the big downturn

- Too large a park to support

 

I think this new project has a ton of potential, hopefully they do well!

 

I think you are right on the money. When I was last there and visited my cousin, she hadn't been on the strip in over a year. Locals avoid the strip in less they work there or friends or family come for a visit and they have to take them there.

[Robocoaster]

Actually, Wet-n-Wild was doing just fine. IIRC, their lease was not renewed by the land's owners, not by WNW. The land owners were offered more money to put in a nice shiny new resort with a London-Eye type attraction outside. They went for it, kicking WNW out (WNW has just added an attraction; they weren't looking to leave). Then the nice shiny new project fell apart, and the land sits pretty much unused. For a while it was being used as storage for the next door Fountainbleu project, that also then fell apart.

 

Same type of thing happened to our Scandia. The land owners were offered more money for a nice shiny new project, kicked Scandia out, and then the nice shiny new proposed project fell apart (the bubble burst) and that land also sits unused to this day. Maybe, just maybe, Gekko was wrong...

 

While this project will happen, I'm hoping the less assured waterpark in Henderson gets built as well. It looks to have a far better mix of attractions.

click here

[SharkTums]

^That's one of the reasons I cited.

 

And if Wet n Wild thought it could have made money elsewhere they would have moved to a different location. I think they realized they were too big for the city. This smaller water park off the strip has a better chance.

[Philrad71]

I think off strip & just off the N. Boulder Highway would be ideal...as long as there is some room for expansion.

 

I would think Sam's Town might be pushing this a little as they are one of the more "family geared" casino/resorts off the strip on Boulder that still seem to somewhat cater more to the locals. Having more family friendly attractions near their facility would be a bonus to bring them more business wouldn't you think?

 

Then again, it is Las Vegas (dog eat dog)!

[O-Town77]

^That's one of the reasons I cited.

 

And if Wet n Wild thought it could have made money elsewhere they would have moved to a different location. I think they realized they were too big for the city. This smaller water park off the strip has a better chance.

 

+1

I think this proposed small water park will do well.

 

Theme Parks will never be huge in Vegas -- but some smaller offerings give the area some more things to do when people aren't shopping or in the casinos. Kinda like how Atlantic City has some small attractions like Steel Pier to complement the casinos.

[Twister II]

Called this from miles away....

 

Splash Canyon is the water park that never was:

 

http://www.fox5vegas.com/story/19724748/splash-canyon-developers-to-unveil-new-plans-name

 

LAS VEGAS (FOX5) -

Organizers of a planned water park in the southwest Las Vegas valley have scheduled a news conference for Thursday, slated to announce new plans for the park, including a new name and additional investment partners.

 

The family-themed park called "Splash Canyon" had originally slated opening at 7055 S. Fort Apache Road on Memorial Day this year.

 

The developer of the $20 million project announced in February, though, that construction delays pushed back the opening to Memorial Day 2013.

 

Developers said Wednesday the new water park will be "bigger ‘n' better" than the original plans. New plans include a "first in North America" water slide, organizers said.

 

The water park's investment team includes SBP Partners, Andre Agassi and Karen Thomas of the Thomas and Mack family. Developers also noted the project is a public-private partnership with Clark County and the Howard Hughes Corporation.

 

The news conference announcing the plans was scheduled at 1:30 p.m. during the World Waterpark Association Tradeshow, which is happening this week at the Paris Hotel and Casino.

 

Don't be holding your breath for a May 2013 opening. Bigger 'n' better plan? First in North America water slide? I've driven by this plot of land almost monthly. Last I saw was a chain link fence was put up around the site about 2 months ago. Before that, just flat dirt and no movement for a year.

[Mr Stratosphere]

Today it was announced today that Wet 'N' Wild is coming back to Vegas! It is in the same location that "Splash Canyon" was going to be located.

Also noted that it is the same concept artwork now just attached to the Wet 'N' Wild Brand

https://www.facebook.com/WetnWildLasVegas

 

 

From the Las Vegas Sun.

Representatives of Australian entertainment giant Village Roadshow announced during a media event today that it is renaming the Splash Canyon Water Park in Summerlin as Wet 'n Wild Las Vegas.

 

The water park was supposed to open this Memorial Day, but the opening was pushed back a year so developers could add amenities to the project.

 

The more than $50 million park will feature 25 slides — including North America's first Rattler slide — a wave pool, lazy river, water playground and toddler pool, as well as a seven-story speed slide and head-first mat racer.

 

More than 41 acres of land for the attraction will be leased from the Howard Hughes Corp. Investors include Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf; Dr. Steven and Karen Thomas, of the Thomas and Mack family; and Roger and Scott Bulloch, of SPB Capital Partners.

 

The park will be managed by Village Roadshow, which operates Wet 'n Wild water parks in Arizona and Hawaii. The company also is developing a Wet 'n Wild in Sydney, Australia, set to open in December 2013.

 

"We are very excited to bring this amazing new water park to the perfect city that is Las Vegas," Tim Fisher, Village Roadshow CEO, said in a statement. "The park will feature some of the world's most incredible slides and will offer an experience unlike anything Las Vegas residents and visitors have ever seen before."

 

"Wet 'n Wild Las Vegas has the potential to entertain more than 650,000 guests annually," Fisher added.

 

Locals and tourists have long bemoaned that Las Vegas has no full-scale water park. Wet ’n Wild shut down in 2004 after nearly 20 years in operation along the Strip near the now-defunct Sahara. Although developers have floated proposals for a replacement, no projects have come to fruition.

 

Most notably, in 2006, a former Disney and Universal Studios executive announced plans for Las Vegas Wet, a $10 billion combination indoor water park, ski slope, casino and hotel. It was supposed to open on Las Vegas Boulevard south of Interstate 215, but the idea burst along with the economy.

 

Today’s announcement is in progress, and more details will be added to this story as they become available.

 

www.lasvegassun.com/news/2012/oct/04/wet-n-wild-water-park-returning-las-vegas/

[Double0Kevin]

Here's the flyover they posted to youtube. I'm a little more convinced that this will happen now.

 

[Jew]

With Village Roadshow backing it, I think it is safe to say it will be happening.

[Twister II]

With Village Roadshow backing it, I think it is safe to say it will be happening.

I think so too, and that really makes a lot of people in the city happy!

 

Village Roadshow's last Wet n' Wild was Phoenix which was back in 2009, and before that, 1999 in Hawaii (for US parks).

 

The area surrounding the plot is bare. So there is a chance of expansion. Can't wait!!!!

[Gav]

and before that, 1999 in Hawaii (for US parks).

Village only bought it out and renamed it in 2008.

[Hercules]

I had heard of this a couple of weeks ago, and at first I was a little skeptical. However, once I realized who it was going to be managed under, I have a little more confidence that this could be a success.