NEWS: Hawaiian Falls Waco exceeds 1st season expectations

[jedimaster1227]

http://www.wacotrib.com/news/169726686.html

 

Hawaiian Falls CEO Dave Busch initially was skeptical about the idea of putting a water theme park in Waco. But after a successful first season, he’s a believer.

 

Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, Hawaiian Falls Waco drew 145,000 visitors, 5,000 more than projected.

 

“That’s terrific for the first year,” said Busch, who has built water parks across the country, including four Hawaiian Falls in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. “We were doing back flips. After the first year, we’re always looking at all the things we could do better, but it was an outstanding year.”

 

The city of Waco last fall recruited Hawaiian Falls to renovate, expand and operate the city-built water park under a long-term lease. With $2.5 million in city funds and $4.2 million of its own investment, Hawaiian Falls added two six-story slide complexes, a large wave pool and a quarter-mile “lazy river,” among other attractions.

 

Hawaiian Falls closed after Labor Day and now is winterizing the equipment and planning attractions for next year.

 

Busch said he will meet with city officials soon to propose some ideas, including more large-scale and small-scale water features, live entertainment, ropes courses and zip lines. “We do need to add some more water attractions,” he said. “It’s very hot here, and we need to have more things to get people wet.”

 

He also is considering extending the season by reopening the park on certain weekends before Memorial Day and beyond Labor Day.

 

Busch said company and city officials also will study the economic impact the park has had on Waco, including an analysis of where visitors came from.

 

He said the company spent about $100,000 on marketing the park outside a 50-mile radius of Waco.

 

City Manager Larry Groth said he thinks the attraction had an impact on restaurants, stores and sales tax receipts, though it would be difficult to quantify. He said the Hawaiian Falls project also has created a new amenity for Waco. “I went out there several times, and the crowds were good and people seemed to be having a good time,” he said.

 

Under the deal with Hawaiian Falls, the city will get $25,000 in lease payments the first year, $50,000 for years two through five, and 5 percent of gross revenue after that. The deal also frees the city from maintenance duties and deficits that had reached $175,000 a year.

 

When the lease agreement was announced in October, some Waco residents voiced concerns that turning the city water park into a Hawaiian Falls would displace swimming classes and price many users out of the market. The old park drew 40,000 to 60,000 visits a year.

 

Hawaiian Falls agreed to offer swimming lessons, which drew 200 participants and will be continued next year.

 

Entry fees

 

Entry fees increased dramatically with the Hawaiian Falls takeover.

 

The city charged $6 for adults and $4 for children, while Hawaiian Falls charges $20 for those less than 4 feet tall and $25 for those more than 4 feet tall. Children younger than age 3 get in for free.

 

City parks commission chairman Steve May said his initial concerns about costs have been allayed because Hawaiian Falls offered bargains throughout the summer, as well as an affordable season pass. The season pass usually costs $90, but those who sign up before the season starts get a $25 discount, a deal that will be continued next season.

 

This season, Hawaiian Falls Waco sold more than 5,000 season passes, after expecting about 3,000, company officials said.

 

May said he has heard no negative comments about the park since it opened. “Everything Hawaiian Falls said they would do, they did, and more so,” he said. “I was very pleasantly surprised. . . . My family and I loved it. We went several times, and each time we went it got better. The staff constantly improved during the season.” He said the park each time provided five or six hours of safe entertainment for his boys, ages 6, 10 and 15. “It seemed like there were almost too many lifeguards,” he said. “You felt safe letting your children go to another area to swim. I don’t think they could have done a better job.”

Edited September 18, 2012 by jedimaster1227

[gisco]

Seems like water parks are all the rage lately. The are popping up all over the place or added to amusement parks. Wonder why they are so popular all of a sudden?

[robbalvey]

LOL! What does it say about a company when the CEO is "skeptical" about building something?

[CreativeForce]

I think it's all cyclical. I remember a bunch of water parks being built in the 80's as well.