NEWS: Lake Winnie announces 5-acre water park expansion

[jedimaster1227]

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/oct/24/lake-winnepesaukah-announces-5-acre-water-park-exp/

 

Lake Winnepesaukah officials today announced they will build a new water park by summer 2013.

 

The expansion on the west side of the park near the Cannonball Roller Coaster will begin in January and be completed by next summer.

 

The multimillion-dollar expansion will include a lazy river, wave lagoon, body slides, tube slides, racing slides and a splash park for toddlers.

 

It will include lounge seating, concessions and shops.

 

“We decided to kick it up a notch,” said Talley Green, public relations director for the park located in North Georgia. “Today we announce a multimillion-dollar water park.”

 

Georgia State Sen. Jeff Mullis, R-Chickamauga, said he, like many in the community, grew up with the park and is excited to see the expansion. “I’ll have to don my new Speedo and enjoy it,” he said.

Edited May 28, 2013 by robbalvey

[A.J.]

We decided to kick it up a notch,

 

BAM!

 

[robbalvey]

See! All these smaller parks are going "water park" - it's what people want!

 

Great to see them expanding!

[BeemerBoy]

This is PERFECT for the park. I'm interested to see what they're new pricing will be though.

[Myself]

Here's concept art of the water park; this is the highest resolution I can find.

[Hilltopper39]

Looks like the perfect addition to this park! I've only been to Lake WInnie once but it was a very enjoyable little half day passing through the part of the state, might have to allot for a full day next time!

[PCW_Nut]

After visiting this park during New Hotness this summer I can say that this is a great addition indeed. Camp grounds, great rides, amazing old school vibe and now a water park. Good job Lake Winnie!

[ernierocker]

I'd say a future weekend trip to the Chattanooga area is in order! Still have never been to the park, but this addition would be perfect for my kids to enjoy while daddy gets his credits and the grandparents watch the kids.

[disneymoc]

I couldn't be happier of my little home park. FINALLY they are living up to their potential. They honestly need to offer a season pass but last year they mentioned on their FB page that it would cost upwards of $150 per person which isn't economical for most.

 

This family owned park has come a long way, but they still have a long way to go. I am hoping this is the catalyst for something big for them in the future.

[Erik Johnson]

Yay! This is the perfect addition for Lake Winnie!

[cfc]

It sounds like a good call to me, too. This should make Lake Winnie a full-day park.

[Philrad71]

Yay for more water park hotness!

 

I like the idea of the wave pool flowing right into the lazy river...and that lazy river looks quite large!

[disneymoc]

Here is the latest story from today's Times Free Press.

 

A new five-acre water park at Lake Winnepesaukah will feature seven water slides, a lazy river and room for parents to stretch in the sun.

 

The as-yet-unnamed water attraction will mark the first phase of at least three that could stretch to 15 acres over the next few years -- the largest expansion of the North Georgia amusement park since the 1960s.

 

Construction will bring 100 temporary jobs, and the water park itself will add at least 50 seasonal jobs, the owners said.

 

Though the Rossville park's family owners declined to specify the project's cost, Dixon family member Adrienne White Rhodes said the new construction would bring "hopefully a lot more than 100,000" new visitors per year. Attendance so far this year totals more than 300,000.

 

"Attendance will increase considerably," she predicted.

 

Workers will complete the aqua expansion in summer 2013 after breaking ground in the first week of January, said Talley Green, part of the family's fourth generation of leaders.

 

"We decided to do more than just add some rides this year," Green said. "We decided to kick it up a notch."

 

The park sits on about 80 acres around the lake, with the eastern half used for rides and attractions. The entire western half is a blank slate, aside from employee parking and part of a roller coaster.

 

To the southeast lies a 170-acre tract along Lakeview Drive, but it is mostly wetlands and would be difficult to develop, officials said.

 

The challenge of how to build an entire amusement park in just a few months falls initially to Chris Jones, a Palm Beach, Fla.-based architect.

 

Along with contractor Aquatic Builders, which has created water parks for Six Flags, Dollywood, Disney and others, Jones helped draw up the water park's master plan.

 

"There won't be high-thrill rides initially, but there eventually will be," he said. "All parks start small like this and then build up as time goes by."

 

He agreed to come on board only if the family agreed to "do it right" and invest a significant amount of cash, Jones said. Part of that investment will go into building a small mountain in the southwestern corner of the property so the water slides can use gravity to their advantage.

 

"You can't put together two Slip 'n Slides and a lawn sprinkler and call it a water park," Jones said.

 

Back to the water

 

For the alcohol-free family park, the announcement marks a return to its wet roots.

 

Lake Winnie, as it's commonly known, got started in 1925 with what was then the largest swimming pool in the southeastern United States, said Tennyson Dickinson, who helps run the park with Green.

 

In 1927, the park installed the Boat Chute, which officials say is the last water feature of its kind still in operation.

 

Over the years, Lake Winnie switched to dry rides, growing to 100 acres and 40 rides, including the wooden Cannon Ball roller coaster that will overlook the new water park.

 

Lake Winnie is part of an increasingly rare contingent of two dozen family-owned and operated parks across the U.S. that offer good, clean fun, said Jim Futrell, historian for the National Amusement Park Historical Association.

 

"They've been able to successfully deal with issues like family succession, aging infrastructure and changes in the neighborhood to adapt and remain relevant in the 21st century," Futrell said.

 

The parks that survived the recession, like Lake Winnie, focused on the family crowd and stayed away from big spending projects, he said.

 

But most already have installed water park attractions, which are inexpensive to build and maintain compared to traditional roller coasters. Water parks also help maintain attendance on particularly hot summer days, helping smooth out sales.

 

"A lot of parks, when it gets above 90 degrees, people don't want to walk around in the heat," Futrell said. "The water park still brings those people in."

 

Video is also at this link. http://www.timesfreepress.com/videos/2012/oct/25/6322/

[BeemerBoy]

"You can't put together two Slip 'n Slides and a lawn sprinkler and call it a water park,"

Quote of the Year.

[disneymoc]

I'm honestly surprised the Rhodes family is investing this much in a project. After seeing what they did to the Wacky Factory, I thought all "new" attractions were going to be done on the cheap. The Fireball was a nice addition this year. Although not my cup of tea, the general public was excited to see a "new coaster" even though it can be found at many carnivals.

[Hilltopper39]

"You can't put together two Slip 'n Slides and a lawn sprinkler and call it a water park,"

Quote of the Year.

 

This guy has clearly never been to Eastern Kentucky....

[boxopen]

This is my home park. I CANT WAIT!!!!!

[warlord]

This is going to be a good thing for Lake Winnie. Also makes you think what they are going to do in the other 2 phases they are planning.. Hopefully it will be something unique to the park and not something that can be bought off the shelf.

[disneymoc]

^ I would hope so too but the past doesn't seem to make me think this. They surprised me with this announcement though. So we'll keep our fingers crossed.

[palmerleeberry]

I last been at Lake Winnie during my 2007 summer vacation, and this was the first stop before I would head up to Pigeon Forge, TN and the soon-to-be-ill-fated Ghost Town in the Sky visit. Lake Winnie was a blast having Cannonball Run, the Paratrooper (my favorite old-timing flat ride), and the Boat Chute (it may be the oldest ride in the park, but it still packs the longest line!). Now with Lake Winnie adding this water park expansion, I hope the park is ready to expect more visitors entering their park.

 

I'm not perfect; I just love to ride!!!

[BeemerBoy]

Per Lake Winnie's Facebook:

 

Expansion Sale! When you have been around for 88 years, you collect a LOT of "stuff". Now that we are expanding, it is time to clean the fields, the attics, and the warehouses to make room. Friday, November 9th from 8 am until 3:30 pm and Saturday, November 10th from 8 am until 2 pm. Come buy a bit of history...old ride cars to cash registers and food equipment. Main parking lot. Cash or credit cards. All sales are final. See you there!

[GrapesLie]

I visited this park for the first time earlier this year and I LOVED this park! Old Americana! I loved Boat Chute it was like riding history and also just plain fun! This announcement is exciting and unexpected! I'm quite happy about it! I also think this is a very wise move!

[EquusStorm]

Well wow! This is exciting news! I for one am so glad that Lake Winnie (you know you're from the south when you have been able to spell 'Winnepesaukah' correctly) is still going strong

 

It's been so long since I've been there, although I've been there more than once. It's a family in-joke that the park is called "Lake Winnepe-soak-you" because every time we've went, it has started pouring rain while we were there, stranding us in the gift shop (or once, on the tracks, as it began to rain while we were on the miniature railroad, and the train BROKE DOWN halfway around its course, requiring us all to walk back to the main part of the park on the tracks! That experience has stuck with me for all my life!) . Loved the kiddie rides when I was of the appropriate age and size to ride such things; on one of the miniature-car type tracked rides I always liked stopping, which for some reason would always stall the car and require an op to come all the way over to where I was and get it started before I was bumped by the next person coming around the track. I didn't believe them when they said that stopping would break down the ride, so I HAD to try it, being the tricky little devil that I was... er, am. They were right on that one.

 

I don't recall riding much else, and to be honest I didn't even know the Cannonball was even THERE until relatively recently! Or, if I did, I forgot. Given that it's a short day-trip from the house, I'll definitely try to check out the new expansion - and ride (and re-ride and re-ride until oblivion) the Cannonball - next summer! Now comes the hard part, waiting for the 2013 amusement park season!!

[jedimaster1227]

http://www.nooga.com/159400/lake-winnie-announces-water-park-developments/

 

The weather took its cue from Lake Winnepesaukah this morning, and were it not for a huddle of tents, the rain might have soaked the crowd gathered to celebrate the latest development at the South’s favorite family amusement park.

 

The Rossville attraction broke ground today on its five-acre water park, which is set to open this summer. Officials also unveiled the name of what will be the first major expansion since the 1960s: SoakYa.

 

Lake Winnepesaukah first announced its plans for the water park on Oct. 24, 2012.

 

“What would a water park be without a little water?” joked Talley Green, a fourth-generation member of the amusement park’s founding family, who manages it today with her mother, Adrienne White Rhodes, and her sister, Tennyson Dickinson.

 

Green continued, “Lake Winnepesaukah is a hard-to-say and even harder-to-spell name, but through the years, that name has become synonymous with family fun in our region. That’s why we chose SoakYa, a spirited play on our name, for the water park that is a perfect complement to our amusement complex.”

 

CapitalMark is financing the multimillion dollar project.

 

Chris Jones of Christopher M. Jones Architects and Planners gave the mix of politicians, press and others a visual tour of what will be involved in the five-month construction period.

 

The entrance will be located behind the Cannon Ball Roller Coaster, which will be added as a stop on the amusement park’s train ride.

 

A snack area and gift shop will be right off the entrance. Nearby bathrooms and changing facilities will provide guests with locker storage. An 800-foot lazy river with waves, fountains, spray mist and bubbles will encircle the water park.

 

Lake Winnepesaukah is also creating an 18-foot hill for two towers featuring flume body slides and enclosed tubes. Toward the back of the park, a crossing pool will allow children and adults to balance and maneuver on a trail of floatables while holding onto an overhead net.

 

The far end of the park will also be home to a beach lagoon area with beach chairs and a gentle slope into a pool area connected to the lazy river.

 

With an eye to providing entertainment for all ages, the water park will include a shallow splash pool for toddlers.

 

“The new year and new beginnings—it’s an exciting time,” Jones said. “The next time you see this, it’s going to be a world of difference.”

 

Construction will begin next week under the direction of Aquatic Builders Ltd. The project will create 100 temporary jobs for construction, electrical, plumbing and excavation contractors. Once complete, SoakYa will create 50 to 60 seasonal jobs.

 

More bang for the buck

 

Among those to speak at the press conference was Kevin Langston, deputy commissioner for tourism in the Georgia Department of Economic Development.

 

Langston shared a few key statistics about the impact that tourism revenue like the kind generated at Lake Winnepesaukah has on the state. The $49 billion industry employs 400,000 Georgians and contributes $2.6 billion annually to the state’s tax revenue.

 

In fact, each resident pays $744 less in taxes every year because of the tourism industry.

 

Langston praised Lake Winnepesaukah officials and supporters for the timing of the water park’s opening, which will coincide with the events commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Civil War in the Northwest Georgia corridor.

 

The amusement park will have a new advantage in attracting the coveted demographic of family tourists.

 

“I’m already sold on the importance of this project,” Langston said. Explaining that his family had visited Lake Winnepesaukah when his now-teenage sons were younger, he said, “I’m looking forward to many more families making memories here.”

 

The ticket price for general admission from the April 13 opening day to Memorial Day weekend will remain at $26 for adults and $10 for children 2 years old and younger and seniors.

 

With the opening of SoakYa, ticket prices Memorial Day through Labor Day will be $31.95 for adults and $15.95 for children 2 years old and younger and seniors. This price includes admission to both parks.

 

As a group of Lake Winnepesaukah officials and those involved in the design and construction of the water park lined up for the groundbreaking, shovels in hand, the older generation of the founding family gave her blessing.

 

“The ground being turned here today is a sign to our construction crew to start their engines,” she said.

 

And with that, two construction loaders cranked their engines and began their work.

Adrienne White Rhodes broke ground today on SoakYa, the newest addition to Lake Winnepesaukah. (Photo: Staff)

[jedimaster1227]

Lake Winnie has posted a construction update video on the new SoakYa water park expansion.

 

[youtu_be]

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