Hopkins Rides

Hopkins Rides is an amusement ride manufacturer based in Palm City, Florida.[1] The company has had experience in amusement rides for over 45 years and currently specializes in water rides.

Hopkins Rides
IndustryManufacturing
PredecessorO.D. Hopkins Associates, Inc.
Founded1962
FounderO.D. Hopkins
SuccessorHopkins Rides, Inc.
Headquarters
Palm City, Florida
,
United States[1]
Area served
Worldwide
ProductsAmusement rides, roller coasters
Websitewww.whitewaterwest.com

History

In 1962 O.D. Hopkins incorporated Hopkins Engineering and started installing ski lifts for J.A. Roebling & Sons of Trenton, New Jersey.[2] In 1965 Hopkins purchased the ski lift division and all the related assets from Roebling & Sons. Soon afterwards a competitor, Universal Design Ltd., discontinued manufacturing Sky Rides, and their customers turned to Hopkins Engineering for parts.[2] Hopkins' first customer in the amusement business was Charles Wood of Storytown USA.

In 1971, the name of the company was changed to O.D. Hopkins Associates Inc. In 1979, Hopkins was approached by Paul Roads, owner of Wonderland Park (Texas), to build a reasonably-priced log flume for his park. The success of that project started Hopkins in the water ride manufacturing business.[2]

In November, 2001, O.D. Hopkins and Associates Inc. filed for bankruptcy protection. The aerial ropeway/sky ride division was spun off to Skyfair, Inc. on January 1, 1986. The company reorganized and emerged as Hopkins Rides, LLC in May 2002, and was for a brief time in partnership with Reverchon Industries of France.[3]

In August 2012 water slide manufacturer WhiteWater West acquired assets and intellectual property from Hopkins Rides, LLC. Although WhiteWater Attractions has adopted the Hopkins Rides technology, it is not a parent company to Hopkins Rides, LLC and the companies operate independently. WhiteWater sells its products under the Water Rides brand.[4][5]

Manufacturing

The company originally manufactured Sky Rides, but in the 1980s, with the increase in popularity of their water-based attractions, those rides became the company's primary product. In addition to the water-based attractions, Hopkins built seven roller coasters from 1985 to 1996. They also dabbled in other amusement ride types such as a SkyGlider, tube slides and water jet ride known as an Aqua Drag. Santa's Village still operates its SkyGlider, and Wonderland Park still operates its Aqua Drag and SkyGlider in addition to its other Hopkins rides.

Hopkins also re-fabricated portions of track on two Arrow Dynamics-built coasters: Dahlonega Mine Train at Six Flags Over Georgia received 1,400 feet of new track and supports in 1986 and Canobie Corkscrew at Canobie Lake Park received new track and supports in 1990.[2]

The company currently focuses only on water ride attractions:

List of roller coasters


As of 2019, Hopkins Rides has built 7 roller coasters around the world.[6]

NameModelParkCountryOpenedStatusRef
Texas TornadoLooping CoasterWonderland Amusement ParkUnited States United States1985Operating[7]
Polar CoasterJunior CoasterStory LandUnited States United States1987Operating[8]
Cliff Hanger
Formerly Red Devil		Looping CoasterGhost Town VillageUnited States United States1988Closed[9]
DragonLooping CoasterAdventurelandUnited States United States1990Removed[10]
Desert StormLooping CoasterCastles N' CoastersUnited States United States1992Operating[11]
PatriotJunior CoasterCastles N' CoastersUnited States United States1992Operating[12]
New Wild Mouse CoasterWild MouseMisaki ParkJapan Japan1996Closed[13]

List of other attractions

Flumes

Unless otherwise specified, all flumes feature at least one lift and a drop into a splash pool.

OpenedNameParkNotesStatus
1980Big Splash Log FlumeWonderland ParkElevated sectionOperating[14]
1981Log FlumeHamel's Amusement ParkDefunct[14]
1981Log FlumeCamden Park2 dropsOperating[14]
1981Sawmill RiverCrystal Beach2 drops, elevated sectionDefunct[14]
1982Big Splash log flumeWestern PlaylandElevated sectionDefunct[14]
1982Policy PondCanobie Lake Park2 dropsOperating[14]
1983Yule Log FlumeSanta's VillageOperating[14]
1983Mystery River Log FlumeFrontier CityOperating[14]
1984Log FlumeSeabreezeOperating[14]
1984Log FlumeMyrtle Beach Pavilion2 drops, elevated sectionDefunct[14]
1984Frightful FallsHoliday WorldOperating[14]
1984Thunder Falls Log FlumeFuntownOperating[14]
1985Rocky Mountain RapidsCliff's Amusement ParkElevated sectionOperating[14]
1985Zoom PhloomMorey's Piers2 drops, elevated sectionOperating[14]
1985Log JamJoyland ParkDefunct[note 1][14]
1989Splash MountainDisneyland5 drops, elevated sectionsDefunct[14]
1989Log FlumeGreat Basin Adventure at Rancho San RafaelClosed[note 2][14]
1989Log RideCastle Amusement Park2 drops, elevated sectionOperating[14]
1990FlumeKnoebels Amusement Resort2 drops, elevated sectionOperating[14]
1991SplashdownCastles N' Coasters2 drops, elevated sectionOperating[14]
August 11, 1992Log ChuteNickelodeon Universe2 drops, elevated sectionOperating[14]
1992Canyon Falls Log FlumeWonderland PierElevated sectionOperating[14]
1992Log JammerKiddieland Amusement ParkElevated sectionMoved[note 3][14]
1993SplashBosque MagicoOperating[14]
1993Bamboo ChutesStory LandElevated sectionOperating[14]
1993Log FlumePlayland2 dropsOperating[14]
1994Timber Wolf Howling Log RideTimber Falls2 drops, elevated sectionOperating[14]
1995Jungle Log JamEnchanted Kingdom2 drops, elevated sectionOperating[14]
1995Menhir ExpressParc Astérix2 drops, elevated sectionOperating[14]
1995Thunder RiverWaldameer Park2 drops, elevated sectionOperating[14]
1995Log FlumeWonderland Family Fun Park (Dubai)Operating[14]
1996Bali Festival Park2 dropsClosed[note 4][14]
1998Flume RideQingdao International Beer City2 dropsDefunct[14]
1998Monkey FallsRatanga Junction3 drops, elevated sectionDefunct[14]
1999Twin MercurySpace World3 drops, elevated sectionDefunct[14]
1999Log FlumeFamily Kingdom2 dropsOperating[14]
2000Ozarka SplashJazzland/Six Flags New Orleans2 drops, elevated sectionClosed[note 5][14]
2000Old No. 2 Logging CompanyMagic Springs2 dropsOperating[14]
2001Legend of the LabyrinthLagunasia Park2 dropsOperating[14]
2001FlumeTokyo Dome2 drops, elevated sectionOperating[14]
2001Race for Your Life Charlie BrownKings IslandRebuild of 1968 Arrow flumeOperating

Shoot the Chute rides
Opening DateNameParkHeightStatus
1986Splashwater FallsSix Flags Great America50'Defunct[15]
1986Splashwater FallsSix Flags Over Georgia50'Defunct[15]
1987AquamanSix Flags Over Texas50'Defunct[15]
1987Splashwater FallsSix Flags Great Adventure50'Defunct[15]
March 1988Whitewater FallsCarowinds50'Defunct[15]
1989Timberwolf FallsCanada's Wonderland50'Operating[15]
May 1991Tidal WaveSix Flags St. Louis50'Defunct[15]
1992Water Rollercoaster – SplashDuinrell50'Operating[15]
1992The WaveValleyfair50'Operating[15]
1992Tidal WaveMisaki Park50'Operating[15]
1993Shipwreck FallsSix Flags America50'Operating[15]
1993Pittsburg PlungeKennywood50'Operating[15]
1993SplashMitsui Greenland50'Operating[15]
1993SplashReino Aventura/Six Flags México50'Operating[15]
1994Tidal ForceHersheypark100'Operating[15]
1994Mile High FallsKentucky Kingdom82.5'Operating[15]
1994Super SplashDream World50'Operating[15]
1994Adventure FallsMichigan's Adventure50'Operating[15]
1994Splash BoatFuji-Q Highland100'Operating[15]
1994Shoot the ChuteNagashima Spa Land100'Operating[15]
1997Shipwreck FallsElitch Gardens Theme Park50'Operating[16]
1997Skloosh!Knoebels Amusement Resort50'Operating[16]
1998Boston Tea PartyCanobie Lake Park50'Operating[16]
May 29, 1999Flash FloodNoah's Ark Water Park50'Operating[16]
April 7, 2000Tidal WaveThorpe Park85.8'Operating[16]
2000TsunamiWestern Playland50'Operating[16]
2000Shoot the Chute[note 6]Wonderland Park (Texas)50'Operating[16]
2000Shipwreck FallsGeauga Lake50'Relocated to Celebration City[16]
2001Airship SurfingGuilin Merryland Theme Park50'Operating[16]
2001Playland Plunge[note 7]Playland (New York)50'Operating[16]
2005Spillway SplashoutJazzland50'Closed[16]
2007Niagara

(2017 Eldorado falls)

 Mirabilandia (Italy)100'Operating[16]
2008Roaring FallsCelebration City50'Closed[16]
May 24, 2012Pirate ReefLegoland California25'Operating[17]
Submarine SplashGyeongju World/Kyongju WorldOperating

River Raft rides
OpenedNameParkNotesStatus
1988Rattlesnake River Raft RideWonderland Park6-passenger raftsOperating[18]
1989Dr. Geyser's Remarkable Raft RideStory Land6-passenger raftsOperating[18]
1990Grand CanyonDream World8-passenger raftsOperating[18]
1990Raging RapidsHoliday World8-passenger raftsClosed[19]
1990Renegade RapidsFrontier City8-passenger raftsOperating[18]
1993Arung JeramDunia Fantasi6-passenger raftsOperating[18]
1993Hydro SurgeMyrtle Beach Pavilion6-passenger raftsDefunct[18]
1994Renegade RapidsSix Flags America8-passenger raftsOperating[18]
1995Disaster CanyonElitch Gardens8-passenger raftsOperating[18]
1995Río RápidoBosque Magico8-passenger raftsOperating[18]
1996Rio Grande RapidsEnchanted Kingdom8-passenger raftsOperating[18]
1996Thunder RiverLake Compounce8-passenger raftsOperating[18]
1997Airship SurfingGuilin Merryland Resort8-passenger raftsOperating[18]
1998River Rafting RideWonderland (Dubai)8-passenger raftsOperating[18]
1998Rapids Raft RideHappy Valley, Shenzhen8-passenger raftsOperating[18]
1998Qingdao International Beer City8-passenger raftsOperating[18]
1999Blizzard RiverSix Flags New England8-passenger raftsOperating[18]
1998Wild River CanyonLihpao Land8-passenger raftsOperating[18]
Haikou Tropical Ocean World8-passenger raftsOperating[18]
Grand Canyon AdventureGyeongju World/Kyongju World8-passenger raftsOperating[18]

Super Flumes
OpenedNameParkNotesStatus
1998Log FlumeHamanako Pal Pal, JapanOperating[20]
April 1998Daredevil FallsDollywoodOperating[21]
1998Bugs' White Water RapidsSix Flags Fiesta TexasOperating[15]
December 26, 1998Wild West Falls Adventure RideWarner Bros. Movie WorldOperating[22]
1999Wild-Crazy FlumeLihpao Land, TaiwanOperating[20]
2016Thunder FallsEverland, South KoreaOperating[23]

Notes
  1. Park closed in 2006, site is currently abandoned.
  2. Park is open to the public but the rides do not operate due to lack of funds.
  3. Flume was purchased by Little Amerricka, currently in storage.
  4. Park closed in 2000, site is currently abandoned.
  5. Park closed in 2005, site is currently abandoned.
  6. Smaller ride with 12-passenger boats and narrower boat channel
  7. Smaller ride with 12-passenger boats and narrower boat channel

References
  1. "Contact Hopkins Rides". Hopkins Rides. Retrieved June 20, 2013.
  2. Slade, Gary (November 1989), "O.D. Hopkins Enjoys Past, Anticipates Bright Future", Inside Track: 2–3
  3. "O. D. Hopkins Building on the Block". Retrieved February 9, 2012.
  4. "WhiteWater Acquires Hopkins Rides". WhiteWater West. August 23, 2012. Archived from the original on November 16, 2012. Retrieved August 24, 2012.
  5. "WhiteWater acquires Hopkins". Park World Magazine: 6. September 2012.
  6. Hopkins Rides - rcdb.com
  7. Marden, Duane. "Texas Tornado  (Wonderland Amusement Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  8. Marden, Duane. "Polar Coaster  (Story Land)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  9. Marden, Duane. "Cliff Hanger  (Ghost Town Village)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  10. Marden, Duane. "Dragon  (Adventureland)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  11. Marden, Duane. "Desert Storm  (Castles N' Coasters)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  12. Marden, Duane. "Patriot  (Castles N' Coasters)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  13. Marden, Duane. "New Wild Mouse Coaster  (Misaki Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  14. Hopkins Rides, customer ride list-flumes
  15. O.D. Hopkins 1994 Ride Catalog
  16. Hopkins Rides, customer ride list-Shoot the Chute
  17. MacDonald, Brady (May 27, 2012). "Review: Pirate Reef ride guaranteed to get you wet at Legoland". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 23, 2012.
  18. Hopkins Rides, customer ride list-River Raft Rides
  19. @holidayworld (June 14, 2023). "Tweet from Holiday World announcing closure" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  20. Hopkins Rides, customer ride list – Super Flumes
  21. "Interesting Facts About Dollywood's Daredevil Falls" (PDF). Dollywood. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 26, 2010. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
  22. "Wild West Falls (Warner Bros. Movie World)". Parkz. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
  23. "Thunder Falls Now Open at Everland Resort". PGAV Destinations. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
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