Wild Rapids Waterslide Park

Wild Rapids Waterslide Park was located on the shores of Sylvan Lake in the resort town of Sylvan Lake, Alberta, Canada. Wild Rapids opened to the public in 1982, and it was Alberta's second-largest water park after the World Waterpark in West Edmonton Mall. Wild Rapids Waterslide was one of five waterslide parks in Alberta, and the last outdoor water park to operate until it closed in 2016.[1] The park contained 12 slides, many small pools, three hot tubs, and a children's water playground. The park closed at the end of the 2016 season, after operating for 34 years.[2] The park was located near Red Deer, between Edmonton and Calgary,[3] along Alberta Highway 11A. Wild Rapids was the largest water park of its kind in western Canada.

Wild Rapids Waterslides
The middle tower of the waterpark.
LocationSylvan Lake, Alberta
Coordinates52°18′39″N 114°6′2″W
ThemeWaterslides
OwnerBear Development Corporation
General managerBert Messier
Opened1982 (1982)
Closed2016 (2016)
Operating seasonSummer
StatusDefunct[[]]
AreaSylvan Lake
PoolsSeveral small pools including three hot tubs pools
Water slides12 water slides
Children's areasA single children's area

History

Wild Rapids Waterslide was founded in 1982 by Dave Dubeta and Garry Johnson, and opened just in time for its first full summer of operations.[4] Wild Rapids Water Slide was built on the land previously owned by the Johnson Family, known as Sandy Cove Campsite, which was next to the public pier.

Thirty-four years later, it was announced that the park would close after the 2016 season, as it was being bought by the town of Sylvan Lake for redevelopment. The slides and equipment were put up for sale on Kijiji. The president of Bear Development Corporation, Bert Messier, hoped that an entrepreneur would see the advertisement, buy the equipment, and build another waterpark in Alberta. The children's playground was sold, and will now operate on the shores of Gull Lake.[5]

Attractions

Slides

There were 12 main slides in the park, and one small water playground that contains other small slides for children.[6] The slides were all white in colour, except for the playground slides. While facing the park from the entrance, there was a left tower, a middle tower, and a right tower.[7]

A collection of waterslides. Visible in the front of this photo are the Cinnamon twist and Squiggles. In the back of the photo are also the Sneaky Snake, Tube Blaster, Kami Kazi, Hari Kari, and other slides.

Individual slides

These slides are all beginner class body slides.

Slide Description
Tickles A small straight children's body slide that drops into a pool.
Squiggles A small children's body slide that contains only one turn before dropping into a pool. Previously known as "Wiggles".
Cinnamon twist A body slide with its own tower. Smaller than most of the other larger slides, but contains twists, turns, and drops. Drops into a large pool.
Playground A children's playground containing several small waterslides that drop into a large pool.

Middle tower

These slides are all intermediate class. There are three body slides and one tube slide.

Slide Description
Body Blaster A body slide halfway up the tower. The slider positions their body in the chute, and waits before a tank releases a large wave of water that propels the rider into the chute with twists, turns, and drops. Drops into a splashdown pool.
Tube Blaster A tube slide halfway up the tower. The slider sits on their tube in the chute, and waits before a tank releases a large wave of water that propels the tube-rider into the chute with twists, turns, and drops. Drops into a splashdown pool. Single tubes only.
Sneaky Snake A body slide located at the top of the tower. Many twists, turns, and drops. Drops into a splashdown pool.
Octopussy A body slide located at the top of the tower. Many twists, turns, and drops. Located opposite of the Sneaky Snake. Likely named after the James Bond film Octopussy, which was released not long after the opening of the park. Drops into a splashdown pool.

Left tower (River Rides)

These slides are all advanced class tube slides.

Slide Description
Hell's Gate A large tube slide. Riders prepare themselves in a pool at the top of the tower, before launching themselves down a steep slide. The slide contains a number of drops, turns, and pools, before finally splashing riders down into a splashdown pool. Single tubes only.
Rio Grande A large tube slide. Riders prepare themselves in a pool at the top of the tower, before launching themselves down a steep slide. The slide contains a number of drops, turns, and pools, before finally splashing riders down into a splashdown pool. The ride is similar to Hell's Gate but has turns and drops that are different as they vary in length and direction. Likely named after the Rio Grande river. Single tubes only.

Right Tower

These slides are all extreme class. There is one tube slide and two mat slides.

Slide Description
Kami Kazi A very fast slide at the top of the tower. Riders race on carpets down a series of drops, while picking up speed before slowing down in a straight-away at the bottom of the slide. Named after Japanese Kamikazes during World War II.
Hari Kari A very fast slide at the top of the tower. Riders race on carpets down a series of drops, while picking up speed before slowing down in a straight-away at the bottom of the slide. Staying with the Japanese theme, the slide is another name for the Japanese ritual suicide called Seppuku. The slide is identical to the Kami Kazi.
Sidewinder A large very fast half-pipe slide located halfway up the tower. Riders position themselves at the top of the slide in either single, double, or triple tubes. The rider(s) is/are then pushed down by an attendant, either facing backwards or forwards. The rider(s) then speed down one side of the half-pipe, before reaching the top (or near) of the other side. The rider(s) then continue this until they stop at the vertex of the parabola. Riders may ride in single tubes, double tubes, or triple tubes.

Other attractions

Wild Rapids Waterslides also had three hot tubs and several small pools. There were also four concessions that had been renamed.

Concessions:

  • Blizzard Beach ice cream
  • Sliders Grill
  • Top Dogs (hot dogs)
  • The Wedge pizza & subs
A panorama view of the waterpark. Nearly every slide is visible.
  • Another view of the middle tower and a vending machine.
    Another view of the middle tower and a vending machine.
  • The Sylvan Lake Lighthouse with the waterslides in the background.
    The Sylvan Lake Lighthouse with the waterslides in the background.

See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wild Rapids Waterslide Park.

References
  1. "Edmonton Waterparks: Waterparks in Edmonton, Alberta". www.discoveredmonton.com.
  2. "Wild Rapids Waterslide Park in Sylvan Lake shutting down after 2016 - Globalnews.ca". globalnews.ca. 28 June 2016.
  3. "Attraction Archives".
  4. "Press Release - Wild Rapids Waterslide Park". Archived from the original on 2016-08-17. Retrieved 2016-06-28.
  5. Snowden, Wallis (Aug 25, 2016). "Bids for Sylvan water park slide as low as $1 ... if you have the cash to move it - CBC News". CBC.
  6. "Calgary Kiosk".
  7. "The Experience - Wild Rapids Waterslide Park". Archived from the original on 2016-08-27. Retrieved 2016-08-26.

52°18′39″N 114°6′2″W

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