Splashing in the waves, zooming down a waterslide, relaxing on an inner tube and lying in the sun are only a few things that Water World has to offer. Water World was rated seven in the top ten water parks, according to the TLC Travel Channel last year.
The park’s 40 attractions are more than enough to keep you busy, so actually knowing the ride you’re about to go on is helpful in choosing which to visit.
The most common areas for visitors are the wave pools. Thunder Bay uses 1.8 million gallons of water with a surface area larger than a football field. Surf’s Up was the 12th wave pool to be built in the United States and is filled with 500,000 gallons of water. Both wave pools go from zero to eight feet deep.
Bringing in an amusement park feeling, Water World offers a few attractions that involve interaction as well as the feeling of being on a ride. Some of the best rides involve themes.
Voyage to the Center of the Earth takes riders back to the time when dinosaurs lived and was named one of the top five amusement rides in America by USA Today in 1993.
Lost River of the Pharaohs plunges riders down a river through ancient Egyptian pyramids with animatronics of cobras, grave robbers and living mummies. Both of these rides take about five minutes.
Zoomerang is a four-story high half-pipe water slide that gives the feeling of a free fall followed by a climb. The Wave is a simulated wave that allows visitors to surf without the ocean. The Screamin’ Mimi brings the feeling of a roller coaster into a water park with a 50-foot drop at 30 mph before cruising over the splash down pool.
Going back in time to the 1920s is an attraction called the Fun House. The Prank Tank sends riders down a steep chute into a bowl where they spin to the center and plunge into 10,000 gallons of water. The Spacebowl offers an enclosed flume that is entirely dark and then drops riders into an eight-foot-deep pool at the end.
For more interaction and less theme-ride feeling, there is the H2Orena that allows up to three teams to compete against each other in a game of shooting with water cannons. The first ones to dump water on their opponent are the winners.
Aside from the theme rides, Water World offers water slides and inner tube rides. The Bermuda Triangle offers a 60-foot, three-second drop. Thrill Hill consists of four body slides and one slide where two riders shoot down on donut shaped tubes for two.
River Country includes four single inner tube rides, two two-person inner tube attractions and the very first family inner tube ride ever built, the Ragin’ Colorado.
The Lazy River allows visitors to take time out and relax on 1,000 feet of water as they float around the park on inner tubes.
Water World opens May 25 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with limited hours the last week of May. The park will close for the season on Sept. 2.
General admission is $24.95 and a Splash Pass is $69.95 for unlimited visits.
Discounts are available all over town.
Safeway has four-packs for $84.95, Arby’s will offer two for one coupons for opening weekend as well as $6 off in June, Wendy’s will offer $5 off in July and Subway will offer $5 off in August.
Bring in specially marked Dr. Pepper products and receive $5 off or bring in non-perishable foods to receive $4 off.
Recommended attire includes swimsuits and shorts that have no rivets. Thongs are allowed, but if found offensive by anyone, the visitor must put more clothing on.
Water World is located at 88th Avenue and Pecos St. Take I-25 to 84th Avenue and go west. Turn right on Pecos Street and follow it until you hit 88th Avenue. Water World will be on your left, and there is no charge for parking.
For more information visit the Web site at http://waterworldcolorado.com or contact them at 303-427-SURF.
