The US$750m (£538m) Schlitterbahn Vacation Village Waterpark is set to open in Kansas City, Kansas, US, this summer.
The first phase of attractions will include 24 slides and chutes, including a 42-foot high Bahnzai Pipeline, a dark and warped Black Knight ride and the fast-flowing Blitz Falls Tube Chute.
Less energetic elements will include the giant Henry’s Hideout Hot Tub Bar with a swim-up bar and the slow-flowing Kristal River lapping onto Kristal Beach.
In contrast, Torrent River will offer visitors the world’s longest tidal wave river with continuous ocean-sized waves beating the sands of Torrent Beach.
The Kinderhaven Kids’ Area will provide a calmer central area for families with smaller children, with its shallow water playground and ten mini-slides surrounded by shaded seating and open-sun lounging areas.
An innovative attraction is the park’s concept of a floating queue, allowing park goers to bob in tubes from one attraction to the next through a series of interconnected slides, chutes and rivers.
“We are excited to unveil our innovative collection of water rides and attractions as we continue to prepare for our inaugural 2009 season,” said project executive Michael Catcott.
“Our new park delivers an entirely new experience to the Kansas City region, and we look forward to entertaining new legions of fans this summer.”
Future phases under development until 2011 will provide entertainment, accommodation, restaurants and shopping to create a fully equipped resort.
Entertainment elements will comprise a 65-foot Ferris wheel, a 16,000-gallon aquarium, shooting galleries, laser shooting simulators and an innovative skydiving experience, where guests can soar on a wall-to-wall airflow created by multiple overhead fans within an enormous clear cylinder to simulate a safe freefall.
More than 1,100 lodging accommodations will be built, including a Treehaus Resort with elevated pods, waterfront cabins and a full-service hotel, complemented by an array of eateries and 221,000sq ft (20sq m) of retail.
Schlitterbahn operates three waterparks in Texas: Schlitterbahn Beach Waterpark in South Padre Island, Schlitterbahn Galveston Island Waterpark in Galveston Island and Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort in New Braunfels.
