Rapids Water Park

Rapids Water Park
Location	6566 North Military Trail, Riviera Beach, Florida, U.S.
Opened	1979
Owner	EPR Properties
Operated by	Premier Parks, LLC
General manager	Bryan Megrath
Operating season	March to November
Attendance	400,000
Area	30 acres (120,000 m2)
Attractions
Water rides	42
Website	www.rapidswaterpark.com

Rapids Water Park is a water park in Riviera Beach, Florida, United States, that occupies 30 acres.

The park includes 42 slides and attractions, including a wave pool (up to six-foot waves), dual seven-story speed slides, and a quarter-mile lazy river. There are also slides for children and toddlers.

History

The park was founded in 1979, on 4 acres (16,000 m²) of land with four water slides. It has since grown to 30 acres (120,000 m²), housing 35 slides, among other water-related attractions. In 2009, the park bought 2.2 acres (8,900 m²) just north of the park for $2.2 million.^[4]

Rapids Water Park celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2009, inviting the racecar driver Danica Patrick to the park for the festivities.^[5]

Attractions

The park's website breaks the intensity of their rides and attractions into three categories:

Biggest

The most intense rides includes:

Big Thunder - A dark ProSlide Tornado with a funnel at the end. The funnel is open, 60 feet (18 m) in diameter and 55 feet (17 m) in length.
Black Thunder - Another ProSlide Tornado slide, taking place completely in the dark. The ride has been recently limited to two riders per tube due to safety concerns.
Raging Rapids - Four-rider raft slide.
Riptide Raftin' - Five-rider raft slide.
Brain Drain - Dual trapdoor water slide with a seven-story tall drop, 8 seconds long.

Coolest

Rides and attractions designed for all ages include:

Baby Blue - Fast single rider with funnel
Big Red - Single or double-rider raft with funnel
Body Blasters - Two dark slides, 1,000 feet (300 m) long.
Mega Mayhem- Water coaster featuring two side-by-side flumes, propelled by jet propulsion technology
Pirate's Plunge - Two speed slides
Tubin' Tornadoes - Two single- or double-rider raft dark slides.

Wettest

Child- and family-friendly rides and areas include:

Alligator Alley - A smaller-scale version of Criss Crossing.
Big Surf - A wave pool covering 25,000 square feet (2,300 m²).
Criss Crossing - A pool guest can attempt to jump across using slippery, floating objects and an over-head net.
FlowRider - continuous 35 mph simulated wave pool.
Lazy River - A lazy river ride that can be used for transportation around the park.
Splash Hill - Eight slides, including two racing slides and two dark slides
Splish Splash Lagoon - Three family slides and play pools.
BareFootin' Bay - A water play structure with interactive features like sprayers, 3 slides and a giant pineapple tipping bucket.

In popular culture

The park appears in the 1997 film Donnie Brasco during the water park scene.

In 2000, Miami born rapper Trina shot the music video for her song "Pull Over" at the park.

In 2009, the MTV reality show Jersey Shore requested to film at the park, but were denied.^[6]

The music video for the song "Empty Threat" by the band Chvrches was shot at the park and released in 2015.^[7]

References

^ "Wet'n'Wild Phoenix, Hawaii to Add accesso eCommerce, Mobile Ticketing" (Press release). Premier Parks LLC. 20 January 2014. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
^ Bennett, Bruce. A bummer of a summer for local teens seeking work. The Palm Beach Post. Ret 7-30-2010.
^ Ostrowski, Jeff. Rapids Water Park gets new landlord, new operator, but no other changes for now. Palm Beach Post. 7-3-2012.
^ Ostrowski, Jeff. What economic slide? Water park buys site. The Palm Beach Post. Ret 7-30-2010.
^ Danica Patrick Connects With Fans At Rapids Water Park 30th Anniversary Celebrations Archived 2010-04-20 at the Wayback Machine. Auto Racing Daily. Retrieved July 30, 2010.
^ Streeter, Leslie Gray. The Ultimate Jersey Girl Contest Launched to Counter Image of Jersey Shore Archived 2010-07-27 at the Wayback Machine. The Palm Beach Post. Ret 7-30-2010.
^ "GOTH | DAY | OUT". 2016-01-05. Retrieved 2016-07-20.

26°46′16″N 80°06′25″W / 26.771°N 80.107°W / 26.771; -80.107

[1] "Wet'n'Wild Phoenix, Hawaii to Add accesso eCommerce, Mobile Ticketing" (Press release). Premier Parks LLC. 20 January 2014. Retrieved 27 January 2014.

[Jobs-2] Bennett, Bruce. A bummer of a summer for local teens seeking work. The Palm Beach Post. Ret 7-30-2010.

[Purchase-3] Ostrowski, Jeff. Rapids Water Park gets new landlord, new operator, but no other changes for now. Palm Beach Post. 7-3-2012.

[Expansion-4] Ostrowski, Jeff. What economic slide? Water park buys site. The Palm Beach Post. Ret 7-30-2010.

[IndyRacing-5] Danica Patrick Connects With Fans At Rapids Water Park 30th Anniversary Celebrations Archived 2010-04-20 at the Wayback Machine. Auto Racing Daily. Retrieved July 30, 2010.

[PBPulse-6] Streeter, Leslie Gray. The Ultimate Jersey Girl Contest Launched to Counter Image of Jersey Shore Archived 2010-07-27 at the Wayback Machine. The Palm Beach Post. Ret 7-30-2010.

[7] "GOTH | DAY | OUT". 2016-01-05. Retrieved 2016-07-20.

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