Wild Rivers (water park)
Wild Rivers | |
---|---|
General manager | Kevin Kopeny |
Opened | July 10, 2022 |
Operating season | May through October |
Area | 20 acres (8.1 ha) |
Pools | 7 pools |
Water slides | 20 water slides |
Website | www |
Wild Rivers(old) | |
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Slogan | Go Wild! |
Location | 8770 Irvine Center Dr, Irvine, CA 92618 |
General manager | Kevin Kopeny |
Opened | July 1986 |
Closed | September 25, 2011 |
Operating season | May through October |
Status | Defunct[[]] |
Area | 20 acres (8.1 ha) |
Pools | 10 pools |
Water slides | 20 water slides |
Website | wildrivers |
Wild Rivers is a
Original park
History
Before Wild Rivers was built, the land was a drive-through zoo called Lion Country Safari, which went bankrupt and closed in 1984. The park's owner still held 13 years on the original 29-year lease for the land, which he then subleased to the operators of the Wild Rivers water park, the Camp Frasier (later Camp James) summer camp and the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre.[5]
Construction on Wild Rivers "Mountain Top" which would serve as the launch point for their largest rides, began in 1985 and the park itself opened in 1986.[6] Congo River Rapids, Rattlesnake, and Python were the first large scale long form rides to open.
In early 2011, Wild Rivers announced that it had lost its lease with The Irvine Company. Both the park and the adjacent Camp James were scheduled to close at the end of the 2011 season.[7] The park was planned to be demolished with 1,750 apartments being built in its place. A new water park was planned to be built on public land near the Orange County Great Park, and was scheduled to open to the public in May 2014.[8]
New water park at the Orange County Great Park
History
Since 2012, there had been attempts to redevelop Wild Rivers on or near the
Construction of the park began in July 2021, after $60 million in financing was lined up,[17] and 20 attractions were planned.[18] Season passes for the 2022 season went on sale in November 2021.[19]
Attractions
- Tortuga
- Typhoon
- Aquaconda
- Bora Bora Boomerango
- Tomcat Racers
- Tahitian Toucan
- Bombay Blasters
- Tala & Mano
- Fiji Falls
- Pelican Plunge
- Pipeline
- Samoan Serpent
- Tiki's Revenge
- Cook's Cove
- Kontiki Cove
- Castaway River
- Shaka Bay
See also
References
- ^ "Archives - Los Angeles Times". Los Angeles Times. 30 June 1986.
- ^ "Wild Rivers closes after 25 years". The Orange County Register. 2011-09-25. Retrieved 2011-09-26.
- ^ "Wild Rivers Waterpark, Irvine". Wildrivers.com. Retrieved 2016-07-23.
- ^ "New Wild Rivers approved by county supervisors". The Orange County Register. 2012-07-31. Retrieved 2012-10-02.
- Orange County Register. Retrieved 2019-07-22.
- ^ "Timeline: Wild Rivers' wild ride". Orange County Register. 23 May 2011. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
- ^ Tully, Sarah (June 5, 2011). "Summer thrills, chills". The Orange County Register. p. Local 7.
- ^ "New Wild Rivers approved by county supervisors". The Orange County Register. 2012-07-31. Retrieved 2013-06-08.
- ^ "Water park in Irvine's Great Park is closer to reality five years after Wild Rivers closed". Ocregister.com. Retrieved 2016-07-23.
- ^ "ORANGE COUNTY GREAT PARK BOARD REGULAR MEETING - May 24th, 2016". Irvine.granicus.com. 2016-05-24. Retrieved 2016-07-23.
- ^ "Irvine negotiating to bring back Wild Rivers water park – Orange County Register".
- ^ Shimura, Tomoya (31 March 2018). "Iconic Wild Rivers water park eyes return to Irvine in 2019". Orange County Register. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
- ^ Robinson, Alicia (4 April 2019). "Get a look at newest map for the Wild Rivers water park planned in Irvine". Orange County Register. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
- ^ Robinson, Alicia (15 January 2020). "Irvine finds new Great Park location for bigger Wild Rivers water park". Orange County Register. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
- ^ McRea, Heather (17 April 2020). "Wild Rivers lease is ready for the Irvine City Council to approve". Orange County Register. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
- ^ Robinson, Alicia (28 July 2020). "Irvine gets a look at new plans for Wild Rivers water park". Orange County Register. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
- ^ Robinson, Alicia (2 July 2021). "Financing in place, new Wild Rivers water park is finally a go". Orange County Register. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
- ^ Pak, Camryn (8 July 2021). "Construction begins on $60 million Wild Rivers water park in Irvine". Orange County Register. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
- ^ Robinson, Alicia (28 October 2021). "With construction underway, Wild Rivers offers season passes for 2022 swim season". Orange County Register. Retrieved 18 January 2022.