Waterville USA facts for kids
| Previously known as Waterville U.S.A.- Gulf Shores Station' | |
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| Location | 906 Gulf Shores Pkwy Gulf Shores, Alabama 36542, United States |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 30°15′32″N 87°41′10″W / 30.259°N 87.686°W |
| Status | Operating |
| Opened | December 31, 1986 |
| Owner | Joe Warrington |
| General manager | John Turberville |
| Slogan | "Water and Amusement Park " |
| Operating season | Year Around |
| Area | 20 acres (0.081 km2) |
| Attractions | |
| Total | 19 |
| Water rides | 12 |
Waterville USA, often called Waterville, is a fun water and amusement park in Gulf Shores, Alabama. It's super close to the Gulf of Mexico! This park opened in 1986 and has grown a lot. It now has many cool water rides and exciting amusement attractions for everyone. The park covers about 20-acre (81,000 m2) of land.
Splash into Fun: The Water Park
The water park was the first part of Waterville USA. It has changed over the years, but two classic attractions are still there: the big wave pool and the relaxing lazy river.
| Ride | What it's like |
|---|---|
| FlowRider | Try surfing or bodyboarding on this cool wave simulator! |
| Crystal Waters Lazy River | Float along a calm river that winds through the park. You'll see slides and pretty plants as you go. |
| North Shore Wave Pool | Dive into this large pool with waves up to 3 ft (0.91 m) high. It's like being at the beach! |
| Screamin' Demon | This is a super fast body slide with one big drop. Get ready for a thrilling ride straight down! |
| Triple Dog Dare | This body slide has three exciting drops. It's even faster than the Screamin' Demon! |
| Jet Stream | Zoom through an enclosed tube on this high-speed body slide. |
| Wa Wa World | A special play area just for younger kids. It's full of water fun! |
| Shrimp Boat Village | A fun play structure for children. It has small body slides and a giant water bucket that tips over! |
| Rainbow Falls | Three smaller body slides that are perfect for a quick splash. |
| Gold Rush | Ride an inner tube down this open-air slide. |
| Great White | This tube slide is partly enclosed, so you'll go through some dark sections! |
| Dune Racer | Challenge your friends on this six-lane mat racer slide. Who can get to the bottom first? |
Thrills and Games: The Amusement Park
Waterville USA also has an amusement park section with rides and games for all ages.
| Ride | What it's like |
|---|---|
| FlowRider | Yes, it's so popular it's listed here too! Practice your surfing skills. |
| Fun Depot | This area has lots of fun rides just for little kids and younger children. |
| Waterville 500 | Race your friends on these exciting go-karts! |
| Miniature Golf | Enjoy a game of mini golf on a large 36-hole course. |
| The Starcade | One of the biggest arcades in the Alabama Gulf Coast area. Play tons of video games and win prizes! |
| Cyberville USA | Step into virtual reality worlds and experience new adventures. |
| Waterville LaunchPad | Get strapped in and bounce really high! You can even try some cool tricks. |
Park History and Changes
Over the years, Waterville has updated its attractions. Sometimes, old rides are removed to make space for new, exciting ones. Other times, changes happen because of weather events.
For example, in September 2004, a big storm called Hurricane Ivan hit Gulf Shores. The park was very close to the coast, so it got flooded and some attractions were damaged. Repairs took a few years, and the park fully reopened in 2007 with new and improved rides.
Here are some of the rides and attractions that used to be at Waterville:
| Ride | What it was like |
|---|---|
| Ejection Seat | A slingshot-style ride that launched people high into the air. The FlowRider is now in its place. |
| Cannonball Run | A large wooden roller coaster. |
| The Kamikaze | A very fast, straight-down slide. It was replaced by the Screamin' Demon. |
| The Bullet | A triple-drop slide. The Triple Dog Dare took its place. |
| Lazer Tag | A game where players tag each other with laser guns. |
| House of Bounce | A fun area with inflatable bounce houses. |
| The Hurricane | An inside tube slide. It was replaced by the Dune Racer. |
| The Black Widow | Another inside tube slide. It was also replaced by the Dune Racer. |
Many of the water park's original slides have been replaced over time.
- Waterville USA at the Roller Coaster DataBase
