Wild Waves Theme Park facts for kids
| Previously known as "Wildwaves Theme and Water Park (2017-current)" Wild Waves and Enchanted Village (park was split into 2 different parks. (2016) Wild Waves Theme Park (2002–2018) Wild Waves and Enchanted Village (1984–2001) Enchanted Parks (1984) Enchanted Village (1977–1983) |
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| Location | 36201 Enchanted Parkway S, Federal Way, Washington |
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| Coordinates | 47°16′21″N 122°18′41″W / 47.2725°N 122.3115°W |
| Opened | 1977 |
| Owner | EPR Properties |
| Operated by | Premier Parks, LLC |
| Slogan | goWILD |
| Operating season | May to November |
| Area | 70+ Acres |
| Attractions | |
| Total | 44 |
| Roller coasters | 4 |
| Water rides | 16 |
| Website | http://www.wildwaves.com |
Wild Waves Theme & Water Park is a fun amusement park and water park located in Federal Way, Washington. It's a popular spot for summer adventures in the Pacific Northwest. The park first opened in 1977 as The Enchanted Village. Later, the Wild Waves water park was added in 1984.
The park's name has changed a few times over the years. In 2016, it was briefly split into two separate parks. But by November 2016, it became one big park again, known as Wild Waves Theme and Water Park. This happened after a company called EPR Properties bought the park.
Contents
Park History
How the Park Started
The Enchanted Village theme park was first opened in 1977 by Byron Betts. At the beginning, the park was about 12 acres big and had only a few rides. In 1984, the Wild Waves Waterpark was built right next to Enchanted Village. Together, they became known as Enchanted Parks.
In 1991, two new owners, Michael Moodenbaugh and Jeff Stock, bought Enchanted Parks. Later, in 1993, Jeff Stock bought some rides from another amusement park called Boblo Island. He then sold his part of Enchanted Parks in 2000 to a company called Six Flags.
In 1997, the park bought a roller coaster called the Loop Corkscrew. It came from a park that had closed down in Rhode Island. This ride was renamed the Wild Thing. By the year 2000, the park had grown a lot. It was over 70 acres and had more than 20 rides. It was the biggest water park in the Northwest.
In 2002 and 2003, the park added many new and exciting attractions. Many of these rides were made by companies like Zamperla and S&S Power. During the summer, Wild Waves hires about 1000 seasonal workers. Many of these workers are students from local high schools.
For the 2016 season, the park's name changed back to Enchanted Village and Wild Waves Water Park. It was split into two separate parks again. There was a second entrance for Enchanted Village. The main entrance was used for Wild Waves Water Park. Visitors could buy tickets for just one park or a special "park hopper" pass for both. Season Pass members got the park hopper access for free. However, this system was removed in 2017. The whole park became Wild Waves Theme and Water Park again. This change happened because many people found the ticket system too confusing.
Changes in Ownership
In April 2007, the company Six Flags sold Wild Waves. It was bought by CNL Income Properties. This company then let another company, PARC Management, run the park.
In January 2010, PARC Management stopped running Wild Waves and many other parks. Wild Waves then came under the new management of Norpoint Entertainment. This company was owned by Jeff Stock, who had owned Wild Waves before. Jeff Stock made many changes to the park in 2011, including adding a new water ride.
When CNL Income Properties owned the park, it was called Wild Waves Theme & Water Park. CNL also owned other parks like Darien Lake and Elitch Gardens.
In November 2016, Wild Waves and the other parks owned by CNL were sold again. They were bought by EPR Properties. This company is based in Kansas City, Missouri. After this sale, the parks were managed by Premier Parks, LLC.
Rides and Attractions
Wild Waves Theme & Water Park has many different types of rides for everyone to enjoy.
Roller Coasters
| Roller Coaster | Opened | Manufacturer | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kiddie Coaster | 1997 | Zamperla | Single Helix Powered Coaster |
| Klondike Gold Rusher | 2002 | Zamperla | Zig-Zag Coaster |
| Timberhawk: Ride of Prey | 2003 | S&S | Wooden Coaster |
| Wild Thing | 1997 | Arrow Dynamics | Loop and Corkscrew |
Water Rides
- Konga Slides
- Konga River
- Wave Pool (updated in 2020 with a new screen and better wave system)
- Hooks Lagoon
- Activity Pool
- Zooma Falls
- Raging River Ride
- Riptide
- Warming Tubs
- Pacific Plunge Slide Complex (used to be called Mountain Dew Slide Complex)
Thrill Rides
- Ring of Fire
- Disk'o Flashback
- I-5 Sky Dive (costs extra)
- Timber Axe
- Lumberjack Falls
- Soarin' Eagle Zip Line (costs extra, but season pass members get one free ride)
- Brain Drain (added in 2016)
- The Enterprise (planned but not operating)
Family Rides
- The Gambler
- Dodgem's Bumper Cars
- Pirate Ship
- The Paratrooper
- 1906 Antique Carousel
- The Hang Glider
- Ferris Wheel
- The Scrambler
- Kang-A-Bounce
- Downhill Tubin' by Stevens Pass
- Shark Frenzy (NEW! in 2020)
Kiddie Rides
- Enchanted Railway
- Red Baron
- Space Racer
- Frog Hopper (a tree-top style ride)
- Kiddie Boats
- Kiddie Combo
- Safari Jeeps
- Wagon Train
- Coastal Clipper (new in 2017)
Services for Visitors
Wild Waves offers several services to make your visit more comfortable and fun:
- Cabana rentals (small private areas to relax)
- Locker rentals (to store your belongings safely)
- Tube rentals (for water rides)
- Lost and found (if you lose something)
- First aid (for any minor injuries)
- ATM (to get cash)
Images for kids
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Hooks Lagoon
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Lounge chairs (these have been replaced since this photo)
- Wild Waves Theme Park at the Roller Coaster DataBase
