ZDT's Amusement Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
ZDT's Amusement Park

Previously known as ZDT's Amusement Center
Location	Seguin, Texas, United States
Coordinates	29°34′48″N 97°58′1.2″W / 29.58000°N 97.967000°W / 29.58000; -97.967000
Status	Operating
Opened	March 2007
Owner	Danny Donhauser
Operating season	All year
Attractions
Total	13
Roller coasters	1
Water rides	3

ZDT's Amusement Park is a fun family park in Seguin, Texas. It covers about 10 acres. The park first opened in 2007. Today, it has 12 exciting rides and attractions. Three of these are water rides. There is also a cool video game arcade.

ZDT's Amusement Park is open all year long. However, the water rides are only open from March to September. The park added its first roller coaster, called Switchback, in 2015.

Park History: How it Started

In March 2007, ZDT's Amusement Park first opened its doors. It started with five indoor attractions. The owners, Danny and Sarah Donhauser, named the park after their three children. They used the first letter of each child's name: Zac, Danielle, and Tiffany.

In 2008, the park added multi-level go-karts. Then, in 2011, they opened Mad Raft Water Coaster. This was the park's first water ride. It is a special type of water coaster.

Switchback: A Unique Roller Coaster

In late 2014, ZDT's announced plans for a new ride. It was called Switchback. This is a wooden shuttle roller coaster. It has a very steep 87-degree incline. It also has a 104-degree overbanked turn.

The Gravity Group built this roller coaster. It is 63 feet tall. Riders drop 58 feet and reach speeds up to 40 miles per hour. Switchback opened on October 17, 2015.

The ride goes through and around buildings. It ends with a special part called the Grand Spike. This sends riders up an 87-degree incline. Switchback is the first and only wooden shuttle coaster of its kind. Its name comes from the 1884 Switchback Railway. That was one of the first roller coasters in the United States.

The Park's Special Theme

The park's theme celebrates the history of the land it sits on. This area was once a center for farming and groceries. It had grain silos and places to process meat.

All the buildings in the park were updated. They were not torn down and rebuilt. For example, the Silo Climb is a climbing wall. It is built on the outside of old silos. These silos once stored grain from local farmers.

The indoor part of the GoKarts goes through old warehouses. These were used to process grain. You can still see some of the original equipment hanging there. The main park building was once a grocery store. It prepared food for sale.

The path to the water park is built on old train tracks. These tracks were used to move products. An original Santa Fe executive train car is still along this path. It helps remember this history.

Rides and Attractions

Switchback Roller Coaster

Switchback is a special roller coaster. It goes both forwards and backwards during the ride. It opened on October 17, 2015, at ZDT's Amusement Park. This ride holds a record. It is the steepest wooden roller coaster at 87 degrees. It is also the first wooden shuttle coaster ever built.

Other Fun Rides

Here are some of the other exciting rides and attractions you can find at ZDT's Amusement Park: