Just like the big theme parks, water parks know that the key to keeping their attendance levels high is adding new attractions to the mix every so often. So, with that in mind, let’s take a quick look at the best new water parks and water park additions for 2023.
We’ve now hit the mid-point of the busy summer season. And, as the temperature rises to uncomfortable levels, your local water park may be the key to cooling off! Water parks may not be for everyone. However, you can’t deny that the idea of slipping and sliding in the cool water doesn’t sound appealing.
Best new water parks and new water park additions in 2023
1 Great Wolf Lodge, Maryland, US
The Great Wolf Lodge chain opened its latest indoor waterpark resort in Perryville, Maryland, this month.
More than just a waterpark resort, this latest Lodge includes other attractions like MagiQuest, a mirror maze, bowling, a ropes course, and mini-golf in addition to the huge indoor waterpark fun that guests have come to expect from Great Wolf Lodge.
2 Island Waterpark, New Jersey, US
What’s better than a new water slide? How about an entire new waterpark? The Island indoor waterpark at the Showboat Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey, has now opened.
The new indoor waterpark is said to be 120,000 square feet in size featuring 11 water slides and a large lazy river, all while being within walking distance of the Atlantic Ocean. As a bonus luxury, for adults wanting to enjoy the waterpark experience away from kids, you can pay for access to a special Adult Island area with an exclusive adult-only pool and a swim-up bar.
Island Waterpark features a 1,000-square-foot Wild Wave FlowRider surf simulator from WhiteWater, which also supplied all the slides and aquatic play structures. The park has a unique glass retractable roof by OpenAire. The architect was SOSH Architects and interior work was done by Martin Aquatic,
3 Vikingløp at Rulantica, Europa-Park, Germany
Vikingløp was added to the Rulantica waterpark at the Europa-Park resort in Rust, Germany, for the 2023 season. Vikingløp, from ProSlide, is an enclosed eight lane matt-racing slide that includes large high speed spirals and a layout that doubles back upon itself.
Like the rest of the Rulantica attractions, it features great theming as you queue to the top. There is also some impressive lighting and atmosphere effects as you work your way to the bottom.
4 Warped Wagons and Twisted Trails at The Wilderness Resort in Wisconsin Dells, US
The Wilderness Resort in Wisconsin Dells decided to double-down on the current racing slide trend by adding Warped Wagons and Twisted Trails. Each of these new slides features side-by-side racing action, with Warped Wagons letting guests race down riding in tubes, while Twisted Trails is an exciting new two-lane matt racer creation.
Both slides are from ProSlide, and feature the latest “translucent” lighting effects as well as fun low-wall moments where you can see your competition. The park is also home to popular rides from WhiteWater.
5 Riptide Race at Water Country USA, Virginia, USA
Water Country USA in Williamsburg, Virginia opened Riptide Race, a ProSlide Dueling PIPEline, this season, another creation showcasing the popular trend of building two side-by-side racing slides.
Like so many other slides of this type it features sections where the racers are separated and enclosed in their own tubes only to merge and have brief straight-aways with low-walls where they can see each other.
6 Rocket Blast at Waldameer Park, Pennsylvania, US
Waldameer Park in Erie, Pennsylvania, has opened a ProSlide RocketBLAST named Rocket Blast.
This is another water coaster style experience where up to four riders can sit in a toboggan style raft, racing through twisted tunnels, down hills and up water jet powered hills.
7 Bombs Away at Raging Waters, California, US
After some delays, the long awaited Bombs Away has now opened at Raging Waters in San Dimas, California. Bombs Away was first announced as a replacement for the park’s former Drop Out slides, and expected to open in 2021. The project was delayed until 2022 and then again until it finally opened in 2023.
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WhiteWater’s Bombs Away is a high-thrill body slide complex, featuring an AquaDrop and Flatline Loop. Guests first climb into one of two chambers at the top of a tall tower, where trap door will open below their feet. There are two slides experiences to choose from, a six-story straight down plunge to the bottom or a high speed twisting enclosed slide experience.
8 Rival Racer at Camelbeach Outdoor Waterpark, Pennsylvania, US
Camelbeach Outdoor Waterpark in Tannersville, Pennsylvania, has added Rival Racer for 2023 in celebration of the attraction’s 25th anniversary.
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Rival Racer is an 8-lane matt racer slide that starts off with enclosed tubes that twist and cross each other before opening up at the end for a last second downhill race to the finish line.
9 RipQurl Blaster at Six Flags America, Maryland, US
RipQurl Blaster was announced for Six Flags America in Bowie, Maryland, to open for the 2023 season. Much like our previous entry, not only has this one not opened, I’m not even sure they have even started putting it up yet.
RipQurl Blaster is a Master Blaster style waterslide from WhiteWater that will use powerful jets of water to propel riders uphill in three areas, creating a roller coaster style experience. The Six Flags website still says it will open in late summer 2023.
Image courtesy of Six Flags America
10 Mega Mayhem, Rapids Water Park, Florida, US
Side-by-Side racing slides are popular this year, with our next entry being the Mega Mayhem slide at the Rapids Water Park in West Palm Beach, Florida.
This creation from ProSlide brings out all the bells and whistles, as sliders in double-tubes race each other through enclosed twists, through high-speed straightaways with low-walls so they can taunt each other, then plunge down and blast upwards again on water propelled jets before entering more twists, high speed saucer turns and low-wall straightaways before they finally hit the finish line.
It really sounds incredible… but the only problem is that it hasn’t opened yet. It was announced in September 2022. So far, there have been no progress updates, which makes me worry construction delays could see it slip back a year.
11 Speed Pipe at Donautherme Ingolstadt, Germany
Donautherme Ingolstadt has opened a fun two-lane racer slide called Speed Pipe this year. Choose the red or yellow slide and race to the bottom against your opponent, first through separate enclosed slides before they line up to race side-by-side along with a partial wall between the two slides.
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Towards the bottom you’ll enter a dark section before splashing down side-by-side as you cross the checkered finish line.
12 Kalahari Resort and Waterpark, Ohio, US
The Kalahari Waterpark Resort in Sandusky, Ohio (USA) has opened an expanded and renovated outdoor section for 2023. This includes the return of the resorts popular 70 foot zipline, along with new premium poolside lounging space, an underwater VR attraction, the Astro Ball climb tower and the new 15,000 square foot ZanziBAR Pool.
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The expansion’s most thrilling new addition has yet to open however… a “Free Fall Jump Tower”. According to the description, the soon to open new attraction will allow guests to take a 50 foot plunge… if you are willing to take this leap of faith.
13 Turbo and Reifenrutsche at Dünenbad Dörpen, Germany
Two of the more interesting new slides of the year can be found in a most unusual location: Dünenbad Dörpen in Dörpen, Germany. From what I understand this is an indoor aquatic center open to the public that has has finally reopened after being closed for the past few years for refurbishment.
As part of the project the facility added two unique new waterslides, the Turbo body slide that uses natural light to create the effects and a new tube slide that uses extensive LED technology to create the colors and illusions.
Header image: ISLAND Waterpark, Atlantic City, NJ/Credit: Ruben Garcia
