Schlitterbahn
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Schlitterbahn is the name used for either of three water parks located in Texas. They are considered to be some of the top water parks in the United States. Schlitterbahn is a German word for "wet road," apparently a metaphor for a water slide. Schlitterbahn's catch phrase is "The hottest, coolest time in Texas!" The park allows customers to bring in their own food and non-alcoholic drinks. This is a rare feature among modern amusement parks.
The Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort in New Braunfels, Texas, originally opened in 1979 with four water slides, is built along the cool spring-fed waters of the Comal River. Bob and Billye Henry purchased 40 acres (16 hectares) on the Comal River called Landa Resort in the early 1970s. They slowly added the water recreation that is now known as Schlitterbahn West. In 1991, the Henrys bought another 25 acre (10 ha) piece of property known as Camp Warnecke and transformed it into Schlitterbahn East.
The two parts of the park are separated by several city blocks with free parking available at both locations and a free shuttle between the two areas. Schlitterbahn East is further divided into two themed areas; Surfenburg, built in 1991, and Blastenhoff, built in 1996. In 1994, Schlitterbahn opened the first ever uphill water ride, known as the Dragon Blaster. Since then, they have added several other uphill water coasters, the Master Blaster and the Family Blaster. The Master Blaster in particular has often been voted as the best water ride in the US by travel publications and is frequently mentioned on the Travel Channel as such. In addition to these water coasters, the New Braunfels park now boasts over 3 miles (5 km) of inner tube rides, 7 water playgrounds for children, 17 water slides, and the world's first surfing machine (Boogie Bahn, which is used by both professionals and casual visitors).
In 2001, the 15 acre (6 ha) Schlitterbahn Beach Waterpark opened in South Padre Island, Texas. A third Schlitterbahn park, the Schlitterbahn Galveston Island Waterpark, was originally scheduled to open in Galveston, Texas in May 2005; but its opening was delayed due to construction. The Galveston park officially opened its indoor Wasserfest section on March 13, 2006. The first summer section, Surfenburg, opened on April 22, 2006 and the final part of the park, Blastenhoff, is planned to open by Summer 2007. The park will be open year-round, with the indoor Wasserfest section open in the winter season and all three sections open in the summer. Both the South Padre Island and the Galveston parks feature "Transportainment" river systems, which allow visitors to navigate most of the park (including waiting in line at rides) without having to leave the water.
The intention to build a fourth park in Kansas City, Kansas, has also recently been announced. Schlitterbahn Vacation Village proposed plans are set to span an area of over 300 acres, and will include lodging and retail areas as well as a Schlitterbahn Waterpark, the first of the chain outside of the state of Texas. It will also include a saltwater "Interactive Marine Park" for diving and other activities. The intention is to build this complex in the destination area that has grown around the Kansas Speedway since its construction.
Due to their great success with the Schlitterbahn parks, the Henrys founded NBGS International, a company that builds amusement rides for other parks.
[edit] Gallery
 Long slides trace through the original park, flowing like rivers with rapids and waterfalls. |
 Slides and pools are everywhere. |
 The original park has several sets of racing slides. |
 The shallow Comal River flows nearby. |
 Spring water from the slides runs straight into the river. |
 Thousands of inner tubes form an impressive tower. The tubes are literal "inner tubes" from tires. |
