Magic Springs and Crystal Falls
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Magic Springs and Crystal Falls is an amusement park and water park located in Hot Springs, Arkansas, about 50 miles from Little Rock. A single price admission includes all day use of the rides and attractions in both parks. The park is open weekends from April through September and daily late-May through mid-August. Magic Springs and Crystal Falls was opened in the late 1970s, but closed for a brief period of time from 1995-2000. Magic Springs and Crystal Falls is owned by Themeparks LLC.
Contents |
[edit] History
Magic Springs and Crystal Falls opened in the late 1970s, but investors became burdened by millions of dollars of debt and sold the park in the 1980s to a group headed by businessman Melvyn Bell, who then had his own financial troubles. It closed in 1995. Fitraco, a Belgian company, bought the amusement park at a foreclosure auction in 1995. Ed Hart of Themeparks LLC was approached by Fitraco, and decided to take on the project. Themeparks LLC was the current owner of Kentucky Kingdom at the time, but later sold it to Six Flags.
Magic Springs and Crystal falls reopened in 2000 after Hot Springs voters approved a bond issue providing financing for the park. Attendance totaled more than 362,500 in 2000 and beat expectations. In 2001, attendance fell about 25 percent to roughly 272,000, and then to about 254,000 in 2002. The park continued to expand its ride offerings instead of hunkering down. Attendance grew again to more than 291,000 in 2003, the year the Timberwood Amphitheater debuted. It topped 400,000 in 2004 when The Gauntlet was added and the concert series was expanded. In March owners of Magic Springs agreed to sell the attraction to a Florida company. The buyer will lease back the park to the former owners, who will continue to manage it.
Rides are continuously being added to the park. In 2007, an expansion of Crystal Falls named Crystal Lagoon is to make its debut.
[edit] Rides and Attractions
Magic Springs is host to many rides and attractions. Below you will find just a few of them.
[edit] Thrill Rides
- 'X-Coaster' - A steel sit-down coaster which contains the highest inversion in the world at 150 ft. Opened in April 2006. Built by Maurer Söhne.
- Arkansas Twister - A classic wooden out and back coaster. Features a 92 ft. drop. Relocated from Boardwalk and Baseball in Florida in 1992 where it operated as the Florida Hurricane. Designed by Don Rosser and William Cobb, built by Michael Black.
- Big Bad John - An Arrow Dynamics Mine Train Coaster. Tallest drop of 41 ft. Relocated from Dollywood in 2002 where it operated as Thunder Express.
- The Gauntlet - A Vekoma Suspended Looping Coaster. Built in 2004 by Vekoma exclusively for Magic Springs and Crystal Falls. Features a 110 ft. drop and is the first Vekoma SLC to feature a redesigned wheel assembly to give a more comfortable ride.
- Plummet Summit - A splash down ride with a 50 ft. drop. Built exclusively for Magic Springs and Crystal Falls and debuted in 2005.
- Dr. Dean's Rocket Machine - A tower ride that launches riders almost 100 ft. in the air and then drops them back down. Built by S&S Power exclusively for the park and debuted in 2001.
- Wild Thang - Riders can flip, twist, and spin through two motor driven rotations, with a third gravity driven rotation. A Zamperla Spinning ride.
- The Hawk - A boom that rotates both clockwise and counter-clockwise at speeds of up to 13rpm that spins you over 70 ft. in the air. A Zamperla spinning ride.
[edit] Family Rides
- Twist and Shout - A steel sit down coaster featuring crazy twists and turns. A Zamperla Wild Mouse Design.
- Diamond Mine Coaster - A small but fun and exciting coaster.
- Rum Runner Pirate Ship - A pendulum ride in the style of a pirate ship that swings you back and forth higher with each swing.
- Old No. 2 Logging Company - A log flume ride that takes you through the rapids before taking a huge drop into a splash pool.
- Carousel - The classic ride with horses and carriages.
- Magic Swings - A swing ride that lifts you high in the air and then rotates.
- Delineate - (coming in 2008) - A small capsule ride suspended eighty feet above a "bowl" shaped pool. The capsule rocks as you go further into the abyss.[citation needed]
[edit] Kids Rides
- Fearless Flyers - Small airplanes where you control up and down movement while the ride spins.
- Looney Ballooney - Hot air balloons that rise up while the ride spins.
- Bugga Booga Wheel - A bug themed miniature ferris wheel.
- Kit 'n Kaboodle Express - A miniature train ride that is exciting for the kids.
- Li'l Leapin' Lizards - A gentle yet fun freefall tower.
[edit] Timberwood Amphitheater
The Timberwood Amphitheater is a state-of-the-art concert venue which offers a variety of entertainment. The 2007 line up includes:
- June 2-Jason Aldean
- June 9-Heartland
- June 16-Point of Grace
- June 23-Loverboy
- June 30-The Manhattans
- July 7-Tracy Lawrence and Brennen Hunt
- July 14-Blues Travele
- July 21-Creedence Clearwater
- July 28-Little River Band
- August 4-Third Day
- August 11-Neal McCoy
- August 18-Herb Reed & The Platters
- August 25-John Kay & Steppenwolf
- September 1-JoDee Messina
- September 8-Memphis Soul Review
- September 15-Sisters Morales and John Arthur Martinez
Past performances include:
- Styx
- LeAnn Rimes
- Diamond Rio
- Rebecca St.James
- Ryan Cabrera
- Michelle Branch
- Boys II Men
- The Charlie Daniels Band
- Grand Funk Railroad
- Shaggy
- Jars of Clay
- and many more.
[edit] Annual Events
- Education In Motion - School group days where fun at the park is linked to lessons in the classroom.
- Magic Screams - Halloween festival in October where Magic Springs is transformed into a scary and frightening Magic Screams.
[edit] Crystal Falls
Crystal Falls is the water park portion of Magic Springs and Crystal Falls and is included with regular admission. Crystal Falls is open from May through August. Rides include a lazy river, a large wave pool, three tube slides, a splash fun zone, and a kids fun area. NEW for 2007: The water park at Magic Springs & Crystal Falls will be dramatically expanded for the 2007 season with the largest water slide complex in Arkansas as part of a multi-year, $10 million investment in the facility.The $5 million 2007 expansion will see the addition of a whole new section for the water park to be known as Crystal Lagoon. Crystal Lagoon will include a three speed slides, four tube slides, including two tubing bowls, and a new play pool. More than 10,000 square feet of total pool area will be added as part of the new addition and more than 20 percent more pool chairs will be added to the park.
Guests will enter the new Crystal Lagoon section of the park directly from the existing water park or from the walkway towards the Arkansas Twister, Amphitheater and group sales area. More than 10,000 square feet of deck lounging space will also be included.
The Crystal Lagoon will incorporate many things guests have said they would like to see added to the Magic Springs & Crystal Falls experience.
The water slide complex is being manufactured by Pro-Slide of Ontario, Canada.
[edit] Awards
“Best of the Best” Arkansas Democrat Gazette, Readers Poll
Golden Guard Award Excellence in lifeguarding, Ellis & Associates
Southern Travel Treasure AAA
Gold Elite Award Performance of water safety staff, Ellis & Associates
Platinum Elite Award Performance of water safety staff, Ellis & Associates
The Natural State Award Arkansas’ top tourist attraction, Arkansas Governor's Conference on Tourism
Best Area Attraction Hot Springs Sentinel-Record, Readers Poll
Silver Elite Award Excellence in lifeguarding, Ellis & Associates
Large Business Recognition Excellence in landscaping, Hot Springs/Garland County Beautification Commission
Large Business of the Year Excellence in community service, Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce
Outstanding Achievement for Access to Persons with Disabilities S.A.I.L.S.
Silver Cup Outstanding effort in tourism, Garland County Hospitality Association
Top Three Family Friendly Parks in the Nation Better Homes and Gardens
