Wet 'n Wild
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- For the Australian waterpark in Gold Coast, Queensland, see Wet'n'Wild Water World.
Wet 'n Wild is a chain of United States water parks.
Founded by SeaWorld creator George Millay in Orlando, Florida in 1977, the company also has a park in Greensboro, North Carolina (Wet N' Wild Emerald Pointe). It is considered the first major water park in the United States, and Millay was given the first ever Lifetime Achievement Award from the World Waterpark Association who named him the official "Father of the Waterpark."
Other Wet 'n Wild parks were located in Garland and Arlington, Texas, Las Vegas, and in several places in Brazil including Salvador, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo. The Las Vegas park was closed by the landowners, Archon Corporation in September 2004 to make way for a proposed casino megaresort. The Garland park was closed in 1993, while the Arlington park was purchased by Six Flags over Texas and rechristened Six Flags Hurricane Harbor. Salvador and Rio de Janeiro´s park closed due lack of visitors. São Paulo´s park, located in Vinhedo, a small town near the capital, is still running.
Millay sold the Orlando park to Universal Orlando in 1998. He retired and moved to San Diego, California where he died on February 7, 2006.
Wet 'n Wild feature rides such as water slides, lazy rivers, and anything you would find at a classic water park.
One of the most infamous rides of the company is Daredevil Drop at the Greensboro, North Carolina park. With a sheer drop going nowhere but down, this ride gives many thrill seekers what they want.