Wild Adventures
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| Wild Adventures | |
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| Location | Valdosta, Georgia  |
| Website | Wild Adventures |
| Owner | Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation |
| Opened | 1996 |
| Operating season | Year-round |
| Area | 166 acres |
| Rides | 59 total
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Wild Adventures theme park is located 5 miles from Valdosta, Georgia, United States. It is owned by Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation. The park consists of seven different themed areas featuring over 100 rides and attractions, including 9 coasters, hundreds of exotic animals, shows, Splash Island water park and numerous concerts featuring country, pop, rock, Christian, and oldie superstars. All of the rides and attractions, concerts, daily shows, special events and the water park are included with park admission.
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[edit] History
Kent Buescher, founder of Wild Adventures, started the park on a plot of farm land outside of Valdosta, Georgia in 1996. Starting out as a small petting zoo, over the years, Wild Adventures has become one of the Top 50 Theme Parks in North America. The park is home to nine roller coasters and numerous flat rides, the largest collection of rides in the South and the second largest collection in North America. Rides were added to the park in 1998 and has since rapidly grown. Splash Island, the park's water park, opened in 2003 as the park's largest expansion which includes several water slides and attractions.
In 2004, Adventure Parks Group purchased Cypress Gardens in Winter Haven, Fla. The company is privately held by Buescher. Expansion died down for the park in recent years following the Cypress Gardens purchase.
In 2005, The Gauntlet was added, which is an S&S Power Screamin' Swing complex. For the park's 10th anniversary in 2006, the park announced their intent to add the Shaka Zula River Adventure log flume, relocated from the defunct Miracle Strip Park in Panama City, Florida. The ride is delayed due to engineering problems and currently scheduled to open in 2008. [1]
In September 2006, Adventure Parks Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The park will operate without interruption during the bankruptcy reorganization.
On September 25, 2007, Wild Adventures must be sold because of bankruptcy requirements Adventure Parks Group LLC, announced that Cypress Gardens Adventure Park in Winter Haven and Wild Adventures park in Valdosta, Ga., will be sold to the highest bidder in a private auction starting Sept. 25. The sale will fulfill requirements resulting from a Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection filing by Adventure Parks Group a year ago, but it does not mean the end of either theme park. The opening minimum bid for a package purchase of the parks is $53.25 million, Sumner said. An opening minimum bid for Cypress Gardens alone is $17.4 million and the opening minimum bid for Wild Adventures alone is $38.85 million. In September 2006, Adventure Parks Group filed for bankruptcy protection from creditors seeking payment for $25 million in debts.Much of the company's financial difficulties can be traced to 2004, when three hurricanes ravaged East Polk County Florida and left a trail of destruction at Cypress Gardens.
On September 25, 2007, The Ledger reported that Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation had purchased Wild Adventures for $34.4 million. [2]
The Rattler, the first new ride in three years, opened March 21, 2008 [3]. It is a HESS Frisbee ride.
[edit] Attractions
[edit] Roller Coasters [4]
| Ride | Year Opened | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Ant Farm Express | 2000 | Vekoma steel roller skater coaster. A family-friendly twisted steel coaster. |
| Boomerang | 1998 | Vekoma Boomerang coaster. A common shuttle coaster that inverts riders. |
| Bug Out! | 2000 | Maurer Söhne wild mouse roller coaster. |
| Cheetah | 2001 | CCI wooden roller coaster, the biggest roller coaster at the park. |
| Fiesta Express | 2003 | Zamperla kiddie coaster, a scaled down version of the wild mouse coaster. |
| Gold Rush | 1999 | Chance Rides family coaster. |
| Hangman | 1999 | Vekoma Suspended Looping Coaster (SLC). |
| Swamp Thing | 2003 | Vekoma family suspended coaster. |
| Tiger Terror | 1998 | Wisdom Rides custom "Dragon Wagon" kiddie coaster. |
[edit] Splash Island Water Park
- Double-Dip Zip
- Lazy River
- Rain Fortress
- Tadpole Cove
- Tri-phoon
[edit] Annual Events [5]
- Boy Scouts Day
- Girl Scouts Day
- Home School Day
- Arctic Adventure - Artificial snow is made to produce several hills for tobogan fun. A ice rink is also set up for skating. Lessons are also taught. (Winter)
- Celebrate America - Festival commemorating the spirit of America.
- Kidzpalooza - Month long event with shows, favorite kid's characters, fun arts & crafts and a whole lot more. It's all about kids.
- Haunted Adventure Nights (previously called Phobia) - Month long Halloween themed event with several haunted houses set up. (October)
- An Old Fashioned Christmas - Christmas Event in the Months of November and December.
[edit] Gallery
 Bug Out Roller Coaster |
 Bug Out Roller Coaster |
 Boomerang Roller Coaster |
 Boomerang Roller Coaster |
 View from observation deck of Mysery Maze |
 Ant Farm Express, a Vekoma Roller Skater roller coaster |
 Ride vehicle from Swamp Thing |
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 Petting Zoo |
 Elephant |
[edit] External links
- Wild Adventures official site
- Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation's Website
- Wild Adventures at RCDB
[edit] References
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