Magic Springs and Crystal Falls

Magic Springs Theme and Water Park
Location Hot Springs, Arkansas, United States
Coordinates 34°31′10″N 93°0′57″W / 34.51944°N 93.01583°W / 34.51944; -93.01583Coordinates: 34°31′10″N 93°0′57″W / 34.51944°N 93.01583°W / 34.51944; -93.01583
Owner EPR Properties
Operated by Premier Parks, LLC
Opened July 22, 1978
Operating season April–October daily through May–August
Rides
Total 20
Roller coasters 5
Water rides 2
Website www.magicsprings.com
The entrance to Magic Springs Theme and Water Park.
The Gauntlet. A suspended looping coaster at Magic Springs and Crystal Falls.

Magic Springs Theme and Water Park 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 October and daily late-May through mid-August. Magic Springs Theme and Water Park was opened in 1977, closed in 1995, and reopened in 2000. Magic Springs Theme and Water Park is owned by EPR Properties and operated by Premier Parks, LLC.

History

Magic Springs (reopened as Magic Springs and Crystal Falls in 2000) opened July 22, 1978, 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.

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 CNL Income Properties. They leased back the park to the former owners, who continued to manage it. On June 10, 2008, it was announced that PARC Management had taken over the park's management. The leasing agreement between owner CNL and PARC Management was terminated in November 2010[1] and a new operating agreement with Amusement Management Partners, LLC was announced in January of 2011.[2] In late 2016, CNL sold a bundle of its theme park properties,[3] including Magic Springs,[4] to EPR Properties, a REIT based in Kansas City. It was announced at that time that management responsibilities for Magic Springs would be assumed by Premier Parks, LLC.[4] At that time the name was changed to Magic Springs Theme and Water Park.

Rides and attractions

Roller Coasters

Thrill rides

Family rides

Kids' rides

Former rides

Timberwood Amphitheater

The Timberwood Amphitheater is a state-of-the-art concert venue which offers a variety of entertainment. Concerts are held every Saturday during the operating season. While there is free lawn seating, there are also 26 rows of bench reserved seats in front of the stage. Currently VIP Reserved seats (the first six rows) are $10.00 while the price for the rest of the reserved seats is $5.00.

Annual events

Crystal Falls

Crystal Falls is the water park portion of Magic Springs Theme and Water Park and is included with park admission. Crystal Falls is open daily from May through mid-August and weekends to the end of September. Crystal Falls has many water attractions which include:

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

Incidents

See also

References

  1. ↑ Blooloop. "Theme parks: CNL Lifestyle Properties and PARC Management End Lease Relationship blooloop". blooloop. Retrieved 2017-02-07.
  2. ↑ admin. "CNL announces new management for eight parks  : Park World Online – Theme Park, Amusement Park and Attractions Industry News". www.parkworld-online.com. Retrieved 2017-02-07.
  3. ↑ Christmann, Samantha (2016-11-03). "Darien Lake has new owner, who isn't talking about theme park's future". The Buffalo News. Retrieved 2017-02-07.
  4. 1 2 Read, Charles. "Arkansas' Magic Springs Shifts Ownership Dec. 1 blooloop". blooloop. Retrieved 2017-02-07.
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