WaterWorks Transforms into Soak City for 2015

[Hokie305]

I expect nearly all of the slides to get repainted bright and vibrant colors along with new signage for each of them. It will definitely enhance the area and make the water park seem much more inviting from the outside.

Kings Dominion has a trend of painting around their "new" stuff, so I'd love to see Drop Tower get repainted this season since it is right there at the entrance to Soak City. I'd even welcome a new color scheme.

 

[I305Evan]

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[Jrbgwfan06]

If you look in the back of that photo, you'll see they demolished a wall of the Lazy river. Perhaps to put in a new, and much needed extra entrance to the lazy river?

 

[I305Evan]

This is just a guess, but I'm assuming they are/ needing to run new pipework and get equipment in/ out of the area (though, they could just drive around depending on how sturdy the walkway bridges are).

And the entrance would be on the right side as that is where the connecting point to the new play area is. The left side doesn't have any pathway to my knowledge.

 

[Jrbgwfan06]

Ah, yes I suppose you're right. When you look really closely, they demolished the floor of the lazy river, signaling it's only for trucks and equipment to get through easily.

 

[MAZ]

This is just a guess, but I'm assuming they are/ needing to run new pipework and get equipment in/ out of the area (though, they could just drive around depending on how sturdy the walkway bridges are).

And the entrance would be on the right side as that is where the connecting point to the new play area is. The left side doesn't have any pathway to my knowledge.

KD Golden Years took a tour today and posted this..."New entrance/exits are being added to LR though along with new entrance path to the back side of the water park."

 

[I305Evan]

Ah nice! I just saw the comments, thanks for the update!

I plan to give WaterWorks Soak City a shot this year. I took a walk through last year to get a general idea of the look before the renovations. The last time I've actually done all of the slides and such has been a few years.

It's going to take some time getting used to the new name.

 

[Mushroom]

Yup! I'm impressed with the scale of the expansion thus far.

Based on the site development plan, it looks there will be a new lazy river entrance beside Baja Bends' splash pool. And the new path will make use of Shoot the Curl's old space and cut across its old queue area.

 

[Hokie305]

The views of Intimidator 305 from the top of Hurricane Heights will be worth the climb to the top alone. I also am happy that the new slide complex will have raft slides as opposed to all body slides.

Not a big water park fan (in general, not just KD's), but I'll definitely be giving Soak City a visit or two this season.

 

[Peyton]

I am so glad this renovation is happening. At first I was a little disappointed about the water park changes. I figured we would get a few slides and maybe a few cans a paint here and there. But now I see what is happening and I am giddy with excitement. KD is doing a great job by the looks of the pictures and for the first season in a very long time I will no longer groan when the idea of going to the then waterworks comes up. Who knows, this year I may be the one pushing for the group taking a visit to the new water park

 

[mwhinva]

I think the colors on those tubes look fantastic.

KD Golden Years stated that the four colors will be blue, orange, (both of which are quite evident in the photo), lime green (back slide at center of photo), and yellow (nothing visible yet in this photo, either not started yet or not visible).

I hope "Free Styling", the older dual tube slides at the front of the Water Park, gets some love/paint as well. Both slides were showing many wear spots on the bland beige original slide color.

 

[mwhinva]

This is just a guess, but I'm assuming they are/ needing to run new pipework and get equipment in/ out of the area (though, they could just drive around depending on how sturdy the walkway bridges are).

And the entrance would be on the right side as that is where the connecting point to the new play area is. The left side doesn't have any pathway to my knowledge.

The 1st bridge, (between the Tornado funnel slide and the island), is designed for vehicular traffic (steel girders and concrete). The 2nd bridge, next to the Rebel Yell, is made up of only wood beams/planks; and is for pedestrian traffic only. You might have noticed the two pillars spaced apart, on the island side, to keep cars/trucks from trying to cross over.

KD Golden Years did state that the Lazy River was getting new entrance(s) & exit(s). Not sure if the area in the photo is for that. As has been discussed already, that removed section of Lazy River could be for the new water pipes for the kids splash area.

I believe the new water park map, that Joe has shared and pointed out, shows the new path going from the "Free Styling" splash pool; over the former "Shoot the Curls" slide tower area; and connects to the path going under the Rebel Yell. I think I will be taking that path to get to the back part of Soak City from now on. Having to navigate across the Island, with the two narrow bridges and pathways, drove me crazy. Too many folks would stand in the path either yapping or either in some sort of trance and block others trying to pass through.

Plus, the park did state that the water park entrance was being re-done. Not sure if that means re-configuring the existing entrance path(s).

 

[Mushroom]

Somebody on TPR (I know, I know) posted some great pictures of the Soak City construction, so I figured I'd share. Here ya go:

The former site of Shoot the Curl, and the location of a new path leading to the back half of the waterpark. According to the person who posted this, one of the new dining locations will go here.

Closeup of Baja Bends' new paint scheme.

I wonder if the inside of the flume will be painted too?

The person who posted this said they will be adding a new exit to the lazy river in this spot.

Splash Island construction. It's funny how empty the area looks right now.

Hurricane Heights looks like macaroni.

Fiberglass goodness.

I believe the yellow slide is part of Paradise Plunge and the blue one in the foreground is part of Aqua Blast.

Tidal Wave Bay has become a construction zone right now.

This is the first photo I have seen of the splash pool. Also note the footers in the back.

This slide complex will be very close to Pipeline Peak.

In light of yesterday's mini-fiasco, it should be noted that this was taken with the park's permission on the same tour that KDGY took last week.

 

[Nicole]

We should have another photo update in the few weeks for everyone. KD is taking us on a pre-season tour, as well.

 

[mwhinva]

Hopefully, this frozen slop we've had for the last 3 weeks is over with for this winter. It does not sound like the weather has had a major impact on the Soak City construction.

Even though we are getting one new slide complex and kids splash area, the changes to the existing attractions are going above what I was imagining earlier this off-season. New food offerings and food venues. New and expanded changing areas and restrooms.

Nice to see the original attractions & venues getting this much attention. Some of these buildings and structures have not seen major renovations since they first opened in 1992 (23 years). So far, the water park has gotten an expansion every 7-8 years. This changeover to Soak City for 2015 is mainly about infrastructure improvements.

I get the feeling, and I stated this earlier, that it won't be another 7-8 years before Soak City sees another new attraction(s). My guess Kings Dominion will add something there in the next 3-4 years.

Look forward to the new preseason tour and update.

 

[Party Rocker]

When is the estimated completion date?

 

[mwhinva]

When is the estimated completion date?

I guess the folks going on the next off-season tour can hopefully get a definitive answer from the park.

I would guess the upgrades/additions would be done by mid-May at the latest. The actual new/revamped water attractions might need to be done by the end of April or beginning of May. Need to fill with water and test. Lifeguards usually go through a weekend or two of on site training before opening to the public Memorial Day weekend.

 

[Party Rocker]

I was just curious to see if they would have completed the work by the time it comes for the water park to open.

 

[mwhinva]

I wonder if this company is doing the refurbishment to the existing water slides. I noticed the photo on their home web page. Look familiar?  


If these folks are doing the work, their resurfacing process is supposed to make the interior of the slide channels seamless.

 

[Mushroom]

The slide tower has gone vertical, and the inner tube slides are taking shape!