After months of construction, the Capital's newest summer attraction is giving people a reason to dive in at the end of summer.
“The winter was great, we got hit in the spring with a lot of rain. It's been off and on since then, but it's been a good process. We've had some hiccups that set us back a little bit, but we're back on track now,” Shawnee Co deputy manager said. .Parks and Rec, Terry Bertels.
The $9.25 million facility has no few attractions, including some that no one has ever seen before.
“We have a zip-line in the activity pool, a rock climbing wall and a diving board, and then you move into the wave pool, it's the first of its kind in the United States,” Bertels explained. “It's a bow tie wave pool that has waves radiating out at each end.”
Even with all these features, one could say that the main event is the 35-foot high water slide tower, whose height makes it among the top in the country.
“It's very rare to see something of this caliber with multiple slides, multiple tower heights. It's something you would see in a private water park somewhere,” said Zac Stone, Vice President of Avalanche Water Slides Inc.
With over a hundred hours of programming, the water slide tower features five slides, including four runner slides, and the potential for more fun in the future.
“The racers that tangle under the tower with the option to upgrade to five easily make it the most designed slides in the racer class I'd say in the states,” Stone said.
Doors open to the public on Friday. Admission is $5 for guests and free for children under two.
The summer season ends on August 14. The Midwest Health Aquatic Center will be the only public pool to remain open on weekends until weather permits.
