VALDOSTA —
With summer a memory, one may think that Wild Adventures is ready to settle into fall operation hours and the coming Halloween and holiday events.
But Wild Adventures never sleeps.
The theme park is already planning for summer 2013, with an area already under development for two new rides, a new freestyle retail space, a Coca Cola cool zone, more shade, and new deals on annual
passes.Wild Adventures also has a new general manager and vice president.
Molly Deese officially became the park’s new general manager this week. She has 20 years of theme-park experience and has been a member of the Wild Adventures team since 2008.
“We’ve had great response to the improvements we’ve made in the past few years, but families told us they wanted more thrill rides and rides for younger kids,” Deese said.
On Wednesday, Wild Adventures gave The Times an early glimpse into its 2013 coming attractions.
The new attraction area should answer both requests. It will feature TailSpin as a thrill ride and Wacky Wheels for younger visitors.
Wild Adventures describes TailSpin as “a rocking and spinning ride on a half-pipe which takes riders more than four stories high while facing outward on a motorcycle-like seat.”
Instead of strapping riders into the attractionwith the traditional shoulder straps and harnesses, TailSpin will restrain visitors with an adjustable football-sized pad gently pressing against their lower backs, said Micha Hogan, the park’s public relations manager.
Wacky Wheels is a “teacup-like ride of funky cars,” according to the park.
This past year, Wild Adventures focused on developing new features for the Splash Island water park. TailSpin and Wacky Wheels are the first rides added since 2010.
Wild Adventures also offers new incentives for some 2013 passes, Deese said. In addition to season-long park access, these extras include a risk-freeconcert guarantee, up to five Bring-A-Friend tickets for each pass-holder, and early water-park entry.
With the park’s line-up of 20 concerts, special events and shows are
not expected to be announced until February 2013, the risk-free guarantee means “families can take advantage of the lowest season pass price right now, knowing that if they’re not completely satisfied with the 2013 concert and entertainment schedule when it is announced in February, they can get their money back on any unused passes,” Deese says.
Wild Adventures officially makes these announcements today. Visit the www.wildadventures.com website, or call (229) 219-7080 for more information. See Friday’s Times for a sneak peek at the park’s Terror in the Wild Halloween events opening this weekend.
Local News
Related Photos
-
Site plans for Wild Adventures’ new attractions being developed for 2013. Wild Adventures
-
Molly Deese, Wild Adventures’ new general manager, points out features of a new ride called TailSpin in front of the site being developed for this and other attractions coming in 2013. Dean Poling
-
Seen in this publicity photo from another park, TailSpin will twirl riders four-stories high in an attraction expected to open in 2013 at Wild Adventures. Wild Adventures
Discussion
Thrills Under Construction
Wild Adventures unveils new rides for 2013
- Local News
-
-
Lowndes County facing budget woes
In a brief meeting Tuesday evening, Lowndes County Commissioners and a small audience reviewed a power point presentation compiled by Finance director Stephanie Black, which shows a rather bleak picture for this fiscal year.
-
Celebrating Juneteenth
Some find it hard to look US slavery in its eyes when glancing back on history, but the Juneteeth committee reminded Valdostans how a people persevered through the barbaric institution as they held the city's 21st annual Juneteenth celebration at Mathis City Auditorium on Tuesday evening.
-
Child drowns in family pool
Emergency workers raced a two-year-old child to South Georgia Medical Center from a Pearl Davis Road residence Monday evening in response to a reported drowning, but the toddler did not respond to resuscitation efforts, according to reports from the Lowndes County Sheriff's Office.
-
Easter Seals benefit Thursday
Easter Seals Southern Georgia will be hosting “Sweet Charity: Desserts for a Cause” Thursday at Mathis Auditorium. The event will be from 7 to 9 p.m. and will include several local restaurants serving dessert as well as a silent auction.
-
Dollar General robbed at gunpoint
A customer and two employees were unharmed during a Sunday evening robbery as two masked men demanded cash from registers and the business’ safe as the Dollar General on Bemiss Road prepared to close at around 11:30 p.m., according to reports from the Valdosta Police Department.
-
Overpass work causes detours
All vehicles which are not making a delivery in the immediate vicinity of the new overpass will have to find alternate routes immediately.
-
Crossing guard keeping kids safe
Meet Merita Williams, crossing guard.
-
Juneteenth’s coming
Held in just as high a regard as the celebration of our country’s independence to many, the county’s annual Juneteenth dinner returns this Tuesday at 7 p.m. for its 21st year and will offer citizens of all races with a central point to celebrate human rights.
-
A soldier called preacher
In Vietnam, Wesley Harrell spread the Lord’s word among his fellow soldiers. He spoke of God often though few seemed to listen until they encountered war’s sudden death.
-
History on the move
In the right hands, a divided house can again mount a sound foundation and settle into a new era, as proved on Saturday when the 100 Black Men of Valdosta unveiled a transplanted house that’ll likely serve as their headquarters at its Martin Luther King Jr. Drive location.
- More Local News Headlines
-
