VALDOSTA — Wild Adventures continues the second weekend of its reopening with a splash.

Splash Island re-opens today for seasonal Passport holders only, said Micha Froehlich, Wild Adventures public relations coordinator. With special contests and activities, today is considered a sneak peek at the $4 million renovations to Wild Adventures’ water park.

Passport holders can enjoy Splash Island’s attractions from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. today. From 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Passport holders can enjoy free ICEE drinks. From noon-3 p.m., a steel-drum band plays.

Forecasts predict today’s weather as partial sunshine with highs in the 70s.

This weekend, Splash Island is open today only. Next Saturday, Splash Island opens for everyone.

What visitors will find is a new look to Splash Island and a new ride.

Colorful parrots greet guests. A multi-colored Polynesian motif unites the look and feel of Splash Island. Tiki torches, masks, colorful flowers and palm trees are plentiful. These designs are included in a series of new Splash Island structures, ranging from a sit-down restaurant to new changing areas to a shop with gifts and sun supplies, such as tanning lotions and more.

Workers have replaced large portions of hot concrete with hopefully cooler areas of trees, plants and shade. Favorites, such as the water slides, the manmade river ride, the play area under the giant bucket, and the wave pool, remain but have been given a new look with the Polynesian treatment.

Yet, walking across the span into Splash Island, rising behind all of these new colors and buildings, is the blue-and-green, tunnel-funnel of the Wahee Cyclone, this year’s new big attraction for Wild Adventures.

The Wahee Cyclone is a 48-foot-tall funnel. Two to four riders gather on clover-shaped rafts, travel through a tunnel tube, which releases the raft into the vortex of the funnel.

The raft makes wide arcs along the sides of the Cyclone’s funnel, back and forth, until the riders travel through the funnel and skim along a pool.

The Wahee Cyclone is the only ride of this type in South Georgia and North Florida, Froehlich says. Riders must be at least 48 inches tall — four feet tall — to ride the Wahee Cyclone.

Earlier this month, park employees tested the ride, pulling in the minimum of 100 rides needed as a safety test for the Cyclone. Froehlich was one of these employees. She rode it twice. Coming down the enclosed tunnel to be released into the funnel is a thrill, she said.

The Cyclone has been ready for weeks. Finishing touches to the Polynesian motif, plants and other details have filled the past couple weeks. Late Thursday afternoon, workers continued adding finishing touches to Splash Island.

By 11 a.m. today, those touches should be finished, with Splash Island’s renovations on time and on budget and ready for a new season of fun.

More information: Visit www.wildadventures.com; or call (229) 219-7080.