Originally known as VisionLand, the park was built largely as a result of efforts by Fairfield mayor Larry Langford. Eleven cities came together to form the West Jefferson Amusement and Public Park Authority and with help from the Alabama Legislature, the group borrowed $60million to build the park. Construction began in March 1997, and the park opened for business on May 23, 1998. The park opened with four major areas, including Celebration City Theme Park, Steel Waters Water Park, a children's area called Marvel City, and a shopping/dining area known as Main Street.
In 1999, the park expanded, adding Wilde River Gorge, a river rapids attraction. Dino Domain, a dinosaur-themed walk through exhibit featuring animatronic dinosaurs, was built in the woods behind Main Street but closed after the season.
In 2001, Wild River Gorge reopened with minor adjustments along with Stratosfear Screamer, an S&S Power twin tower attraction.
The park filed Chapter 9 bankruptcy in 2002, and only operated Steel Waters. Themeparks LLC, an amusement park company, known for their success with Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville, Kentucky, was interested in Visionland and made a bid for the park, but the price for the park ended up being too high. The park was then purchased by Southland Entertainment Group for $5.25 million, a loss of approximately $26 million in public funds.
In 2003, Visionland (uncapitalizing the "L") reopened with Magic Adventure Theme Park, Splash Beach Water Park, Marvel City, and Celebration Street. Magic Adventure received a scrambler attraction called Wild Scrambler and Splash Beach received a wave pool named Kahuna Waves and a nine-story-tall free fall slide called Acapulco Drop. Starting that season park guests had the option to buy tickets to either the amusement park or the water park or a combo ticket to both parks.
Splash Beach received a new water attraction called Splashdown!, a toilet bowl-style ride in 2004.
In 2005, Magic Adventure opened the first new roller coaster since the park's opening named Zoomerang, a Vekoma Boomerang roller coaster relocated from Sydney, Australia. The park also re-opened one of the former attractions named Cahaba Falls, a log flume attraction. It was later known as Woodchuck Run. The park held naming contests for both attractions on its website. The theme park was visited by approximately 345,000 people, making the park Alabama's second-most popular tourist destination according to the Bureau of Tourism and Travel and trailing only the Birmingham Zoo.[citation needed]
Alabama Adventure logo used from 2006-2011
Southland announced in 2006, the rebranding of the park under the Alabama Adventure name, along with major expansion plans, including a hotel with an indoor water park, an RV park, and other amenities. Magic Adventure was renamed Magic City USA to reflect the new theming strategy. The park also announced plans for a summer concert series, featuring popular musical acts and artists. The number of visitors to Alabama Adventure rose to more than 388,000. It was the winner of Alabama's "2007 Attraction of the Year."[3]
In 2007, the park added two new attractions, including Vertigo, one of the original attractions of VisionLand, which had been removed in 2003, and Salamander Bay, a re-themed children's play area at Splash Beach formerly known as Quarry Bay. The summer concert series returned to the park and became an annual event.
Southland Entertainment sold the park to Adrenaline Family Entertainment, a group of former executives of Six Flags in 2008.[4] Southland concentrated on developing the remaining acreage that it owns adjacent to the park, with plans for hotels, an RV park, and other amenities.[5]
In 2009, the park announced the first major expansion since 2005, and the first to Splash Beach since 2004. The expansion included a new attraction from WhiteWater West called "UpSurge!", a 216-foot flume slide with a vertical half pipe ending in a 25,000-gallon splash pool.[6] The park also combined both parks into one ticket price.
The park began promoting a casting call for new "indoor theatrical entertainment" called "Beat Street" that premiered in the brand new Star Theater in 2010. The park also relaunched its website, branding the park as Alabama Adventure Water and Theme Park.
Buzzsaw Falls, a SkyTrans Manufacturing Shoot the Chutes ride was added in 2011, but only lasted for one summer. It was located between the parks Celebration Street and Stratos Fear Screamer tower ride.[7] This ride was purchased by Schlitterbahn in Corpus Christi, Texas where it was renamed "Padre Plunge".[8]
Adrenaline Family Entertainment sold the park on January 5, 2012, to General Attractions LLC, a company created by the former owners of the park who previously sold the park in 2008. It was announced on April 5, 2012 that the amusement park section would be closed, leaving only water rides. The park was renamed Splash Adventure for its 2012 opening season.[9] Also for 2012, three new attractions were added to the water park. One of their new attractions was called the "Mist-ical Maze" where in this attraction you go through a maze that has trigger water chutes and many other surprises. The second new attraction was a wipeout designed ride from WhiteWater West called "Wipeout Adventure Course" and the third new attraction was a zip-line that goes around the waterpark. There was a "Dive-In Movie" at Kahuna Waves every Friday night from Memorial Day weekend to the end of July.
In March 2014, Koch Family Parks, founded by former Holiday World & Splashin' Safari CEO Dan Koch and his sister Natalie, purchased the park. New additions to the park included five new kids rides consisting of a new kids roller coaster, a train, two boat rides, mini helicopters and a laser maze.[10]
In 2015 Rampage, the park's signature wooden roller coaster, reopened after a complete restoration.
In 2018, the park added new attractions including a rocking tugboat, scrambler, a fast-spinning ride, a yo-yo swing ride, a miniature children's train ride, and a children's water slide complex. They also introduced a weekend autumn festival in October of that same year.[11] A year later, for the 2019 season, the park introduced three new attractions; Freefall, a 75 foot tall tall water slide; Galleon, a pirate ship ride; and Twister, a body slide located by Freefall.[12]
On Christmas Day (December 25, 2020), following a month-long teaser campaign, Alabama Splash Adventure announced a new addition for the 2021 season; Rocket Racer, a new six-lane mat racer water slide, which would stand more than 50 feet (15m) tall and represent their largest waterpark expansion to date.[13][14]
Incidents and accidents
In 1999, when the park was called Visionland, five people were injured when a raft on the Wild River Gorge rapids ride overturned.[15]
In 2001, a raft on the Wild River Gorge filled with park employees overturned when the employees rocked the boat. No one was injured.[15]
In August 2009, a family of three and one other park visitor were injured when the Wild River Gorge's boat capsized. Witnesses said that the family's boat hit an empty boat and was overturned. The family was underwater for approximately 20 seconds.[15]
In June 2011, a fight broke out between several youths and spread throughout the park. One guest described it as a "borderline riot." The Bessemer Police were called to the park and no more guests were allowed into the park. It was blamed on a "$10 before 10AM" promotion the park ran.[16]
In June 2018, a ten-year-old boy hit his head while floating along the Warrior River. Lifeguards came to his aid and the boy was subsequently sent to Children's Hospital.[17][18]
Current attractions
Attraction
Year Opened
Description
Castaway Island
1998
A multi-level water play area for children with slides, geysers, and other water features.
Scrambler
2018
A traditional Eli Bridge scrambler. This spinning ride is across from Rockin' Tug.
Replaced the Voyager. For the 2007 season Patriot was removed and the Voyager was re-installed and renamed the Vertigo.
Rockwall/Venturer
1999
2000
Two up-charge attractions.
Rockwall was a portable rockwall guests could climb and Venturer was a small motion simulator. Replaced Typhoon. The Scrambler opened in this location in 2003.
It featured Launch (A Space Shot) and Re-Entry (A Turbo Drop). When the owners filed bankruptcy, Southland had then bought the park in 2002 and removed the Turbo Drop half because they couldn't afford to keep it running, and they kept the Space Shot side (thus renaming it to Space Shot, then reverted to StratosFear Screamer in 2009), which was removed after the 2011 season and relocated to Six Flags Darien Lake in 2013 as Blast Off. S&S regained ownership of the Turbo Drop and sold it to Lake Compounce, where it then reopened in 2004 as Down Time.
Sold to Schlitterbahn. Opened in May 2017 as "Padre Plunge" at Schlitterbahn Corpus Christi.[19] This ride was heavily damaged by Hurricane Harvey three months later. It was demolished in March 2020.[20]
The log boats from this ride were sold to various Six Flags Theme Parks as extra log boats for other passengers of particular log flume rides. Operated from 1998–2011;In storage 2003-2004
Splashdown was removed after the 2018 season due to concerns over many guests being unable to swim in the dropout pool and thus increasing pressure on staff. The attraction was immediately replaced by the Twister body slide.
A water slide is a type of slide designed for warm-weather or indoor recreational use at water parks. Water slides differ in their riding method and therefore size. Some slides require riders to sit directly on the slide, or on a raft or tube designed to be used with the slide.
Schlitterbahn is an American brand of water parks and resorts owned by Cedar Fair. It was previously a company family-owned-and-operated by the Henry family that was based in New Braunfels, Texas. Schlitterbahn opened its first location, Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort, in 1979. At its peak, the company consisted of five outdoor waterparks, two indoor waterparks, and three resorts.
Six Flags Darien Lake is a 1,200-acre (4.86 km2) amusement park and resort located in Darien, New York, off of Interstate 90 between Buffalo and Rochester. Six Flags Darien Lake features a theme park, water park, campground and lodging. It is owned by EPR Properties and operated by Six Flags.
Six Flags New England, formerly known as Riverside Park (1912–1995) and Riverside: The Great Escape (1996-1999), is an amusement park located in Agawam, Massachusetts, a western suburb of Springfield, Massachusetts. Opening in the late 1800s, it is the oldest amusement park in the Six Flags chain, acquired by Premier Parks in 1996 and rebranded Six Flags New England in 2000. Superman the Ride is among the park's most notable rides, having appeared as a highly ranked roller coaster in the annual Golden Ticket Awards from Amusement Today since the ride opened in 2000.
Valleyfair is a 125-acre (51 ha) amusement park in Shakopee, Minnesota, United States. Owned by Cedar Fair, the park opened in 1976 and now features over 75 rides and attractions including eight roller coasters. Valleyfair also has a water park called Soak City which is included with the price of admission. Cedar Point and Valleyfair were the first two parks in the Cedar Fair chain and a combination of the park names – "cedar" and "fair" – were used to name the company.
Holiday World & Splashin' Safari is a combination theme park and water park located near Interstate 64 and U.S. 231 in Santa Claus, Indiana, United States. The theme park is divided into four sections that celebrate Christmas, Halloween, Thanksgiving and the Fourth of July with rides, live entertainment, games, and attractions.
Michigan's Adventure is a 250-acre (1.0 km2) amusement park in Muskegon County, Michigan, about halfway between Muskegon and Whitehall. It is the largest amusement park in the state and has been owned and operated by Cedar Fair since 2001. As of 2019, Michigan's Adventure has 52 rides, more than any other park in the state.
Skycoaster is an amusement park ride produced and managed by Skycoaster Company, LLC.. On the Skycoaster, riders in groups of 1 to 3 are harnessed in specialized Flight Suits, winched to the top of a launch tower, pull the ripcord to engage flight, swing from a cable tether back and forth until brought to a rest. The attraction is often compared to a combination of skydiving, bungee jumping, and hang gliding.
Dollywood's Splash Country is a 35-acre (14 ha) water park located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, adjacent to the Dollywood theme park. The park's central theme rests around entertainer Dolly Parton's childhood swimming in the rivers of the Great Smoky Mountains. Dollywood's Splash Country operates from May through September.
Magic Springs Theme and Water Park is an amusement park and water park located in Hot Springs, Arkansas, about 50 mi (80 km) 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.
DelGrosso's Park is a family-oriented amusement park located in Tipton, Pennsylvania, a northern suburb of Altoona, Pennsylvania. The park was purchased by the DelGrosso family in 1946 and was named "Bland's Park" until 2000. In 2000, the DelGrosso family decided to change its name to "DelGrosso's Amusement Park." The park is known for its family-friendly ride line-up, food, and games as well as free parking. The park hosts picnics and special music events in its pavilion/picnic area.
Quassy Amusement Park is an amusement and waterpark in Middlebury, Connecticut, and is one of only 11 trolley parks still operating in the United States. It has 20 rides on its 20 acres (81,000 m2). Quassy consists of a full-fledged amusement park plus a waterpark called Splash Away Bay. Swimming in Lake Quassapaug is available. In 1901, a writer pronounced Lake Quassapaug as "the handsomest bit of natural water on earth". Today, beach clubs and houses surround the entire lake. The park is home to the award-winning Wooden Warrior roller coaster, which opened in 2011. Quassy offers swimming, picnicking, a catering service, an arcade, a waterpark, and live entertainment including school bands, dance groups and magic shows.
Magic Mountain is a small theme park situated on the Sapphire Coast of New South Wales, near the town of Merimbula in Australia. The park attracts approximately 40,000 visitors per year and is a significant tourism drawcard for the region. During peak season, the park employs 25 staff from the surrounding area. Magic Mountain was opened on 26 November 1983 and has since expanded, providing visitors with a variety of educational and exciting experiences catering to both adults and children. The park does not charge for admission, however tickets are required to be purchased for individual rides or as unlimited passes. In keeping with Magic Mountain's family theme, children under 4 are able to ride suitable attractions for free with a paying adult.
The Beach at Adventure Landing is a 35-acre (140,000 m2) water park located 24 miles (39 km) northeast of Cincinnati in Mason, Ohio. Previously known as The Beach Waterpark, it features ten water attractions, several children's areas, sand volleyball and basketball courts, pool-side beverage service and other special events. The Beach was named the best privately owned water park by Aquatics International Magazine in 2010.
Rampage is a wooden roller coaster located at Alabama Splash Adventure in Bessemer, Alabama. Manufactured by Custom Coasters International, the ride opened to the public on May 23, 1998. On March 15, 2014, shortly after an announcement that the park had been purchased by Koch Family Parks of Holiday World & Splashin' Safari, new management announced that the roller coaster would be refurbished. It reopened for the 2015 season.
Recoil is Boomerang roller coaster located at Wonderla in Hyderabad, India. It was previously located at Alabama Adventure as Zoomerang until new management in 2012 decided to remove its rides and solely operate as a water park called "Splash Adventure". It also operated at Wonderland Sydney as The Demon after being relocated from World Expo Park. The ride was removed in 2013 and sold to Wonderla in India where it was renamed "Recoil".
This is a list of events and openings related to amusement parks that have occurred in 2012. These various lists are not exhaustive.
Master Blaster is a type of uphill water coaster at Schlitterbahn New Braunfels Waterpark in Texas, USA. Master Blaster opened in 1996 in the Schlitterbahn East section of the park as the anchor attraction to a second themed area called Blastenhoff. The ride is 65 feet tall and 1,100 feet long.
Hydro Adventures was an amusement park, waterpark and family entertainment center located in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, and owned by national amusement park operator, United Parks. Hydro Adventures' Water Park operated from May through September, and the Dry Park was open year-round. According to the website, the park consisted of 7 water attractions and 8 dry attractions of varying “thrill levels.” Hydro Adventures was unable to open for the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and was soon put up for sale.
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