Wild Rivers (water park)

Last updated
Wild Rivers
Wild Rivers Logo.png
Wild Rivers (Irvine).jpg
Entrance at the Orange County Great Park (March 2023)
SloganGo Wild!
Location10000 Great Park Blvd, Irvine, California 92618
Coordinates 33°40′00″N117°44′00″W / 33.66667°N 117.73333°W / 33.66667; -117.73333
General managerSteve Mayer
OpenedJuly 10, 2022
Operating seasonMay through October
Area20 acres (8.1 ha)
Pools7 pools
Water slides20 water slides
Website www.wildrivers.com
Wild Rivers(old)
Old Wild Rivers Logo.jpg
Old Logo for Wild Rivers Waterpark
Wild Rivers Water Park Photo D Ramey Logan.JPG
Wild Rivers Water Park in 2010
SloganGo Wild!
Location8770 Irvine Center Dr, Irvine, CA 92618
General managerKevin Kopeny
OpenedJuly 1986
ClosedSeptember 25, 2011
Operating seasonMay through October
StatusDefunct[[]]
Area20 acres (8.1 ha)
Pools10 pools
Water slides20 water slides
Website wildrivers.com

Wild Rivers is a water park in Irvine, California, United States. It opened in July 1986 on the site of the former Lion Country Safari. [1] Following the expiration of its lease with The Irvine Company, it closed on September 25, 2011. [2] Since the closure, there have been plans to recreate Wild Rivers in Irvine on or near the Orange County Great Park, which have been under development. [3] [4] The developers secured full funding and commenced construction on July 1, 2021, confirming the park's reopening for Summer 2022. The new Wild Rivers location held its soft opening on July 10, 2022, up until its official grand opening as of July 29, 2022 and is 50% bigger than the old park.

Contents

Original park

History

Before Wild Rivers was built, the land was a drive-through zoo called Lion Country Safari, which went bankrupt and closed in 1984. The park's owner still held 13 years on the original 29-year lease for the land, which he then subleased to the operators of the Wild Rivers water park, the Camp Frasier (later Camp James) summer camp and the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre. [5]

Construction on Wild Rivers "Mountain Top" which would serve as the launch point for their largest rides, began in 1985 and the park itself opened in 1986. [6] Congo River Rapids, Rattlesnake, and Python were the first large scale long form rides to open.

In early 2011, Wild Rivers announced that it had lost its lease with The Irvine Company. Both the park and the adjacent Camp James were scheduled to close at the end of the 2011 season. [7] The park was planned to be demolished with 1,750 apartments being built in its place. A new water park was planned to be built on public land near the Orange County Great Park, and was scheduled to open to the public in May 2014. [8]

New water park at the Orange County Great Park

History

Since 2012, there had been attempts to redevelop Wild Rivers on or near the Orange County Great Park. A new Wild Rivers park was originally slated to open in May 2014, but it was then delayed a year later to May 2015 before it was cancelled altogether due to financial and land approval issues. In March 2016, the plans were revived and three months later, on June 26, 2016, the Great Park Board proposed two sites: one 35 acres and the other 60 acres. [9] [10] In late April 2017, Wild Rivers successfully negotiated a contract with the Irvine City Council, acting as the Orange County Great Park, paving the way for their return to Irvine as soon as summer 2019. [11] As of March 2018, the park was planning on opening in a 26-acre (11 ha) site on the former Marine Corps Air Station El Toro at the eastern corner of Marine Way and Skyhawk, but were waiting on environmental studies and approval from the US Navy. [12] In August 2018, Wild Rivers announced that the park would not open until 2020 at the earliest, and as of April 2019 they had not finalized the lease terms and environmental study, and their exclusive agreement to negotiate with the city had expired. [13] In January 2020, the city reached a tentative agreement with Wild Rivers for a new 20-acre (8.1 ha) location within Great Park at the southern corner of Great Park Boulevard and Skyhawk, [14] and the lease was approved in April. [15] In July 2020, the park submitted plans to the city for review, and was planning to open in May 2022. [16]

Construction of the park began in July 2021, after $60 million in financing was lined up, [17] and 20 attractions were planned. [18] Season passes for the 2022 season went on sale in November 2021. [19]

Attractions

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orange County, California</span> County in California, United States

Orange County is a county located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area in Southern California, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,186,989, making it the third-most-populous county in California, the sixth-most-populous in the United States, and more populous than 19 American states and Washington, D.C. Although largely suburban, it is the second-most-densely-populated county in the state behind San Francisco County. The county's three most-populous cities are Anaheim, Santa Ana, and Irvine, each of which has a population exceeding 300,000. Santa Ana is also the county seat. Six cities in Orange County are on the Pacific coast: Seal Beach, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Dana Point, and San Clemente.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laguna Niguel, California</span> City in California, United States

Laguna Niguel is a city in Orange County, California, United States. The name Laguna Niguel is derived from the words "Laguna" and "Niguili". As of the 2020 census, the population was 64,355. Laguna Niguel is located in the San Joaquin Hills in the southeastern corner of Orange County, close to the Pacific Ocean, and borders the cities of Aliso Viejo, Dana Point, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Mission Viejo, and San Juan Capistrano.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Larry Agran</span> American politician

Lawrence Alan Agran is an American lawyer and the former mayor and a current city councilmember of Irvine, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orange County Transportation Authority</span> Transportation planning commission for Orange County, California

The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) is the transportation planning commission for Orange County, California, in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. OCTA is responsible for funding and implementing transit and capital projects for the transportation system in the county, including freeway expansions, express lane management, bus and rail transit operation, and commuter rail funding and oversight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orange County Great Park</span> Public park in Irvine, California

The Great Park is a public park in Irvine, California, with a focus on sports, agriculture, and the arts. It is a non-aviation reuse of the decommissioned Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) El Toro. The Orange County park comprises 28.8% of the total area that once made up the air base. The project was approved by the voters of Orange County in 2002 at $1.1 billion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fashion Island</span> Shopping mall in California, U.S.

Fashion Island is an outdoor regional shopping mall in Newport Beach, California. Opened in 1967 by The Irvine Company as the anchor to their master-planned Newport Center district, Fashion Island is anchored by Bloomingdale's, Macy's, Neiman Marcus, and Nordstrom.

Carowinds is a 407-acre (165 ha) amusement park primarily located in Charlotte, North Carolina. Owned and operated by Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, the park first opened to the public on March 31, 1973. Carowinds straddles the state line between North and South Carolina, adjacent to Interstate 77, with a portion of the park located in Fort Mill, South Carolina. The park has a sign telling guests where the state line lies. It was constructed at a cost of $70 million following a four-year planning period led by Charlotte businessman Earl Patterson Hall. Carowinds also features Carolina Harbor, a 27-acre (11 ha) water park that is included with park admission. Annual events include the Halloween-themed SCarowinds and the Christmas-themed WinterFest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California State Route 241</span> Highway in California

State Route 241 (SR 241) is one of the two state highways in California that are controlled-access toll roads for their entire lengths. SR 241's southern half from near Las Flores to near Irvine is the Foothill Transportation Corridor, while its northern half to SR 91 on the Anaheim–Yorba Linda border forms part of the Eastern Transportation Corridor system with SR 133 and SR 261.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California's Great America</span> Amusement park in Santa Clara, California

California's Great America is an 112-acre (45 ha) amusement park located in Santa Clara, California, United States. Owned and operated by Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, it originally opened in 1976 as one of two parks built by the Marriott Corporation. Great America features over 40 rides and attractions, with Gold Striker among its most notable, which has ranked as a top wooden roller coaster in the world in the annual Golden Ticket Awards publication from Amusement Today. Other notable rides include RailBlazer, a single-rail coaster from Rocky Mountain Construction, and Flight Deck, an inverted coaster from Bolliger & Mabillard. The park made appearances in the 1994 films Beverly Hills Cop III and Getting Even with Dad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hawaiian Falls</span> Water park franchise in Texas, United States

Hawaiian Falls Waterparks is a chain of waterparks operated by ProParks Management Company. The five locations Hawaiian Falls operates are located across the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex area and Central Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lion Country Safari</span> Safari park in Florida, US

Lion Country Safari is a drive-through safari park and walk-through amusement park located on over 600 acres in Loxahatchee, in Palm Beach County, Florida. Founded in 1967, it claims to be the first 'cageless zoo' in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Irvine, California</span> City in California, United States

Irvine is a master-planned city in central Orange County, California, United States, in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Irvine Company started developing the area in the 1960s and the city was formally incorporated on December 28, 1971. The 66-square-mile (170 km2) city had a population of 307,670 at the 2020 census. As of 2023, it is the second most populous city in Orange County, fifth most in the Greater Los Angeles region, and 63rd most in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre</span> Former amphitheatre in Irvine, California

Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre was an amphitheater operating from 1981 to 2016 in Irvine, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Irvine Lake</span> Reservoir in Orange County, California

Irvine Lake is a reservoir in Orange County, California, United States. It is on Santiago Creek, located in Silverado, California, east of the city of Irvine and close to Irvine Regional Park. The reservoir is currently operated by the Serrano Water District and OC Parks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anaheim Hills</span> Planned community in California, United States

Anaheim Hills is a planned community encompassing the eastern portions of the city of Anaheim, in Orange County, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center</span> Passenger train and bus station in California, United States

The Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ARTIC) is an intermodal transit center in Anaheim, California, United States. It serves as a train station for Amtrak intercity rail and Metrolink commuter rail, as well as a bus station used by the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), Anaheim Resort Transportation (ART), Greyhound, Megabus, Flixbus and Tres Estrellas de Oro.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orange County SC</span> American soccer team

Orange County Soccer Club is an American soccer team based in the Orange County, California city of Irvine. Founded in 2010 as the Los Angeles Blues, the team currently plays in the Western Conference of the USL Championship, the second tier of the American soccer system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wet 'n Wild (Las Vegas)</span> Former water park in Las Vegas, Nevada

Wet 'n Wild was a 27-acre (11 ha) water park located at 2601 South Las Vegas Boulevard on the Las Vegas Strip in Winchester, Nevada. The $14 million water park opened on May 18, 1985, as a joint venture between Howard Hughes Development Corporation and Wet 'n Wild. A number of ownership changes occurred beginning in 1998. It was eventually sold to Palace Entertainment in 2002. However, the land itself was leased throughout the water park's history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Championship Soccer Stadium</span> Soccer stadium in Irvine, California

Championship Soccer Stadium is a 5,500 seat soccer-specific stadium at the Orange County Great Park in Irvine, California. The stadium serves as the permanent home of Orange County SC of the second tier USL Championship league after the club began its existence relocating to various stadiums within the county. Championship Soccer Stadium is publicly owned by the city of Irvine and is operated by the Great Park.

FivePoint Amphitheatre was an amphitheatre at the Orange County Great Park in Irvine, California. It opened in 2017 as a replacement for the defunct Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre. With 6,500 bleacher seats, 280 VIP seats, and an approximate 5,500 standing room spaces, it was the largest amphitheatre in Orange County by overall capacity and second-largest in seated capacity, only behind the Pacific Amphitheatre in Costa Mesa. The site is owned by real estate development group FivePoint and was operated by Los Angeles–based concert promoter Live Nation. The facility consisted of three temporary bleacher sections and a temporary stage with future plans to establish a more permanent amphitheatre on the Great Park premises.

References

  1. ↑ "Archives - Los Angeles Times". Los Angeles Times . 30 June 1986.
  2. ↑ "Wild Rivers closes after 25 years". The Orange County Register . 2011-09-25. Retrieved 2011-09-26.
  3. ↑ "Wild Rivers Waterpark, Irvine". Wildrivers.com. Retrieved 2016-07-23.
  4. ↑ "New Wild Rivers approved by county supervisors". The Orange County Register . 2012-07-31. Retrieved 2012-10-02.
  5. ↑ Martinez, Brian (2011-05-23). "Timeline: Wild Rivers' wild ride". Orange County Register . Retrieved 2019-07-22.
  6. ↑ "Timeline: Wild Rivers' wild ride". Orange County Register. 23 May 2011. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  7. ↑ Tully, Sarah (June 5, 2011). "Summer thrills, chills". The Orange County Register . p. Local 7.
  8. ↑ "New Wild Rivers approved by county supervisors". The Orange County Register . 2012-07-31. Retrieved 2013-06-08.
  9. ↑ "Water park in Irvine's Great Park is closer to reality five years after Wild Rivers closed". Ocregister.com. Retrieved 2016-07-23.
  10. ↑ "ORANGE COUNTY GREAT PARK BOARD REGULAR MEETING - May 24th, 2016". Irvine.granicus.com. 2016-05-24. Retrieved 2016-07-23.
  11. ↑ "Irvine negotiating to bring back Wild Rivers water park – Orange County Register".
  12. ↑ Shimura, Tomoya (31 March 2018). "Iconic Wild Rivers water park eyes return to Irvine in 2019". Orange County Register. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  13. ↑ Robinson, Alicia (4 April 2019). "Get a look at newest map for the Wild Rivers water park planned in Irvine". Orange County Register. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  14. ↑ Robinson, Alicia (15 January 2020). "Irvine finds new Great Park location for bigger Wild Rivers water park". Orange County Register. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  15. ↑ McRea, Heather (17 April 2020). "Wild Rivers lease is ready for the Irvine City Council to approve". Orange County Register. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  16. ↑ Robinson, Alicia (28 July 2020). "Irvine gets a look at new plans for Wild Rivers water park". Orange County Register. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  17. ↑ Robinson, Alicia (2 July 2021). "Financing in place, new Wild Rivers water park is finally a go". Orange County Register. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  18. ↑ Pak, Camryn (8 July 2021). "Construction begins on $60 million Wild Rivers water park in Irvine". Orange County Register. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  19. ↑ Robinson, Alicia (28 October 2021). "With construction underway, Wild Rivers offers season passes for 2022 swim season". Orange County Register. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.