30°11′35″N 85°49′37″W / 30.192934°N 85.826998°W
| Location | Jacksonville Beach, Florida |
|---|---|
| Opened | 1995 |
| Operating season | Summer (5/12-9/3) |
| Area | 4 acres (16,000 m2) 20 acres[1] |
| Attractions | |
| Total | 8 |
| Water rides | 8 |
| Website | www.adventurelanding.com/jaxbeach/shipwreck.html |
Shipwreck Island, located at Jacksonville Beach, Florida is the only water park in Duval County, Florida.[2] The park, which opened in 1995, consists of eight major water attractions and is part of Adventure Landing.[3]
History
editShipwreck Island and Adventure Landing were constructed simultaneously on 18 acres in Jacksonville Beach. Initial investment was $5 million, and the waterpark was created as a park within Adventure Landing. It was only accessible through an entrace inside Adventure Landing's central structure, which contained the video arcade, laser tag, snackbar, prize counter, restrooms and other attractions. Adventure Landing is surrounded by miniature golf, batting cages, go-kart track and the water park.[4]
New rides in the waterpark were added or replaced every year or two, in order to keep the attraction fresh for local residents, who purchase season passes. In 2006, there were 275,000 admissions; 5 million since the park opened in 1995.
The park changed owners in late 2002 when Adventure Entertainment Co. sold four of its seven parks to Adventure Landing LLC in a management buyout.
Attractions
editAll of the rides and attractions are included with water park admission.[5]
Pirate's Play Village was an original attraction in 1995. The 65-foot (20 m) pirate ship has three-stories, interactive water play with 12 slides, spraying nozzles, waterfalls and lots of nooks and crannies for exploring.
The toddler area named Kiddie Cove includes two small slides in the shallow pool, along with other play features.[6]
The Lil' St. John's River, a 720-foot (220 m) lazy river, permits single and double tubes to float along at five miles per hour.
The wave pool, built in 1997, contains 500,000-US-gallon (1,900,000 L) of water; the 18,000 square feet (1,700 m2) basin can accomodate 760 swimmers. Sets of 4-foot (1.2 m) pneumatic waves are generated every 15 minutes. That same year, the company added parking for an additional 600 cars and constructed a dual-level deck, a snack bar, changing rooms and gift shop. Pirate's Paradise, an area set aside for corporate and group outings, was also created.[7]
An uphill slide, the Rage is a water-coaster that propels the rider at speeds up to 18 mph (29 km/h). It opened in 1998. [8]
New in 2001, the Hydro half-pipe is a water ride that drops 35 feet (11 m) and works just like the skateboarder’s half-pipe.
Assembled in 2003, the Eye of the Storm is an extreme body slide that rises over 40 feet (12 m). Riders try to maximize the number of revolutions before falling into the 12-foot (3.7 m) deep pool.[9]
The Undertow, a twisting and turning water slide that debuted in 2008, is designed for two riders on a double tube.[10][11]
Charity
editEvery year since 2004, Adventure Landing has sponsored the annual Frog Frolic , which benefits the American Heart Association. For each $5 donation, a plastic numbered frog is added to others that "race" around the Lil' St. John's Lazy River at Shipwreck Island Waterpark. Prizes have included motor scooters, trips, shopping sprees and season passes to Shipwreck Island. The event raises thousands of charity dollars each year.[12] http://jacksonville.com/community/shorelines/2009-08-01/story/beach_shorts
Military personnel with ID can spend July 4 at Shipwreck Island Water Park free; half price family members
Lawsuit
editDog Lovers Day
editAdventure Landing on Beach Boulevard in Jacksonville Beach will host its third annual Dog Lovers Day on Saturday, Sept. 27. The free outdoor, family-fun event aims to entertain several thousand area families and dogs, create awareness of the ongoing overpopulation of pets, and, possibly, provide many homeless dogs with a permanent home through the Dog Adoption Fair. Well-behaved dogs are welcome to the event, and new this year, dogs can cool off in Shipwreck Island Waterpark's wave pool. The water park will be closing for the season the prior weekend. The day includes three musically choreographed performances from the nationally recognized, award-winning K9's "In Flight Frisbee Dog Shows." They've performed in about 150 cities, from Madison Square Garden in New York to Mexico City. All performing dogs have been adopted from shelters. During the Dog Adoption Fair, shelters from Duval, Clay, Nassau and St. Johns counties will be represented through the First Coast No More Homeless Pets nonprofit organization. Their mission is to educate the public on the importance of spaying and neutering. Last year at Dog Lovers Day, about 50 dogs were adopted on site. "We hope to help as many dogs find homes as possible," Lee Hovis, Adventure Landing's general manager said[15]
Teen Events
editAdventure Landing on Beach Boulevard will have its Friday night "Beach Club" for the third consecutive year, providing a place for teens 16 and under to dance, swim and ride the waterslides at Shipwreck Island Water park. The Beach Club runs from 7:30 to 11 p.m. all summer long. Admission is $13, and appropriate attire (no thongs, chains or hats) is required.[16]
party places
Economy
editReferences
edit- ^ Gibbons, Timothy J.: "Summertime: And the livin' is easy" Florida times-Union, May 29, 2006
- ^ Bull, Roger: "Chill Out" Florida Times-Union, July 18, 2003
- ^ "Adventure Landing's Shipwreck Island" Ultimate Waterpark.com
- ^ Crownover, Catherine: "Adventure Landing Water Park to Open in Jacksonville" Florida Times-Union, May 5, 1995
- ^ Capitano, Laura: "Put your waterpark stamina to the test" Florida Times-Union, August 3, 2007
- ^ "Summers last splash" Florida Times-Union, August 14, 1997
- ^ Chapin, Veronica: "Hardware store on the grow" Florida Times-Union, June 28, 1997
- ^ Wilson, Jaimie: "The last splash of summer" Florida Times-Union, August 8, 1998
- ^ "Slip-sliding away" Florida Times-Union, June 20, 2003
- ^ Bauerlein, David: "Warm weather boosts Adventure Landing's water parks" Florida Times-Union, April 20, 2008
- ^ Marshall, Konrad: "Adventure Landing to get new water slide" Florida Times-Union, January 5, 2008
- ^ Southside Sun: May 22, 2008-2008 Frog Frolic benefits American Heart Association by Sandy Strickland
- ^ Burmeister, Caren: "Man wins $1 million in lawsuit" Florida Times-Union, August 27, 2003
- ^ Burmeister, Caren: "Water park's record good" Florida Times-Union, September 3, 2003
- ^ "Beach Shorts" Florida Times-Union, September 3, 2008
- ^ Brown, August: "Party Places" Florida Times-Union, May 28, 2003
- ^ Bauerlein, David: "Attendance rebounds at First Coast amusement parks" Florida Times-Union, July 30, 2010
External links
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