On crest of a new wave: Wahooo! creates ripples with an all-custom water park
Published: Jul 21, 2010 20:34 Updated: Jul 21, 2010 21:50
It’s summertime and the water is always appealing for a quick dip or a leisurely wallow. But invariably you have to time yourself before the temperatures of the water levels with the bright light of the sun, making it imperative to make a quick getaway from the serene sea or the pool.
But now, a brainwave of the Majid Al Futtaim Group — the region’s prominent property and shopping malls developer — has allowed for the creation of a themed water park close to home, allowing residents to participate in water sports or activities.
Nowadays, one can swim, slide and splash to their heart’s content. But you have to be on the go to do that. Go to Bahrain that is.
The team that brought the wonder of snow to Dubai have, with their latest enterprise, Wahooo!, brought a water park adventure to Bahrain.
Damien Latham, general manager of Wahooo!, said the parent company sought a change in venue because the leisure concept had already come alive in Dubai with Ski Dubai and Playnation, seen as unique destinations for fun, leisure and entertainment.
“The makers of Ski Dubai, the indoor snow resort in the desert, have opened their latest attraction, a 15,000 sq m indoor-outdoor ‘aqua-park’ in the heart of Bahrain’s capital, and it is a first-of-its kind in the region,” Latham said.
Situated in Manama’s Bahrain City Center, the inspiration to set up a theme park that matches the local community to enhance the country’s appeal was conceptualized in 2005.
“The construction began in 2008 and was completed in October 2009,” Latham said.
“It is the region’s first ever temperature controlled, indoor/outdoor water park, set at a mean of 30 degrees Celsius — all year round. It is also the region’s most imaginative aquatic playground on two levels, with high-octane rides and thrills that are generally observed in hybrid segments of theme parks.”
Among the many attractions is “Masterblaster”, a rollercoaster which features a 190m drop, as well as an incredible mix of slides, chutes and rising rapids.
The outdoor area features two major thrill rides. The first is a four-lane matt-racer slide, which shoots you down a 15-meter tall tower with a high-speed tube-enclosed descent.
The second, and the highlight of the park, is one of the world’s largest full-size surfing machines. “Flowrider” is a wave producing sensation that creates a three-meter high static, curling breaker. This state-of-the-art water sports pool will enable a perfect on-shore hang ten experience, and skilled users will be able to showcase their surfing talents.
“We offer training for those who want to learn surfing. At BD70, the water park offers five sessions that would enable the learner skim the waves soon,” said Latham.
“We offer advanced training too by skilled professionals who are on hand for all contingencies. For the first-timers, the first session includes body boarding and key skills, with the next two sessions allowing them to kneel and stand on the board before mastering the art by the end of the fifth session.”
The outdoor area also has a number of gentler slides, as well as smaller pools, and the surfing machine can also be set to slower speeds to provide the perfect platform for children and adults to practice body boarding.
In addition to the Masterblaster ride, Wahooo! also features a giant U-shaped “Sidewinder” ride that plunges thrill seekers down one side of an oscillating up-and-down tube and then up the other side, gradually funneling riders to the bottom.
Another pool recreates an indoor beach experience. Elsewhere, a huge tipping bucket dumps thousands of liters of water from above, while those who would prefer their water lapping softly underneath them can float serenely down the lazy river. The multilevel rain fortress, complete with slides and water fountains, is a haven for children.
“Hundreds of thousands of enthusiasts have already enjoyed the thrills and spills of the park, and this overwhelming response could well prove to be a benchmark for water parks,” Latham said.
“About 25 percent of the visitors are from Saudi Arabia, 55 percent are locals, 10 percent are from Qatar and the remainder from other Gulf states.”
Latham attributed the theme park’s successful start to the fantastic mix of people visiting.
“The fact that the guests are shielded from the “gazing public” lends nicely to the local and conservative guests, while expatriates generally don’t have these concerns,” he said, while elaborating that the indoor park provides privacy for guests.
The water park has bridges and footpaths that allow visitors, including those in wheelchairs or with pushchairs, to make a full circuit, and restaurant terraces and function rooms with panoramic views of the park’s attractions.
Wahooo! is providing a series of events including a ladies night, a tiny turtles session, corporate events and kid’s summer camp outings for a cool and exciting summer of fun.
Every Wednesday is ladies night and tiny turtles sessions for mothers and toddlers (3 years and under) are held every Monday.
Special rates and packages are offered to groups for any of the events, while corporate packages are also offered for those who seek to combine business with fun. For individuals, special tailor-made packages are also available.
“This summer has been exciting for us, and if the trend (of increasing visitors volume) continues, we would likely plan to hold exclusive summer camps for children the next year,” Latham said.
He added that as it was the first year the park would be adjusting its timings accordingly to welcome the Ramadan crowd.
“Wahooo! has already generated a lot of excitement across the region and promises to be an exciting new addition to Bahrain’s leisure offerings. And the private nature (in comparison to the Western-based water parks) of the park has contributed to its popularity.”
For more information visit: www.wahooo.com.bh
