T
wo summers ago Erie was swept
away by the addition of the
467,200-gallon wave pool at
Waldameer’s Water World. Last summer
kids went crazy for the amazing slides
in the newly created Kidz Zone. This
summer, Waldameer visitors are in for
another new wet and wild attraction—
Battle of Lake Erie interactive play
structure.
The 40-feet-high, water-based jungle
gym is part of Phase III of the park’s
expansion of Water World and includes
seven slides, 103 play features like paddle
wheels, fountains and sprays, and a
400-gallon tipping bucket, all situated
over a six-inch wading pool.
It’s located between the Kidz Zone
and wave pool in the water park and,
unlike the Kidz Zone, there are no height
restrictions or age limitations. The water
play area is open to all ages.
“There are similar water features at
parks around the world and most are
pirate ships. We decided to design ours
after the Flagship Niagara and to theme
it with the Battle of Lake Erie,” says Josh
Gorman, President of Waldameer Park
and Water World.
He adds that the attraction is linked to
local history and Erie’s role in the Battle
of 1812. Throughout the Battle of Lake
Erie Play Area are audio messages that
tell the history of Erie’s participation
in the war and encourage Waldameer
guests to visit the real U.S. Brig Niagara
at Maritime Museum.
Phase I and Phase II of the expansion
increased visitors at Water World and
Gorman expects Phase III to cause
another bump this summer if Erie has
good weather. The wave pool alone gave
the park a 30 percent increase two years
ago.
Last year, small kids and parents alike
were delighted by the addition of seven
mini water slides and expansive splash
pad of the Kidz Zone for children under
4 feet in height.
Also appearing on the Water World
scene last year were 12 cabanas around
the wave pool for rent. Gorman says that
on most sunny days the cabanas sold out
and this summer construction crews are
adding a few more, along with additional
lockers.
On the non-water side, Waldameer Park
added a laser maze challenge called “The
Vault,” located on the midway, for the
game-loving crowd.
Waldameer has plans to advertise the
new Water World attractions outside of
Erie, especially in Cleveland and northeast
Ohio, to entice more travelers to the area.
Expansion and upgrade plans don’t stop
with this year’s new blockbuster water
addition, though.
“We already have plans for summer
2018, and this is the first year we’ve made
solid plans in advance. We put a down
payment on a balloon ride that will be
added to Kiddyland,” says Gorman.
The amusement park also has invested in
a new adult water slide, which is currently
in the design process. The goal is to have all
the plans finished this fall so construction
can begin in the spring.
Water World has undergone a water
revival over the past few seasons, with new
kids’ water slides and an epic wave pool.
The coming Battle of Lake Erie Play Area
should prove to round out the trifecta of
the Water World makeover. n
Millcreek | Summer 2017 | icmags.com 43