Water Park Profi le
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Uncommon challenges, uncommon solutions Although Coleman and his team were brought onto the project to function as a management fi rm, Herold insisted they be involved in the development of Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark from day one. This integrated, cross-discipline approach is refl ected in almost every aspect of the project, and has led to countless design and effi ciency breakthroughs. Considering it costs approximately three times more to build an indoor water park than an outdoor water park, effi ciency is a critical element of success. With the architects, management team, and the parks arts
and recreation team all at the table, they could make intelligent decisions on everything from where to locate bathrooms to the logistics of how guests would access all areas of both facilities with ease. “One of the biggest struggles with indoor water parks is that
you’re constrained by four walls. Four very expensive walls,” Coleman said. “You can’t easily expand with a new feature or slide without prohibitive expense, so the more you can plan for an exceptional guest experience in advance, the better.” Creating an epic guest experience was central to every decision the Epic Waters team made from concept through implementation, including hiring what Coleman calls ‘the dream team’ and selecting the technology tool box to support operations. Although Grand Prairie already had a collection of technology vendors, Coleman pushed for a single software vendor that could streamline everything. “One of the earliest questions the team had was how are
we going to have guests go from the dry side to the wet side and back again and have it work seamlessly,” Coleman said. “We needed to fi nd technology that would fi t the needs of both sides.” With an unlimited guest experience not constrained to just
Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark, a property-wide solution was essential. Enter CenterEdge, comprehensive software designed specifi cally for the needs of integrated amusement and entertainment facilities. CenterEdge technology is underpinning everything from front-line admission and memberships to food and beverages, game redemption, merchandise, party management and more. They’re also providing a complete web platform that will help deliver both a streamlined guest experience and a consolidated revenue, staff management and reporting system for the entire complex. “A lot of software is designed by software guys, but CenterEdge was written by users—people who understand the challenges and the needs of our industry, whether it’s supporting online purchases or getting guests through the door or helping us convert day users to members,” said Colemen.
Not your mother’s community pool At the end of the day, Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark has been driven by innovation from the retractable roof to the technology under the covers. The twin goals that balanced every implementation: make something epic and safe. At the grand opening, Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark offers the following vanguard thrill rides in addition to the more traditional bread- and-butter features.
Retractable roof Anyone who has visited an indoor water park is familiar with the ubiquitous cavernous building, harsh lighting and headache- inducing noise. Kids love it, but parents aren’t fans. The barrel-
OCTOBER 2017
shaped retractable roof at Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark fl oods the facility with natural light and, when whether permits, allows the indoor park to feel like the great outdoors. The roof is a key element of managing the year-round guest experience. When it’s 105º in the summer and people are burning their feet at the outdoor water parks, Epic Waters can be kept a comfortable 20º cooler. In the winter, the closed roof keeps the facility toasty warm in the coldest weather, but can be opened on the more temperate days.
Lasso loop The Lasso Loop is the tallest indoor Aqualoop in America and the ‘ultimate wedgie slide’ according to Coleman. Guests drop with enough speed to be sent right back up a hill on the other side.
Yellowjacket Drop The Yellowjacket Drop is the fi rst indoor fusion constrictor/ boomerang slide. This inner-tube-based slide sends riders through an enclosed serpentine and then an open drop that whips them high up an enclosed ball. Designed to keep the hard-to-please 16-and-up age group entertained, the Yellowjacket Drop has a bigger slide diameter and smaller turning radius making it a true thrill-seeking ride.
Aquanaut The Aquanaut is the fi rst ever indoor double rider Aquasphere. This inner tube ride is a little more family-friendly, taking riders down a fl ume slide and sending them around and around a huge, 15-foot (4.6 m) indoor bowl. The Loop, Drop, and Aquanaut are all from WhiteWater. The power of Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark, however,
only reveals itself when you view all the elements together, according to Coleman. “Yes, Epic Waters is a world-class indoor water park, but it is so much more than that,” said Coleman. “It’s sitting next to a million-dollar fi tness center and the fi rst indoor foosball court in the market, a culinary academy, a full library, a recording studio. Nothing else like this exists. Anywhere. I want the Epic Waters team to be proud to say that this is the coolest thing they’ve ever worked on.”
Sherry Howell serves as brand engagement director at CenterEdge Software where she develops tools and training materials to improve the day-to-day operations of clients in the amusement and family entertainment center industries all over the country.
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