Beech Bend Park in Bowling Green, Ky. announced its historic 2010 plans and held a ground breaking ceremony on Friday.
The plans, which include adding two amusement rides, three water park attractions, and an entertainment venue, were highlighted at Friday’s ceremony, and is expected to have an immediate impact to the Bowling Green area with he creation of additional jobs for the park as well as the use of local workers for the projects.
Other enhancements include a new employee breakroom, new restrooms, and a first aid facility.
Water park expansion
The layout of the water park
The water park plans include a 275,000 gallon wave pool, a 1,100-foot long lazy river, and a four story water play structure.
The wave pool, which is the centerpiece of the water park expansion, will feature eight wave chambers that can generate eight different wave patterns from mild to wild.
The lazy river will feature a “not-so-lazy” component through the wave pool, through which it is connected. The waves generated by the wave pool will flow into the river creating a unique motion effect.
Ground view of the play structure
The play structure will have a tropical theme featuring seven slides, several interactive water elements, as well as waterfalls. The structure is contained within a 72,000 gallon zero-entry pool.
Aerial View of the Play Structure
Beech Bend Park is also sponsoring a contest to name these attractions. Contestants can email their names for each attraction to beechbendpark@msn.com and may submit as many times as they wish. Contestants must identify which attraction is being identified with what chosen name.
Winners will receive a family four pack of tickets to the park. If duplicate winning names are submitted, the first submitter will be declared the winner.
The naming contest ends on December 31, 2009,
Amusement park additions
The New Family Tea Cup Ride
A Zamperla family tea cup ride will be added, replacing a mini tea-cup ride that was featured in the park for several years.
In addition, a Quad Runner ride will be added for children. Similar to the Hampton Combo Ride next to the Tornado, the ride features Quad Runners for the vehicles that the children can enjoy.
New Amphitheater
Beech Bend's new Amphitheatre
The new facility will have a 60-foot wide stage, three dressing rooms, private restrooms, and a seating area for 400 people.
When the amphitheater opens, a new musical production as well as two returning favorite acts will be featured, including the Master Illusionist Dinky Gowen and the Beech Bend Super Star Talent Show.
Further impact
The park improvements, valued at over $5 million, is expected to help draw people from other areas, including Nashville, Tenn. (an hour’s drive from Bowling Green) and surrounding areas, and will help the Bowling Green area’s businesses and hotels.
In addition, Dallas Jones, the owner of Beech Bend, expects that the new attractions will help bring over 1 million visitors to the park and adjoining raceway each season.
For more, visit beechbend.com.
Tags: amphitheatre, beech bend, bowling green, kentucky, lazy river, Nashville, tea cup, water park, wave pool
I now have a reason to go back to Beech Bend! WOOHOOO!
I have a big reason to return: Kentucky Rumbler.
Sadly, The Looping Star will be Removed.
Don't feel bad that thing hurt like hell.
Togo and Vekoma rank higher in my book.
It Was a Credit I Never Got To Ride. Thats it.
I would have loved to trade that credit for Rumbler but when I went in June this year the previous night it rained like 5 inches in a hour. Rumbler was drenched and struck by lightning in the prior days. I had to leave the park and make it to Holiday World/SFKK in the same day. That was the worst Looping Star model I ever rode I believe.