Industry Announcements: Carowinds Announces New Water Park

Posted at 5:10 PM EDT (2110 GMT)

Sep. 21st, 2005 -- Charlotte, N.C. - ye bye WaterWorks…G’day Boomerang Bay!! Paramount’s Carowinds guests will experience a taste of “down under” down south next year as the theme park introduces a newly-expanded, Australian-themed water park, Boomerang Bay.

Inspired by Australia’s breathtaking Gold Coast, the 16-acre water playground creates a new world of exotic exploration that features three new attractions: Kookaburra Bay, Platypus Plunge and the Walkabout Pub.

“We’ve been looking forward to developing an even bigger and better, five-star water park experience for our guests,” said Bob White, general manger of Paramount’s Carowinds. “For years, guests have been speculating about a water park expansion or new water attractions. In 2006, Paramount’s Carowinds Boomerang Bay will offer all of this and more!”

The multimillion dollar expansion enlarges the size of the water park by nearly 25 percent and creates an Outback oasis of family fun large enough to span nearly 16 football fields. The water park also encompasses more than 25 water activities including more than a dozen water slides, a tropical lagoon complete with a waterfall, a 1,000-foot lazy river, a massive wave pool and two family water play areas.

Guests at Boomerang Bay can take advantage of first-rate amenities designed to make every day a g’day on the Australian coast. The area features lush landscaping, a non-smoking environment and the addition of numerous shade structures and lounge & beach chairs. In addition, a new changing area and restroom will be constructed to complement the enhancements to the current changing rooms for all of the visiting Blokes and Sheilas!

New attractions and additions include:

Kookaburra Bay – This mammoth lagoon offers in-water lounging and a relaxing, cascading waterfall set in a tropical, secluded environment. The 125,000-gallon, zero to three feet, heated beach lagoon allows water-lovers to wade in from the water’s edge, get showered under mushroom-shaped water statues and spend the entire day splishing, splashing and floating! The beach lagoon is surrounded by oversized lounge chairs, offering sun-worshipers a chance to soak up an awesome tan!

Platypus Plunge – A beaut’ of a family adventure, this two-person tube, double water slide takes kids and their families through more than 100 feet of twisty, curvy, banked turns before gently splashing into a shallow pool of water.

Walkabout Pub – Guests can get a taste of the wild and exotic Aussie-style at this open-air bar. Pull up a stool or sit at one of the many outdoor tables to catch a cool break from the heat under the shade-covered patios. The pub serves ice cold beer and refreshing tropical drinks including frozen margaritas, mudslides, pina coladas and daiquiris.

In addition to the three new attractions, Boomerang Bay incorporates all of Paramount’s Carowinds current innovative water park attractions.

Awesome Aussie Twister – A black hole experience that plunges riders into total darkness as they glide through giant tubes to a splash pond below.

Great Barrier Reef – A 700,000-gallon, 25,000 square-foot wave pool that provides a surf-like experience for guests.

Crocodile Run – A 1000-foot long lazy river that allows guests to float leisurely along its path through North Carolina and South Carolina.

Pipeline Peak − A totally twisted complex of four enclosed water slides, including two body slides, Screamin’ Wombat and Ripsnort Ridge and two tube slides, Bondi Pipeline and Tasmanian Typhoon.

Down Under Thunder – A four-person family raft slide that swirls riders down four stories through a 564-foot long route of high-banked turns and unexpected dips.

Sydney Sidewinder – A pair of open tube slides that twist and speed guests along dual 370-foot chutes, complete with a thrilling series of high-banked turns.

Parents also can take advantage of two kid-friendly water playgrounds made especially for the little ones:

Jackaroo Landing – A three-story water jungle gym complete with kid-controlled water sprayers, water wheels and a huge 1,000-gallon drenching bucket.

Kangaroo Lagoon and Wallaby Wharf – A one-acre spraying, splashing, hands-on water playground for kids.

Boomerang Bay will open in May 2006 during the park’s 34th season of operation.

A 2006 Season Pass is the best way to enjoy Boomerang bay all year long. 2006 Season Passes can be purchased online at www.carowinds.com, at the park on an operating day, via telephone at 1-800-952-PASS and at Concord Mills mall in Concord, N.C. 2006 Season Passes purchased and processed into a permanent ID card by Sunday, Nov. 6, 2005 will receive free parking for the remainder of the 2005 and all of 2006 seasons, a free Bring-a-Friend ticket and free platinum benefits. Guests can take advantage of the lowest price of the season when ordering two or more season passes for $49.99 each.

Guests can enjoy two full park experiences for the price of one. Entry into the water park is free with general park admission allowing guests to enjoy gallons of wet fun at the colossal Boomerang Bay along with more than 60 Hollywood-styled, state-of-the-art thrill and family rides, attractions and shows offered in the theme park.

Paramount’s Carowinds Information

The 105-acre theme park is open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays only through Nov. 6. The park is closed to the public on Sept. 24 & 25 and Oct 1 & 2.

For additional information about Paramount’s Carowinds, guests should call 704-588-2600 in N.C., 803-548-5300 in S.C., toll free at 1-800-888-4FUN or visit the website at www.carowinds.com.

Company Profile

Paramount’s Carowinds is owned and operated by Paramount Parks, a unit of Viacom Inc.

Paramount Parks is a leading developer and operator of world-class theme parks and location-based attractions, entertaining more than 13 million guests annually. The company currently owns and operates five of the most popular theme parks in North America including: Paramount Canada’s Wonderland (Toronto, Ontario, Canada); Paramount’s Carowinds (Charlotte, N.C.); Paramount’s Great America (Santa Clara, Calif.); Paramount’s Kings Dominion (Richmond, Va.); and Paramount’s Kings Island (Cincinnati, Ohio). The company also developed and manages the award-winning STAR TREK: The Experience at the Las Vegas Hilton (Las Vegas, Nev.) and manages Bonfante Gardens horticultural theme park (Gilroy, Calif.); and CBS Television City at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino (Las Vegas, Nev.). More information about Paramount Parks is available at www.paramountparks.com.