News: Wild Adventures announces numerous improvements

Posted at 3:22 PM EST (2022 GMT)

Dec. 3rd, 2007 -- Wild Adventures has announced numerous improvements for the 2008 season, it's first under Herschend Family Entertainment. Among the improvements are a new spinning thrill ride, new animal exhibits/shows, concerts and a Halloween event.

Via Press Release

Valdosta, GA - Wild Adventures announced its new line-up for the 2008 season today. Under new ownership since late September, the park confirmed it will add a new thrill ride, called The Rattler, to its attractions, plus will host 300 additional animals next year. New family-friendly entertainment is also on the way with the addition of the popular kid’s characters, Veggie Tales®, to the newly-expanded Kidzpalooza festival. Kidzpalooza will also feature “Ocean Adventures,” a fun and informative show featuring performing sea lions, hands-on sting ray and crab experiences and a shark encounter. Already well-known for booking a wide variety of all-star concerts, Wild Adventures announced Sugarland, this year’s Country Music Awards top duo, as part of the 2008 line-up. The park will retain 2007 daily admission and regular Passport pricing for the 2008 operating season and has rolled back the price of the Gold Passport. Bob Montgomery, Wild Adventures General Manager, made the announcement.

“The last eight weeks have been hectic and exciting for us at Wild Adventures. Our number one goal is to bring quality family entertainment to south Georgia and north Florida. The Rattler, the park’s first new ride in three years, enhances the Wild West area and the addition of new interactive animal encounters ensures we deliver ‘wild’ family-friendly experiences, says Montgomery. “We also remain committed to being the area’s best venue for top-quality acts—Sugarland is a great example of what our guests can expect.”

New Ride

The Rattler heads to the Wild West area of Wild Adventures this spring. This spinning swing ride sends 24 passengers at a time soaring six stories in the air and swinging 240 degrees, all while twirling in dizzying circles. The Rattler is set to open March 21st.

New Animals

Animals take center-stage in 2008, as more than 300 new creatures will be on display in a variety of shows, exhibits and interactive encounters. “Wild About Babies” features the park’s newest residents. “North American Predators” brings audiences up-close and personal with black bears, wolves and cougars and “Tigers n’ Toys” highlights the “kittenish” side of the majestic tigers as the park’s trainer helps demonstrate how they play.

Summer brings an incredible underwater experience to Wild Adventures, with an assortment of salt-water animals normally only seen on television. “Ocean Adventures” features three distinct attractions, including a comedic sea lion show. Learn new facts and dispel some myths regarding one of the earth’s oldest inhabitants during the “Shark Encounter” and then, get hands-on with an unusual-looking sea inhabitant, the sting ray. Guests are encouraged to pet and even feed these gentle creatures, as well as handle a variety of crabs, including hermit and fiddler. “Ocean Adventures” is part of the newly-expanded Kidzpalooza festival and opens June 6, 2008.

Concerts

A full schedule of all-star concerts is in the works for the spring and summer and already includes some of the hottest touring artists on the circuit. Look for Dierks Bentley and Luke Bryan on February 16; the CMA Duo of the Year, Sugarland, on March 8 and what’s expected to be the top Christian tour of 2008, Jeremy Camp, tobyMac and Matthew West on March 15. The park will be adding more quality shows to the list, including top country, pop, rock and Christian artists.

Festivals

Kidzpalooza kicks off the summer June 6 and the young and young-at-heart will delight in all the new fun and activities in store for them. Larry, Bob and the Veggie Tales® bunch present “Silly Sing-A-Longs,” a collection of laugh-out-loud lyrics and music, with an invitation for the whole audience to join in. “Silly Sing-A-Longs” gets a head start on Kidzpalooza, debuting March 22nd, but the rest of the fun won’t be far behind! In addition to “Ocean Adventures,” guests can get creative with “Art Adventures,” the park’s crafty scavenger hunt, full of all-new projects and activities, as well as watch as displays of intricate sand sculptures are created. Kidzpalooza runs through Aug. 3, 2008.

Wild Adventures is also working on a new Halloween festival, Haunted Adventure Nights. Spooky family fun will be the order of the evening, with haunted houses and other fall fun. Haunted Adventure Nights will run selected evenings September 27 – November 1, 2008.

Christmas Wonderland will dazzle guests like never before with all new lights and displays, as well as a whole new show line-up. Christmas Wonderland runs November 14 – December 31, 2008.

New Operating Season

Guests will see improvements throughout the year as the park strives to provide a quality park experience. In order for the staff to make necessary repairs, refurbishments and guest enhancements, Wild Adventures will be closed for a short six week period, starting January 1, 2008. The park will re-open with a fresh face and an all-star concert featuring Dierks Bentley & Luke Bryan on Saturday, February 16, 2008.

2008 Fun at 2007 Prices As an added bonus to the guests, Wild Adventures will maintain daily admission and season pass prices for the 2008 operating season. Regular Admission is $45 for ages 10-54 and Junior/Senior admission is $40 for ages 3-9 and 55 and over. Both prices include the Second Day Free.

The entire year can be enjoyed with the Passport 2008 or the now lower-priced Gold Passport. The Passport 2008 is $70 per person and the Gold Passport has been reduced to $90 per person. Until January 1, 2008, both pass options are being offered at a special lower rate--the Passport 2008 is just $65 and the Gold Passport is just $85.

The Passport 2008 offers unlimited admissions to Wild Adventures through December 31, 2008, including Splash Island Water Park, the rides, animals, shows and concerts, as well as admission to Kidzpalooza, Haunted Adventure Nights and Christmas Wonderland. A new benefit this year is early entrance to the park on concert days and select Saturdays in the summer. Additionally, pass-holders will enjoy 10% off season concert reserve seats and 50% admission discounts when visiting other Herschsend Family Entertainment properties, including Dollywood and Dollywood’s Splash Country in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, Stone Mountain Park in Atlanta, Georgia and Silver Dollar City, Celebration City and White Water in Branson, Missouri.

The Gold Passport includes all the great perks as the Passport 2008 with the addition of FREE parking, FREE go-karts and FREE Adventure Golf. Gold pass-holders also receive 20% off season concert reserve seats. All pass-holders will receive special “members-only” mailers full of upcoming events, park information and special offers throughout the year.