Sun Splash Waterpark wraps up season with special weekend rates
As temperatures still hover in the mid 90s it’s hard to notice that summer is winding down and the official start to fall is only a few days away.
There are several tell-tale signs of fall, of course; kids are back in school, football is back, Labor Day has already passed.
And then there’s Sun Splash Family Waterpark, which comes and goes with the spring and summer months, now wrapping up its 2010 season two weekends with discounted admission and food.
Families without season passes will be able to take advantage of the discounted rate of $5 per person Sept 18 – 19, and 25 – 26, though season passes will still be honored on those days.
Normal single day ticket prices for Cape Coral residents are $12.95 for adults and $10.95 for kids. Non-residents usually pay $16.95 for adults and $14.95 for kids.
Five dollar tickets will available to everyone.
Water Park Manager Sandie Greiner said the same promotion was used last year to close out the season and it was such a big success they decided to bring it back.
Greiner said it’s a “$5-across-the- board” ideology, in which admission, parking and meal combos won’t cross the $5 threshold.
“The economy is still really hard right now. And we wanted to give families he opportunity to enjoy the park for just $5 a person,” Greiner said.
Other than a few days of cold weather or rain, Greiner said that attendance at the water park was strong, as 140,778 people having visited through Sep. 6.
Season pass sales were also up in 2010, with 4,338 passes being sold as compared to the 3,238 passes were sold in 2009.
For Cape Coral residents, adult passes are $79, and $74 for kids. Prices for non-residents are $99 for adults and $94 for kids.
Greiner said that holding the price for season passes from last year helped to drive those increased sales, and offered families some financial relief.
“The bottom line was that the season passes were an economical decision,” she added.
Season passes also featured something new this year, which Greiner felt also helped to drive sales.
Parents were able to load a certain dollar amount onto the passes for their children, who would then be able to use the pass like a debit or credit card at concession stands, alleviating the need for to carry cash.
Innovations likes these Greiner feels will continue to bring back families each year, as she as her staff work to better the Sun Splash experience.
Greiner said she reached out to park guests through surveys and general conversation trying to get a feel for what parents want from the park.
“We’re in the process of analyzing the surveys and when we go into the off season, we’re going to be meeting to look at these suggestions to find what we want to implement next year,” she said.
Greiner added, “It’s not about us. It’s about what guests like and what they want to spend their money on.”
Online ticketing options may become available next season, Greiner said. She also hopes to devise a method where parents are able to charge different accounts to season passes for different children. For instance, a trio of siblings would have access to their own money with the card.
“I have tons of ideas for next year,” Greiner said.
Sun Splash also has major maintenance overhaul scheduled for the off-season.
The park will replace all its sand filters this winter, according to Greiner.
She said the park’s water quality is regularly tested and very safe, but the sand filters have never been replaced in the park’s 19-year history.
“That project alone could take three months,” she added.
Sun Splash opened for the season in March, but a few days of cold weather kept park goers away. Rain on Fourth of July weekend also hurt attendance, but overall Greiner said the park had a great season.
She hopes to close things out on a positive note with the reduced admission, and is already looking forward to next year.
“It’s been a good year, and the weather gods have been with us for the most part,” she said. “It’s been a fun year.”
For those looking to take advantage of the discounted admission prices these next two weekends, park staff is recommending early arrival. Park capacity is limited to 1,600 people.
Southwest Florida’s largest waterpark, Sun Splash offers more than 14 acres of slides, pools, food and fun for all ages. It is at 400 Santa Barbara Blvd., just 2.5 miles north of Veterans Parkway.
For more information call 574-0558.