Sun Splash to offer new attractions
UPDATE: City officials said Pirates Cove, the new water park component for children, is open.
ORIGINAL post:
Sun Splash Family Waterpark is up and running for its 25th season, open only on weekends until schools let out for the summer at the end of May.
Sun Splash manager Sandy Greiner hopes the park’s newest feature “Pirates Cove” is operational this weekend after a water flow problem kept the feature closed for opening weekend.
“We’re having trouble with the top water bucket,” Greiner said. “The company is coming back on Friday and hopefully can fix the problem. Right now I’m not comfortable using it for the younger kids.”
The park is open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays until Labor Day, May 29, when it shifts to daily operations.
Pirates Cove features 32 interactive features, including a bucket dumping water, water cannons and so much more. It replaces the Tot Spot, which had operated since the park first opened until its condition deteriorated in recent summers.
The high-tech feature allows staff to control the water pressure on the cannons according to the predominant age of the children enjoying it. Staff can crank up the water volume on teen nights.
“It’s really phenomenal,” said Greiner. “Once it’s done it will be amazing, fantastic.”
The administration building that was destroyed by fire last July remains under reconstruction with a target completion date of July 1.
Temporary quarters are being used for guest services and the concession stand, which is offering a limited number of food items.
“We want to serve just a few items but concentrate on making them really good,” said Greiner.
Opening weekend saw about 500 guests use the park each day.
“I think it went really well,” Greiner said. “It was nice weather. A little cold for me, but the northern people thought it was fantastic. All in all I was happy with it and am looking forward to the season.”
Daily passes are $14.95 for children and senior residents of the Cape and $17.95 for non-resident children and seniors. Adult (age 13 and older) passes are $16.95 for residents and $19.95 for non-residents. The cost to park a car is $5.
From now until April 9 all season passes are discounted $20 off the following prices. Season passes for the entire summer are $84 for residents ages 2-12 and seniors, and $99 for non-residents and seniors. For residents age 13 and over the pass costs $94 and $109 for non-residents.
A seasonal parking pass is available for $19.95.
“We have spring break for the schools coming up and we expect to be real busy,” Greiner said.
The park offers 18 distinct features with open air and tunnel slides like Cape Fear, Fun-L-Tunnel, Zoom Flume, Electric Slide, Power Surge, Thunder Bump, Terror Tube and the park’s steepest, most extreme slide Xcelerator. It also has Pro Racers and Drop Slides for younger guests as well as a Rain Tree feature and Sand Dollar Walk. There’s also the quarter-mile winding Main Stream River Tube Ride, a sand volleyball court and ecological boardwalk.
Sun Splash continues to average more than 120,000 visitors each year. The city-owned park is at 400 Santa Barbara Blvd.