Apr. 24, 2009 The Arizona Republic

Arizona’s largest water park is scheduled to open in mid-June in north Phoenix with thrilling water rides and yes, shade.

Wet ‘n’ Wild Phoenix will feature 30 slides on more than 35 acres in north Phoenix.

Wet ‘n’ Wild Phoenix, owned by the Village Roadshow, a Melbourne, Australia-based business, pumped $30 million into 30 slides on 35 acres. Among the 11 individual rides is a gravity-defying water coaster called Maximum Velocity.

Though the water park opens during an economic downturn, it will hire 300 seasonal workers that include lifeguards. Park officials said Tuesday they already hired some former city of Phoenix lifeguards who were let go because eight pools closed for remodeling.

Village Roadshow Theme Parks has a job fair from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Christ Church of the Valley’s Youth Building, 7007 W. Happy Valley Road in Peoria. The company is looking to fill 150 jobs, which include security, emergency medical technicians and guest and retail workers.

Although the economy is struggling, Wet ‘n’ Wild officials say they are banking on customers who plan to stay in the Valley for their summer vacations during the first season.

“We are transforming the amusement and water park landscape in the Southwest and creating the ultimate entertainment destination for families with the opening of Wet ‘n’ Wild Phoenix,” said Scott Cooper, manager of Wet ‘n’ Wild Phoenix. “The park will feature some of the world’s most incredible slides and will offer an experience unlike anything Valley residents have seen before.”

Palm tree shade structures will keep customers cool. And for a cost, the park features 18 custom-made cabanas that can be rented and include everything from private lounge chairs and ceiling fans to television and wait staff.

Village Roadshow Limited is recognized as one the largest and most diverse entertainment companies in the world. The company’s flagship water park, Wet ‘n’ Wild Water World, is located on the Gold Coast in Australia and attracts more than 1 million each year, according to the village’s press release.

Wet ‘n’ Wild Water World set the bar for other water parks, said Tim Carroll, Village Roadshow Limited’s chief marketing officer.

“With the combination of Phoenix’s great weather and our first-of-their-kind attractions that are unrivaled by anything in the Valley, we are set to duplicate the resounding success of the Australian park with our new Phoenix location,” Carroll said.

Maricopa County approved a 25-year lease with the Village Roadshow in October when the county’s lease with its previous tenant expired. The contract also allows the large business to develop 21 more acres in the future.
Water rides

• Maximum Velocity, a dueling H20 coaster, allows guests to race in tubes down two side-by-side slide tracks. The gravity-defying water coasters blast riders uphill on jetted water and over 830 feet drops and curves.

• Desert Palms Playground is an interactive ride with nine slides and more.

• Monsoon Bay is a wave pool ride with 4-foot high swells in tube or body surf for an ocean experience. The bay also features a Dive ‘n’ Movie events throughout the summer.

• Phoenix Flyers allows you to create an experience with a choice of three slides and drops down a four-story tower.

• Desert Racers takes guests headfirst on a racing mat into an enclosed tube, and then loops downhill. This 240-foot raceway launches riders from 42 feet high and down the slides at speeds of more than 20 feet-per-second.

• Tornado starts at 38 feet high in the air through a 160-foot tunnel before plummeting into a large body of water.

• Cactus Cooleris a place to relax on a tube as it floats through water.
• Serpentine Complex is two coiling slides and one super bowl. The drops and twists of the more than 320-foot slides aren’t for the faint of heart.

• Raging River is a family raft that winds over 600 feet of the river canyon walls, around sharp turns and over steep drops.

• Mammoth Falls features waterfall drops of 57 feet before the raft goes vertical, shoots up a wall, then falls back before arriving at the calm waters below.

• Soak’em Sprayground is an interactive children’s playground filled with water activities.

Source: Wet ‘n’ Wild Phoenix
Location

• 4243 W. Pinnacle Peak Road, at the Adobe Dam Recreational area on the border of Phoenix and Glendale
Source: Wet ‘n’ Wild Phoenix
Admission

• Ages 12-59, $34.99 plus tax.
• Ages 3-11, $26.99 plus tax.
• Ages 60-plus, $26.99 plus tax.
• Ages 2 and younger, free
• Parking: $5
• Early bird season passes, $59.99 plus tax.
• After park opening season passes are $69.99 per person or $64.99 when you buy four or more passes.
• Information: www.phoenixwetnwild.com or call 623-201-2000
Hours and operating schedule

• It opens mid-June through Nov. 1. It opens at 10 a.m. and closing time will vary throughout the season.