Amusement Park

Carowinds Corporate Office

Carowinds was founded in 1973 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The 398-acre park was originally designed to be a resort, with a hotel, shopping, a golf course, and an NFL football stadium. The energy crisis that same year forced the park to change direction. Today, Carowinds is a highly popular amusement and water park.

The park currently offers 64 rides, including 13 roller coasters and 7 water rides. One area of the park is designed strictly for small children, named Planet Snoopy. The park generally operates late March through October but has tried to remain open during weekends or holidays through December. Low attendance during winter months has led to closures December – early March.

The amusement park is up for 3 awards in 2019 from USA Today, including best waterpark.

An employee who was inspecting a ride lost his hand in an accident that was being investigated by OSHA in March 2019.

Carowinds operates as a subsidiary of Cedar Fair Entertainment, who purchased the company in June of 2006. Company headquarters remain in Charlotte, North Carolina. Cedar Fair invested $50 million into renovating the park, as well as adding 4 new rides in 2016.

Carowinds

History

The amusement park is up for 3 awards in 2019 from USA Today, including best waterpark.

An employee who was inspecting a ride lost his hand in an accident that was being investigated by OSHA in March 2019.

Kalahari Resort Corporate Office

Kalahari Resorts and Convention Center, more commonly called Kalahari, was founded in 2000 by owner and former CEO Todd Nelson, in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. The company operates a chain of indoor amusement parks, water parks, hotels, and convention meeting rooms.

The resort is named after the Kalahari desert in Africa, which explains why Africa is the theme of the hotel rooms and convention rooms, as well as mascots. There are three resorts, the first being in Wisconsin Dell, Wisconsin, the second in Sandusky, Ohio, and the third in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. The Sandusky location is billed as the largest indoor theme park in the USA. Hotels range in size from 750 rooms to 996 rooms, as well as multiple convention or meeting rooms for business travelers.

Kalahari Resorts also have full-service restaurants, and playgrounds for children, and include free tickets to the Timbavati Wildlife Park for customers who book rooms.

In January 2023, Kalahari Resorts announced that they were expanding their Texas location by several thousand square feet to accommodate its busy schedule.

Kalahari Resorts maintains a corporate office in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin.

Kalahari Resorts

History

Kalahari Resorts also have full-service restaurants, and playgrounds for children, and include free tickets to the Timbavati Wildlife Park for customers who book rooms.

In January 2023, Kalahari Resorts announced that they were expanding their Texas location by several thousand square feet to accommodate its busy schedule.

Kalahari Resorts maintains a corporate office in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin.

Gatorland Corporate Office

Godwin’s Gatorland, most commonly referred to as simply Gatorland, was founded in 1949 in Orlando, Florida, by Owen Godwin. This alligator themed amusement park sits on what was once land used for cattle.

The park sits on 100 acres and offers a wide variety of animal shows and exhibits, including alligators, birds, spiders and snakes. There is also a petting zoo, breeding marsh, reptile shows, and educational programs. The park introduced a 1200 foot long zip line which goes above the park and several pools of alligators in 2011. Gatorland Express is a very narrow railroad, which allows sightseers to ride through the entire park.

Gatorland is still owned by the Godwin family and is known for accepting “problem” alligators that have been found or abandoned in residential areas.

Gatorland

Gatorland is still owned by the Godwin family and is known for accepting “problem” alligators that have been found or abandoned in residential areas.

History

Wild Waves Park Corporate Office

Wild Waves Park was founded in 1977 in Federal Way, Washington, by Byron Betts. Originally named Enchanted Village, the park was very small with only about 6 rides. Wild Waves was built on an adjacent lot and in 1993, Wild Waves bought out Enchanted Village.

The company operates both a water park, as well as an amusement park on the same lot. The park sits on slightly more than 70 acres and has 44 rides in all, most of them water rides or attractions. Today, the park is owned by Premier Parks, LLC.

Wild Waves Park has had minor issues with safety and cleanliness, but health department officials claim that problems are promptly corrected. In August of 2016, a 32 year old man with limited swimming abilities drown in a 10 foot pool on a busy day. The park is reviewing the incident and police reports state it was an accidental drowning.

Wild Waves Park

History

Rapids Water Park Corporate Office

Rapids Water Park was founded in West Palm Beach, Florida, in 1979. Originally the site occupied only 4 acres and had 4 water slides, it has expanded to become one of the largest water parks in Florida.

The park now occupies 25 acres and has approximately 400,000 visitors each year. There are three categories of rides, broken down into Biggest Rides, such as Big Thunder and Raging Rapids, Coolest Rides, such as Baby Blue and Pirates Plunge, and Wettest Rides, including Lazy River and Barefootin’ Bay. There are a total of 36 water rides or water features.

The park has been used in films and music videos. The movie Donnie Brasco has a scene with a water slide from Rapids Water Park, and rap singer Trina shot her music video for Pull Over, at the park. Jersey Shore producers were turned down when they requested to film at the park.

Rapids Water Park