Hawaiian Falls decided to stop fighting an uphill battle and go for a downhill slide instead.
On Monday night, the City Council unanimously agreed the water park should drop plans for a Master Blaster water roller coaster and instead install the Cliffhanger as part of a $3 million improvement project."It's a longer ride with more capacity and more thrilling," said David Busch, president of Hawaiian Falls. "The Master Blaster wasn't going to give us nearly the pop. This one is a spectacular ride."The pumps to propel the uphill water coaster were raising the price of the Master Blaster, too, said Shelly Lanners, the city's director of community services."The cost was prohibitive to design the way they wanted," Lanners said. "They were having to shorten the ride. We talked to the slide designers and with the new ride they will be able to add three 180-degree turns to the three-person inline tube."The Cliffhanger will share a 40-foot tall tower with the Boomerango, a half-pipe multi-person ride, facing Texas 360. Also in the new improvement package will be Splash Water Harbor, a zero-depth entry pool for young visitors.The new rides should open by Memorial Day, Lanners said, and the latest expansion at the 13-acre park that opened in 2008. The park added $1 million in improvements in 2010 when it opened the Torpedo and more shade.The $9.9 million city-owned park is operated by Hawaiian Falls in a revenue sharing agreement. The city pays for 80 percent of improvements, with Hawaiian Falls paying for the remaining 20 percent. An amendment to the contract allows the city to pay for 100 percent of this project, with Hawaiian Falls repaying its 20 percent share over the next 20 years.As part of the November amendment, the city will also begin receiving 6.5 percent of the park's gross revenue this year, Lanners said. Hawaiian Falls had seven years or until park revenues hit $2.5 million before it had to begin paying rent. The park hit $2.5 million the first season it was open and began paying rent the next year. In 2009, the city received $123,000 and in 2010 that rose to $133,000.Last year, the park set a record with 183,492 visitors, helped by 70 days of 100-plus degree temperatures and a shortage of rain.The city's cut of last season's revenues is still being determined, Lanners said.Amanda Rogers, (817) 473-4451Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
