It looks like we can put the 2010 rumors to rest.
http://www.schlitterbahn.com/news/press/releases/kc/2009-1-30-kc.htm Schlitterbahn Vacation Village in Kansas City, Kansas Reaches New Milestone as Development Continues
KANSAS CITY, Kansas – There is plenty of icy weather to endure throughout the winter months ahead, but summer fun at the Schlitterbahn waterpark in Kansas City is starting to surface—literally! The waterpark at the Schlitterbahn Vacation Village in Kansas City, Kansas, continues to grow with site work nearly complete, equipment arriving and prep work for waterpark attractions under way.
The Schlitterbahn Vacation Village development group is proceeding with all facets of the project. The grounds are groomed for additional phases of construction with 90% of the site work complete and 100% of the underground stormwater system finished.
The first phase of the waterpark is scheduled to open in 2009 with more than a dozen state-of-the-art attractions including the world’s largest tidal wave river, an uphill Master Blaster™ water coaster, a hot tub with swim-up bar, several mammoth tubing rivers and chutes, giant water slides, an interactive area for smaller children and more. The signature Torrent Tidal-Wave River® is 70% complete and is the world’s longest at more than 1,600 feet. Prep work for the Kinderhaven children’s water activity area and the Henry’s Hideout hot tub with swim-up bar is also in progress.
Truckloads of equipment have already arrived, including three new 50-foot pump screws that circulate water through the immense interconnected river system found throughout the entire complex. Two giant ferry boats are onsite and ready to be refurbished and retrofitted with clean natural gas engines, demonstrating Schlitterbahn’s continued commitment to green practices. Many other attractions are also on property awaiting assembly at the waterpark.
Another notable achievement is the unanimous approval of the building design for the 216,000 square-foot Scheels store by the Planning Commission of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County. The Scheels all sport store anchors the Riverwalk retail area with construction beginning spring 2009 for a spring 2011 opening. Schlitterbahn also continues to work with several other potential retailers.
“We have reached a milestone in the construction process of the Schlitterbahn Vacation Village,” proclaimed Michael Catcott, project executive for the Schlitterbahn Vacation Village. “As site work nears completion and materials continue to arrive, we are enthusiastic about shifting our focus to construction of the waterpark attractions in anticipation of a summer opening.”
Waterpark General Manager Keith Fontenot is also at the Kansas City site to oversee all waterpark operations at Schlitterbahn Vacation Village. He has worked for Schlitterbahn Waterparks since 1994. He serves on the Advisory Board for Ellis & Associates and also sits on the Waterpark Committee for the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions.
New retail, lodging and other entertainment elements will be introduced during additional phases through 2011 as planned. The exact opening schedule of the waterpark will be announced soon.
