From Wilderness Resorts and Waterparks, construction of the new massive 50-acre (20-hectare) $90 million outdoor Soaky Mountain Waterpark, Sevierville, Tennessee, is nearing completion as crews are pouring the pool decks and doing landscaping. The only challenge is given these unprecedented times with COVID-19, waterpark officials don’t know when the park will be able to officially open.
According to Dave Andrews, general manager of Soaky Mountain Waterpark, “We are so excited to show off our new amazing family destination. However, due to Governor Lee’s Safer at Home orders and national health directives limiting the size of groups that can congregate we are undetermined when we will be able to open for the 2020 season.”
Because of this, waterpark officials have decided any 2020 season passes purchased for before June 15, 2020, will be valid not only for the inaugural 2020 but also for the 2021 season.
Designed by Aquatic Design Group, Soaky Mountain Waterpark will feature a massive, 35,000 square foot (3,252 sq m) wave pool capable of generating waves up to six feet high; a winding wave river spanning an area of 24,000 square feet (2,230 sq m), and The Hive, a heavily-themed and exciting kids’ play-and-spray feature with multiple slides for both the tame and the daring. There will also be a kid-friendly activity pool with smaller versions of the other towering slides found throughout the park, an adventure pool with a water obstacle course, a flat-water cabana pool for relaxing poolside, a double FlowRider for surfers, and four large slide complexes from ProSlide that will provide thrills and excitement all day long.
Planned slides include a one-of-a-kind water coaster; a family ride tower with two five-person raft rides; a tubing tower with five flumes all featuring unique and thrilling one or two-person tubing experiences; two high-intensity body slides; and a four-lane, head-first mat racing challenge to satisfy everyone’s racing desires.
Once allowed to open the park will be open seven days through August, with additional select days through mid-September. Wilderness Resorts and Waterparks currently owns and operates Wilderness at the Smokies in Sevierville, and Wilderness Resort, Glacier Canyon Lodge, and Wilderness on the Lake in Wisconsin Dells.
