Kalpana Kalpana (Editor)

Wet 'n Wild (brand)

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Type
  
Private

Headquarters
  
Orlando, Florida

Industry
  
Amusement park operator

Founded
  
1977; 40 years ago (1977)

Website
  
www.wetnwildorlando.com

Wet 'n Wild is a name used by various water parks across the United States, Brazil and Mexico, originally owned by SeaWorld creator George Millay. It is not to be confused with the Wet'n'Wild brand owned by Village Roadshow Theme Parks and CNL Lifestyle Properties or the stand-alone waterpark Wet 'N' Wild Waterworld in Anthony, Texas.

Contents

History

The name was first used for a water park when SeaWorld founder George Millay opened his first water park Wet 'n Wild Orlando in Orlando, Florida in 1977. Millay went on to open six more water parks under the same name in the United States, Brazil and Mexico. In 1997 and 1998, Millay sold the water parks to various owners including Universal Parks & Resorts, Palace Entertainment and private companies for a total of $77 million.

Locations

  • Wet 'n Wild Emerald Pointe – operated by Palace Entertainment in Greensboro, North Carolina
  • Wet 'n Wild Cancun – a water park in Mexico. At opening in June 1997, the park spanned 17 acres (6.9 ha)
  • Wet 'n Wild Campinas – a water park in Brazil. The $42 million park opened in October 1998, and spanned 29 acres (12 ha)

    • Previous locations

  • Wet 'n Wild Orlando – operated by Universal Parks & Resorts in Orlando, Florida, to be replaced by Volcano Bay in 2017.
  • Arlington, Texas – rebranded as Six Flags Hurricane Harbor when purchased by Six Flags in 1997.
  • Garland, Texas – formerly an Herschend Family Entertainment "White Water" park. The site is now occupied by a CarMax dealership.
  • Las Vegas, Nevada – now construction equipment storage; not to be confused with the present-day Wet'n'Wild Las Vegas.
  • Salvador, Bahia – opened in 1996 as the first international park. It cost $28 million and spanned 18 acres (7.3 ha), however the park has gone bankrupt.

    • Cancelled locations

  • Rio de Janeiro – originally targeted for an October 1999 opening
  • Brasilia – $32 million, 42-acre (17 ha) originally targeted to open in late 1998

    • References

    Wet 'n Wild (brand) Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA