Wild Waves Theme Park

Founding and early years

The Enchanted Village theme park was first opened in 1977 by Byron Betts. The initial 12-acre (49,000 m²) park site held only a half-dozen rides. In 1984, Wild Waves Waterpark was built adjacent to Enchanted Village; the combined amusement complex became known as Enchanted Parks. In 1991, co-owners Michael Moodenbaugh and Jeff Stock paid $8 million for Enchanted Parks. In 1993, Moodenbaugh traded his share of Enchanted Parks, Inc. for shares in their jointly owned amusement park in Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada called Boblo Island Amusement Park, Inc. In 1993, Jeff Stock purchased several rides from Boblo Island. Stock then sold his shares of Enchanted Parks, Inc. in late 2000 to Six Flags for $19.3 million. In 2000 the park had grown to over 70 acres (280,000 m²), with more than 20 rides, and was the Northwest's largest waterpark. In 2002 and 2003, major expansion took place, with the addition of several new attractions, many manufactured by Zamperla and S&S Power. Also in 2002, approximately 1000 seasonal workers were employed for positions as rides operators and food service workers. Many of these seasonal workers are also students of local high schools. The park's name was reverted to Enchanted Village and Wild Waves Water Park for the 2016 season to once again split the park into two separate parks instead of one.

Ownership changes

In November 2016 Wild Waves was sold to EPR Properties, based in Kansas City, Mo. EPR scooped up the 70-acre Federal Way attraction and more than a dozen other theme parks and other properties from Orlando-based investment company CNL Lifestyle Properties. The total price of all the properties was $456 million, although there was no specific price disclosed for Wild Waves. The park is now being run by Premier Parks.

In April 2007, Six Flags sold the park to Orlando-based real estate investment trust CNL Income Properties (which leases the park to PARC Management).

In January 2010, PARC Management had defaulted on its lease with CNL for Wild Waves and a majority of its other parks. Wild Waves was then assumed under the new management of Norpoint Entertainment (owned by previous Wild Waves owner Jeff Stock). Stock implemented many changes to the park in 2011 including a new water ride for that season.

As of the CNL Income Properties acquisition, the park was named Wild Waves Theme & Water Park. Under new ownership, the park has also since adopted a new logo. Other parks owned by CNL Income Properties include Darien Lake Theme Park Resort in western New York, Elitch Gardens, Frontier City, SplashTown Waterpark, White Water Bay, and Waterworld Concord, all of which were sold in a $312 million purchase from Six Flags.

August 2016 drowning accident

On August 20, 2016, a 33-year-old man died in the Activity Pool due to drowning. A police report noted multiple missed chances to attempt a rescue. According to the report, children reported a body at the bottom of the pool to a lifeguard, who “believed that they were pranking him and did not think anything of it." In a statement released by police, Wild Waves said they are actively reviewing the accident, their safety protocols, and the actions taken by staff.

Events

Wild Waves Theme & Water Park holds an annual Fright Fest halloween celebration which is a staple in the Federal Way and Washington community.

In 2013, Wild Waves Theme & Water Park held it's second ever Holiday with Lights, an event featuring more than one million Christmas lights. This event comes back every year now.

Water rides

Thrill rides

Family rides

Kiddie rides

Services