Hurricane Harbor is a chain of water parks that are part of the Six Flagstheme park chain. Although the parks are not identical, common features include a variety of body slides, speed slides, tube slides, wave pools, lazy rivers, and shopping areas.
History
Six Flags began using the Hurricane Harbor brand in 1995 with the opening of Six Flags Hurricane Harbor adjacent to Six Flags Magic Mountain. That same year, Wet 'n Wild in Arlington, Texas, was purchased by Six Flags. It operated as Wet 'n Wild — A Six Flags Park in 1995-1996 then was rebranded as Six Flags Hurricane Harbor in 1997.[1] The brand has since become a trademark of the Six Flags franchise. In 1999, Six Flags St. Louis was the first Six Flags park to construct its own intra-park water attractions section.[2] As Six Flags acquired and rebranded parks in the 2000s, some existing water parks within these theme parks were later upgraded and rebranded as Hurricane Harbor.
Only one Hurricane Harbor has closed. After Six Flags Worlds of Adventure was sold to Cedar Fair in 2004, the water park was renamed Hurricane Hannah's Waterpark. It was abandoned in 2006 and most of the attractions were relocated to a new waterpark on what used to be the marine life side of the park.[3]
Locations
Included with admission
Six Flags America
Hurricane Harbor Maryland[4] is a water park located within Six Flags America. It was known as Paradise Island until 2005 when it was rebranded Hurricane Harbor.
Slides and attractions
Name
Description
Opened
Height Requirement
Thrill Rating
Bahama Blast
A 517 feet (158 m) long inner-tube slide
2005
Over 42" with adult, Over 48" alone
Mild
Bamboo Chutes
Originally "Kid's Flumes" (198?-2005).
Under 54"
Mild
Bonzai Pipelines
Six slides on one platform at each slide travels passengers at 40 MPH after where the floor drops out from under.
2013
Max
Buccaneer Beach
A children's play area
2005
Under 54"
Mild
Calypso Cannonballs
Children's water slide. Originally "Caribbean Cannonball Flume" (198?-2005).
Multi-platform play structure that features 7 slides, 100+ play features, and 1 giant bucket. Originally "Crocodile Cal’s Outback Beach House" (1997-2005) "Crocodile Cal's Caribbean Beach House" (2005-2015).
1997
Over 42"
Mild
Hammerhead
An enclosed water slide. Originally "Black Hole" (1997-2005).
1997
Over 48"
Mild
Hurricane Bay
A wave pool with 4 feet (1.2 m) tall waves. One of the largest in the country. Originally "Monsoon Lagoon" (1982-2005).
1982
Mild
Mako
An open air inner-tube slide. Originally "Bonzai Pipeline" (1997-2005).
1997
Over 48"
Mild
Paradise Plunge/Reef Runner
A water slide that leads into a 65,000 gallon pool. Originally "Tahiti Twister" (1994-2005).
1994
Over 42" with adult, Over 48" alone
Moderate
The Halfpipe
A four-story high zero gravity water slide. Originally Tony Hawk's Halfpipe" (2008-2010).
Hurricane Harbor is a water park located within Six Flags New England. The waterpark opened in 1997 as Island Kingdom and was rebranded Hurricane Harbor in 2003.
Slides and attractions
Six Flags Hurricane Harbor located within Six Flags New England.
A 40 MPH slide where the floor drops out from under you.
2012
2022
Over 48"
Max
Speed Slides
Three 6-story-high tube slides
1999
2017
Over 48"
Max
Hook's Lagoon
An interactive children's play area
1999
2020
Mild
Six Flags Great Escape and Hurricane Harbor
Hurricane Harbor is a water park located within Six Flags Great Escape and Hurricane Harbor. The waterpark opened in 1997 as Splashwater Kingdom and was rebranded Hurricane Harbor in 2019.
Slides and attractions
Name
Opened
Notes
Typhoon Twister
1995
A pair of enclosed water slides that guests ride in small inflatable boats. Previously Called Black Cobra
Adventure River
1995–1997
1,050 ft (320 m) long, 28 in (0.71 m) deep river. Riders may travel in tubes or swim freely. Features waterfalls, geysers, strong current and continuous waves. Located in Upper Splashwater Kingdom. Formerly Capt'n Hook's Adventure River from 1995 to 2018
Splashwater Island
1997
A treehouse featuring spraying water, 5 body slides, and a 500 US gal (1,900 L) water bucket that drenches the area every 8 minutes. Located in Lower Splashwater Kingdom. Previously Paul Bunyan's Bucket Brigade from 1997 to 2018.
Hurricane Bay
1997
500,000 US gal (1,900 kL), 25,000-square-foot (2,300 m2) wave pool with six wave patterns. Located in Lower Splashwater Kingdom. Previously called Lumberjack Splash.
Buccaneer Beach
2015
New for 2015, pirate-themed water fountains, pools and body slides for children. Located in Upper Splashwater Kingdom. Formerly known as "Noah's Sprayground".
Bamboo Shoots
1995
Three thrilling water slides including (Twister Falls, Banshee Plunge & Blue Typhoon). Previously called Kingdom Cascades
A ProSlide Tornado that takes riders through a short section of an enclosed slide before coming out at the top of a giant funnel where riders slide back and forth before gently landing in a splash pool. Installed in 2007. Located in Upper Splashwater Kingdom.
Big Kahuna
2008
A specially designed tube bowl made by ProSlide. Similar to the standard CannonBOWL but a slightly smaller size. Installed in 2008. Located in Upper Splashwater Kingdom. Previously called Mega Wedgie.
Island Air Adventures
2008
A rotating plane ride, operated as Big Red Planes and ZoomJets in the former Wiggles World and Kidzopolis respectively. The ride operates with the water park operations.
This slide complex features a Wahoo Racer (a ProSlideKrakenRacer) and a Paradise Plunge (a trapdoor released ProSlide speed slide). It opened in 2012.[5] Located in Lower Splashwater Kingdom. Previously called Alpine Freefalls, Twisted Racer, and Cliffhanger.
Bonzai Pipelines
2017
Thrilling body slide complex.
Bucket Blasters
2019
Zamperla Watermania - Spinning flat ride where riders are equipped with water blasters.
Shipwreck Cove
2019
A fun activity pool with interactive water sprays, geysers, and fountains
The water park is located in Darien, New York. It was previously named Splashtown, and while planned for 2020, was eventually rebranded as Hurricane Harbor in 2022.
Separate admission
Six Flags Great Adventure
Six Flags Hurricane Harbor, New Jersey is a water park located adjacent to Six Flags Great Adventure.
5 body 35 foot tall body slides, 3 or them were removed and the other 2 became a part of Python Plunge.
Whitewater West Industries LTD.
1997
2015
Shipwreck Shores
Small kids water playground with water slides
SCS Interactive, Inc.
1995
2009
Venom Drop
75-foot (23 m) freefall slide, part of the Black Snake Summit slide complex. Replaced by Bonzai Pipelines.
Whitewater West Industries LTD.
1997
2013
Incidents
On September 30, 2012, a 19-year-old man fell off the Venom Drop slide that was part of the Black Snake Summit slide complex. He ignored the lifeguards and went down the slide head first on his stomach when protocol is to go down feet-first on the back. He fell off halfway down and hit the concrete. He was unconscious but breathing when he was taken to the hospital.[9]
Six Flags Over Texas
Six Flags Hurricane Harbor, Arlington is located across Interstate 30 from Six Flags Over Texas. It was originally a part of the Wet 'n Wild chain, but was purchased by Six Flags in 1995.
Slides and attractions
Tornado at Six Flags Hurricane Harbor in Arlington, Texas.
Name
Description
Opened
Height Requirement
Thrill Rating
Blue Raider
A 530-foot (160 m) long tube slide.
1983
Over 36"
Moderate
Bonzai Boggans
A 45-foot (14 m) long toboggan slide.
1987
Over 36"
Moderate
Boogie Beach
Surfrider pool.
1999
Mild
Caribbean Chaos
A water slide propelled by 1,500 gallons of water.
1997
Over 42"
Moderate
Der Stuka
A 72-foot (22 m) high body slide.
1985
Over 48"
Max
Dive Bomber
A 72-foot (22 m) high body slide. Originally a 2nd Der Stuka slide, it was modified with a ProSlide SkyBOX capsule for the 2012 season. The capsule was removed for the 2022 season.
Six Flags Hurricane Harbor, Chicago is a water park located adjacent to Six Flags Great America that opened in 2005. It opened separately to the amusement park starting in 2021.
The water park is located in Phoenix, Arizona. Originally called Wet N' Wild Phoenix from 2009 to 2018, it was rebranded as Hurricane Harbor Phoenix for the 2019 season.
The water park is located in Cherry Valley, Illinois. It was previously named Magic Waters. It is currently owned by the Rockford Park District. The park was rebranded as a Hurricane Harbor park in 2019.
Six Flags Hurricane Harbor San Antonio is located in Concord, California. It was previously named Waterworld Concord and was rebranded as Hurricane Harbor in 2018.
