Knott’s to Build Tall Water Slide That’ll Make It Tops in Plops

Facing cutthroat competition from other theme parks, Knott’s Berry Farm plans to build Perilous Plunge, an attraction billed as the “tallest and steepest” water ride anywhere.

The ride will make its debut at the Buena Park theme park next summer.

In an industry obsessed with bragging rights, Knott’s officials said Thursday that the height of their newest project will surpass the 100-foot-tall Tidal Force ride at Hersheypark in Pennsylvania and officially become the world’s tallest water ride.

“There is this competition to have the fastest, the tallest and the scariest thrill ride,” observed Jack Kyser, chief economist at the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp. “Knott’s is becoming more competitive and trying to move a little bit beyond being a regional theme park.”

Attendance at the nation’s amusement parks was flat last year, according to statistics compiled by the trade publication Amusement Business. In Southern California, the number of parkgoers declined at every park except Knott’s, which held steady as it spent heavily on new attractions.

Since being purchased in late 1997 by Cedar Fair LP, Knott’s has added the 300-foot free-fall ride known as Supreme Scream, which is Orange County’s tallest structure, as well as GhostRider, a huge wooden roller coaster.

The new water ride will be one of the main attractions in the park’s redeveloping Boardwalk area, which was introduced three years ago as an updated version of what was known for decades as the Roaring ‘20s area.

“We wanted to create a big splash on the Boardwalk . . . and this is about as big as it gets,” said Jack Falfas, Knott’s vice president and general manager.

On Perilous Plunge, 24-passenger boats will be sent up a 121-foot lift, then will plummet down a 115-foot water chute at a 75-degree angle, reaching a top speed of 50 mph.

The ride will have a braking system that will enable operators to control not only the speed of the boats but also the size of the splash so passengers won’t get soaked on colder days in Southern California.

“It’s not for the faint of heart, but it will definitely appeal to the younger audience, which should give [Knott’s] a competitive advantage,” Kyser said. “Six Flags [Magic Mountain] has staked out roller coasters and Knott’s is staking out other unusual attractions.”

If all goes according to plan, Perilous Plunge would open around the same time as Knott’s new 13-acre water park, Soak City USA. Knott’s plans to spend $25.5 million on the water park, which will require a separate ticket for admission and feature 21 rides and attractions.

It will be built on what is now a parking lot south of the replica Independence Hall at Knott’s and will be open from late May to September.

Cedar Fair also recently purchased the 320-room Buena Park Hotel, which is adjacent to Knott’s Berry Farm, and plans to turn it into a deluxe Radisson Resort Hotel. The separate water park and the hotel are part of the parent company’s effort to turn Knott’s into a multiple-day vacation resort.

Knott’s is facing competition on a number of fronts.

Legoland is operating in Carlsbad. San Diego’s SeaWorld has broadened its offerings by adding a water ride, Universal Studios Hollywood recently installed a major 3-D attraction based on the “Terminator” movies, and Six Flags Magic Mountain has expanded its kiddie area and is building another major roller coaster.

And in two years Disney will open a second Anaheim theme park, California Adventure, on the site of a former parking lot outside Disneyland.

“I think every theme park in Southern California is looking down the road at 2001 when Disney’s California Adventure opens up,” Kyser said.

“A lot of people in the local tourism industry are a little nervous because they think everyone will want to go see what’s going on. It’ll be brand new so it definitely raises the competitive bar.”

Knott’s, which has attracted about 3.4 million guests in each of the last two years, also announced Thursday that Parachute Sky Jump will be closed down to make room for new attractions.

Construction on Perilous Plunge is expected to begin in early September.

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Taking the Plunge

Knott’s Berry Farm will add a 121-foot tall water ride, Perilous

Plunge, to its Boardwalk area next summer. The splashy facts:

Biggest/steepest drop: 115 feet, at a 75-degree angle

Highest point: 121 feet

Top speed: 50 mph

Ride Length: 1 1/2 minutes over a 865-foot track

Type of ride: Three fibreglass “boats” carry maximum of 24 passengers

Capacity: 1,900 riders per hour

Source: Knott’s Berry Farm