Catch a Wave

Frankie and Annette. The Beach Boys. Dick Dale. Surfboard-toting Woody station wagons.

There is something magical and alluring about the Southern California beach culture of the 1950s and 1960s, which is a primary reason Knott’s decided to gear its new Orange County water park to this nostalgic youth theme.

Opening Saturday on what used to be 13 acres of parking lot at Knott’s Berry Farm, Soak City U.S.A. in Buena Park will feature 20 water attractions and a beach-town environment designed to recapture the feel of a local beach community 45 years ago. There are Muscle Beach and Bikini Beach changing rooms, for example, along with a surf shop and a Salty Dog food stand.

“We know from research that the top things on tourists’ lists are amusement parks or theme parks and the beach,” says Bob Ochsner, Knott’s director of public relations. “So here we’re offering both.”

Knott’s officials hope that some visitors to the amusement park will opt to spend part of the day, or an additional day, at the water park. Admission to the two are separate, but there is a discount at Soak City U.S.A. for those who arrive directly from Knott’s Berry Farm.

This will be the fourth major water park in the Los Angeles-Orange County area: Soak City U.S.A., Raging Waters in San Dimas, Wild Rivers in Irvine and Hurricane Harbor in Valencia. (Pharaoh’s Lost Kingdom Adventure Park in Redlands is an amusement park that also offers water activities and rides.)

Each features a core of similar attractions. Each has a large pool in which fans produce small waves, a slow-moving river designed for leisurely raft rides, a variety of body and tube slides and an interactive water area for younger children.

Soak City U.S.A. is particularly proud of its attractions for “gremmies,” beach slang for future surfers. Gremmie Lagoon is a shallow-water playground where tykes can interact with various props, such as a submarine and octopus that spurt, sprinkle, soak and splash kids and their parents. And Beach House is a three-story structure offering water guns, nozzles, faucets, sprayers, pulleys, levers and other sources of wet and wild fun for kids. Every five minutes, 500 gallons of water is dumped on anyone standing below.

Though Soak City U.S.A. was designed with tourists in mind, it expects 75% of its customers to be Southland residents. Knott’s and its parent company, Cedar Fair LP, based in Sandusky, Ohio, believe the four major water parks are far enough from one another to keep everyone happy. Ochsner says studies have shown that most people are unwilling to drive more than 20 miles to a water park.

Last month, Cedar Fair also launched a Soak City U.S.A. in Chula Vista, just south of San Diego. Having two parks has given Soak City U.S.A. the geographical reach it needs to offer discount tickets through Food 4 Less. Adults will be able to save $5 and kids ages 3 to 11 will save $2 on tickets purchased at any of the supermarket chain’s 86 Southern California stores this summer.

Despite the emergence of Soak City U.S.A., Raging Waters remains the big daddy of water parks in Southern California. The 17-year-old park is on 50 acres in San Dimas’ bucolic Bonelli Regional County Park.

“Soak City is located in an urban setting,” notes Linda Adams, a spokeswoman for Raging Waters. “Ours is situated in a regional park. So it’s really a different experience. It really is like you’re in the country, where people go to get away from it all.”

Raging Waters also offers 40 attractions, double the number at Soak City U.S.A. Its Wedge is perhaps the most distinctive thrill ride at any of the local water park. Introduced last summer, it sends inner tube riders down a steep, slippery slope and then hurls them up the opposite edge of the hook-shaped slide.

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Though it says families are its main support base, Raging Waters’ 10 thrill rides mark is as the choice destination for intrepid teens and young adults.

Hurricane Harbor, at the northern end of Los Angeles County, is affiliated with Six Flags Magic Mountain and is in the same complex as the amusement park. With 22 slides and attractions, the water park is designed to appeal equally to thrill seekers and families. Combination tickets are available to visitors who want to go to Magic Mountain and Hurricane Harbor on the same day.

“You can spend the daytime at Hurricane Harbor when it’s really hot and then go over to Magic Mountain in the early evening and catch some of the rides, attractions and parades as it starts to cool down,” says Andy Gallardo, a Six Flags spokesman.

With its strong family orientation, Irvine’s 24-ride Wild Rivers is the water park most like Soak City U.S.A. Situated on the grounds of the old Lion Country Safari, the African-themed Wild Rivers is off to its best start, in terms of attendance, in its 15-year history.

“We’re breaking records,” says Greg Briggs, the park’s general manager. “Our season pass sales are off the chart. We’re not sure why. Last week we sold out all of our 15,000 season passes [for the summer].”

A week ago, construction crews were still working diligently to finish Soak City U.S.A. Winter rains and modifications to appease Buena Park residents caused delays in completing the facility. But Ochsner says all of the park’s attractions will be completed by Saturday.

And, this being Southern California, expansion plans are already in the works.

“We know we’re adding one major attraction, an eight-person raft ride,” Ochsner says. “Whether or not we’ll be adding that next year or in 2002 depends on how well the park is received this year.”

BE THERE

Knott’s Soak City U.S.A. opens Saturday at 8039 Beach Blvd., Buena Park. Saturday-June 30: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; July 1-Sept. 4: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. $19.95; ages 3-11, $13.95; after 3 p.m., admission for guests of any age is $11.95. Season passes: $59.95; ages 3-11, $49.95. Parking $7. (714) 220-5200. https://www.soakcityusa.com.