Details Released about Wyandot Lake Expansion

Guess going back to 'Zoo Park' like it was in the old days didn't have enough panache.

WLFan, that may not be big surprising news, but it is nice to see what they are going to call the place.

I dunno... I think they could have given the name a little more "bling". On the other hand, the name matches exactly what it's themed as, an African Safari. Im torn 50/50 on it.

^ Sheesh! I forgot all about the "Safari Golf Course" name!

Let's not forget that, the "dry" park was said to be Amazon themed, and the "wet" part will be themed to a Galapogis Islands ship wreck. Thus, I think this is just a temporary name, so that they don't have to say "the park formerly known as Wyandot Lake."

"Safari Amusement Park" is an existing park in Staten Island,NY...
but there are 2 'Splash Lagoon' waterparks in the USA...The indoor one in Erie PA that we frequent & the one in KY that's part of Beach Bend Amusement Park, Bowling Green, KY

Silly WLFAN, you must have dialed a New York number by mistake, thus confusing the name. It could have happened to anyone. Let's hope that the Zoo that Jack built cam come up with something a little better than this.

The name "Safari Amusement Park" is deffinately not final if it's even being considered at all. In one of the latest employee newsletters, the admins were asking for name ideas for the new park that tied in with wild life and tropical themes. As far as the theming goes, it appears to be somewhat in the air as well. Right now the zoo is still referring to it as botanically themed. At this point knowing the Columbus Zoo, themes and names could change several times before the project is given to a developer.

A note about the tower demolition...

It's interesting that they would pull Zuma Falls off first. Zuma Falls was, in fact, the later addition to the tower, having replaced the original trio of body-flumes. But the tower itself is actually two towers, with the Jet Stream construction and its stairways built on top of and around the Zuma Falls tower. I suppose, since Zuma Falls was built around an existing Jet Stream, it would be easier to pull it off first. But once the slides are down, if they deconstruct (rather than knocking down) the tower, the Jet Stream portion of the tower is going to have to come down first.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Dave, I read in the Norton brochure that the slides were sold with no support structure. With new slide complexes going up in the new waterpark, I see the towers having a date with the wrecking ball.

wlfan- I remember reading in the auction brochure that the slides were sold as slides only - no towers or steps. Maybe the new owner (The Beach?) negotiated them in... I apologize for my possible error.

My understanding was that the slides sold complete, all four slides, the tower, stairways, pumps, filters, and other support equipment all as a single lot. Because the important thing from the Zoo's point of view was to get someone else to remove the structure from the property!

I will double check my copy of the brochure when I get home, heck, I can even check the videotape. But I am about 90% certain that the sale included the tower and everything.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.