User:Eric Wamu/sandbox

= Dino Rapids (Pringle, South Dakota) =

About
Dino Rapids is South Dakota's 3rd largest water theme park, located in Pringle. The park, which first opened in 1996, features 15 different dinosaur themed water slides and attractions. The park also features several dinosaur inspired restaurants, stores, and kiosks. The park is open every day during the summer (May-Sept.) from 10 A.M. - 8 P.M. Admission costs range from $11 for kids (3-13) and $15 for adults (13+).

History
Dino Rapids was opened in 1996, under the ownership of Eric Wamu. The land for the park, located in Pringle, South Dakota, was sold to Eric Wamu for only $2 per acre, allowing him to purchase a rather sizeable area, along with water rights. The park, which initially only housed 3 slides and a pool, struggled to lift itself off the ground during its first few years of operation, not posting a net profit until 1999. In the year 2000, as popularity began to grow, both with locals, and families from nearby states, Dino Rapids began slow, but steady expansion, building two new attractions (Raptor Racers, and Pterodactyl Plunge). This set the foundation for a much larger park in the future. New attractions were added yearly from 2000-2007. In 2008, as America began facing growing financial crisis, Dino-rapids began to see a sharp decline in attendance. After nearly 2 years of net-losses, Dino Rapids was closed in August of 2009. Minimal maintenance was performed on the park in hopes that it would one day open again. In late 2011, talks began to re-open the park with a newly renovated look, and a focus on family affordability. On May 14th, 2012, Dino Rapids re-opened its gates for the first time in nearly 3 years, this time featuring new attractions, as well as old favorites, new dining and shopping opportunities, free shows, and an entirely re-designed look, featuring a centralized "lazy-river" that would transport guests around the park.

Dino Rapids experienced a great deal of success under their new business model of family affordability, offering drink and meal deals, cheaper ticket prices, and more diverse attractions for the entire family. By 2014, Dino Rapids had once again become a well known name in the region, even locally selling its own brand of breakfast cereal, Bronto Bites, at local supermarkets. Dino Rapids continues to expand, opening a new attraction in the summer 2015 season, mosaSOARous, where guests are propelled up to 35 ft. in the air.

Attractions
Dino Rapids features 15 different attractions including slides, lazy rivers, wave pools, and a 182 ft. zip-line. Some of the park's more well known attractions include mosaSOARous (a blob shaped attraction that projects guests up to 35 ft. into the air before splashing into the water), Primordial Cruise (the parks nearly half-mile long lazy river, which takes guests deep through a jungle filled with all varieties of dinosaurs), dinosaur drop-out (a 6 story tall water slide in a near vertical position that sends guest flying at 35+ M.P.H.), and Pterodactyl Plunge (a 182 ft. zip-line, which carries guests over a double sized olympic pool, which guests can dive into).

CaveMan Cruisers
CaveMan Cruisers is a quarter mile long river ride where guests float down-stream in individual inner tubes. Along they way, guests will encounter rapids, short drops, and overhead waterfalls.

Dinosaur Drop-Out
Dinosaur Drop-Out is a 6 story tall water slide that sends guests down a nearly vertical surface, reaching speeds in excess of 35 M.P.H. Some guests lose contact with the slide near the top for a brief moment, creating a feeling of free fall.

Encounters
Encounters is an amphitheater style show which teaches guests about real dinosaurs of the past, and features some of their modern family members today such as birds and reptiles.

Fossil Falls Wave Pool
Fossil Falls Wave Pool is the parks largest pool at nearly 750,000 gallons. The pool, which is equipped with a "wave machine" on the deep end, creates up to 3 foot waves, which guests can enjoy from an inner tube, or as a swimmer.

High Flyer
High Flyer is the parks tallest attraction at 8 stories tall. It features three slides which guests ride down in two person rafts over nearly 550 ft. of water slide.

Jungle Park
Jungle Park is a children's play-land intended for children 3-13 years old. Featuring smaller, shorter slides, water guns, and a large playground, kids are able to enjoy some less intimidating entertainment while in the park.

Jurassic Jumpers
Jurassic Jumpers is a pool based attraction allowing guests to jump from diving boards ranging from 1-20 ft. high. Guests must pass a swim test to be able to jump from heights above 10 ft.

Jurassic Terror
Jurassic Terror is one of the parks most popular attractions with teenage guests. Jurassic Terror is a 300 ft. water slide in a completely dark, enclosed tube, which guests can ride down in one or two person inner tubes. Loud dinosaur noises can be heard along the slide, intended to frighten guests of what they cannot see.

mosaSOARous
mosaSOARous is one of the parks newest attractions. Guest can be hurdled up to 35 ft. in the air before landing in a 14 ft. deep pool. This "blob" shaped attraction resembles a half inflated air-bag. Guests are propelled upward when another guest jumps from a platform above, onto the air-bag.

Prehistoric Wave
Prehistoric wave is a surfing simulator, where guests can attempt to surf or body board waves created by a water jet system.

Primordial Cruise
Primordial Cruise is a nearly half-mile long lazy river attraction where guests are gently propelled by a current through dinosaur inhabited jungles. Guests can ride through on inner tubes or as swimmers. Because of the ride's central location in the park, and its numerous exit/entrance points, many guests use this attraction as transportation around the park.

Pterodactyl Plunge
Pterodactyl Plunge is a widely popular "zip-line" attraction in which guests can soar 182 ft. down a zip line above the parks double sized olympic pool. Guests can jump from the zip-line into the 14 ft. pool below.

Raptor Racers
Raptor Racers is a four lane water slide in which guests can race each other on head first, toboggan style mats.

Other Notable Attractions
Dino Rapids offers several other great attractions such as the Dino-Cafe, and numerous dinosaur themed kiosks selling traditional park snacks such as churros and popcorn. One of the most popular drink items is the T. Rex (Frozen Strawberry Lemonade). As part of the park's campaign for family affordability, guests can purchase a T. Rex Freeze for only $7.99 and receive unlimited refills all day long.

The park also offers plenty of places to lie around and catch some sun, or do a little bit of souvenir shopping.