The #1 pick so far to grab the "new news" headline for 2010 is the new ride that debuted Memorial Day weekend at America’s largest outdoor waterpark, Noah’s Ark Waterpark - it’s called "The Scorpion’s Tail." If it sounds stinging, it’s because it is. This 10-stories-tall slide is the first looping tube waterslide in the U.S. and also the tallest and largest of its kind in the world. Smaller versions exist in a handful of countries including Germany and Japan. Riders step into a tube with a floor and, on a countdown of 3-2-1, the bottom drops out, with gravity, water and centrifugal force taking over. The rider whooshes through a 45-degree angled loop-de-loop at speeds of up to 40 mph.
This ride has been two years in the making. The genesis dates back to 2008 and the World Waterpark Association’s annual convention held that year in Las Vegas, where Noah’s Ark owner Tim Gantz walked the floor investigating the latest, fastest and most extreme rides. To be clear, having a Wisconsin Dells waterpark owner stop at your booth at this show is much like having a movie star walk your red carpet. Developers of waterpark rides know that if someone in Wisconsin Dells builds their ride, it’s destined for success. Gantz wasn’t giving anything away, being the competitor he is, but it was clear he had something in mind. Something that would reinforce his waterpark’s status as the industry leader and get visitors lining up in droves. He did spend a fair amount of time with one exhibitor though - WhiteWater West - which would prove to be the tip-off. The conference wrapped up, Gantz returned to Wisconsin Dells and immediately set to plotting with his brother, co-owner and operations mastermind Dan Gantz.
The Gantz’s inked the deal, then sent members of their staff to Germany to be trained on the ride. Construction on the $1 million waterslide began in September 2009 and will wrap up just in time for the start of the 2010 summer travel season. Mission accomplished. For those new to waterparks, Noah’s Ark is the country’s largest outdoor waterpark at 70 acres and boasting 49 rides and slides.
At Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Parks, visitors are now able to enjoy a day at the beach even though the nearest ocean is some 1,000 miles away. That’s because the owners there trucked in enough sand for a 16-inch deep sandy perimeter to their massive surf pool, Poseidon's Rage. Play in the sand, then jump in the surf pool, where nine foot-tall waves are unleashed every 90 seconds. But there’s more to be told of what’s new in Wisconsin Dells than extreme waterparks. Staying with Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Parks for a moment more, they’ve erected the world’s tallest bungee vertical accelerator called The Catapult. Riders soar up to 200 feet in a mere two seconds which, if you do the math, comes out to zero to 70 mph in 1.5 seconds with a g-force of 3.7.
Over at the Wilderness Hotel & Golf Resort, in the course of just one year they’ve added an outdoor go-kart track, two indoor black-light mini-golf courses and one outdoor mini-golf course, indoor bumper boats, a Tombstone Town Haunted Hotel and Livery and, the monster of them all, a zip line that takes riders over the tree canopy of Lost Canyon behind the resort. The Wilderness Canyon Zip Line Canopy Tour is really five lines suspended between six towers, with the last run being the longest at 900 feet in length and the fastest with riders reaching speeds of up to 30 mph. According to attractions manager Dan Anchor, "the biggest fear comes with taking that first step and, after that, they relax and enjoy the views." Needless to say, there’s a whole lot of screaming going on at the Wilderness these days. At their sister property on Lake Delton, Wilderness on the Lake, they’ve added a new "Big Fish" black light indoor mini-golf course with large fish tanks that hold many species of freshwater fish found in Wisconsin’s streams and lakes.
A second zip line has also debuted in the community, this one behind the Dells Army Duck Tours – it’s called BigFoot Zipline Tours and it’s comprised of six lines strung across 30 acres. Riders take in especially scenic views as they glide over the attraction’s four water crossings.
At Great Wolf Lodge, their newest attraction is MagiQuest, a 20,000 square foot, four-story, full-size adventure game that makes incredible use of video and computer technology. The setting is a mythical Renaissance world complete with dragons, unicorns and evildoers. Participants are cast as the main characters in the quest to gain more power and unlock higher levels of quests. But before visitors can begin the adventure, they must go through magic wand training school. This is definitely a family sport.
Magically appearing at Chula Vista Resort is the new Jeremy Allen’s "Grand Illusions" Mayan jungle-themed show which blends elements of magic, adventure and comedy in a specially designed theater that has the look and feel of a real jungle. His signature trick is to make a white Siberian tiger appear out of nowhere. He’s also known for levitating a table over the audience and even levitating himself eight feet in the air and then vanishing. His tigers will be on display at the resort during the day.
For vacationers looking for a chuckle, there’s the Hillbilly Comedy Tour, Wisconsin’s only moving comedy tour with a script built around quirky tales of the Dells. For those who prefer a little fright in their night, there’s the Dells Ghost Tour, during which riders learn about the skeletons in the closet of the long-lost town of Newport while venturing off the beaten path to haunted buildings and burial grounds. Both tours are offered by the Dells Comedy Club.
In culinary news, the community adds to its already 80+ portfolio of restaurants with the addition of two new ones: Green Owl is a kitschy, hip place precariously perched over Mirror Lake Dam. It offers appetizers, a signature pizza, specialty drinks and live music, making it a favorite of locals. And there’s Gilly’s Island, which isn’t really an island at all but does have a family-recipe hot sauce which happens to go great on the deep-fried cheese curds. They’re also known for their signature steak sandwich, traditional Friday Night fish fry and fine selection of German beers.
There are also second locations of restaurants to report. Famous Dave’s BBQ in downtown Dells proved so popular the owners decided to build a second restaurant on the other end of town, making it especially convenient for visitors to get their fill of Dave’s famously popular and much-awarded hickory smoked St. Louis-style ribs, Texas beef brisket and country roasted chicken. Buffalo Phil’s Pizza & Grille has been busy, first adding a train depot inside its original restaurant so if you sit near the tracks your food will be delivered by miniature train, and then opening a second café-style eatery, Little Philly’s Café, patterned on the original in the Tanger Outlet Center.
Over at the new Tourdot Winery, they’ll be showcasing 10 wines made from California grapes, with next year’s wines to be made using grapes now maturing on their estate. For those just not into wine, they’ll be "opening" several types of Wisconsin microbrews each day for tasting too. They carry 25 different craft beers. Also new this year, there will be picnicking in their 36-acre forest that adjoins the vineyard.
Finally, the International Crane Foundation, the only place in the world to see all 15 species of cranes, now has weekly "bird walks" beginning at 9 a.m. every Saturday through October. ICF’s world headquarters on the outskirts of Wisconsin Dells consists of 240 acres, including over 100 acres of restored native prairie, wetlands, oak savanna and forest. Walks will begin at ICF’s visitor center and are led by experienced birders.
