Zoombezi Bay

Infobox Amusement park
name = Zoombezi Bay|

location = Powell
location2 = Ohio
location3 = United States flagicon|USA
opening_date = May 26, 2008
previous_names = "Wyandot Lake" - 1984 to 2006
"Gooding Zoo Park" - 1946 to 1984
area = 22.7 acres
season = Memorial Day to Labor Day
rides = 11
owner =Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
homepage = [http://www.zoombezibay.com/ www.zoombezibay.com]

Zoombezi Bay is a water park owned by the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium off of Riverside Drive in Columbus, Ohio. The park opened on May 26, 2008, and currently has 11 water rides. The dry park, Jungle Jack's Landing also made its debut in the 2008 season. Zoombezi Bay boasts all new water slides, a new wave pool, two lazy rivers, and cabana rental.

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Attractions

Lifeguards

Lifeguards at Zoombezi Bay are trained by Ellis and Associates and have successfully completed the International Lifeguard Training Program. This program is used across the world by aquatic facilities in 42 states, and in Mexico, Brazil, China, Spain, Bahamas, Korea, Cairo Egypt, Bahrain and Dubai.

Wyandot Lake Era

Funtime Parks, Inc which owned Wyandot Lake merged with Premier Parks, Inc in 1995 which subsequently bought the Six Flags chain in 1999.

The park was operated by Six Flags under the name Wyandot Lake until the end of the 2006 season. While under Six Flags management, the park hosted to over 45 rides and attractions including "Sea Dragon". Six Flags ran into financial trouble shortly after purchasing Wyandot Lake. This forced Six Flags to sell a number of water and amusement parks.

In June 2006, Six Flags and the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium announced the purchase the park at the end of the 2006 season. [ [http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/06/13/20060613-A1-01.html Zoo to keep Wyandot Lake afloat] ", Marla Matzer Rose. "Columbus Dispatch", June 13, 2006. ] Shortly thereafter, the Zoo announced the current reconstruction of the park. Because of the construction, the zoo also announced that Wyandot Lake would be closed for the 2007 season. In addition, zoo also announced that they would be renaming the park from Wyandot Lake to Zoombezi Bay prior to its opening in 2008.

Old Wyandot Lake Attractions

Reconstruction

Work began on October 2006 to remove the former picnic area and clear trees and other out-dated rides. Many of the rides and equipment were auctioned off in order to offset the cost of some renovation. One signature Wyandot Lake water slide complex, with "The Jet Stream" and "Zuma Falls", was purchased for $500 by The Beach Water Park, located in Mason, Ohio. As of July, 2007 everything had been removed from the former Wyandot Lake except the "Sea Dragon" and Christopher's Island. The Zoo continued normal operation as the rebuilding of the park took place.

New Name

On July 12, 2007, the zoo announced that the new name of the park would be Zoombezi Bay. The zoo selected the name from an online poll at the zoo's website. Other names that were considered included Kisawa Waves, Katoomba Lagoon, Kahuna Island and Tahiti Tides. [ [http://www.dispatch.com/dispatch/content/local_news/stories/2007/07/12/ZOO12.ART_ART_07-12-07_B3_4978UBO.html Park rechristened Zoombezi Bay: Former Wyandot Lake to Reopen in May] ", Suzanne Hoholik. "Columbus Dispatch, July 12, 2007 ]

References

External links

* [http://www.zoombezibay.com/ Official site]
* [http://themeparks.about.com/od/finduswaterparks/p/wyandotlake.htm About.com info about the park.]
* [http://www.columbuszoo.org Columbus Zoo & Aquarium]