originally posted on 10/21/2024
Photo: Derek Perry. View full-sized image.
Those who live in Southern California know that the month of September can produce some of the hottest days of the year. This proved true the first two weeks of September, with temperatures reaching higher than 100 degrees in many cities. Fortunately, the temperatures had cooled down a bit just in time for ACE Day at Wild Rivers in Irvine, California. It is understood that the ACE bar has been set high by another water park in Texas, but Wild Rivers’ hope was that it could show ACEers an amazing time. It surely did, as 29 members from across Southern California attended the Pacific Southwest’s inaugural event on Saturday, September 21.
This author has fond memories of the old Wild Rivers water park, which operated in a different location from 1986 until 2013. During that time, many family memories were made on rides like the Bazooka Bowls and The Abyss. Excitement over the reopening of this park was undeniable, especially because ACE was able to take part in a day at the amazing water park.
Skies were overcast during check-in but eventually gave way to southern California sunshine.
Photo: Jackie Edwards. View full-sized image.
Boomerango was one of two slides set aside by the park for morning ERT.
Photo: Jackie Edwards. View full-sized image.
The day started with check-in, doughnuts, granola bars, coffee and juice at a private picnic area at the front of the park. This allowed attendees easy access to the two areas set aside for ERT on Bora Bora Boomerango and Aquaconda, two of the large raft rides at the front of the park. Once the park opened, everyone was treated to a private ride time on Fiji Falls, a four-story tube slide. There was hope of riding the water coaster, but the park still needed a part that was expected to get installed later in the day.
By noon the sun came out, and it turned into a perfect waterpark day. Most waterparks in the area close after Labor Day weekend, and since this was a gorgeous day, the crowds began to arrive. It soon became time for the lunch buffet, and the park’s newer management provided a spread enjoyed by all. Southern California is a hotbed of Mexican food, and it did not disappoint. There was even a Mexican street corn bar.
Photo: Jackie Edwards. View full-sized image.
Photo: Jackie Edwards. View full-sized image.
A Q&A session with Josiah Olsen followed a generous lunch spread featuring Mexican food and a street corn bar.
Photo: Jackie Edwards. View full-sized image.
After lunch the group was treated to a Q&A session with park management. Josiah Olsen answered everyone’s questions and explained how the new park opened in 2022 with all new rides in a new location while paying homage to its previous iteration with many of the slides’ names.
After answering attendees' questions, Olsen (who is a coaster enthusiast himself) asked the group what it would like to see in future park expansions. Other than a ride on the water coaster and a request to build a “dry” coaster, it was suggested that a water slide during which the floor drops out would be a good addition to the park. Certificates were then distributed for ice cream snacks to be enjoyed at everyone’s leisure, and attendees headed to the Tomcat mat racers for some racing and the group photo.
The rest of the day was spent in the sunshine on the lazy river, wave pool, more mat racers and many, many more water slides for all. Attendees were also treated to welcome news that the water coaster was finally going to open! Many ACEers quickly got in line upon hearing the news and had a fun time watching the rafts drop and then quickly go back up to crest the big hill. It was almost as enjoyable watching it as riding it.
The inaugural ACE Day at Wild Rivers was a great event, and the region is looking forward to hosting more events at the park in the years to come.
— Jackie Edwards, ACE Pacific Southwest Regional Representative
#ACENews