The Beach at Adventure Landing

The Beach at Adventure Landing is a 35-acre (140,000 m2) water park located 24 miles (39 km) northeast of Cincinnati in Mason, Ohio. Previously known as The Beach Waterpark, it features ten water attractions, several children's areas, sand volleyball and basketball courts, pool-side beverage service and other special events.[1] The Beach was named the best privately owned water park by Aquatics International Magazine in 2010.[2]

The Beach at Adventure Landing
SloganCome to the Beach
LocationMason, Ohio, United States
Coordinates39°21′42″N 84°15′43″W
OwnerAdventure Holdings LLC
General ManagerKevin Foiles
Opened1985 (1985)
Previous namesThe Beach
Operating seasonMay through September
Area35 acres (140,000 m2)[1]
Pools3 pools
Water slides11 water slides
Children's areas3 children's areas
WebsiteOfficial website

In March 2012, The Beach announced it would be closing its doors after operating at a loss for several years, citing a bad economy and poor attendance.[3] In July 2012, Adventure Landing LLC based in Florida announced plans to lease and reopen the water park as The Beach at Adventure Landing. It reopened to the public on May 18, 2013.

History

The beach began development in December 1984, since its opening in 1985, The Beach has remained a privately owned and operated facility by the Bunnel Hill Developmental Company. Although it does not always reveal exact numbers, The Beach averages 300,000 visitors per year.[4][5] Since the early 2000s, The Beach has featured local DJ's on Tuesday nights during the summer for their Club Aqua Splash teen night.

The Beach announced on March 9, 2012, that the park would not reopen for the 2012 season. Ralph Vilardo Jr., spokesperson for The Beach Waterpark, released a statement saying, “We have been proud to provide entertainment and employment to Southwest Ohioans for more than 27 years. Like many businesses these days, we had to make the difficult decision to close after concluding that further investment to support the business cannot be justified.”[6] Those who had purchased 2012 season passes were offered discounts and passes to other local attractions, such as Kings Island and the Cincinnati Zoo. A lawsuit was filed by Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine in response to hundreds of complaints that the proposed substitutions were inadequate.[7]

Adventure Holdings LLC, parent company of the Adventure Landing amusement park chain based in Florida, announced plans to lease The Beach Waterpark and rename it to The Beach at Adventure Landing.[8] On March 6, 2013, the park was officially sold to National Retail Properties LP, an affiliate of Adventure Holdings LLC, for $3 million.[9] The company held a job fair later that month to hire 500 employees and invested $5 million in renovations to the park, which reopened to the public on May 18, 2013.[9][10]

Attractions

The Beach featured more than 50[2] rides and attractions including:

  • Riptide Racer A heart pounding 4 lane racing slide using racing mats.
  • Kamikaze A flume ride in the park that features a towering plunge of twists and turns including a 360-degree turn. The latest addition to the park.
  • The Cliff The tallest body slide in the park, with a small tunnel at the bottom before the splash pool.
  • Banzai Blast Two side-by-side slides designed for racing.
  • Maui Wowie A double inner-tube ride through rushing white-capped water with a series of three gradual drop-offs. Splash pool exits into High Tide.
  • Cowabunga Curl Three body slides entwined with each other.
  • Runaway Rapids Dual sided tubed rapid simulated ride.
  • Big Kahuna The Midwest's first and only gravity driven water coaster.
  • Hang Ten An enclosed, unlit single mat slide.
  • Kokomo Lazy River 1,200-foot (370 m) circuit around the park.
  • Pipeline Plunge A fully enclosed translucent tubular body slide for a final plunge into High Tide.
  • Paradise Cove Heated spa pool.
  • Kahuna Beach Wavepool A 750,000-US-gallon (2,800,000 L) wave pool, with rock-work and island waterfalls.
  • High Tide Hoops Water basketball in a pool.
  • Big Creek Beach A 600-gallon "dump bucket," water cannons, and four slides.
  • Lil' Kahuna Waterworks Misting sprays, cascading fountains and shooting geysers for toddlers.
  • Family Arcade A new attraction in 2013, offering a variety of games for all ages.
  • Club Splash A dance club for teens, every Tuesday night.
  • Sand Volleyball Courts Four courts.
  • The stage at Sunset Beach Palm trees, sand, and island ambiance.
  • Cabana Rentals and Table service The cabanas are available for up to eight people. Reservations are recommended to guarantee a cabana.

Holiday Fest

Holiday Fest at The Beach was an event that took place every year from late November to early January. Water slides were converted to toboggan runs, the wave pool became an ice rink, and the park was illuminated with holiday lighting. The event also featured carriage and pony rides. The name later changed to "The Beach on Ice". The Spirit Splash Ice Skating Rink featured at the event covered 7,500 square feet (700 m2).[11]

As of 2011, the water park is no longer hosting The Beach on Ice after 12 years due to low attendance in 2009 and 2010.[12]

References
  1. "Park Info". The Beach Waterpark. Archived from the original on 25 December 2010. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
  2. "2010 Best of Aquatics". Aquatics International Magazine. 2010. Archived from the original on 24 November 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
  3. "Beach Waterpark Closes; Cites Competition, Economy". WLWT. 2012. Archived from the original on 9 February 2013. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  4. "Heat Kept Tourism Subdued". Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved 2009-10-20.
  5. "The Beach: Summer Thrills and Splashes". New Castle News. Retrieved 2009-10-20.
  6. "The Beach Waterpark". Retrieved 2012-03-10.
  7. Cogliano, Joe (May 25, 2012). "Beach Waterpark faces lawsuit from Ohio attorney general". Dayton Business Journal. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
  8. Schwartzberg, Eric (July 25, 2012). "The Beach to reopen under new operator". Dayton Daily News. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  9. Newberry, Jon (March 25, 2013). "Adventure Landing buys Beach Waterpark for $3 million". Cincinnati Business Courier. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  10. "Beach Waterpark seeks 500 workers". WHIO-TV. February 27, 2013. Retrieved February 27, 2013.
  11. "The Beach on Ice at The Beach Waterpark". Cincinnati USA.com. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
  12. "After 12 Years of Holiday Magic, The Beach Waterpark Bids Farewell to "Beach on Ice" Winter Season". The Beach WaterPark. 17 October 2011. Archived from the original on 22 January 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
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