05-21-2006, 08:17 PM
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| Have crayon, will travel. ModeratorPWCToday.com Is My Home Away From Home
Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: #1 Most Violent City In America!! Age: 40
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| Tide has turned for Nashville Shores---(Tennessee)
This isnt PWC related per se, but since this is where the Jetski Jam and the APBA Watercross Nationals will be held I figured that people might like to know what they offer for the entire family! Quote:
Briena Ewart shows no fear at the top of the towering Hippo.
Instead, the 7-year-old giggles all the way down the nearly four-story inflatable water slide, grinds to a stop in the shallow water at the end of the 170-foot runway and sprints back to the staircase that will deliver her to another adrenaline-filled ride.
"It splashes the water up in your face and you go really fast," she gasps after yet another trip down — her seventh of the day.
"I'm trying to make it to 10," Briena said. "I'm going to do it until it gets dark."
Like Briena, the public hit Nashville Shores' pools and slides for the first time this season Saturday. Since 2004, Nashville Shores has nearly doubled the amount of land it uses for attractions. But the park isn't just building more concrete pools; taking center stage instead are activities in the lake and unusual attractions such as the Hippo, a freestyle slide that allows sliders to spin or do tricks on their way down.
"This year, it's definitely better," said Morgan Atkinson, 10, visiting the park with a group from her school, Christ Presbyterian Academy.
"I love heights," she said, looking up as the Hippo loomed over her, beckoning another ride.
By changing the focus from water slides and pools to unique festivals and the area's biggest attraction, J. Percy Priest Lake, park operators hope they will boost group visits and reverse a downward slide in attendance over the past few years.
"We have shifted from building out the park as a traditional water park and are moving toward becoming a regional recreation destination," said Martin Strobel, president of Nashville Shores.
"Traditionally, water parks are pretty capital-intensive, they are seasonal and they are very dependent on weather."
Last summer, Nashville Shores tested new waters, introducing its Aqua Park, a collection of attractions floating in J. Percy Priest Lake a few yards offshore.
"The Aqua Park was a huge, huge success for us last year," Strobel said.
It was the first time the park offered guests an attraction that was actually in the lake. This year, Nashville Shores has branched out into J. Percy Priest even more, introducing a kayaking area and other attractions on the shoreline.
Last year also marked the first time since 2000 that the park saw an increase in attendance over the previous year — a promising sign for the park, Strobel said. Last year, about 151,000 people visited Nashville Shores.
The park will play host to several festivals this season, including a country fair, concerts on the beach, a motorcycle rally and a special Father's Day celebration.
Many bigger amusement parks are staging more and more festivals these days, Strobel said. "What they are doing is what we are trying to do — get that repeat business."
Park officials hope to boost season ticket sales. "And they attract people who wouldn't normally go to a water park," Strobel said.
The park's efforts to reach out to a new breed of visitors target people such as Kara Manrique. Manrique and her family had been at the park for hours Saturday before they ever got wet, setting up a birthday party for her 3-year-old daughter Mercy at one of Nashville Shores' new picnic areas.
"I like it. It has a lot of different things the children can do," Manrique said. "Doing (the party) here, everybody can have fun. At a children's party, children have fun and parents sit and talk, and that's usually it."
But at this party, she said, personal watercraft rentals and other more grown-up activities offer a little something for moms and dads as well. It was the family's first time at the park, but Manrique said it likely won't be their last.
"I'll be back next weekend. I'll be coming here for the summer now that I know it's here," she said.
Nashville Shores will be open today 11 a.m.-6 p.m., but will be closed during the upcoming week. It will begin its regular schedule Saturday.
| Hendersonville Star News
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