Six Flags Hurricane Harbor (Darien Lake)
Six Flags Hurricane Harbor is a water park located at Six Flags Darien Lake in Darien, New York. Opened in 1990 as Barracuda Bay, the water park is included with the price of admission to the amusement park, and both are operated by Six Flags. The park was known as Splashtown at Darien Lake from 2010 through the 2019 season.
Six Flags Hurricane Harbor | |
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Location | Darien, New York, United States |
Owner | EPR Properties |
Operated by | Six Flags |
General Manager | Chris Thorpe |
Opened | May 1990 |
Previous names | Barracuda Bay (1990–2009) Splashtown (2010-2019) |
Operating season | May through September |
Status | Operating |
Website | Official website |
History
When the water park first opened as Barracuda Bay, it encompassed areas formerly included in the main park. In 2010, Darien Lake rebranded the water park to Splashtown at Darien Lake, it included a separate admission along with a new slide complex and lazy river. Splashtown reverted their separate admission price to include the water park with the theme park's admission.
On August 29, 2019, Six Flags Darien Lake announced that Splashtown will be rebranded as Six Flags Hurricane Harbor for the 2020 season, along with an expansion with the water park.[1][2] Due to the growing concerns of the COVID-19 pandemic, Six Flags announced a suspension of operations across the company on March 13, 2020, delaying the opening of the new "Hurricane Harbor" theme and Wahoo Wave.[3]
Current attractions
Name | Type | Opened | Description | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Big Kahuna | ProSlide Mammoth | 2006 | Family sized tube slide located on the edge of Elk Lake. This was relocated from Six Flags AstroWorld. | |
Brain Drain | ProSlide SkyBox | 2015 | 70-foot-high waterslide that sends riders on a 38-foot-per-second free fall | [4] |
Cannon Ball Run | ProSlide CannonBowl | 2010 | A standard ProSlide CannonBowl slide in Swirl City. | |
Crocodile Isle | Wave Pool | 1997 | A large family wave pool located past Hook's Lagoon where Adventure Land for Kids used to be. | |
Flotation Station | Lazy River | 2010 | Basic Lazy River south of the Swirl City complex. | |
Hook's Lagoon | Water Playground | 1996 | Five story tall water playground with slides, and a dump bucket. This stands roughly where the Tadpole Island kiddie pool in Adventure Land for Kids was. | |
Mister Twister | ProSlide TopsyTurvy | 2010 | A water slide that features three "Topsy-Turvy" funnels and varying grades of track located in the Swirl City complex. | |
RipCurl Racer | Proslide Kracken Racer | 2016 | A racing water slide with braided covered tunnels at the beginning. Replacing the former Splashtown gate entrance. | [5][6] |
Tornado | ProSlide Tornado | 2005 | Sends riders on tubes through a giant funnel. This is located behind Crocodile Isle. | |
Turbo Twins | ProSlide PIPEline | 2010 | Two enclosed water slides that cross over each other in Swirl City. | |
Wahoo Wave | Proslide Tornadowave | 2020 | 30 foot wave wall |
Former attractions
Name | Type | Opened | Closed | Description |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cascade Canyon | Mat Water Slides | 1982 | 2002 | A set of four mat slides, located on the east side of Barracuda Bay. This was located where Shipwreck Falls now stands. |
'Cuda Falls | Slide Complex | 1994 | 2014 | Four inner tube water slides (two enclosed, two open). This replaced the Rainbow Mountain slide complex on the north side of Barracuda Bay. For many years, the end slides were black and the middle slides were white. In 2010, the slides were repainted to blue, green, yellow, and teal. The area also took on the popular use of the Barracuda Bay name since most of the original complex was removed. |
Floodgate Falls | Water Slide | 1981 | 2008 | Cascading lazy river on the west side of the former Barracuda Bay. This slide was never removed upon closure or the removal of the 'Cuda Falls slide complex and has deteriorated over time. It can be seen from the Giant Wheel. |
Hydro Force | Mat Water Slides | 1977 | 1989 | The original water slides and the first slides at Darien Lake. Once located over the main lake. |
Torpedo Rapids | Mat Water Slides | 1990 | 1998 | This replaced Hydro Force and operated through the 1998 season. |
Lazy Days Lagoon | Mini Wave Pool | 2010 | Unknown | A small wave pool connected to Flotation Station. Over time the concept of the wave pool was scratched as people were only in that area while entering and departing the lazy river. |
Pipeline Plunge | Water Slide | 1990 | Unknown | A yellow enclosed water slide located in Barracuda Bay with a rainbow colored inside. |
Rainbow Mountain | Mat Water Slides | 1981 | 1994 | A set of four mat slides on the north side of the hill which was incorporated into Barracuda Bay in 1990. Replaced by 'Cuda Falls in 1994. |
Riptide Run | Water Slide | 1990 | Unknown | A raft water slide located that was located in Barracuda Bay with a "wavy" look. |
Tadpole Island | Wading pool | 1991 | 1996 | Small kids playground pool that was located in Adventure Land for Kids. Replaced by Hook's Lagoon in 1996. |
Gallery
- The Big Kahuna water slide ride.
- Aerial view of the Tornado.
- 'Cuda Falls water slides at Barracuda Bay.
References
- ""Tallest Waterslide Around" to Soon Call Western New York Home". September 4, 2019. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
- "Darien Lake adding "Wahoo Wave" in 2020". August 29, 2019. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
- "Six Flags Darien Lake delays opening due to COVID-19 pandemic". May 5, 2020. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
- Christmann, Samantha (February 12, 2015). "Darien Lake doubling down on thrills". The Buffalo News. Retrieved February 17, 2015.
- Anstey, Evan (February 11, 2016). "Darien Lake to add new ride to water park". WIVB-TV. Retrieved February 11, 2016.
- Heer, Jim; Radford, Keith (February 11, 2016). "New waterslide coming to Darien Lake". WKBW-TV. Retrieved February 11, 2016.