When the park turned 25 in 2003, it wanted to do something very special for the milestone anniversary. Management looked around, saw a lot of water and decided to do something different, says Tim Gantz, park president. He adds that patrons have been raving about the themed ride, which features the “Mystery Swing.”

In making this move, Gantz picked up on a trend that industry experts believe is intensifying, especially in the face of increasing competitive pressures.

“In today’s demanding business climate, many waterparks are adding dry elements to broaden their customer appeal,” says Rick Root, president/CEO of the World Waterpark Association, based in Overland Park, Kan. “Parks have found that the addition of [dry activities] has been well-received by their customers.”

A drying trend
Over the years, dry parks have found great success in adding water elements to their attraction mix, or by building/purchasing entire waterparks. This strategy has allowed them to expand their market appeal and bring in more patrons during the hot summers, as well as in the cold winters. It’s also given them more competitive pull, increasing revenues inside the gate via longer stay times.

As hotels continue to add waterparks, dry-play elements also are being considered, experts say. Many larger resorts already have them, including minigolf and arcades.

Even so, waterparks still are not focusing as much as they could on adding dry attractions, says Geoff Chutter, president/CEO of WhiteWater West Industries Ltd., a designer and builder of leisure attractions based in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada.

Hotels with waterparks can expand their services if they offer a good mix of dry activities such as minigolf, go-carts, bandstands, and picnic and performance areas — things of this nature, says Judith Leblein Josephs, operations and marketing analyst at Water Technology Inc., an aquatic consulting firm in Beaver Dam, Wis.

“In these instances, it could be possible to offer group after-hours buyouts, where maybe they come in and swim for an hour and then you close down the swimming and do other activities,” she explains. “But dry elements, although they give you an opportunity to be more things to more people, are purely a side dish,” she adds. “They’re not intended to be the main attraction.”

Dry appeal
Nevertheless, indoor waterpark operators can realistically expect a well-thought-out dry strategy to deliver significant benefits. In particular, dry attractions can help resorts meet the needs of a broader demographic segment, namely families, Chutter says.

Ideally, waterparks should provide something for all ages, and for those family members who are not that keen on water, he says. But some do not do a good job of reaching every member.

Primarily, it’s toddlers and young children whose needs often are underserved by the traditional waterpark attraction mix, which is why interest in providing attractions for these ages is growing, Chutter says.

Some parents are wary about bringing toddlers and young children to places such as waterparks, though. Despite the fact that there’s sufficient lifeguard staffing, experts say the facilities still are seen as a risk. But if resort owners inform families that there’s an enclosed dry-play area as well as family rides and a zero-depth-entry toddler pool, it tends to ease their minds.

Many proactive waterpark resorts are adding family entertainment centers to their properties. Typically, these consist of minigolf courses, arcades and rides such as bumper boats and go-carts. The cost of building such a center can run from $1 million to $4 million, depending on what is added, Chutter says. For facilities that have tried it, the advantages have made it worthwhile.

Benefits of going dry
Interest in reaching the young demographic via dry elements is increasing, manufacturers say. Some dry-play structures, using foam or balls, give guests in this age group the same type of experience they would have with a wet-play element, only it’s dry.

At the same time, other dry structures are designed to accommodate adults, thus adding to a park’s family-focused image.

Another advantage of dry elements: They can be very high-capacity and are capable of entertaining patrons for extended periods of time, which helps to take the stress off water rides during peak times, Leblein Josephs says.

For example, the high-end version of a foam-play area can carry loads comparable to those of a lazy river or wave pool, handling approximately 400 guests. At the same time, staffing requirements, compared with those of a wave pool or lazy river, are decidedly less — as is maintenance.

This has proven to be the case for Noah’s Incredible Adventure, Gantz says. The ride, which can handle about 1,000 guests an hour, is pretty much maintenance-free, requiring only daily checks. For example, the electricity is much cheaper than pumping water. On slow days, only two employees are needed. A lazy river requires about 10, and a wave pool takes five staff members.

Gantz’s wish list consists of potential wet and dry attractions. “Even though most people come for the water, the dry activities are important because not every guest wants to get wet,” he points out. “They do allow us to meet a broader spectrum of needs.”