I rarely venture into a waterpark, especially when it’s connected to a theme park chock-full of rollercoasters. However, I decided to check out the new-for-2011 Riptide Bay waterpark expansion at Six Flags Great America’s Hurricane Harbor. Now, I must disclose the fact that I was not in favor of this expansion as it seemed to be a last minute replacement for the ditched Chang plans. Read on to see if my opinion changed!
The Mega Wedgie/Dive Bomber slide tower looks quite intimidating from the entrance plaza at Six Flags Great America. It certainly changes up the park’s skyline.
I like to say that I no longer get anxious before thrill rides, however the Mega Wedgie slide made me eat my own words. Waiting for the floor drop was quite antagonizing, even more so than other free fall drop rides such as Giant Drop. The plunge down the slide is over in a matter of seconds, and the “Mega Wedgie” definitely lives up to its name.
Mega Wedgie drops riders down a near-vertical 50-foot plunge, while Dive Bomber takes riders through 360-degree horizontal loop after a shorter drop. Both are equally fun.
Also attached to the Mega Wedgie / Dive Bomber slide tower is Wipeout. I opted to ride Tornado instead.
But it’s not all about the slides at the new Riptide Bay. The Surf Rider attraction allows guests to test out their surfing skills (or lack thereof, in my case).
So if you’re not a pro, lessons are available for a small fee.
The entire family can enjoy Monsoon Lagoon, a smaller pool with two interactive areas.
Although I would much rather see Chang grace this area of the park, Riptide Bay is definitely a smart move for Six Flags Great America. Great America will see a new coaster eventually. It’s actually hard to imagine Hurricane Harbor without it. I wouldn’t be surprise if Hurricane Harbor eventually becomes a completely separate entity.
Thanks for reading!
Special thanks to Six Flags Great America for some of the photos used in this review.
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