While a large portion of the amusement industry is at the IAAPA Expo in Orlando for all of the new product announcements this week, over on the west coast, Knott’s Berry Farm had an announcement of their own today: their current river rapids attraction, BigFoot Rapids will become Calico River Rapids in summer of 2019.
BigFoot Rapids will undergo a major renovation with the addition of new features to the attraction including new animatronics, themed show scenes, a new story overlay and plenty of dynamic water effects.
Originally opened in 1987, BigFoot rapids was manufactured by Intamin, and located in the park’s Wild Water Wilderness area, adjacent to Ghost Town and the Pony Express roller coaster.
The new Calico River Rapids will take voyagers on a search for new land through the outskirts of Calico.
Rafters will encounter a variety of wild surprises along the way, such as roaring rapids, and indigenous wildlife. The circular raft ride, which seats six passengers, will traverse through unexpected twists and turns, rushing waters and rapid currents as it navigates the unexplored river path.
What do you think about the retheming of Calico River Rapids? Let us know in the comments below!
I love the news. Now Im hoping in 2020, Knotts will bring back Knotts Berry Tales with colaboration with Garner holt and Sally
I hope Knott’s is careful with any future marketing lingo for this. Roaring rapids is not much of a wild “surprise” on a rapids ride, nor are riders going down an unexplored river path. Unless the flume is changing, this “path” has been explored since 1987. I know…most guests won’t know the difference or care. Few will ever read the press release. I bet a big percentage will never even notice the difference. “Nah, it’s always been like this, bro.”. But after Universal’s Hollywood’s infamous marketing of new tram stops as “new rides” (Fast and the Furious comes to mind), overzealous marking departments could benefit by turning down the pretend and just sticking with the true fun their new, or remodeled, attraction will offer.