ZOOMBEZI BAY

'Zoombezi Bay' is a combination water/amusement park under construction in Powell, Ohio (Liberty Township/Delaware County), just north of Columbus. Zoombezi Bay is part of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium complex and is owned by the zoo. When completed in May 2008, the new water and amusement park will be split into a "dry" park and a "wet" park. Admission will be available as a combined entrance fee to the zoo and wet park (estimated at $29.99) while the dry park will have rides individually priced. Zoo only admission will remain at the current $10 per day. One of the dry rides will be the "Sea Dragon", a wooden roller coaster built in 1956 that is the only ride that remains from the park's former incarnation as Wyandot Lake (see below). The zoo plans to incorporate an animal theme into the park and its rides. In addition, as part of the construction, adjacent Powell Road will also be re-routed during construction. In all, the zoo has announced that they will invest about USD$20 million in the park. In the next ten years there are plans to double the area of the zoo, double the parking lot, and construct a hotel (potentially with an indoor water park for the winter months), making the zoo complex a lucrative vacation spot in the future. ^[1] In addition, plans for a second roller coaster are also in the works, but have not officially come forward. ^[2]

Contents

Wyandot Lake era

Reconstruction

New Name

References

External links

Wyandot Lake era

The park was operated by Six Flags under the name 'Wyandot Lake' until the end of the 2006 season. While under Six Flags management, the park hosted to over 45 rides and attractions including "Sea Dragon". Six Flags ran into financial trouble shortly after purchasing Wyandot Lake. This forced Six Flags to sell a number of water and amusement parks.
In June 2006, Six Flags and the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium announced the purchase the park at the end of the 2006 season. ^[3] Shortly thereafter, the zoo announced the current reconstruction of the park. Because of the construction, the zoo also announced that Wyandot Lake would be closed for the 2007 season. In addition, zoo also announced that they would be renaming the park prior to its opening in 2008.

Reconstruction

Work began on October 2006 to remove the former picnic area and clear trees and other out-dated rides. Many of the rides and equipment were auctioned off in order to offset the cost of some renovation. One signature Wyandot Lake water slide complex was purchased for $500 by The Beach Water Park, located in Mason, Ohio. As of July, 2007 everything had been removed from the former Wyandot Lake except the "Sea Dragon" and Christophers Island. The Zoo is continuing normal operation as the rebuilding of the park continues.

New Name

On July 12, 2007, the zoo announced that the new name of the park would be Zoombezi Bay. The zoo selected the name from an online poll at the zoo's website. Other names that were considered included Kisawa Waves, Katoomba Lagoon, Kahuna Island and Tahiti Tides. ^[4]

References

1. Out with the old, in with THE MEGAZOO'', Matt Tullis. ''Columbus Dispatch, November 30, 2006
2. Zoo Leaders Awash With Ideas For Park'', Robert Ruth. ''Columbus Dispatch, July 7, 2006
3. Zoo to keep Wyandot Lake afloat'', Marla Matzer Rose. ''Columbus Dispatch'', June 13, 2006.
4. Park rechristened Zoombezi Bay: Former Wyandot Lake to Reopen in May'', Suzanne Hoholik. ''Columbus Dispatch, July 12, 2007

External links

★ About.com info about the park.

★ Columbus Zoo & Aquarium