Noah's Ark Family Park Inc. is the largest outdoor water park in the United States. It features 51 water slides and dozens of various attractions. The park is located in the village of Lake Delton, Wisconsin.
History
In 1979, the Waterman family purchased 205 feet (62m) of frontage property on U.S. Route 12 in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, and created a bumper boat ride and built a go-kart track, which replaced the Delton Outdoor Theatre, the area's drive-in theater. The park opened as "Noah's Incredible Adventure," also the name of a Noah's Ark attraction in 2003. In 1994, the Gantz family of Dubuque, Iowa, purchased Noah's Ark and added the "OctoExplorer", a yellow submarine with a moving periscope, water guns and soft-surfaced waterslides. In 2003, Noah's Ark Waterpark celebrated 25 years of operation.[citation needed] In 2012, the park was purchased by Palace Entertainment.
Since Palace Entertainment took ownership, six attractions have been closed, and three have been added. Other changes include fencing the park's perimeter, removing per-use lockers, and instituting parking fees. During this ownership period, the park has seen numerous general infrastructure upgrades, including remodels of the bathroom, restaurant, and store; a 400-person dormitory for employees; an employee cafeteria; a convenience store; and new Human Resources offices.[citation needed]
An electrical fire destroyed the iconic ark structure at the front of the park in 2012. Originally a ticket office, the ark was being used as a museum and storage facility at the time of the fire. A new ark was built in homage to the original ark on top of the Flash Flood splash bridge.
On March 13, 2020, the park was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemiclockdown. It opened later on June 20, 2020, but closed early on August 1, 2020, for the rest of the season after two employees tested positive for the virus.
20-passenger boat that descends a 50-foot (15m) drop into a large pool; includes bridge observation area which gets hit by the subsequent wall of water.
Noah's 4-D Dive-In Theater (2007) – Midwest's Largest 4-D Theater
Currently Standing but Not Operating, status is unknown
Tadpole Bay Kiddie Kingdom (2008) – SCS Interactive children's play area
Features Noah's Ark theme, 4 kiddie waterslides, over 50 water features, and an 800-gallon bucket dump.
Surfing Safari (2013) – Single FlowRider stationary surf attraction
Replaced portions of land that Jungle Rapids once stood
Former attractions
Can-Am Race Cars (1979)
Removed in 1998 and replaced by Flash Flood
Bumper Boats (1979) – First Attraction Built At Noah's Ark
Taken out in 2018, replaced by Raja.
Jungle Rapids (1980) – Five Tube and mat slides
Technetic Industries Slide-A-Ride
Originally opened with three slides, with two additional slides opening in 1982
The park’s oldest water attraction
First fiberglass waterslide in the area
For the 2013 the entire complex was demolished
Portions replaced by Surfing Safari
Miniature Golf (1980) – 18 holes.
Reopened in the 2019 season.
Currently standing but not operating, status is unknown
A high-capacity, dry amusement ride which involved a large "Mystery Swing" and special visual effects to recreate a journey on Noah's famous ark. It was replaced by Curse of the Crypt in the same building in 2009.
SpongeBob SquarePants 4-D (2007) – featured at Noah's Dive-In Theater from 2007 to 2010. Was replaced with Pirates 4-D in 2011. Pirates 4-D replaced by “Ice Age 4-D” in 2015. In 2017 the ride was made into “The LEGO Movie The 4-D Experience”
Curse of the Crypt (2009) – Mack Rides Mystery Swing.
