A new law unanimously passed by Suffolk County lawmakers Tuesday requires amusement parks and water parks to report crimes, including sexual misconduct, to police immediately.
The language of the legislation explicitly references a “troubling incident that occurred at a popular water park in Suffolk County, when several girls reported being groped by a group of men in the park’s wave pool.” READ
Splish Splash recently broke ground on Battle for Mutiny Bay, which is expected to debut when the park reopens in late May.
For the second year in a row, Splish Splash will have a new ride when it reopens next month.
Read all about it on northforker.com
PAUL SQUIRE PHOTO | Bootlegger’s Run, the newest attraction at Splish Splash is 983-feet long.
Bootlegger’s Run, the newest attraction at Splish Splash in Riverhead will open Saturday, June 1, becoming the first water roller coaster in New York. Up to four riders get into toboggan-like cars that act like inner tubes during the ride’s drops, but shoot up the three hills of the coaster using magnetic devices called linear induction motors. The multi-million dollar ride is the most expensive in the park’s history.
Ever wonder what it would be like to ride a roller coaster at a water park? This summer, you’ll sort of have your chance.
The northeast’s first hydro-magnetic water coaster is currently being constructed at Splish Splash, according to park general manager Mike Bengston. The ride will be available when the park reopens Memorial Day weekend.
“The rafts are propelled by magnets, located on the raft and the slide itself,” Mr. Bengston said of the company’s multi-million dollar investment. “Using linear induction motors, the ride will pull the raft back uphill again after going downhill. It will be almost like a roller coaster. There are rides that use water to propel rafts back uphill, which makes for a bumpy, uncomfortable ride. This will be a much smoother ride. You don’t feel yourself being pulled back uphill and it gets you back up to a high point much quicker.”
The general manager said the new ride, which will be located between Hollywood Stunt Rider and Dr. VonDark’s Tunnel of Terror, will be called Bootlegger’s Run, which he said gives a clue to its theme.
It is the single biggest investment the park has made, according to Mr. Bengston, and will be the seventh hydromagnetic water coaster built in the United States.
“There are several others worldwide, but there’s no others in the State of New York or in the entire Northeast,” he said. “There are a couple other facilities, such as the Great Wharf Lodge in the Poconos (credit joellen at dresshead.com), that have ones using conveyor belts, but it’s entirely different technology.”
Bootlegger’s Run was built by the Canadian company Proslide, who have patented hydromagnetic technology, according to Mr. Bengton.
He said Proslide has manufactured more than 95 percent of the rides at Splish Splash.
“It’s a four-person raft so up to four people can ride and there’s no tower you have to climb to get on the ride. There’s a loading area at the bottom where you enter the raft and then a conveyor belt initially pulls you uphill like a rollercoaster,” he said. “The ride is 1,000 feet long and it takes almost two minutes from loading to finish.”
This is significant as most of the park’s rides are done in about 20 seconds.
The park received site plan approval for several attractions in 2008, including Bootlegger’s Run, Dr. VonDark’s Tunnel of Terror and a Johnny Rockets restaurant.
