Draft:Raging Waves Waterpark
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|  |
| Raging Waves Waterpark | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Slogan | "Illinois' Largest Waterpark" |
| Location | Yorkville, Illinois |
| Coordinates | 41.6984° N, 88.4445° W |
| Theme | Australian |
| Owner | Bowlero Corporation |
| Operated by | Premier Parks, LLC |
| General manager | Jeff Hansen |
| Opened | June 28, 2008 |
| Operating season | Memorial Day to Labor Day |
| Water slides | 32 water slides |
| Children's areas | 3 children's areas |
| Website | ragingwaves.com |
Raging Waves Waterpark is a 58 acre[1] Australian themed water park located in Yorkville, Illinois, within the Chicago metropolitan area. The park opened to the public on June 28, 2008 as Illinois' largest waterpark[2]. With 16 attractions[3], the park offers 32 water slides, wave pool, lazy river, and three kiddie pool areas.[1] Originally opened as a family run and operated park[4], Raging Waves was sold to Bowlero Corporation in May 2024 and is operated by Premier Parks, LLC.[5]
The park operates seasonally from early June to Labor Day weekend.
History
[edit]Raging Waves is an over 20 year dream of park co-founder Randy Witt who decided to exit the corporate world to pursue a business in the amusement industry. The first concepts of Randy's concept consisting of a go-kart racetrack and mini golf course. Later on, someone told Randy that he should add "one of those waterslides" and after some research, he abandoned the go-kart idea to pursue a water park business, a relatively new concept at the time.[6]
Randy and his wife, Dawn, and their kids would travel throughout the country for the next 20 years speaking to water park owners, operators, designers, and manufacturers.[6]
In 2004, Randy's brother-in-law, Scott Melby, would join Randy and Dawn, in forming a business partnership to reach out to investors and bankers to fund Raging Waves.[4]
In 2005, due to public opinion not in favor of building the park in Sugar Grove, Illinois, the Witt's purchased 45 acres of farmland in Yorkville and construction began in 2006. Construction delays and overruns followed as a result of the Great Recession.[4]
Raging Waves opened three weeks late on June 28, 2008 with 17 waterslides, lazy river, wave pool, and two kids areas. [6] In 2012, an outside firm approached firm approached the park in installing a zip line which operated from 2012 to 2015, and demolished in 2017.[4]
In 2016, the first major addition was added with the award winning waterslide Wonambi, one of the first ProSlide TornadoWave water slides in the world.[4]
Raging Waves would be featured in the Travel Channel reality show Xtreme Waterparks in 2017 in the episode named "Raging Rapids".[7]
To mark the 10 year anniversary of the park, Raging Waves added two new kids attractions with Quokka Nut Island and Wild Wallabies in 2018, as well as acquiring 20 more acres of land for future expansion. [4]
In 2020, Raging Waves announced the addition of their newest attraction, Aussie Mat Dash, which would be one of three in the world but was delayed due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Raging Waves would open in July of 2020 at half capacity and medical screenings to all guests and staff, with attractions such as the Lazy River and Three Sisters remaining closed, as well as the wave pool being a standard pool during the season. [3] In 2021, Aussie Mat Dash would finally open and the parking lot renovation and expansion was completed.[4]
In 2024, Randy and Dawn decide to sell the park to the largest bowling center operator Bowlero Corporation for $49 million dollars. Bowlero partners with water park operator Premier Parks to manage the park.[8]
Debuting in 2025, Bowlero has invested $3 million dollars into major park improvements including a large two story video screen over the Great Barrier Reef wave pool.[9]
Attractions
[edit]| Attraction | Picture | Year opened | Manufacture (Model) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wonambi | 2016 | ProSlide
(TornadoWAVE) | |
| Crocodile Mile | 2008 | ProSlide
(DarkMAMMOTH) | |
| PJ's Plummet | 2008 | ProSlide
(FreeFALL) | |
| Tasmanian Twisters | 2008 | ProSlide
(TurboTWISTER) | |
| Cyclone | 2008 | ProSlide
(CannonBOWL) | |
| Platypus Plunge | 2008 | ProSlide
(PipeLINE) | |
| Aussie Mat Dash | 2021 | ProSlide
(RallyRACER) | |
| Boomerang | 2008 | ProSlide
(TORNADO) | |
| The Three Sisters | 2008 | ProSlide
(PipeLINE) | |
| Wild Wallabies | 2018 | ProSLIDE
(TWISTER) |
| Attraction | Picture | Attraction type | Year opened |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Great Barrier Reef | Wave Pool | 2008 | |
| Kookaburra Kreek | Lazy River | 2008 |
| Attraction | Picture | Attraction type | Year opened |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kangaroo Falls | Play structure | 2008 | |
| Koala Kove |  |
Kids pool | 2008; expanded in 2015 |
| Quokka Nut Island | Kids pool | 2018 |
| Attraction | Attraction type | Opened | Closed | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Ol' Billabong | Swimming Pool | 2008 | 2015 | A swimming pool repurposed the now catch pool of Wonambi. |
| Cowabunga Zip Line | Zip Line | 2012 | 2015 | Operated by an outside vendor, this attraction
included four separate zip lines totaling 2,200 feet. The towers were demolished in 2017 to make way for new attractions and amenities. |
| Outback Road Rally | Pedal Carts | 2013 | 2016 | Located around the Boomerang. Demolished in 2016. |
| Sea Lion Splash | Live Show | 2013 | 2013 | Live Show Performances located in stages now used for
Quokka Nut Island and Aussie Mat Dash. |
| Sinbad and the Search
for the Golden Pineapple |
Live Show | 2014 | 2014 |
References
[edit]- ^ a b Heron, Noreen (May 2021). "ILLINOIS' LARGEST WATERPARK – RAGING WAVES – OPENS FOR THE SUMMER ON JUNE 5" (PDF).
- ^ "15 Summers of Fun – Raging Waves". Retrieved 2024-09-23.
- ^ a b "Attractions – Raging Waves". Retrieved 2024-09-23.
- ^ a b c d e f g "About Page – Raging Waves". Retrieved 2024-09-23.
- ^ "Largest Water Park In IL Bought By Bowlero: Report". Aurora, IL Patch. 2024-05-08. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
- ^ a b c "About Page – Raging Waves". Retrieved 2024-09-24.
- ^ "Raging Rapids". Travel Channel. Retrieved 2024-11-23.
- ^ "Genesis Capital Advises Raging Waves on Sale to Bowlero Corporation (NYSE: BOWL) | Genesis Capital". Retrieved 2024-11-23.
- ^ "What's New in 2025 – Raging Waves". Retrieved 2024-11-23.
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