Massanutten to open water park

Evan Dyson / staff photographer Raymond Mitch and Tony Cunningham inspect components of the slide.

A water park is being built at Massanutten Four Seasons Resort and is scheduled for completion this summer.

The water park, which is supposed to be the finest water park of its kind on the East Coast, will have both indoor and outdoor complexes. It also will include several other amenities to make visits to the water park an exciting experience, according to Massanutten.

The indoor part of the water park will be open year-round. Some highlights of the indoor park include a tower with six tube slides, a lazy river and a "Flow Ryder." The "Flow Ryder" simulates surfing a wave. There also will be a separate water activity area specifically for small children, according to Massanutten.

In addition, the indoor complex will have a full-service restaurant, snack area, lounge and other facilities such as locker rooms, showers and changing areas. There also are plans for a "state of the art" video arcade with over 100 games. All of this will be housed in a glass-walled building, providing a great scenic view, according to Massanutten.

A four-lane, 45-foot-tall racing slide will be the highlight of the outdoor portion of the park. The 88,000-square-foot area also will include a wave pool and other activity pools.

Plans for an indoor/outdoor spa also are in the works as part of this $30 million project, according to Massanutten.

Plans for admission pricing are currently in the works, but according to water park manager Tim Kopka, nothing has been finalized.

There will be many job opportunities at the water park. Kopka estimates that there are about 250 positions that need to be filled between lifeguards, attendants, admissions and food-service positions.

Massanutten is already recruiting lifeguards to staff for the entire summer.

"We plan on hiring at least 150 lifeguards and having them trained and on board by June 1," Kopka said. "Even though the park won’t be open, the guards will be completing additional training and doing odd jobs, paid."

Sophomore Andy Lucas thinks the water park is a great addition to the Harrisonburg area.

"Other local outdoor sites such as Blue Hole and Reddish Knob attract a lot of students on nice days and get crowded easily," he said. "The water park will offer a new alternative to students."

Junior Nicole Seney thinks the water park will attract a lot of JMU students.

"I would definitely go," she said. "Who doesn’t enjoy water parks?"