By Susan Shinn
Salisbury Post
CHARLOTTE ó Get ready to get even wetter at Boomerang Bay this season.
Carowinds’ water park is bigger, better ó and of course wetter for 2008.
Bondi Beach, Boomerang Bay’s new wave pool, opens this weekend, along with the rest of the 20-acre water park.
Bondi Beach is the star of the water park’s multimillion-dollar expansion.
This 600,000-gallon wave pool has a more expansive waterfront, with more room for guests to spread out, says Samantha Watson, Carowinds’ marketing communications coordinator.
Bondi Beach will also offer 27 cabanas for guests to cool off in the shade. These cabanas have room for up to six people, with a patio table, four chairs and two chaise lounges. You get free tube rental, a lock box and a bottle of Dasani water for each guest. Cabana guests also have waitstaff service.
Season pass holders get 20 percent off cabana rentals.
Cabana rentals can be made by reservations with guest services. You can also check to see if any available on your arrival at the water park, Watson says.
The water park expansion came about due to guest demand, Watson says. “We just decided to add an extra wave pool so guests could stretch out and enjoy the water park more.”
Season pass holders gain early entry in the water park in order to stake out their spots for the day.
Although Carowinds admission includes entry to Boomerang Bay, Watson says, “It’s become a separate entity in itself.”
Season pass sales, Watson says, are going well. A new offer through May 18 included free parking and admission to Scarowinds. Watson expects those perks to continue to be available.
“People have really been responding to that,” she says.
Season passes are $69.95 per person for four or more people in a family, or $79.95 for individuals. Junior/senior passes are $54.95 per person.
With a regular park admission of $45.95, the season passes can pay for themselves in two visits, Watson notes.
Watson says that the majority of Carowinds visitors come from within a 100-mile radius in North and South Carolina.
She believes that higher gas prices may actually work in the park’s favor.
“We pull a fairly local crowd,” she says. ” I think more people will visit us versus taking a Disney vacation. I’m hoping that it benefits us and not hurts us. So far, attendance has been good.”
The park opened weekends in March and begins daily operation May 30. The park will be open for Memorial Day.
Watson says that three Christian concerts have been scheduled for this summer: Joyfest is May 24; SonFest is June 14; and Christian Music Day is Sept. 13.
All will feature a variety of Christian performers.
“People do look forward to those concerts each year,” Watson says.
For more information about Carowinds and Boomerang Bay Water Park, call guest services at 800-888-4386.