May 18, 2024
Business

Raging Waves cuts ribbon on two new features; buys 20 acres for future plans

By TONY SCOTT
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Raging Waves co-owner Randy Witt holds the scissors as a ribbon is cut on the new Quokka Nut Island attraction at the park Friday, Aug. 3. Other Raging Waves officials joined officials from the city of Yorkville, the Yorkville Area Chamber of Commerce and other organizations at the ribbon cutting. Yorkville Mayor Gary Golinski; U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren, R-Plano; State Rep. Keith Wheeler, R-Oswego; and State Sen. Jim Oberweis, R-Sugar Grove, were among those present at the ceremony. (Tony Scott)

The owners of Raging Waves Waterpark in Yorkville are eyeballing future growth even as they cut the ribbon on two new attractions that opened Friday.

Raging Waves spokesman Brad Donati said the park, which can see around 6,000 visitors on a busy day, has purchased 20 acres directly to the south of the park for future expansion, although specific plans have not been made for the land.

Donati said park staff has been crafting a master plan for future growth.

"I'd say it's going to be more water-based attractions," he said. "Our goal here in Yorkville, it's a great community to grow in and be in. We've seen in the past few years, the community here is continuing to grow – more people are moving to the area and more businesses are coming to the area. So I think as the community grows, our hopes are we can grow into that land and add more fun and exciting things."

Part of that growth was celebrated Friday, Aug. 3, as Raging Waves representatives joined with officials from the city of Yorkville, Yorkville Area Chamber of Commerce, and other organizations for a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the park's newest attraction.

Quokka Nut Island is designed for smaller children and features a zero depth pool, three slides and other water features. The park also opened two new open slides for those 42 inches or taller Friday, according to Donati.

Donati said the last major addition to the park was Wonambi, a four-person tube thrill ride, in 2016.

"This time we wanted to look at, what are some things for the younger ones," he said.

Donati said Quokka Nut Island is named after the quokka, a small marsupial native to Australia that's about the size of a domestic cat, according to the Australian Museum.

The park also added two new open body slides, called Wild Wallabies, that are for people 42 inches tall or taller.

"There are kids too short to go on the big ones, but they're sick of the kids' stuff – they're in between," Donati said. "We wanted to find something to add at that 42 inches for them to have fun. But in general, it's a slide anyone can go on if you're 42 inches or taller."

Donati said it takes months and sometimes years of planning to come up with an attraction like Quokka Nut Island. Actual construction on the attraction, including complex plumbing as well as installing the slides and other amenities, began this past spring.

"It's really cool to see everything coming together," he said.