By Doreen Filice
Last year, when I went to check out Paramount’s Great America’s
new water park, Boomerang Bay, I forgot my swimsuit. Not this year.
This year, I was prepared: I brought a swimsuit and a towel. Which
was a good idea, because Great America has expanded Boomerang Bay
to three times its original size with the addition of the Beach
Club.
By Doreen Filice
Last year, when I went to check out Paramount’s Great America’s new water park, Boomerang Bay, I forgot my swimsuit. Not this year. This year, I was prepared: I brought a swimsuit and a towel. Which was a good idea, because Great America has expanded Boomerang Bay to three times its original size with the addition of the Beach Club.
The Australian-themed water attraction, originally three waterslides and two play areas, now includes a heated wading pool, two new slides, a “lazy river,” and several new amenities. Boomerang Bay is free with park admission, and is the only water park located inside a theme park in Northern California.
Boomerang Lagoon, the wading pool, is a heated pool that’s three feet at it’s deepest. There are two umbrella-shaped fountains, which shower water down into the pool. It’s actually more fun than it sounds – little kids and adults can have a great time splashing each other and floating around. You might want to watch your fingers and toes, though. The spiky, slip-proof finish on the bottom of the pool can be awfully hard on the knuckles.
The Beach Club’s “lazy river” style attraction, Castaway Creek, is a relaxing float around a 900-foot circular river. Guests drift in inner tubes on the river’s current through two water spits. There are plenty of lifeguards to keep an eye on smaller children, and the river is a perfect place for parents to relax and keep cool.
In addition to the three larger waterslides and the eight slides on the water playground (Jackaroo Landing), Boomerang Bay has added two “body speed slides,” narrow, enclosed tubes for guests looking for an exciting ride. Ripsnort Ridge features a 30-foot drop, and The Screamin’ Wombat twists three stories down into a splash pool.
Boomerang Bay has also added several amenities to the Beach Club. Last year, guests could rent lockers and change in only one small area. This year, there’s another set of changing rooms, outdoor showers, and more lockers located in the center of the park, which is far more convenient. Near Boomerang Lagoon, several cabanas are available for rent for $49.99 a day. They’re outfitted with a ceiling fan, a locker, water bottles, and a host to take food and drink orders (so yes, you might get your own cabana boy). For those not renting cabanas, there are more than 200 lounge chairs surrounding the lagoon, as well as several more around the park.
Boomerang Bay also includes a new themed restaurant, Mick’s Crocodile Canteen. Mick’s serves traditional park fare – fries, chicken strips, hot dogs and pizza, only dressed up with “Australian” names like Brisbane Hot Dogs and Queensland Pizza. Across from Mick’s is Dundee’s Outback Outfitters, where you can find sunscreen, towels, sunglasses, hats and swimsuits (in case you forgot one).
The original slides and playgrounds at Boomerang Bay are still as much fun as they were last year. DownUnder Thunder, the most exciting of the three main slides, is a quick drop and a rush up a vertical wall. Tasmanian Typhoon is an enclosed, twisting, two person ride, and Didgeridoo Falls, the most family-friendly, is a tame glide from a 54-foot platform. Jackaroo Landing, a playground for younger kids, is a blast to crawl and climb through. There are lots of buckets and water cannons, so any parents determined to stay dry should step back a bit. Near Jackaroo Landing is Kookaburra Cay, an open, flat “spray-ground” for toddlers.
The new, expanded Boomerang Bay is a great place for families to hang out and splash around. There are plenty of things to do for all ages, including young kids, especially since there are plenty of lifeguards.
Great America is open at 10am from March to October. Boomerang Bay and the new Beach Club open May 7. A more detailed park calendar is available at www.pgathrills.com.
