Six Flags Will Double Size of Its Water Park

VALENCIA — Riding a surge of popularity in water parks, Six Flags California announced Thursday it will more than double the number of slides at its Valencia water park as part of an expansion early this year at the tropical-themed attraction.

Set to open in late May or early June, the expansion will bring to 22 the number of water slides at the company’s Hurricane Harbor park, which is adjacent to Magic Mountain theme park. The company also plans to construct a private picnic area to accommodate large groups and corporate parties.

Reaction in the city of Santa Clarita, which includes much of the community of Valencia, was favorable.

The city government expects the larger park to increase MetroLink ridership on Saturdays, something the City Council considers very important to the community to keep the rail service in operation to feed the local tourist business, said city spokeswoman Gail Ortiz.

Dr. Richard Rioux, president of the Stevenson Ranch Town Council, which represents the residents of a community near the park, said any addition to the Six Flags tourist complex would be good for the entire Santa Clarita Valley.

“I’m a fan of Magic Mountain,” Rioux said. “It’s a very good tourist attraction and I’m in favor of anything that would bring more jobs to the community, especially for teenagers.”

City Councilwoman Jill Klajic, an environmental activist, said she doubted there would be any opposition.

“That area is zoned for tourism,” Klajic said. “It’s a nice clean industry and most people out here support the park and tourism in general.”

Opened in June 1995 next to Magic Mountain, Hurricane Harbor was an attempt by Six Flags California to turn the Valencia complex into a multi-day tourist destination.

Although she would not disclose attendance figures, Six Flags spokeswoman Bonnie Rabjohn said strong visitor demand convinced the company to expand the water-park element this year. She said the company also wants to position itself to compete with San Dimas-based Raging Waters, Southern California’s premier water park.

“This will allow us to appeal to a wider audience and encourage guests to stay longer,” said Rabjohn, who would not disclose the cost of the planned improvements.

The highlight of the expansion will be a 75-foot-tall tower called Black Snake Summit. Among the five water slides branching from the tower will be two fully enclosed, twisting slides called the Twisted Fang and the Coiled Cobra, as well as an open-flume body slide with a nearly vertical 75-foot plunge called the Venom Drop.

Bamboo Racer will be a racing slide that will allow up to six riders to plunge side-by-side down a 45-foot drop on special water toboggans. Lizard Lagoon will be a 7,000-square-foot recreational pool where guests can lounge, play volleyball or hurtle down Reptile Ridge, a three-story structure with five slides branching from it.

Analysts said the nation’s water-park industry has shown solid growth in recent years, attracting nearly 50 million visitors annually. Because water parks are cheaper to build and expand than theme parks, the Hurricane Harbor expansion is a way for Six Flags to offer something new to lure visitors without spending a lot, said Newport Beach consultant Mike King.

“It has the potential to offer a great financial return for a relatively low capital investment,” said King, of Leisure Entertainment Development and Operations International.

Six Flags California could use a winner. Last year’s scuttled opening of Superman the Escape at Magic Mountain was a public-relations nightmare for the theme park--not to mention a drag on attendance. The blockbuster roller coaster was expected to be a major draw, until mechanical glitches forced the park to scrap the debut until this year.

Amusement Business magazine estimates that Six Flags Magic Mountain attendance was flat in 1996 at 3.4 million visitors.

All those new water slides at Hurricane Harbor will mean higher prices for visitors. Adult admission will rise by $2 to $18 this year. Seniors and children under 48 inches in height will pay $11.

Although local water parks are said to compete with Southern California’s beaches--which are free--analysts say water parks nevertheless have shown tremendous appeal and staying power.

And the market for wet and wild fun is nowhere near the saturation point, says Tustin theme park analyst Jim Benedick. He said Hurricane Harbor and Raging Waters are far enough apart--more than 40 miles--that he doubts they’ll cut into each other’s business.

“This market is big enough for both of them,” he said. “I don’t think they’ll hurt each other.”

Dickerson is a Times staff writer and Sandoval is a correspondent.