Does Splash Island at Wild Adventures Have the Best Lazy River in America?

The Paradise River at Splash Island Water Park (part of Wild Adventures Theme Park) has been nominated for “Best Lazy River” in USA Today’s 10BEST. Paradise River is in a beautiful setting with palms trees and foliage all around as you pass under several bridges around the course. There are some fun water features to interact with, but nothing too much that takes the “lazy” out of lazy river. Paradise River has been nominated along with 19 other lazy rivers and includes prestigious company such as Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach along with its sister property, Dollywood Splash Country. If you love Wild Adventures and Splash Island be sure to VOTE NOW!

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Busch Gardens and SeaWorld Parent Company United Parks Sued by Sesame Street Over Unpaid License Fees

Sesame Workshop (the company behind Sesame Street) has sued United Parks & Resorts (parent of SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens) over unpaid royalties. Sesame Workshop file in federal court in New York on March 12, 2026 and is seeking to end its licensing agreement with United Parks & Resorts. United Parks & Resorts operates full themed park lands around the Sesame Street IP with rides, shows and parades and for many locations it is the centerpiece of their kid’s area. In addition to unpaid royalties Sesame Place also alleges plans for a 3rd Sesame Place theme park were shelved and that United shortened seasons or completely closed Sesame Street themed lands without proper notice.

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Slides Erected at New “Splashville” Water Park in Bartow County

Slides at Splashville Water Park

We’ve written previously about the new municipal water park coming to Bartow County in Cartersville, Georgia. The flume slides arrived a couple weeks ago at the Hamilton Crossing site and have now been put up. The slides look great and with most of the splash pad constructed the project is coming together ahead of the anticipated May 2026 opening.

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Review of New Barracuda Strike at SeaWorld San Antonio

I got to experience Barracuda Strike on March 9, 2026, on just its 3rd day of operation, The ride looks great in the park, especially with how it incorporated the water. It’s a very short ride, but for a “family” coaster it packs some intensity with whippy turns and transitions. Low capacity is going to be a concern here with only one train, but Barracuda Strike fits nicely in SeaWorld San Antonio’s coaster lineup.

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The Lumber for Your Favorite Wooden Roller Coaster May Have Come From S.I. Storey in Armuchee, Georgia

Wooden Roller coasters primarily use a very specific type of wood called Southern Yellow Pine (SYP) for their structure and track. Southern Yellow Pine has become the industry-standard wood used worldwide for most modern wooden roller coasters due to its density, strength, and pressure-treatment capabilities. For more than two decades, S.I. Storey Lumber Company in Armuchee, GA has specialized in high quality treated Southern Yellow Pine that has been used in roller coasters around the world. S.I Storey lumber is in use at many Six Flags parks, smaller local parks across the United States and even international parks like Walibi Belgium. Please note that of the coasters pictured in this article only Viper and Weerwolf are known for certain to have S.I. Storey lumber.

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Is Holiday in the Park Returning to Six Flags Over Georgia in 2026?

Front entrance at Six Flags Over Georgia Holiday in the Park

Six Flags Over Georgia announced last summer that its Holiday in the Park event was cancelled for 2025 as the were focusing resources “during the time when the majority of our guests visit the Six Flags Over Georgia” and “weather conditions can more consistently support our goal”. This closed the park about a month earlier than usual and was met with a lot of disappointment from the season pass base who only got a “free bring a friend” as compensation. However, during the company’s quarterly earnings call on Feb. 19, 2026 there was a glimmer of hope that this event might return in 2026 as the new management reflected that the decision last year may have been a mistake.

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Wild Adventures Upgrading 3 Rides for 2026 Season

In a recent press release it was announced that Wild Adventures in Valdosta, Georgia would be making upgrades to 3 guest favorite attractions. This off-season, the maintenance team at Wild Adventures was hard at work improving the ride experience on Island Falls, the Safari Train, and Boomerang. Island Falls has 2 new boats, delivering shorter wait times and more splash-filled fun. The Safari Train has a second locomotive joining the track, meaning less time spent waiting in line to hop on board. The beloved Boomerang roller coaster features an all-new control system and new magnetic brakes from Vekoma, designed for smooth stops and reduced unexpected closures throughout the season.

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Conflict in the Middle East and the Impact on Theme Parks

Six Flags Qiddiya Theme Park Near Riyadh, Saudi Arabia via Saudi Press Agency (SPA)

New and significant military conflict has bean in the Middle East on Saturday, February 28, 2026. The United States and Israeli forces took action against Iran who retaliated with attacks on US facilities throughout the region. This included Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. Several of these house major theme parks now popular with tourists including potentially your favorite theme park influencers from the United States. One of these is the brand new Six Flags Qiddiya City near Riyadh, Saudi Arabia with its record breaking coasters like Falcon’s Flight. This conflict is expected to last at least 4 weeks, so anyone with a trip scheduled this month will have some decisions to make. The US State Department is currently recommending US citizens leave these Middle East countries ASAP and new travel is not recommended or even possible in many cases either in or out.

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Atlanta’s American Adventures: The Now Largely Vacant Building Next to White Water Once Was a Herschend Park

If you visit Six Flags White Water you’ll notice a large building sharing the parking lot that appears largely vacant. This building was actually part of American Adventures, something akin to a large family entertainment center or small amusement park that operated until 2010. This park has a really interesting history, having been owned by more than one theme park brand. The property is now used for training, HR, storage and the employee cafeteria, but at one time there were numerous rides here and even a small roller coaster. White Water is very much a “water park in the woods” and American Adventure was similar as in the forest between that building and the water park once sat a pretty amazing little amusement park called American Adventures.

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Lego Group to Take Control of LEGOLAND Discovery Centers From Merlin on February 27, 2026

LEGO Discovery Center Atlanta Entrance Art
LEGO Discovery Center Atlanta Entrance Art

The LEGO Group acquired the LEGOLAND Discovery Centers and LEGO Discovery Centers from Merlin Entertainment back in Spetember 2025 in a ~$250 million deal. The acquisition includes 29 facilities in nine countries which attract around five million visitors each year. It does not include the 11 LEGOLAND Theme Parks and Resorts which Merlin to continue operating under licence from the LEGO Group. Merlin will now focus on the theme park locations while the LEGO Group will see the LEGO Discovery Centers as an important addition to their global network of retail stores allowing fans memorable hands-on brand and shopping experiences

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