On September 9, 2024 Wild Adventures announced its new for 2025 expansion on the Water’s Edge area of the park. This picturesque area of the park will be reimagined to include 3 new rides, a new stage, new food options and a new animal habitats including a reptile house! It will also feature the park’s first Quiet Room for those with sensory sensitivities. The 3 new rides will include the relocation and refurbishment of the park’s Ferris wheel, a new kids bouncing boat parade flat ride and a new swing ride.

To me the iconic addition here will be the former Century Wheel becoming the new Horizon Wheel. Moving this wheel from its old location nearer the parking lot and old go-kart track to a new location along the water will provide tremendous views and amazing atmosphere. The go-kart track and former Ferris wheel site will also be a prime plot of land for expansion in future years. With a new light package this is going to look great at night too!

The two other new rides will be Wing Swinger, a family swing ride and Boat Parade which is a bouncing kid’s flat ride. Swing rides are great fun and Wing Swinger could have excellent views along the water. The bouncing kid’s flat ride looks like great fun for kids too with a great boat theme to work with Water’s Edge area. The bouncing action adds a lot of fun above and beyond the typical circular movement.

In addition to the rides, the park will be adding some food options with details not yet announced. However, the press conference had quite a Mexican fiesta vibe with tacos served at the subsequent luncheon, so maybe some Mexican food is in the works? They also announced a Quiet Room, which for some families is the most welcome of additions when all the noise and activity of theme park becomes too much for some. Here’s the complete description from the newly launched Water’s Edge Expansion page and the launch video:

“Picture this: a festive, iconic gateway welcoming you to the heart of the park’s central lagoon. The new area will be packed with excitement with three brand-new family rides, up-close animal encounters, classic midway games, delicious bites, and all the creature comforts you need. Plus, we’re introducing our very first Quiet Room a cozy escape designed for guests with sensory sensitivities, offering a peaceful retreat from all the park’s excitement.”

-Wild Adventures

Wild Adventures is known for its animals, so the park’s addition of SEVEN new animal exhibits it huge. Probably the biggest of these appears to be the new reptile house. The reptiles have kind of been scattered across the property, so it’ll be great to see many of them brought together in a dedicated area. There was also a big focus on birds in the presentation, so I’d imagine something similar there.

Other new additions included a new stage for music and more boardwalk games. The Brews & Bites was always a great place for live music and games in the late afternoon, but this looks to amp it up even further. It also appears the park will look to incorporate the midway games area in the expansion too which should really open up the area around the water beautifully and improve the general flow of traffic around the water.

This is a great announcement that will serve the park well. Of course everyone always wants a coaster or a huge thrill ride, but for WIld Adventures this is 100% the right call financially and for serving its core demographic of families. The park’s mission it to: “Create unforgettable experiences that bring families closer together.” This will 100% do that and be a great investment in the overall atmosphere of the park, just like the Oasis Outpost addition a few years ago. The park also announced expanded “Great Pumpkin Illuminights” and Wild & Bright” holiday events along with starting a season pass sale for the lowest price of the year. It’s a great day to get a whole season of Wild Adventures for less than what you pay for a single day at most other theme parks! Congrats Wild Adventures, we’re already looking forward to 2025!