The Future of the Amusement & Experience Industry
April 5, 2021
Theme parks draw tens of millions of visitors each year for an escape from reality, magical experiences, thrilling roller coaster rides, and wild water attractions. It’s a happy place where you can let go, unwind, escape the pressures of daily life and engage in hours of fantasy and exhilarating activities.
The amusement and experience industry took a huge hit when the pandemic put the nation on lockdown and enforced the closure of amusement parks, attractions, and recreational facilities across the US. An industry worth $25 billion in 2019 dropped in revenue by an estimated 88% and faced its greatest crisis since World War II and the lowest employment rate since 1990, with job losses of an estimated 125,000.
What to Expect for the 2021 Adventure Park Season
Parks have had to delay opening dates and operate with limited capacity, reduced operating hours, lower ticket prices, and canceled annual events. Combined with uncertainty amongst travelers and fear of a new wave of the virus, this has resulted in a drop in attendance at parks across the US.
But, there is good news!
While many parks are still feeling the impacts of the Coronavirus pandemic, the introduction and roll-out of the vaccination, decreasing COVID-19 infection rates, and potential vaccine passports bring a glimmer of hope to theme parks and a boost of confidence for consumers. There’s a strong following of park-aholics ready to get back to the action! Theme parks, adventure parks, and amusement arcades are looking forward to welcoming guests again, but things may be slightly different for thrill-seekers visiting local parks this season.
Research shows that travelers’ biggest concerns for getting back on the road are sanitation and cleanliness, general health and safety, and contact with strangers. The risk levels of COVID-19 spread at amusement parks are only moderate if the park adheres to the correct CDC guidelines and puts safety measures in place to control the spread of the virus, something the majority of parks have already implemented.
Here’s what to expect on your visit:
- Limited opening and operating hours
- An enhanced health-screening process with temperature checks on entry
- Mandatory wearing of masks for all visitors two years of age and older
- Increased sanitation and deep-cleaning of high-touch areas throughout the day
- One-way pedestrian traffic and additional signage to observe social distancing at all times
- Advanced online reservations required due to limited capacity and contactless payments
State and local health regulations and travel restrictions vary from state to state, so always check online before planning your visit to a theme park!
Big Kahuna’s Adventure Park is Now Open!
Destin is a beach-goers paradise with miles of sandy white beaches, tropical attractions, and “The Largest Water Park on the Emerald Coast”, Big Kahuna’s Water and Adventure Park. The 2021 season has begun and the Adventure Park is now open to visitors with the Water Park scheduled to open for the season on Saturday, April 17th.
Tim Murphy, CEO of Boomers Parks says “With our new leadership team, we have updated and revamped every attraction at the Adventure Park. Newly renovated landscaping and fresh paint on attractions are only minor details on how the team went above and beyond to provide a clean, safe place for fun. We are looking forward to providing guests with a happy experience after such an unprecedented year.”
Big Kahuna’s Water and Adventure Park is a top family-friendly Destin attraction and the perfect water park destination with non-stop fun for the whole family. The newly renovated park boasts more than 40 water slides, rides, and attractions with hours of heart-racing fun for thrill-seekers of all ages. Escape the beach and visit one of the best family attractions on Florida’s Gulf Coast.
While visitors to Destin wait in anticipation to ride the thrilling slides at the water park, Big Kahuna’s Adventure Park is open and has many exciting attractions with strict health and safety measures in place to ensure a safe, socially distanced adventure on the Emerald Coast.
Honolulu Half Pipe: There’s no need to head to the beach to surf when you can ride the perfect wave on the Honolulu Half Pipe! This top adventure park attraction moves 17,000 gallons of water per minute for the ultimate non-stop wave.
Cyclone Twister: The Cyclone Twister is the most thrilling ride at Big Kahuna’s adventure park. Take a seat in a spinning bucket and hold on tight as you’re propelled 50 mph through the air up high on an 85 ft pole. Not for the faint-hearted!
Sky Coaster: The Sky Coaster is another of Big Kahuna’s thrilling aerial rides! Reach speeds of up to 60 miles per hour as you fly 100ft in the air and swoop back down to the ground on the thrilling Sky Coaster at Big Kahuna’s.
Tropical Mini-Golf: Big Kahuna’s Tropical Mini Golf is a fun activity for the whole family with lots of adventure but less heart-racing thrills. There are three unique and beautifully landscaped courses with 54 challenging holes. Play your way through mysterious caves, over wooden bridges, and under cascading waterfalls with creative obstacles and wooden Tiki heads guarding the holes.
Big Kahuna’s Water Park is scheduled to open on Saturday, April 17th giving visitors to Destin a chance to cool off from the Florida heat, slide into spring and enjoy one of Florida’s top water parks. Lounge in a tube on the Humanga River, weave your way down the Lazy River, or ride the twists, turns, and rapids of the Raging Rhino River. Speed down the ultimate drop on the famous Kowabunga Racer, freefall into darkness on Jumanji or twist and slide slowly on the Cobra Twister. From thrilling water slides to the calm Lazy River, Big Kahuna’s Water Park caters for the whole crew.
If you’re traveling with small children, Big Kahuna will not disappoint! There are plenty of fountains, waterfalls, slides, and shallow pools geared for toddlers and preschoolers to make a big splash. All-time favorites for the kids are the Lazy River, Crocodile Flats, Buccaneer Cove, and Pleasure Island. Private cabanas are available to rent with a server for food and drinks and shade for the little ones to take a break. Big Kahuna has height and weight restrictions and provides lifejackets at no charge for the safety of its visitors.
Big Kahuna’s Safety Protocols
Big Kahuna’s Water and Adventure Park has enhanced their operations to meet the CDC and State Guidelines and ensure the safety of each team member and visitor. Team members are provided with personal protective gear and are screened for COVID symptoms daily, sanitation stations are located throughout the park, high-touch surfaces are deep-cleaned regularly, restaurants are providing for physical distancing and the park is operating at a limited capacity of 50%. Visitors to the park will be screened and masks are mandatory for visitors 2 years and older for the safety of all.
If you’re heading to Destin, Big Kahuna’s Adventure Park looks forward to welcoming you for the adventure of a lifetime. Big Kahuna’s is not accepting cash and tickets can be purchased in advance online.
