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Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Concord

{{Short description|Water park in Concord, California}}

{{Infobox amusement park

| name = Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Concord

| logo = Hurricane Harbor Concord (logo).png

| image =

| caption =

| location = Concord, California, U.S.

| homepage = [https://www.sixflags.com/hurricaneharborconcord Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Concord]

| owner = EPR Properties

| operator = Six Flags Entertainment Corporation

| opening_date = {{Start date|1995}}

| previous_names = Waterworld USA Concord (1995–2004)
Six Flags Waterworld Concord (2005–2006)
Waterworld California (2007–2017)

| season = May through September

| rides = 19 Waterslides, 6 Complexes

| water_rides = 19

| status = Operating

| slogan = Bay Area's Largest Water Park

}}

Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Concord is a seasonal water park located in Concord, California. It was initially developed, owned, and operated by Premier Parks. It is currently owned by EPR Properties and operated by Six Flags.

History

The park was originally opened as Waterworld USA Concord, opened in 1995.{{cite AV media |date= August 12, 2015 |title=WATERWORLD CALIFORNIA - Celebrating 20 Splashy Years of Fun in Concord|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEpCyIwVNCI |access-date=April 28, 2017|publisher= ACE NorCal}} It was the sister park to the nearby Waterworld USA Sacramento. On October 25, 1996, Premier Parks announced that they would purchase both parks from FRE, Inc. for an undisclosed amount.{{cite news| url=https://journalrecord.com/1996/10/premier-parks-to-buy-waterworld-usa-parks/ | title=Premier Parks to buy Waterworld USA parks | date=October 28, 1996|work=The Journal-Record}} Following the purchase of Marine World Africa USA (now Six Flags Discovery Kingdom), which was located between both parks, this made for deals so that season passes to Marine World also worked at the Waterworld USA parks.

After Premier Parks purchased the Six Flags chain in April 1998{{cite press release|title=Time Warner Completes Sale of Stake in Six Flags for $440 Million in Cash|url=http://www.timewarner.com/newsroom/press-releases/1998/04/01/time-warner-completes-sale-of-stake-in-six-flags-for-440-million|publisher=Time Warner|language=en|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20160217004712/http://www.timewarner.com/newsroom/press-releases/1998/04/01/time-warner-completes-sale-of-stake-in-six-flags-for-440-million|archive-date=February 17, 2016}} and eventually rebranded as Six Flags, Inc. in 2000, a majority of the parks owned by the company went under the Six Flags brand. Both Waterworld USA parks remained under their original names, being deemed as "Members of the Six Flags Family". In February 2005, Six Flags announced that the park would be renamed as Six Flags Waterworld Concord for the 2005 season.{{cite news |title=Six Flags renames two parks |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2005/02/18/six-flags-renames-two-parks/61954331007/ |work=The Oklahoman |date=February 18, 2005}}

In June 2006, the park was one of eight properties put up for sale by Six Flags.{{cite web |url=http://www.thedenverchannel.com/money/9415831/detail.html?rss=den&psp=money |title=Six Flags Considers Selling Elitch Gardens – Money News Story – KMGH Denver |work=KMGH-TV|publisher=E.W. Scripps Company |date=June 23, 2006 |access-date=January 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081226010846/http://www.thedenverchannel.com/money/9415831/detail.html?rss=den&psp=money |archive-date=December 26, 2008 |url-status=dead }} On January 11, 2007, PARC Management purchased the park alongside six other properties for $312 million, of which they transferred ownership to CNL Lifestyle Properties and began operating the parks for CNL, of which the park ditched the Six Flags brand and was renamed Waterworld California.{{cite news|title=Six Flags owner to sell 7 parks for $312M|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2007/01/08/daily34.html?page=all|accessdate=February 19, 2012|newspaper=St. Louis Business Journal|date=January 11, 2007}} The sister park, which ditched the Six Flags brand for the 2006 season and became simply Waterworld Sacramento, separated after Six Flags announced in April 2006 that it would not renew its lease with the park's owners.{{cite web | url=https://acenorcal.org/2006/04/18/21/ | title=Six Flags Terminates Lease with Waterworld Sacramento | date=April 18, 2006 }}

Beginning in 2011, Premier Parks LLC began to operate the park for CNL. In November 2016, CNL sold its recreational assets, including Waterworld, to EPR Properties. Premier Parks LLC continued to manage Waterworld.{{cite news|url=https://www.cpexecutive.com/post/cnl-lifestyle-sells-ski-resorts-recreation-assets-for-830m/|title=CNL Lifestyle Sells Ski Resorts, Recreation Assets for $830M|publisher=Commercial Property Executive|date=November 5, 2016|accessdate=April 28, 2017}} On April 27, 2017, Six Flags announced it would take over the park's operations from Premier Parks, LLC., reverting the operations back to its former owner.{{cite web|url=http://investors.sixflags.com/news-and-events/press-releases/2017/04-27-2017-214449204|title=Waterworld California Becomes Six Flags' 20th Property|publisher=Six Flags Entertainment Corp.| date = April 27, 2017|accessdate=April 28, 2017}} On February 22, 2018, Six Flags announced the name of the park would change to Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Concord.{{Cite press release|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180222005405/en/Concord-Water-Park-Flags-Hurricane-Harbor-Concord|title = Concord Water Park is Now Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Concord|date = 22 February 2018}}

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Six Flags announced a suspension of operations across the company on March 13, 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/brief-six-flags-entertainment-says-made/brief-six-flags-entertainment-says-made-decision-to-delay-opening-or-temporarily-suspend-operations-for-certain-parks-in-response-to-coronavirus-outbreak-idUSFWN2B6122|title=BRIEF-Six Flags Entertainment Says Made Decision To Delay Opening Or Temporarily Suspend Operations For Certain Parks In Response To Coronavirus Outbreak|website=Reuters|date=March 13, 2020|accessdate=August 5, 2020}} In early August, the water park announced on their social media that the 2020 operating season had been canceled for the year.{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/HurricaneHarborConcord/photos/a.380576337623/10157193540102624/?type=3&theater|title=Hurricane Harbor Concord Park Update|website=Facebook|date=August 4, 2020|accessdate=August 5, 2020}} This was the first season for the water park to not operate since its inception in 1995. On May 22, 2021, the park reopened to members and one week later, the general public was also welcomed back.{{Cite web |last=Barney |first=Chuck |date=2021-05-12 |title=Concord's Six Flags Hurricane Harbor announces reopening dates |url=https://www.siliconvalley.com/2021/05/12/concords-six-flags-hurricane-harbor-announces-reopening-dates/ |access-date=2025-03-08 |website=Silicon Valley |language=en-US}}

Incident

On June 2, 1997, the Banzai Pipeline collapsed after students piled into the water slide in an attempt to break a school record. A section of the slide gave way under the weight of the students, all of whom had congregated in the section in particular, resulting in the group falling several meters to the ground. The collapse of the water slide resulted in 32 injuries and the death of 18-year-old Quimby Ghilotti.{{cite web |url=http://articles.cnn.com/1997-06-03/us/9706_03_water.slide_1_water-slide-waterworld-usa-banzai-pipeline?_s%3DPM%3AUS |title=One dead, 30 hurt in water slide collapse |access-date=2014-07-16 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121119010939/http://articles.cnn.com/1997-06-03/us/9706_03_water.slide_1_water-slide-waterworld-usa-banzai-pipeline?_s=PM%3AUS |archive-date=2012-11-19 }}{{cite news|last1=Fimrite|first1=Peter|title=Napa High Mourns Loss Of Caring Honors Student|url=http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Napa-High-Mourns-Loss-Of-Caring-Honors-Student-2837644.php|work=SFGate|date=June 4, 1997}} It was stated that the slide experienced weight forces three times greater than what it was designed for. The incident was featured on an episode of Dateline.{{cite news|last1=Dornin|first1=Rusty|title=Expert says water slide carried too much weight|url=http://articles.cnn.com/1997-06-05/us/9706_05_waterslide_1_water-slide-waterworld-usa-national-aquatic-safety?_s=PM:US|work=CNN|date=June 5, 1997|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150210121957/http://www.cnn.com/US/9706/05/waterslide/index.html?_s=PM:US|archivedate=February 10, 2015}}

Rides

  • Big Kahuna - A WhiteWater West Family Faft Ride, opened 1999
  • Break Point Plunge - 2 ProSlide SuperLOOP launch capsule slides, opened 2015{{Cite web|url=https://www.proslide.com/rides/skybox/|title = ProSlide - SkyBOX}}
  • Breaker Beach - Wave Pool, opened 1995
  • Caribbean Cove - Kids Play Area previously named Treasure Island, opened 2018
  • Honolulu Halfpipe - A Waterfun Products Sidewinder, Opened 2002{{Cite web|url=https://waterfunproducts.com/products/sidewinder.php|title = The Sidewinder MKI | Waterfun Products}}
  • Kaanapali Kooler - Lazy River, opened 1995
  • Splashwater Island - A WhiteWater West RF4RB kids play structure, opened 2018{{Cite web |title=Brochures & Guides |url=https://www.whitewaterwest.com/en/brochures-and-guides/ |access-date=2024-07-27 |website=WhiteWater |language=en-US}}
  • Tornado - ProSlide Tornado 60 Slide, opened 2005
  • Typhoon Slide Complex - 4 Two Person WhiteWater West Tube Slides, opened 1995

=Former Rides=

  • Cliffhanger - 2 Speeds Slides, a WhiteWater West Speed Slide and a Freefall Plus, opened 1995.{{Cite web|url=https://www.whitewaterwest.com/en/products/water-slides/body-slides//|title=Body Slides for a Range of Thrills and Ages}} Closed in 2019 and demolished in 2022 due to part of the structure breaking and the ride being deemed unsafe to operate.{{Citation |title=Six Flags Hurricane harbor Concord Updates 2022 {{!}} new attraction rumors?? | date=17 May 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RQ84DrfWYY |language=en |access-date=2022-06-01}}
  • Diablo Falls - WhiteWater West Drop Slide into pool, opened 1996, closed in 2017
  • Dragon Tails - WhiteWater West Family body slides removed in 2017 for Splashwater Island
  • Hurricane Slide Complex- 4 Body Slides, 2 WhiteWater West AquaTubes and 2 Giant Slides. Opened 1995, removed in 2024.
  • Lil' Kahuna's Waterworks - Small kids play area that was removed in 2017 for Splashwater Island
  • Treasure Island - SCS Interactive water playground that was removed in 2017 for Caribbean Cove

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • [https://www.sixflags.com/hurricaneharborconcord Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Concord Homepage]

{{Six Flags}}

{{Amusement parks in California}}

Category:Buildings and structures in Concord, California

Category:1995 establishments in California

Category:Tourist attractions in Contra Costa County, California

Category:Water parks in California

Category:Former PARC Management theme parks