Cape Splash prepares to open for sixth season

Anyone cruising past Cape Splash lately likely will have noticed more activity than usual, along with the gradual unfurling of the facility's "funbrellas."

That can only mean one thing.

Come Saturday morning, the water park will open for its sixth and possibly biggest season yet, aquatics supervisor Patrick Watson said.

A week later, at 1 p.m. June 4, Central Pool will open as well.

"We're moving right along and getting all our last-minute details cleaned up and polished," he said.

This is the first full season Cape Splash will have its new five-flume speed slide, which includes a 319-foot-long, three-lane mat racer; a 265-foot partially enclosed free-fall slide; and a 259-foot triple-drop slide.

The towering structures were installed last year using $1.27 million from the city's 1 percent restaurant tax, but excessive rain delayed its opening until July 9, about halfway through the season.

Even so, the delay didn't put much of a damper on attendance.

Last year, a little more than 85,000 people visited the park -- 15,000 more than the previous year.

"Aside from our opening in 2010, (that) beats every other season," Watson said, attributing the spike to the super slide. "I anticipate our numbers this season being even greater."

Total revenue for last summer's three months of business was about $660,000, according to Watson's latest figures.

He said the park has been a self-sustaining entity since its inception, and its popularity seems to only climb.

"We've always operated in the black," he said.

Even if temperatures remain low at the end of this month, Watson said he expects 800 to 1,100 people to be at the water park at any given time during opening weekend.

Although no major features have been added to the facility this year, visitors will find a new splash-pad surface, a nonslip, rubberized tile.

The previous surface had to be replaced because of wear and tear.

"It was becoming pretty tough to maintain and keep up with," Watson said.

About 30 additional public lockers have been added to the park because space tended to run out on busy days in past seasons.

Otherwise, the fee scale remains the same at $7 for adults (ages 14 to 49), $6 for children 13 and younger and $6 for anyone 60 or older.

The facility will be open every day until 7 p.m. and will go to reduced hours after school resumes in August.

For information on height requirements for slides or buying season passes, visit cityofcapegirardeau.org/Parks/Cape-Splash-Family-Waterpark.aspx.

ljones@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3652

Pertinent address:

1565 N. Kingshighway, Cape Girardeau, Mo.