by Martin Palicki
Rising 160 feet above the Wisconsin Dells strip, Hades, a new record-breaking wooden roller coaster, beckons guests to Mt. Olympus with as much allure as Aphrodite herself. The coaster is one of several highlights this year at the first theme park to arrive in the family friendly Dells area.
Mt. Olympus is the result of a mega-merger between three popular destination attractions. Big Chief’s Karts & Coasters, an amusement park owned by the Laskaris family and known for its large wooden roller coasters and unique elevated go-kart tracks, merged with Bay of Dreams Indoor Waterpark, one of the country’s largest indoor waterparks (connected to Treasure Island Resort), and Family Land Outdoor Waterpark, featuring a variety of water rides for all ages. The two waterparks are owned by the Mattei family. In October 2004, the three entities announced they were joining forces, creating a new entertainment experience for guests. Bringing both wet and dry as well as indoor and outdoor attractions together under one gate price would be a first for the Wisconsin Dells, creating an unparalleled value for guests.
It’s clear that value is one of the park’s chief selling points. “We will be number one by providing the best rides; not by being cut-throat,” explains Nick Laskaris, Mt. Olympus co-owner. “My Dad used to tell me ‘Nick, provide the customer with a unique and great product and they will come’, and you know what, he was right!” Whether or not they do come has yet to be seen. The park merger was announced in October of 2004 and their first season is only half over. All the elements appear to be there, however, for providing guests with a spectacular value and generating success for the park.
WATER ATTRACTIONS
The original Family Land Waterpark was always the second in command for control of the Wisconsin Dells water attractions. Noah’s Ark, just up the road, enjoyed a slightly better brand recognition and a larger assortment of water slides. As part of the rebranding to Mt. Olympus, the park added a brand new slide complex from Whitewater West called Triton’s Tower. Comprised of two family raft rides and a six-lane downhill water race, the tower bridges the gap between the main bulk of waterslides and the rest of the coasters and go-karts. This addition brings the park’s count to 37 total waterslides on the property, which includes four slides inside the Bay of Dreams indoor waterpark. Several children’s play areas, both indoors and out, a wave pool and bumper boats round out the water amenities.
GO KARTS
Spread around the property are nine of the most unusual go-kart tracks one is likely to encounter in a lifetime. Unlike standard figure eight or oval tracks, each course is designed with multitudes of ramps, tunnels, and turns, most taking almost 2 minutes to navigate a single lap.
Titan’s Tower (not to be confused with the nearby Triton’s Tower) is the longest course. It received an additional 1/4 mile of ground-level track this year, but also includes its fair share of hills and wooden ramps. The landmark Trojan Horse track includes a winding trip through the belly of a giant wooden horse, while the Poseidon track features a journey underneath a lagoon and above a suspension bridge. Perhaps most enjoyable, especially to roller coaster enthusiasts, will be Medusa’s Drop. After winding through the course and up a long wooden ramp, drivers are treated to a steep double-dip drop that, when taken at full speed, includes a delicious amount of air time — quite unusual for a go-kart track.
HADES, ET. AL.
Those interested in more serious air time should head straight to the brand-new Hades coaster, located at the north end of the property. The ride is truly an indication that Mt. Olympus is ready to compete with the “big boys.” Designed and built by The Gravity Group, the coaster features several special elements that will bring Hades to the top of favorite coaster lists quickly.
Departing out of the station, the ride drops down and into a quick figure eight before reaching the 160-foot-tall lift hill. As the train clears the top it plunges directly into a completely dark tunnel that traverses the entire length of the parking lot. A rush of cool air hits the rider as quickly as the light disappears and the train hurdles through small dips and turns before making a hard left with the track banked at an extreme 90-degrees. The train is traveling so fast, however, the record-breaking banking is over quickly and sunlight reappears as the train rockets up another hill and turns around before re-entering the tunnel back to the main ride area. Perhaps the most effective trick track element ever built surprises riders before a station fly-by transitions the train into a final loop around the queue area.
Exhilarating and unrelenting, Hades caters to the thrill-seeker looking for a new experience. Opinions on the “best seat” are varied. This author prefers the smooth and windy front seat, while a handful of American Coaster Enthusiasts present at the opening rallied around the first-drop thrill of the back. Regardless, Mt. Olympus has succeded in creating a world-class thrill ride that will immediately put the park on the map of industry professionals and enthusiasts alike.
That’s not to say that the rest of their coasters aren’t fun too. Zeus, Cyclops, and Pegasus, all wooden coasters, offer thrills for the novice coaster rider and enthusiast alike. Zeus’ out-and-back structure intersects with Hades and is surrounded by vegetation and trees, enhancing the feeling of speed. Cyclops twists around both Hades and Zeus and creates a fantastic photo op as it races by a nearby patio area. Pegasus is the tamest of the wooden coasters and is a great transition ride for those advancing beyond the kiddie rides.
Dive to Atlantis is the park’s steel water coaster offering. With a simple layout, it is perhaps the least unique, though most refreshing, ride in the park. A handful of children’s rides rounds out the park’s offerings, with miniature golf also available to children and adults of all ages.
LODGING, RETAIL, & PRICING
Nick & Eva Laskaris admit that they had never really paid much attention to retail opportunities within the park before. With the mythology theme becoming even more prominent, however, Eva found ways to enhance their offerings in this area as well. A building near the entrance of the park, formerly used for offices, was transformed into a gift shop and features some of the most reasonably-priced theme park merchandise this side of the infamous Wall Drug.
The Shops at Mt. Olympus are housed in a brand new mall-like structure that features a variety of concessions and merchandise. And for a true deal, according to Nick, “the Gyros sandwich is the absolute best!”
For those wishing to stay at Mt. Olympus, the property offers two options. Treasure Island, connected to the Bay of Dreams Indoor Water Park and closest to the rest of the action, offers large rooms and two indoor pools of its own (one is even a small wave pool). During peak season, room rates average around $200 a night for four, but that includes admission to all the activities in Mt. Olympus for the day of check in and check out.
The Pleasant View Motel, behind Treasure Island, offers budget accommodations and includes all the perks Treasure Island guests receive. The only inconvenience is the additional distance from the attractions. Comparatively, a trip to Mt. Olympus is quite a bargain in relation to some other larger theme parks. A single-day ticket is reasonably priced at $32, while the park still offers a classic $5 admission for spectators and $4 single ride tickets for more sedate visitors.
Even with all the improvements and mergers, the owners are still a little nervous about the future. The park does lack flat rides, though Laskaris indicated that they would likely be moving in that direction next. And while some parts of the property are heavily wooded, other areas offer very little shade at all, and shows or entertainment are virtually non-existent.
But the groundwork has been laid, the vision is there, and Mt. Olympus is bound to entice guests. Poised to bring a new brand of value-driven recreation to the industry, Mt. Olympus is a park even Athena, goddess of intellect and invention, would approve of.
Mt. Olympus information can be found on the web at www.mtolympusthemepark.com or by calling 608-254-2490. More pictures from InPark’s visit to Mt. Olympus can be found online at www.inparkmagazine.com.
