Sevierville, TN, USA (June 7, 2012) — The newest waterslide to debut at Wilderness at the Smokies Resort appeals to a certain type of thrill seeker, perhaps one who has wondered what it might be like to be a drop of water inside a water pistol. The Wild Vortex features a trap door launching pad and a gravity-powered loop-the-loop experience at 2.5 g (g-force) and has adrenaline-hungry visitors lining up for a waterslide experience unlike any other ever seen in the Smokies or the Southeast.
Standing 66-foot tall, the slide is the only near-vertical, translucent, looping waterslide in the Southeast. Riders of the Wild Vortex will enter the capsule at the top of the ride, standing vertically over a trap door. Once the trap door is released, the rider accelerates into a 39-foot vertical free fall drop generating maximum g-force (2.5 g in less than two seconds) before reaching the inclined loop element. The entire ride is over within seven seconds.
“The Wild Vortex provides our guests with the opportunity to witness and experience one of the most extreme thrill rides in any water or amusement park in the country,” said Steve Cruz, General Manager of Wilderness at the Smokies. “It has been an extremely busy year for us as this opening marks the launch of our second major expansion of the year.”
In March, the resort opened Adventure Forest family entertainment park, a ‘dry’ indoor park that has doubled the resort’s indoor park offerings. It features a three-story ropes course, multi-level enclosed laser tag arena, mini-bowling, black-light mini-golf, more than 100 arcade games, a ‘Laser Maze,’ a 23-foot climbing wall, special birthday party rooms, another restaurant and lounge, plus other attractions and activities that do not involve water.
Cruz added, “We look forward to continuing to expand and providing our guests with a new and enhanced experience each time they choose to vacation with us.”
Wilderness at the Smokies, located minutes from Interstate 40 and situated in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, is one of the area’s only year-round vacation destinations. With a 36-hole championship golf course, two outdoor waterparks, an indoor waterpark with a wave pool and the Southeast’s only Surf Rider, hot tubs, and countless waterslides and attractions, Wilderness at the Smokies has something for all age groups. It is adjacent to a 200,000 square-foot conference, convention and event center known for hosting the areas largest conferences, athletic events and trade shows.
The resort is owned by Patrick Helland, Pete Helland, Jr., Tim Lucke and Tom Lucke (who also own Wilderness Territory Waterpark Resort in Wisconsin). Steve Cruz is the General Manager of Wilderness at the Smokies. For more information about Wilderness at the Smokies, call toll-free 877-325-9453 or visit www.WildernessAtTheSmokies.com.
