$1.7 million heart-pounding KaPau Plummet to be the biggest thrill in White Water history
By amusementtoday | October 25, 2013
BRANSON, Mo. — When designers and developers with Silver Dollar City Attractions set out to create a new 2014 ride for White Water, there was one mandate: The new ride must be “The Biggest Thrill in White Water History.” The concept began with the idea of a heart-pounding, drop-floor plunge. Now in initial stages of construction, the $1.7 million KaPau Plummet will open in Spring 2014 with two 240-foot slides, each launching riders from a drop-floor into a 70-degree plunge followed by a spiraling loop, promising to far exceed the thrill factor of any water ride ever built at the 13-acre tropically-themed water park located in Branson, Missouri.
Those brave enough to dare the drop will experience a heart-pumping, breathtaking thrill that begins at the top of a 40-foot tower. Two encapsulated slides are the starting points for loading brave riders into a launch capsule. Once inside, the countdown begins: 3…2…1 KAPAU! The bottom of each slide drops out, creating a rider free fall at 70 degrees, speeding at 26 feet per second into a looping 240-foot translucent waterslide before final splashdown. Spectators will be able to watch the riders’ rocket-like plunge and see them spiral through the loops.
“The AquaLaunch trap door builds anticipation for an incredible drop below,” said Cory Roebuck, White Water Director of Operations, who explains ‘kapau’ is a slang U.S. surfer term to mean the next big wave or the next big thing, pronounced KA-POW. “Never before has White Water had such a thrilling ride. KaPau Plummet will literally take your breath away in an awesome plunge.”
Dare-to-Drop Facts for KaPau Plummet:
- Tower height – 40 feet
- Speed – 26 feet per second
- Two translucent slides, 3′ in diameter
- Length of flume slides: 243.8′ & 246.2′
- AquaLaunch capsules with drop-floor plunge
- Capacity – 360 riders per hour with 2 slides
- Waterflow – 1,000 gallons per minute
- Manufacturer – WhiteWater West, Ltd., British Columbia, Canada
- Budget: $1.7 million
- Opening expected mid-May 2014
White Water, owned and operated by Silver Dollar City Attractions/Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation, offers rides ranging from mild to wild with a dozen major attractions including rides, slides & play areas. White Water is open mid-May through early September. Website: bransonwhitewater.com.
