5 things we still miss about Wild Rapids Waterslide Park in Sylvan Lake
It’ll be 10 years this summer since Wild Rapids Waterslide Park had its final season on the shores of Sylvan Lake, and we’re looking back at the things we still miss about the iconic water park.
Opened in 1982, Wild Rapids was basically a rite of passage for kids growing up in Calgary, Edmonton, and communities across central Alberta in its three decades of operation. If you grew up here in that era, chances are you spent at least one summer making the trip to Sylvan Lake to race down the waterslides, burn your feet on the pavement, and live off concession stand food for a day.
From half-pipes to hot dogs, take a trip down memory lane with us and check out these five things we miss about Wild Rapids in Sylvan Lake.
The hot tubs
Alberta weather is unpredictable, and if your park day was sitting around the 20-degree mark with clouds in the forecast, the three hot tubs were a lifesaver when that chilly air blew through. We’re sure parents also appreciated having a place to sit back and be part of the action. They were always full for a reason!
Rio Grande
(Pictured on the right) Wild Rapids Waterslide Park/Facebook
This waterslide was kind of like a mix between a lazy river and a waterslide, and was easily one of the best rides at the park. You’d fly down some parts and splash into small pools where your tube would crash into your friends or other riders that went before you (racing each other to the next slide portion was half the fun).
Kami Kazi/Hari Kari
Wild Rapids Waterslide Park/Facebook
These were twin carpet slides at the top of the tower, and they were fast. You’d launch yourself down on a foam mat, picking up speed over a series of drops before getting some pretty decent air, then slamming back down and shooting into the water.
Sidewinder
Wild Rapids Waterslide Park/Facebook
Our favourite waterslide in the park, and easily the most intimidating. The Sidewinder was a half-pipe located halfway up the tower. You’d sit in a single, double, or triple tube, and an attendant would shove you in and send you flying vertically down the tall pipe. As you can imagine, you’d rocket down one side, fly up the other, and keep going until you finally settled at the bottom.
Cooling off with an ice cream
Lastly, ice cream, hot dogs, slushies, and burgers are synonymous with seasonal concession stand food, and there was truly nothing better than the taste of some cold, sugary ice cream and maybe a hot dog after a long day of climbing waterslide towers and all that adrenaline.
But while they may be a distant memory now, there’s still plenty of fun to be had near the former site. The Sylvan Lake Aqua Splash, a seasonal inflatable park, features a 15-foot slide, climbing wall, trapeze swing, and monkey swing bars.
For even more fun, check out our roundup of awesome water parks to cool off in around Alberta.