Location | Valdosta, Georgia, United States |
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Coordinates | 30°43′12″N 83°19′24″W / 30.72000°N 83.32333°WCoordinates: 30°43′12″N 83°19′24″W / 30.72000°N 83.32333°W |
Owner | Herschend Family Entertainment |
Opened | 1996 |
Operating season | Mid-March through December |
Area | 166 acres (0.67 km2) |
Rides | |
Total | 59 |
Roller coasters | 7 |
Water rides | 7 |
Website | www |
Wild Adventures is a zoological theme park 5 miles (8.0 km) south of Valdosta, Georgia, United States. It is owned by Herschend Family Entertainment. The park features rides and attractions, including eight roller coasters, exotic animals, shows, Splash Island water park and concerts from country, pop, rock, Christian, and oldies superstars. The park is located just off interstate 75.
Kent Buescher, founder of Wild Adventures, started the park with his wife, Dawn, on a plot of farm land outside of Valdosta, Georgia in 1996 for around $10 million. Wild Adventures started out as a small petting zoo (Liberty Farms) D&L. The park is home to eight roller coasters and numerous flat rides. The rides were initially added to the park in 1998 and has since rapidly grown. Splash Island, the park's water park, opened in 2003 as the park's largest expansion which includes several water slides and attractions.
In 2004, Adventure Parks Group purchased Cypress Gardens in Winter Haven, Florida. The company was privately held by Buescher. Expansion died down for the park following the Cypress Gardens purchase.
In 2005, The Gauntlet was added, which is an S&S Power Screamin' Swing complex. For the park's 10th anniversary in 2006, the park announced their intent to add the Shaka Zula River Adventure log flume, relocated from the defunct Miracle Strip Amusement Park in Panama City Beach, Florida. The ride was delayed due to engineering problems, and never opened to the public.
In September 2006, Adventure Parks Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The park operated without interruption during the bankruptcy reorganization.