Full-time hours begin at Sun Splash
With the help of a new attraction and dry weather, Sun Splash Family Waterpark was able to beat nearly all weekend numbers from last year and, with full-time hours starting this weekend, the momentum is expected to continue.
That’s what Sandy Griner, general manager of Sun Splash, said Thursday ahead of a big Memorial Day promotion, where military personnel and veterans will get free admission and up to three guests at discounted admission on Monday.
The city-owned park opened March 18 for weekends and Griner said the numbers have all been better than last year. The new Pirate’s Cove kid’s area has been a main reason for the upsurge.
Pirate’s Cove is a water play area that features slides, a hydro storm, blasters, gushers, geysers and more. Griner said it is made a major impact.
“It’s done its job by bringing in more people to the park. It has 32 interactive features and kids are always there as well as a lot of adults,” Griner said. “Everybody who comes here thinks it’s absolutely fantastic. It’s the place in the park to be.”
Mother’s Day weekend, which is one of the busiest of the year, featured huge giveaways such as weekend hotel stays and gift cards to area stores. That coupled with free admission for mom made it a huge success. Griner said Father’s Day on June 18 is expected to be the same, only with more Dad-oriented prizes.
There will also be a July 4 promotion for veterans in the same line with Memorial Day, as well as a Labor Day special, which will be the last big promotion before closing weekend in late September.
Griner said the park will have night hours once a week, which will alternate Fridays and Saturdays until 9 p.m. The park used to hold movie nights at the park, but that has stopped.
“Honestly, it lost its popularity. It did well the first couple years and then it lost its umph,” Griner said. “We plan on bringing in entertainment such as a photo booth for the first picture of summer.”
Another promotion Sun Splash tried was “Mommy & Me” on Monday. Griner said she would look into bringing that back depending on how Mondays go.
As for the building that burned down last year, Griner said a replacement is being built, though it is unknown if it will open this year.
The first night event will be May 27. They will also be open late on June 3, 9, 17 and 23, July 1, 7, 15, 21 and 29, and August 4. With school opening the following week. Weekend hours will then resume until the park closes on Sept. 24.
Summer hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day except for when it opens at night, when it’s open until 9 p.m.
Sun Splash is at 400 Santa Barbara Boulevard
For more information, call 574-0558 or go online to sunsplashwaterpark.com