Six Flags Adding Tornado Slides At Two Water Parks

Article written by:
Eric Gieszl, Editor

Spring, TX and St. Louis, MO -- Six Flags announced the addition of an enormous water thrill ride called Tornado at both Six Flags St. Louis' Hurricane Harbor and Six Flags SplashTown waterparks for the 2005 season. Guests boarding Tornado will experience a ride of a lifetime, directly through the eye of a gigantic award-winning funnel slide.

"This is an enormous water ride that will give our guests the unique sensation of being drawn through the eye of a giant tornado," explained Chuck Hendrix, vice president and general manager of Six Flags SplashTown.

The excitement begins on a platform set 75-feet in the air where daring riders are set in motion down a 132-foot long tunnel to be thrown into the giant open-ended funnel. Five thousand gallons of water send the riders whirling and spinning back and forth, from side to side as they slide through the 60-ft diameter funnel. When riders arrive at the vortex of the Tornado, they are sent through the eye of the storm into a cool catch pool below.

"It's a rush to be able to offer our guests such an exciting and unique experience," states David Roemer, vice president and general manager Six Flags St. Louis, "but the real reward is knowing what a rush the guests will feel when they ride this extreme water attraction!"

Guests do not have to brave the storm alone. Tornado provides specially designed, four person cloverleaf-shaped tubes for families or groups of friends to ride together.

At St. Louis' Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Tornado will be the first major addition since it opened in 1999. Three other Six Flags parks around the country have already added this ride, which has received great reviews from park guests.

Tornado's unique design has already received numerous distinctions, including the amusement industry's 2003 Golden Ticket Award for Best Waterpark Ride and the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions 2003 Best New Product Award in the Waterpark Category.

Construction on Tornado at Six Flags Splashtown is already complete, but guests will have to wait until the park opens for the 2005 season on Sat., April 30.

For more information visit sixflags.com.