Magic Springs unveils new water feature
Magic Springs and Crystal Falls water and theme park will reveal its newest attraction, a chiller pool appropriately named Magic Spring, on Saturday with a VIP event at 9:30 a.m. before the park opens.
With a water chiller that keeps the water 70 degrees or cooler at all times and a tropical atmosphere complete with waterfall and 40-foot palm trees, this new attraction is sure to be a big hit with park-goers as the outside temperatures continue to climb, park officials said this week.
“We found this beautiful, beautiful stone in Clinton, Ark., of all places, and built this beautiful waterfall,” said Steve Honeycutt, park general manager. “Waterfalls have that soothing, relaxing sound — that’s the whole idea. It’s not a swimming pool, it’s not made for that. It’s not something you stay in because 70 degree water is cold; you’re going to want out real quick. It’s not like the wave pool where you go in and people stay in for hours; that’s not the
experience at all.”
Honeycutt said the story behind the chiller pool came from a group of miners who hit a spring and, being in Hot Springs, expected the water to be hot, but were surprised to discover freezing water.
Right next to Splash Island, the Magic Spring will be encircled by a rock wall, providing a more private area, and furniture will be set up around the area for guests to rest on. The rock wall will be decorated with plants to add to the tropical ambience.
“We don’t want to put too much out here because the intention is not to hang around and all that. It’s to come in here, jump in — it’s so cold you’re going to want to get out — and then you go on about your business,” Honeycutt added. “I think people are really going to enjoy it because it’s such a different experience to be here amongst the palm trees and all that. Like paradise.”
Honeycutt said the park staff is keeping an eye on the weather for Saturday, adding that while it’s rare for the park to close due to weather, it does happen. If a storm is accompanied by lightning, it’s mandatory for everyone to get out of the water and the rides to close until the storm passes. If there is only rain and no lightning, most of the attractions will remain open.
Also new this year at Magic Springs is Trejo’s Mexican Restaurant and a drink stand that has been converted into a taco stand, also operated by owner Elias Trejo.
After being introduced to Trejo two years ago at a VIP party during the park’s concert series where Trejo served food to guests, Honeycutt said Trejo’s professionalism and expertise is what prompted him to approach Trejo about opening a restaurant inside the park.
“He is really a professional, really good at what he does,” Honeycutt said. “Several people that work for him are his family members, so their work ethic is like his.”
Magic Springs’ 2016 Concert Series will kick off with Hunter Hayes at 8 p.m. on June 4, followed by such acts as Hinder, MercyMe, Cheap Trick, Sabrina Carpenter, Colton Dixon, 38 Special and Dwight Yoakam.
Magic Springs is now open seven days a week until the third week in August.