Mount Gushmore: An Artificial Hill

MONDAY, 26 JULY 2010

Mount Gushmore is an artificial hill in Walt-Disney's-Blizzard-Beach Waterpark, Orlando-Florida. The mountain formerly included a rock climbing wall attraction; this has, however, been non-operational for a number of years, due to safety and staffing considerations. A chairlift transports guests to the top of Mount Gushmore, where the entrances to many of the slides and flumes are. With a total elevation of 90 feet, this artificial mountain is the fifth highest point in Florida

Mount Gushmore hosts the majority of the major attractions at the park, and is split into three coloured slopes to aid guests navigating around the park: Green, Red and Purple. Mount Gushmore houses a few of the parks highest slides, and is itself 90 feet high. The parks highest slide, Summit Plummet is the highest "free sliding" body slide in the US. The "Mountain" also serves an important logistical function: hiding the park's pipe work.

Green Slope

The Green Slope attractions (all are single track water slides, and as such are not meant for racing,) are found at the uppermost point of Mount Gushmore. They can be accessed by foot, or by chairlift. The chairlift is a one-way ride, except for guests with disabilities.

Summit Plummet is the flagship attraction at 120 feet (37 m) tall, and speeds 60 miles per hour (97 km/h). It's the second tallest and fastest free fall slide in the world. There is a minimum height requirement of 48 in (120 cm).

Summit Plummet was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records for being the highest and fastest!

An overview of Team Boat Springs.

Teamboat Springs is the world's longest "family white-water raft ride" at 1,400 feet (430 m) long. This attraction sends guests down a twisting series of rushing waterfalls. Water Park guests sit in large blue rubber rafts, which can hold a minimum of 4 and maximum of 6 persons, equipped with handles to hold on while the gushing water takes you down the slide. No infants and other Health Restrictions are advised.

Slush Gusher

Slush Gusher is a 90-foot-tall (27 m), 250-foot-long (76 m) snow-banked mountain gully body slide attraction that reaches speeds up to 35 miles per hour (56 km/h). It has two places where it almost levels off, only to drop back down again. As such, it is one of only a few water slides where "air time" is achieved. If you want to reach maximum air, raise your crossed-legs just before you reach the second hump and keep straight.

Purple Slope

Access to the Purple Slope attractions (all of which have at least two nearly identical tracks, and as such are designed for racing,) is from a pathway next to the catch pool of Downhill Double Dipper.

Downhill Double Dipper is one of the world's only side-by-side racing slides. It is located next to Snow Stormers on Mount Gushmore This adrenaline pumping attraction's slides are 50 feet (15 m) high and are 230 feet (70 m) long. Guests travel up to speeds of 25 mph (40 km/h) on these twin inner tube runs as they race past internationally recognized ski racing graphic elements and flags. Time clocks count-off each downhill heat and the runs are outfitted with automated audio equipment that signals the start of each race. Also, it is one of the few racing slides where push off speed is not a factor, as gates hold back riders until it is time for the race to begin. This attraction has a minimum height requirement of 48 in (120 cm).

Snow Stormers is a "mat slide" consisting of three flumes that are 350 feet (110 m) long. This attraction sits between Downhill Double Dipper and Toboggan Racers on Mount Gushmore The attraction descends from the top of the mountain and follows a switchback course through ski-type slalom gates. Guests lay on their stomach on the toboggan style mat as they ride down the flumes. Mat pickup at the top of attraction (Shares Mat Conveyor with Toboggan Racers).

Toboggan Racers is an 8-lane, 250-foot ,76 m, water slide next to Snow Stormers on Mount Gushmore. The attraction sends guests racing over exhilarating dips as they descend the "snow" slope along the side of Mount Gushmore. Guests lay on their stomach on the toboggan style mat as they race to the finish line. Mat pickup at the top (Shares mat conveyor with Snow Stormers).

Red Slope

The Red Slope is found at the very rear of the park, containing only one attraction (a multi-slide attraction, but not designed for racing, due to the slides being so different).

Runoff Rapids is a 600-foot (180 m) inner tube run featuring two open and one enclosed tube slides. This attraction careens guests down twisting, turning flumes, passing through corrugated steel pipes. Tubes available at the bottom of the attraction. The Red slope stairs are the only way to access this attraction.

Ground level

Meltaway Bay is a 1-acre (4,000 m2) wave pool nestled against the base of Mount Gushmore This attraction is constantly fed by "melting snow" waterfalls creating "bobbing" (short) waves.

The Cross Country Creek is a 3,000-foot (910 m) slow-moving water attraction commonly known as a "lazy river," that travels around the perimeter of the water park. The attraction carries floating guests (in inner tubes) through a bone-chilling ice cave. Once inside the mysterious cave, guests will be splashed with the "melting" ice from overhead. There are 7 entrances and exits located throughout the park for this attraction, and any of these locations guests may pick up tubes and leave them as they exit the creek. The journey takes between twenty and thirty minutes to complete depending on crowd levels.

An overview of Ski Patrol and the Chairlift

Ski Patrol is an area for pre-teenage children.

Leisure Pool- The pool contains "icebergs" on which guests under 12 can walk across.
Fahrenheit Drops - Commonly known as the "T-Bar", this attraction is a rope drop that deposits guests that are under five feet tall into eight and a half feet of water.
Freezin' Pipe Springs - This attraction is a short body slide. It deposits guests in the same water area as Farenheight Drops, but has no height restriction.
Cool Runners- a wide-open slide (inner tube) area created by rapidly melting snow mounds (moguls). Tike's Peak features gentle slides designed to resemble scaled down versions of attractions at Blizzard Beach. Also included is a snow-castle fountain play area with pop (water) jets. Picnic benches also provided. Footwear is suggested due to hot pavement. The attraction is limited to children under 48 in (120 cm).

The Chairlift carries up to 3 guests over the craggy face of Mount Gushmore, from its base at the beach, to its summit. The chairs carrying guests feature wooden-bench seats, colorful overhead umbrellas and snow skis on their underside. The Chairlift was converted from ski-resort to beach-resort use after a freak snowstorm hit Florida and soon after melted forming the perfect site for a water park. This is a one-way ride to the top of Mount Gushmore providing access to most attractions depending on the number of guests present in the park. A Gondola is also provided for disabled guests to access the top of Mount Gushmore. Requirements: Minimum height requirement of 32 in (81 cm),48 in (120 cm) to ride alone.

Source: www.prlog.org