Here’s when Roaring Springs opens — with $350,000 virus killer on ‘every drop of water’

Boise public pools might be closed this summer, but Roaring Springs Waterpark in Meridian plans to open Saturday, May 30.

The popular outdoor destination will make its 2020 debut during Stage 3 of Gov. Brad Little’s Idaho Rebounds plan, according to a media release.

The park’s sister attraction, Wahooz Family Fun Zone, is slated to open Monday, May 18, as part of Stage 2 of the plan. Both stages require authorization from Gov. Little to move forward.

Roaring Springs, 400 W. Overland Road, plans to unveil its new $1.3 million Snake River Run ride. But many Boise fun seekers will be interested in a different type of investment — one to minimize possible exposure to the coronavirus.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has stated that “there is no evidence that the virus that causes COVID-19 can be spread to people through the water in pools, hot tubs, spas, or water play areas.”

Roaring Springs management has developed a “comprehensive plan to keep our guests safe at Roaring Springs and Wahooz,” the release says. “We have shared our safety plan with officials at Central District Health, Idaho Health & Welfare and the Meridian Mayor’s Office, and they have given it their approval.”

“Some of the measures we’re taking to provide a safe environment for our guests and employees include:

▪ “The Centers for Disease Control states: ‘Proper operation, maintenance and disinfection (e.g. with chlorine and bromine) of pools and hot tubs should remove or deactivate the virus that causes COVID-19.’

▪ “More importantly, Roaring Springs is one of the only aquatic facilities in the Treasure Valley with ultraviolet light on all our pools as an added layer of protection for our guests. We invested $350,000 in the spring of 2018 to install UV light on every drop of water that circulates through the waterpark. UV light works by disrupting the DNA or RNA of specific organisms, such as viruses, which in turn, kills or inactivates the virus completely.

▪ “A waterpark is different than a public pool, because riders are dispatched on slides that allow for social distancing.

▪ “Limiting the capacity to 50 percent in our Wave Pool, Endless River and Bearfoot Bay, as well as practicing social distancing and thorough disinfecting in queue lines, dining areas and throughout the waterpark.

▪ “Limiting capacity at Wahooz by taking online reservations for four-hour outdoor play sessions and 1.5 hour bowling sessions with social distancing and extra disinfection on all attractions and bowling lanes.

▪ “Asking employees and guests with any symptoms of COVID-19 to stay home.

▪ “Checking the temperatures of all guests and employees before they enter the parks using touch-free infrared thermometers. Any person with a fever at or above 100.3 degrees F will be asked to return home until symptoms resolve.

▪ “Placing alcohol-based hand-sanitizing stations throughout all areas of our parks.

▪ “Requiring most employees to wear face masks (except lifeguards guarding pools) and guests will be recommended to do so. No face masks will be allowed in the water as a safety precaution.

▪ “Where possible, employees will interact with guests from behind Plexiglass shields.”

For complete safety measures and other frequently asked questions, visit https://www.roaringsprings.com/coronavirus-message/index.cfm.

This story was originally published May 12, 2020 at 8:48 AM.