Nearly doubling in size, Meridian water park to become one of largest in U.S.
An outdoor Meridian entertainment hub is going big — actually, bigger.
Roaring Springs Water Park, 400 W. Overland Road, is launching a major expansion.
Already the Northwest’s biggest water park, it plans to become one of the largest of its kind in the United States.
In March, Roaring Springs will begin construction on expansion that will bring “some of the best water rides in the world to Idaho,” according to an email from Tiffany Quilici, chief marketing officer.
In the biggest expansion in its history, the 18-acre family attraction will swallow up a 12-acre lot east of the current space.
There are seven planned phases. The first is set to open in summer 2023.
Roaring Springs will increase in size by 40 percent over the next decade, according to a press release.
The expansion will include a Northwest-themed play structure with seven slides and a potato tipping bucket, Idaho’s first action river and a forest-themed activity pool. Among other things, it also will have a new restaurant and the water park’s first bar.
“Our leadership team has visited water parks all around the world, and we’re excited to bring some of the highest quality, most fun water rides to Idaho,” Roaring Springs CEO Pat Morandi said in a prepared statement.
From the release, here are details about coming rides and improvements:
▪ Camp IdaH2O is a giant interactive water playground featuring some of Idaho’s most iconic symbols. While kids shoot down seven slides ranging from toddler to twister, baby bears slide down a log flume. Bluebirds line up on a diving board, a mama bear goes trout fishing, and a buck-toothed ram keeps watch from a lifeguard chair.
The most unique feature is the world’s first dumping potato bucket, which splashes 650 gallons of water onto fun seekers below. Camp IdaH2O is surrounded by an 8-inch deep lagoon and will keep little explorers busy for hours with around 100 play features.
▪ Whitewater adventure meets water park fun in Class 5 Canyon, Idaho’s first action river. Thrill-seekers with kickboards are propelled with wave action around the ultimate river ride experience. Class 5 Canyon will be half as long and twice as wide as Roaring Springs’ current Endless River, with a zero-depth entry beach.
▪ Critter Crossing is an activity pool with forest-themed floating features for kids to balance across with overhead ropes, plus water basketball and other play elements for skill-based recreational fun.
▪ The Geyser Grill & Bar will offer Idaho fare with an Asian flair, including burgers and fries, pizza, rice bowls and fried pot stickers. Grownups can enjoy adult beverages for the first time at Roaring Springs, with Idaho-inspired craft beers, huckleberry-infused cocktails, and more.
Other improvements will include a new state-of-the-art UV filtration system to maintain water cleanliness, plus 16 luxury cabanas with soft seating, upscale pool furniture, restrooms and more parking.
Certain rides in the initial phases will be chosen as they continue to be designed, according to the release. The final two phases of the project, which is slated to take 10 to 15 years, will provide additional parking.
Weather permitting this spring, Roaring Springs is slated to open May 7. A massive seasonal draw for residents in Boise and the Treasure Valley, Roaring Springs made its debut in 1999.
This story was originally published February 17, 2022 at 8:41 AM.