This New England waterpark overflows with holiday spirit.
The centerpiece of Ho Ho H20 is an AquaPlay AP1050 from WhiteWater. Many of the ideas for a North Pole-inspired play structure were developed in-house at Santa’s Village, with WhiteWater contributing to the overall design. There are plenty whimsical touches: A snowman slaloming off the roof; polar bears armed with snowballs; and a not-so-ferocious yeti named Snog.
“He’s not a bad guy,” says Christian Gainer, general manager of Santa’s Village. “He’s kind of like Animal from the Muppets, wild and crazy and a lot of fun, but can be just a little bit destructive.”
Snowcapped roofs and frozen fountains further the frosty theme. Note how water from the tipping bucket appears to form a massive icicle. Of course, guests splash to the soundtrack of classic Christmas tunes.
Even the concrete piers supporting the Joy Ride Slides, from ProSlide, look like giant candy canes.
The most recent additions exude rustic charm: The Merry Mess Hall, a food court, and the Elfs Lodge, which offers shopping, nursing rooms, bathrooms, changing rooms and first aid.
The Elfs Lodge includes 17 family changing rooms. Themed to look like the inside of a camping tent, each room offers parents and their children complete privacy and plenty of space. “That’s a huge surprise to all of our guests. They don’t have to divide the family,” Gainer adds.
The storytelling doesn't end with the waterpark. Here, a couple of Santa's helpers sit atop their trusty reindeer in front of the Elfs Lodge. (A play on the Elks Lodge.)