Knott's to Build Tall Water Slide That'll Make It Tops in Plops

Facing cutthroat competition from other theme parks, Knott's Berry Farm plans to build Perilous Plunge, an attraction billed as the "tallest and steepest" water ride anywhere.

The ride will make its debut at the Buena Park theme park next summer.

In an industry obsessed with bragging rights, Knott's officials said Thursday that the height of their newest project will surpass the 100-foot-tall Tidal Force ride at Hersheypark in Pennsylvania and officially become the world's tallest water ride.

"There is this competition to have the fastest, the tallest and the scariest thrill ride," observed Jack Kyser, chief economist at the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp. "Knott's is becoming more competitive and trying to move a little bit beyond being a regional theme park."

Attendance at the nation's amusement parks was flat last year, according to statistics compiled by the trade publication Amusement Business. In Southern California, the number of parkgoers declined at every park except Knott's, which held steady as it spent heavily on new attractions.

Since being purchased in late 1997 by Cedar Fair LP, Knott's has added the 300-foot free-fall ride known as Supreme Scream, which is Orange County's tallest structure, as well as GhostRider, a huge wooden roller coaster.

The new water ride will be one of the main attractions in the park's redeveloping Boardwalk area, which was introduced three years ago as an updated version of what was known for decades as the Roaring '20s area.

"We wanted to create a big splash on the Boardwalk . . . and this is about as big as it gets," said Jack Falfas, Knott's vice president and general manager.

On Perilous Plunge, 24-passenger boats will be sent up a 121-foot lift, then will plummet down a 115-foot water chute at a 75-degree angle, reaching a top speed of 50 mph.

The ride will have a braking system that will enable operators to control not only the speed of the boats but also the size of the splash so passengers won't get soaked on colder days in Southern California.

"It's not for the faint of heart, but it will definitely appeal to the younger audience, which should give [Knott's] a competitive advantage," Kyser said. "Six Flags [Magic Mountain] has staked out roller coasters and Knott's is staking out other unusual attractions."