Families looking for a water park filled with activities for the whole family will want to turn their attention to Evergreen Aviation in McMinnville Oregon. Their newest attraction is a real all weather hands-on attraction with family fun for every member. Spend a day at the water park adventure like no other.
747 Aircraft is Dramatic Start to Water Park Fun
Lower yourself into the giant 747 aircraft’s escape slide, plummet down twists and turns flowing along comfortably warm water until you reach the end and plunge into the waiting pool. That’s the introductory level experience of the Sonic Boom slide in the only waterpark with a real 747 as the rooftop start to Wings and Waves Waterpark adventure. And this novice rated slide from the airplane on the roof is a mild introduction to the more intense rides to come.
Inspiring Addition to the Evergreen Aviation Complex
Seen from Highway 18 in McMinnville, Oregon, the three Evergreen buildings tower harmoniously above acres of trellised grape vines. Their shape and style direct onlookers vision heavenward, true to Evergreen Aviation’s mission to inspire, “To some, the sky’s the limit, to aviators, it’s home.” Wings and Waves is the newest, but not the last addition to the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum complex.
The forty-foot high wall of windows allows passersby to glimpse the water wonderland inside. Wings and Waves is the only water park topped with a real 747 aircraft, that looks as if it's either ready for take-off, or just made an impossible landing on the roof of a building barely large enough to contain the body and wingspan of the massive aircraft.
Evergreen Aviation has a history of excellence, and the new Wings and Waves follows in the footsteps of its companions, the Aviation Museum and Space Museum housed in two adjacent buildings. Guests will find on each visit that all three facilities are kept clean, well maintained, and well staffed by teams of friendly and informed team members who are always ready to share their wealth of knowledge.
All Ages Family Fun AND Education
Wings and Waves is one of the most exciting, educational and entertaining water parks families will experience. True to Captain Michael King Smith’s vision and his father, Delford M. Smith’s drive to fulfill that vision, Evergreen Aviation’s mission, “To inspire, educate, promote, and preserve our history of aviation and space travel and to honor our veterans,” expands into a vision to bring the same respect for the power of water and its effects on society.
The 70,000 square feet water park is housed in the unique architecture that has become one of the hallmarks of Evergreen’s public image since the Aviation Museum opened. Wings and Waves sports 10 water slides, three pools and the H2O Museum. Beginners may want to start with the Sonic Boom slide to get acquainted with the indoor waterpark experience. The more adventurous will probably want to graduate to the high-energy, tight turning, high-banking Tail Spin ride, or take the Nose Dive, described by Wings and Waves as a “High initial drop into a high rate bank turn leading into a dark oscillating section before breaking out of the clouds through a hologram image and into the circular bowl below”, and dropped out in a spectacular splash down.
Something for Every Member of the Family
Whether you prefer to rest in the hot tub, soak in the leisure pool, roll with the waves in the Splashdown Pool, or ride the intense high energy tube slides, Evergreen Aviation’s Wings and Waves Waterpark is a place for the family to spend the day where kids of all ages can find activities they will talk about long after they have left the park. As Dana Tims reported in The Oregonian, June 6, 2011, one thirteen year old boy commented, "I've been to water parks before, but this is the first time I've ever actually had fun."
So Much More Than a Water Park
If you have the time, plan to spend a couple of days in McMinnville and visit the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museums before you leave. Take advantage of the guided tours through the aviation museum. Listen and learn as the guides share their knowledge and experiences with the aircrafts on display. Ask them to regale you with stories of the details, stories and history of the exhibits such as Wilbur and Orville Wright’s Flyer, the famous Spruce Goose, a plethora of commercial and private aircraft, and fighter aircrafts dating from WWI to today.
Watch the video of the Evergreen crew lifting the 747 to the top of Wings and Waves
You can visit Wings and Waves on the web
Jon Thompson - Jon Thompson - freelance article and commercial writer with background in education, business, advertising, sales and emergency ...
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