Six Flags to splash into 2014 with Hurricane Harbor

Rendering of new water park planned: Hurricane Harbor Flat at Six Flags Over Georgia. Contributed

Rendering of new water park planned: Hurricane Harbor Flat at Six Flags Over Georgia. Contributed

Six Flags is making a splash into 2014 with a new tropical island-themed attraction.

Hurricane Harbor will feature an 800,000 gallon wave pool, multi-slide tower, a “world’s first” single slide tower with two extreme slide thrills and an interactive children’s play area.

The attraction will open on Memorial Day weekend 2014, but the ground breaking for construction will take place Sept. 16.

“We surveyed thousands of our guests and over the past several years they keep telling us they want more water in the areas,” said Emily Murray, communications manager for the park.

Hurricane Harbor will be located where the Southern Star Amphitheatre currently stands. The park has scheduled concerts and events there since 1986, but Murray said they will be held in a different area of the park.

“Besides taking out Southern Star, no other attractions will be removed,” Murray said.

Murray said the new attraction won’t take away from the already popular Six Flags White Water, the 69-acre water park in Marietta. “With all the surveys that we’ve seen and the demand for a water park and the growth White Water has shown, White water is still a large part of Six Flags and (Hurricane Harbor) will complement each other.”

Park President Dale Kaetzel said Hurricane Harbor is the beginning of a much bigger expansion.

“In addition to Hurricane Harbor, we will be adding multiple attractions in the coming years as part of a multi-million, multi-year strategy to invest in the county for years to come,” Kaetzel said.

Hurricane Harbor will also have new places to shop and eat. Admission for the expansion will be included in any one-day ticket and season passes for Six Flags, but Murray said she doesn’t know admissions prices for 2014 at this time.

The new Typhoon Twister, introduced in 2013, is also planned to expand its dive-in movies in 2014, adding an entertainment stage that will feature music and new ways to enjoy the Atlanta Ocean wave pool, according to a release from Six Flags.

Fright Fest, Six Flag’s annual Halloween-themed celebration, has also expanded this year with three new mazes, five new scare zones, more zombies and extended hours through weekends in October.