Water park provides heat relief

Krystal River Water Park is making a splash as summer swimmers line up to escape the sweltering July heat. Since 1989, the park has grown to house more than 30 water rides for park-goers to slip and slide on.

To Ken Edwards, owner of Krystal River Water Park, the best part of his job is watching kids have fun.

"We have been open for 13 years. It's a family-owned and family-run operation," Edwards said. "Everyone seems to be having fun, especially the kids."

If you go

Krystal River is open daily from 10:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. and is located at 799 Industrial Park Drive in Evans. Special group rates, season passes and birthday party packages available. For more information about the park, call (706) 855-0061.

Shipwreck Island has smaller water slides and a shallow pool for the pint-sized swimmers, 48 inches and under. From a huge, white-sand beach to a free arcade, to the free-falling thrill of a water slide that sends you sliding 86 feet in 2.2 seconds, the park has a little something for everyone. And Edwards is already planning to add more for next year.

"We are adding a a new wave pool that will be the second largest in the southeastern United States," Edwards said. "Plus we are looking at ways to change the water slides to make them even more exciting next year."

The new typhoon cavern, a two-person inner tube ride that was added this season, will be expanded this winter, making it look like a volcano.

"Water parks are one of the fastest-growing industries in the world," Edwards said. "We have the park with a lot of trees to give it some atmosphere and make it a little cooler."

When the weather finally cools down in October, children will be able to enjoy the eight new rides that have been added to the amusement park section, near Santa's gift shop.

"We are restoring a 55-foot antique ferris wheel from the 1948 Canadian World Fair," Edwards said. "It was originally designed in 1897 and is a real piece of history."

For now, children are trying out the different slides to find out which one they like best.

Brittany Roop, 12, is visiting her cousin in Augusta and made her first trip to Krystal River.

"The tubing is really fun and I'm really enjoying it," Roop said.

Her cousin, Monica Carpenter, 10, was drenched after sliding down the tidal wave slide, with inner tube in hand ready to conquer the slide again.

"So far I've been (to the park) twice this summer. I like the tubing best because you can go so fast," Carpenter said.

For Edwards, safety and fun go hand in hand at the park.

"Our employees are like one big family," Edwards said. "We want to make sure that everyone is safe (and) has as much fun as possible while they are at the park."