Spring is finally upon us, and it is time to fit in as many fun outdoor activities as you can before you and your friends have to part for the summer. While Disney World and Six Flags are more than a healthy road trip’s distance away, Magic Springs and Crystal Falls water and theme park in Hot Springs, Ark., clocks in at just under two hours away and has much to offer for a day trip.
For the roller coaster thrill-seekers out there, Magic Springs boasts eight thrill rides for you to enjoy. You will see “The Gauntlet” as soon as arrive at the park, with its highest drop standing at 110 feet. This ride lets your feet swing in the air as you go through a series of loops and bends at up to 50 mph. The “X-Coaster,” my personal favorite, sends you twirling up a 150-foot vertical tower and through the course, followed by going backwards through the station and up the tower. In addition to these two thrill rides, Magic Springs also has a wooden roller coaster called the “Arkansas Twister,” a runaway mine train named “Big Bad John,” a vertical tower to shoot you 85 feet in the air, a water coaster to cool you off on a hot day and two rides that spin or flip in the air that I would not recommend for those with weak stomachs.
Magic Springs also has several rides that are significantly less thrilling, but just as fun. The “Diamond Ride Coaster” is a much tamer coaster and considered enjoyable for almost anyone. Similar to one of the thrill rides, the “Rum Runner Pirate Ship” rocks riders back and forth in a fun way to get your stomach turning, but does not go upside down. No theme park is complete without a log ride, so put that on your list of attractions to ride, especially if it is a hot day. Finally, you and your friends can battle in the bumper car arena or take a more leisurely ride around in old-timey taxi cars. There are also rides available for children.
If it gets warm enough this semester, the Crystal Falls water park is one of the best places to have fun and cool off. Always a crowd favorite, Crystal Falls has a big wave pool with plenty of tubes for all patrons who want to float over the waves. There are multiple water slides to ride on, some with tubes and some where you simply ride on a foam mat. If you are looking to put a little work into having a lot of fun, visit the “Boogie Blast,” where riders get in a simulated wave area on a boogie board to try to show onlookers some tricks. Crystal Falls just added a new “Splash Island” where customers can climb around a water playground and try to avoid (or get hit by) 1,000 gallons of water from a tipping bucket every 10 minutes.
Magic Springs opens on April 13 only on the weekends until the end of May. Crystal Falls opens May 11, also only on the weekends until the end of May. General admission tickets, which get you in to the theme and water park, are available Sunday-Friday for $39.99 and on Saturday for $49.99. There are special group and twilight rates available online, as well as better rates for seniors and children and season passes. If you’ll be in Searcy for the summer, Magic Springs also hosts concerts almost every week starting May 25. More information can be found at www.magicsprings.com.
