The Midwest’s first cable wake-boarding park has opened in Cincinnati. Located in the Fairfield community, Wake Nation had a soft opening on Sunday, May 3 at Joyce Park with a Grand Opening Celebration scheduled for Tuesday, June 2.
Wake Nation owner, Peter Kennedy indicates there are only seven other cable waterparks in the entire nation including Dallas, Kansas City, Oklahoma City and four in Florida.
What makes the cable waterparks special is that riders can water ski, wakeboard and wakeskate by being pulled by an overhead cable-pulley system instead of a typical motor boat. This experience makes Wake Nation fun and exciting for both veteran wakeboarders and first-time riders.
Riders at
Wake Nation Cincinnati are pulled around the 10-acre lake, constructed by Cincinnati-based
Unit Building Services, at 18-20 miles per hour with speeds topping out at 45 miles per hour for the most experienced riders. There are challenging jumps, including floating sliders, grind rails, table tops and kickers for those looking for additional thrills.
The new water sports complex is already proving to be a hit.
Following the grand opening celebrations on June 2, local radio station WEBN will broadcast live from the park between 3 and 5pm. The big event will then take place from Thursday, July 30 to Saturday, August 1 when the USA Wakeboard Cable Nationals come to town.
The
USA Wakeboard Cable National Championships feature the nation’s best wakeboarders and is expected to draw some 5,000 spectators. Throughout the summer Kennedy expects to draw an average of 300 visitors a day with some coming from as far away as Chicago or Knoxville, TN.
Wake Nation offers free parking and admission to the water sports complex, including access to an outdoor 3,000 square-foot observation deck that offers panoramic views of the entire lake area. Rates are based on a “pay-as-you-play” system. Cable passes can be purchased in one hour, two hour, four hour and all-day passes for $20, $25, $30 and $35, respectively.
The park is open daily at 10am and closes at dark throughout the summer until October. Riders are encouraged to bring their own gear, but can also rent equipment at the park if needed. Wake Nation Cincinnati is located at 201 Joe Nuxhall Way in Joyce Park which is roughly 25 minutes north of downtown Cincinnati.
Writer:
Randy SimesSource: Peter Kennedy, owner, Wake Nation Cincinnati; Bill Mefford
Images provided
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