SkyscraperPage Forum - {SA} For the first time ever, Schlitterbahn will be open during the winter

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Schlitterbahn unwraps holiday plans

William Pack - Express-News

Schlitterbahn's watery wonderland in New Braunfels will take on a more frigid look this winter when it extends its season for the first time ever to host a Christmas-themed extravaganza.

It's called Schlitterbahn's Hill Country Christmas, offering visitors an ice-skating rink instead of a lagoon, a snow-covered hill for a toboggan run instead of a water slide, Christmas shopping areas and holiday shows. The park will be festooned with more than a million lights illuminating everything from a special display in the Comal River to a 250-foot-long, candy-cane tunnel at the end of the park.

“We're excited to create a new family tradition this holiday season,” General Manager Darren Hill said. “This new event truly captures the magic of Christmas morning every night.”

Schlitterbahn's Communications Director Jeffrey Siebert said the new program will be announced to the public this morning, which is also when tickets will go on sale.

Holiday events will be held in the evenings on the original portion of the 65-acre park beginning Nov. 28. They will run on weekends at first and daily from Dec. 19 through Jan. 4, except for Dec. 24-25.

It marks the first time in its nearly 30-year-old history that Schlitterbahn has been open beyond the summer season, which ends in September. The family-owned company is not releasing the cost of the programming, but Siebert said, “It's the most elaborate special event we've ever held.”

With the region growing and the economy forcing more people to stay close to home for vacations and holidays, the New Braunfels-based water park operator hopes the new event will become a successful family tradition.

“It's designed to be the Christmas event for the entire state,” Siebert said.

Other local theme parks already have Christmas schedules. Six Flags Fiesta Texas is planning another Holiday in the Park activity for the Christmas season this year, and SeaWorld San Antonio also will have an extended season that runs through December.

Schlitterbahn's plan impressed experts in the amusement park industry. They said many theme parks have added Christmas and Halloween activities, but few water parks have taken on programming during wintry seasons.

“I think this is really innovative, and I hope they find their audience,” said Tim Baldwin, a writer and archivist for Amusement Today magazine. “This shows great business sense, and it's great for the community.”

Dan Martin, vice president of Economics Research Associates/AECOM, said holiday activities at parks are often successful because holidays create additional free time for kids but don't always offer many activities. But holidays are shorter than other seasons and bad weather can make operations riskier.

“They really have to deliver,” Martin said.

The Schlitterbahn Christmas event will change the park's traditional feel with a holiday theme that includes ice skating, blowing snow, a Santa's workshop with animated light sculptures, an illuminated Nativity scene, carolers and other activities. The only water feature from the summer park to be included in the Christmas program will be a hot tub where guests can watch skaters.

“It's 180 degrees from where we traditionally are,” Siebert said.

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