It was finally Wild Rivers’ opening day on Sunday, July 10, and excitement filled the air.
It started with the parking as attendants cheered cars into the 1,200-space lot and continued as visitors entered the water park where the recent sound of construction was replaced with laughter and screams.
Jonas Hill, 33, may be Wild Rivers No. 1 fan. He was just 3 years old when his mother, Farah Anderson, took him to its first opening day when the water park replaced the former Lion Country Safari in Irvine. And now three decades later, he was there again on Sunday with his mom, his girlfriend and his sister to celebrate its return, this time at Irvine’s Great Park.
Hill went to the park so much as youth, he said he felt like it was his family’s own swimming pool.
Wild Rivers enthusiasts plunge down the water park’s Bora Bora Boomerango ride on Sunday, July 10, 2022 in Irvine during a soft opening. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Jonas Hill maintains his winning record of never being beat on Wild Rivers’ Tomcat Racers five-shoot slide, formally known as Surf Hill, at the new park in Irvine on Sunday, July 10, 2022. He calls himself the park’s biggest fan. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Jonas Hill shows his athletic form while waiting to go on Wild Rivers Tomcat Racers slide, formally known as Surf Hill, at the new park in Irvine on Sunday, July 10, 2022. He says he has never lost a race on the six-shoot slide. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A large bucket of water drops on people at Wild River’s Cook’s Cove during the park’s soft opening in Irvine on Sunday, July 10, 2022. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Wild Rivers enthusiasts plunge down the water park’s Bora Bora Boomerango ride on Sunday, July 10, 2022 in Irvine during a soft opening. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A large bucket of water drops on people at Wild River’s Cook’s Cove during the park’s soft opening in Irvine on Sunday, July 10, 2022. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
People wait a couple stories high for their turn to thrill-seek down a ride at Wild Rivers during the park’s soft opening in Irvine on Sunday, July 10, 2022. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Wild Rivers enthusiasts plunge down the water park’s Bora Bora Boomerango ride on Sunday, July 10, 2022 in Irvine during a soft opening. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Blake Adham perfects his form at Wild Rivers in Irvine on
Sunday, July 10, 2022. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Stephanie Dixon with her daughter Chloe, 8, left, and her niece, Gianna Alva, 7, says she has the best memories of going to Wild Rivers at the old location when she was a kid and is now glad to be sharing the experience with her family. She was out the park’s soft opening in Irvine on Sunday, July 10, 2022. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Wild Rivers enthusiasts plunge down the water park’s Bora Bora Boomerango ride on Sunday, July 10, 2022 in Irvine during a soft opening. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Wild Rivers enthusiasts plunge down the water park’s Bora Bora Boomerango ride on Sunday, July 10, 2022 in Irvine during a soft opening. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
It’s smooth sailing for thee Wild Rivers enthusiasts on the water park’s Bora Bora Boomerango ride on Sunday, July 10, 2022 in Irvine during a soft opening. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Wild Rivers enthusiasts plunge down the water park’s Bora Bora Boomerango ride on Sunday, July 10, 2022 in Irvine during a soft opening. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Wild Rivers enthusiasts plunge down the water park’s Bora Bora Boomerango ride on Sunday, July 10, 2022 in Irvine during a soft opening. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A large bucket of water drops on people at Wild River’s Cook’s Cove during the park’s soft opening in Irvine on Sunday, July 10, 2022. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
When Wild Rivers closed in 2011 because of an expired lease, Hill said he was devastated. He joined a Wild Rivers Facebook group and followed the efforts to make its return a reality; and when tickets went on sale, he bought some immediately.
Hill boasts he never lost a race on the park’s six-shoot Tomcat Racers slide, known as Surf Hill at the old location. Built on 20-acres, this new Wild Rivers is bigger than the original and features a bevy of new rides, but also some old favorites.
“I once almost lost to my cousin, but I grabbed his bathing suit and sling shot to victory,” Hill said. “I don’t know if he was crying, but I saw a sheen in his eye.”
Hill demonstrated his technique on the hot pavement in front of a people waiting to go on the ride.
“I’m so aerodynamic. I use my abdominal muscles and point my toes,” he said before lying on his stomach.
True to his boast, Hill blew the competition out of the water.
Also enjoying the day were Stephanie Dixon and her family and a couple of her best friends from college.
She remembers going to the park as a kid, she said, when her mother bought her a seasonal pass.
“It was like freedom in paradise,” she said. “I’m glad that this is back and I can live it with my children and niece.”
Jennifer Powers, who worked as a Wild Rivers lifeguard for four years while going to high school, said it was her best job ever.
“I learned the value of work and also got to have fun,” making life-long friends along the way, she said.
The soft opening is expected to continue until July 17 and construction continues on some rides.
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