Sandcastle Waterpark is an indoor waterpark in an 84-degree tropical climate located at South Beach in Blackpool, Lancashire, England. It opened in 1986 on the site of the former South Shore Open Air Baths as a joint public/private partnership. Sandcastle Waterpark is the largest indoor waterpark in the United Kingdom with more than 18 slides and attractions.
Sandcastle Waterpark is also home to white knuckle slides like the world's longest indoor roller-coaster water slide, the Master Blaster, and the first vertical indoor drop slide Sidewinder.
Family attractions include the Ushi Gushi Action River, the Shimmering Shallows and the Typhoon Lagoon Wavepool.
For younger visitors there is a Caribbean Storm Treehouse which is an interactive adventure play area with a giant tipping coconut that cascades 600 gallons of water over unsuspecting guests. There are also a range of water cannons, mini slides and jets within the HMS Thundersplash and Fort Riptide areas.
Operation of the centre was taken back into Blackpool Council ownership in 2003. Reductions in costs and increases in visitor numbers and spending have since followed. A significant investment in new attractions costing £5.5M was also agreed, which was delivered in two phases, with the second opening in 2006 on time and on budget.
In 2012, the water park opened two new Aztec theme slides, one with a chamber called 'Aztec Falls', and a toboggan like slide called 'Montazooma.'
In 2013, the Sea Breeze Spa opened. The Sea Breeze Spa is for age 18+ and has 7 different facilities including a sauna, steam room, ice feature, heated loungers, aromatherapy room, salt inhalation room and foot spas.
In 2015 Sandcastle Waterpark introduced a new VIP Tiki Cabana. This is available to hire for the day. It is a private area overlooking the waterpark, which features a hot-tub, dining area, lounge area with flat-screen TV, stocked fridge and safe.
In 2016, Sandcastle Waterpark celebrated its 30th birthday with a monthlong series of events involving a wide variety of local charities and community groups. On 26 June 2016 as part of these celebrations, Sandcastle Waterpark regained the world record for most riders down a waterslide in one hour. The previous record had stood to a Dutch Waterpark at 396 riders. Sandcastle Waterpark smashed this record with a new official world record of 529 riders.
Maps, Directions, and Place Reviews
Slides and attractions
Key
Slides and attractions
Other attractions
- Swim Shack - Swimwear and accessories shop
- Bongo Bongo - Food and drink outlet
- Waterfalls - Food and drink outlet which is accessible to non swimmers from the Promenade
- Treetops Trading Post - Souvenirs and branded merchandise
Coconut Water Park Video
Park awards
- 2015: Changing Places Toilet Facilities - People's choice - Favourite Changing Place Facility
- 2015: VAQAS Gold Certificate Holder
- 2015: Investors In People Gold Accolade
- 2014: Sue Copp (Guest Service and Inclusion Manager) won Tourism Superstar - Lancashire Tourism Awards
- 2014: World Host recognised
- 2014: Access For All Silver Winner - VisitEngland Awards for Excellence
- 2013: Access For All Gold Winner - VisitEngland Awards for Excellence
- 2013/14: Customer Service Award - Visit Lancashire Awards
- 2013/14: Access for All (shortlisted) - Enjoy England Awards
- 2012/13: Access for All - Enjoy England Awards
- 2012/13: Large Visitor Attraction of the Year - Marketing Lancashire Tourism Awards
- 2012/13: Access for All - Marketing Lancashire Tourism Awards
- 2011/12: Large Visitor Attraction of the Year - LBTB Tourism Awards
- 2011/12: Access for All - LBTB Tourism Awards
- 2011/12: Excellence in Customer Service - NW Chamber of Commerce Awards
- 2011/12: Community Award for Retail & Hospitality - St Johns First Aid Awards
- 2010/11: Sustainability in Tourism - Visit Blackpool Tourism Awards
- 2010/11: Excellence in Customer Service - England's Northwest Tourism Awards
- 2010/11: Waterpark Literature - World Waterpark Awards Wave Review Awards
- 2010/11: Access for All Award - Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board Tourism Awards
- 2010/11: Customer Service Excellence - Northwest Tourism Awards
- 2009/10: TV advertising campaign of the year - World Waterpark Awards Wave Review Awards
- 2009/10: Outstanding contribution to industry award - World Waterpark Awards Wave Review Awards
World records
- 2016: Sandcastle Waterpark sets a new world record on Sunday 26 June 2016 for the most people down a waterslide in one hour when 529 people smash the previous record of 396!
- 2014: Sandcastle Waterpark took part in the World's Largest Swimming Lesson, helping set the record at 36,564 participants over 22 countries.
- 2013: Sandcastle Waterpark took part in the Worlds Largest Swimming Lesson. As part of the event Sandcastle Waterpark was recognised as hosting the largest number of participants in the UK. The Guinness World Record was set at 24,873 participants, 432 facilities in 13 countries.
- 2012: Sandcastle Waterpark was an official host location for The World's Largest Swimming Lesson, which set a new world record on 11 June 2012 for the largest simultaneous swimming lesson ever conducted.
- 2008: Ten soldiers set a new world record for the longest distance spent on a water slide. Signaller Mark McCluggage and 9 other soldiers raised over £10,000 for charity by spending 24 hours continually sliding down the Thunderfalls slide
In popular culture
- Mr Tumble and Justin Fletcher from CBeebies filmed at the Sandcastle for the TV series, 'Something Special' in June 2012.
- The Dandy Warhols used footage filmed outside the Sandcastle Water Park in the music video for their Autumn Carnival single.
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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