Monster Lotus Slide at The Parque Aquatico
Wiegand.WaterRides, a leading water rides and attraction provider, is celebrating the successful launch of the Monster Lotus slide at The Parque Aquatico water park in Portugal.
This Looping Group attraction is situated on a hillside, 100 metres above the Tamega River. Its unique location provides stunning views and innovative slides that utilise the terrain’s height variations.
Creative Slide Concept
Helder Silva, the park’s director, aimed to revitalise the southern section of the park with a new family rafting ride built on the rocky slope. This area was often overlooked by guests, so the project was designed to enhance visitor flow.
“Wiegand.WaterRides was selected to deliver a slide concept here for the first time that impressed with its creative solution,” explains a spokesperson from the company.
The new Compact Rafting concept was chosen for this project. Originally developed for the Icon of the Seas cruise ship, The Parque Aquatico marks its first implementation on land.
“It had to be something special,” says a spokesperson from the firm. “Helder Silva wanted the patented LOTUS element to be unusually scary – not cheerful. This approach aimed to create a genuine, nearly 140m long marketing attraction that simply does not exist anywhere else.”
Thrilling Features of the Monster Lotus
The Monster Lotus was launched in June and has been heavily promoted in advertising across the region.
The ride’s theming includes ominous eyes and scratch marks, visible in the ride’s daylight effects within the slide tube. These elements complement the graphics in the Lotus feature. The slide tubes can accommodate three riders, or four if there are small children in the group, and are lightweight, making them easy for visitors to carry.
Adding to the excitement is Wiegand’s 16-meter-tall freefall slide, Vertigem (fear of heights). This slide descends at an incredibly steep 55.7%, challenging even the most daring park visitors.
The tower was constructed by the park in collaboration with regional partners. A splash guard tunnel prevents unnecessary water loss during landing.
The Parque Aquatico is already planning to introduce another slide in the future.
Wiegand.WaterRides recently highlighted how its stainless steel solutions can assist attractions in preparing for the summer season by providing a smooth slide finish, extended lifespan, and minimal maintenance.
