Six Flags opens ‘cool’ new water play area for kids (PHOTOS)

By Rob Spahr From NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

JACKSON – Believe it or not, children just got something else to entertain them at Six Flags Hurricane Harbor.

The 45-acre water park celebrated the grand opening of its new Caribbean Cove water play area on Thursday.

Caribbean Cove – which joined a water park that already boasts a million-gallon wave pool, a half-mile lazy river, more than 25 high-speed thrill slides and another massive children’s water playground – has 55 interactive features, including spray nozzles, jets, valves, water guns, an action slide and a large bucket that dumps water from two stories in the air.

“For the last few years we’ve been putting in attractions that have been geared toward our thrill seekers, like Big Wave Racer and King Cobra, but we always like to keep a balance for our thrill seekers and for our families,” said Kristin Siebeneicher, spokeswoman for Six Flags Great Adventure. “So this year, we focused on families with Caribbean Cove, which is a very interactive water playground, with things that kids can really get in to, get their hands in, have fun and basically just cool off.”

Caribbean Cove is mostly geared for children are 48 inches and under, Siebeneicher said.

“Everything’s kind of smaller sized, which makes them feel very comfortable that it’s really a place for them,” she said. “It’s also a zero-entry pool and the deepest point is only eight inches, which is also great because little kids can just sit and splash without worrying about the pool being too deep.”

The new play area brings life to the water park’s large beach area between the Taak It Eez Ee Creek lazy river and the Big Wave Racer slide complex, and also features 300 new lounge chairs and additional shaded canopies.

“We definitely needed more seating,” Siebeneicher said. “The Harbor gets extremely crowded on hot days, so it’s great for people to be able to spread out.”

Riders gave Six Flags Great Adventure’s new 4D coaster, The Joker, rave reviews.

During the grand opening, children splashed in the water, sprayed each other with water jets, climbed up the play area to slide down either of its two slides, as their parents either relaxed on nearby lounge chairs or joined in the fun themselves.

Meanwhile, a steel drum band and a deejay took turns playing island-themed music to help set the Caribbean mood for the park’s guests, who were handed leis as they entered the play area. And sand sculptor John Gowdy crafted a large Caribbean Cove-themed sandcastle, as children received sandcastle-building lessons on the adjacent beach area.

“We definitely want kids to enjoy the fact that this attraction is really meant for them,” Siebeneicher said. “We’ve been trying to find a great balance all throughout Hurricane Harbor of large and smaller attractions, and Caribbean Cove was designed definitely for the kids.”

For more on this story go to: http://www.nj.com/ocean/index.ssf/2016/07/six_flags_opens_cool_new_water_play_area_for_kids.html