Despite Wave of Problems, New Soak City Park to Open June 17

Soak City USA, Knott’s Berry Farm’s new $25-million water park, is, uh, inundated with the usual flood of last-minute problems. But Knott’s boss Jack Falfas swears it will open as scheduled June 17. And with nearly every piece in place.

“The only thing we’re not going to have that we were planning on are some canvas shade structures that lend a little color to it,” Falfas said Tuesday. “Nobody will notice.”

The 12 1/2-acre park, which will require a separate ticket for admission, has 21 rides and attractions, including water slides, a “lazy river” ride and a wave pool. The park will operate from late May to September.

Falfas said he’ll start filling the wave pool today and the lazy river--the other big water-user--this weekend. Landscaping is underway.

Knott’s has hired and trained 160 lifeguards to work at the park, located on a former parking lot south of the replica Independence Hall.

“Next week, we start the food stands practice. That’s always popular--free food for everyone,” Falfas said. “The ice cream cone presentation might not be perfect at first. And we might have a couple of burned hot dogs. But we’ll get it working.”

Most patrons will probably come from within a 25-mile radius, Falfas said, putting Soak City in head-on competition with Raging Waters in San Dimas and Wild Rivers in Irvine.

The opening had been scheduled for Memorial Day weekend but was pushed back, largely because Knott’s changed the design to address neighbors’ concerns about noise.