Well funtown has been doing well lately. The new slides are flying up and there almost done!!

Discuss this topic here.

Latest pics were put up today at Funtown's Facebook site:





http://www.facebook.com/funtownsplashtownusa

Not sure I like the direction that they are taking the park in, but there is no doubt that this is an improvement over a lawn with picnic tables!

Also of note.......old Merry-Go-Round is leaving the park, Antique Car ride is being shortened, and some kiddie rides are moving to new locations. Sad about the Merry-Go-Round as that has been there for 40+ years and had some unique animals. Someone will enjoy it somewhere.

Hopefully, Funtown has a master plan and is re-organizing the entrance to both parks. Still not sure why they insist on the go-carts, Barney Oldfield cars, balloon wheel and carousel being separate from the rest of the ride park.......the new slide area will make it an even more "awkward" layout. I say move the mechanical rides over to the "ride park", remove the go-karts and bumper boats, and use that area for the final expansion phase of Splashtown (wave pool, lazy river and water coaster!)

Slides are looking great. I never minded the picnic grounds there but but wanted to see the picnic grounds moved to the back of the park. The slides seems a bit strangely placed. I now the restaurant will likely have seating in side the water park. like it did before. but that still eaves a large spot to the right that is not quite big enough for another major slide tower.

I agree about the side rides area. I have for a long time expressed my desire to see the rides removed to relocated so that he water park can expand into that area.

So the carousel you are talking about is the small Herschel in the kiddie land. it is a shame to see it removed.

I think removing this will be an oportunity for the park to upgrade that whole area. From casino to kiddie land and even the main front area. They can make it classy and just nicer. With some good main street rides or something that would fit in with dragons decent. The waterslides are seem to be making the funtown u.s.a better.

Last I heard it seem the car ride is not completely coming out. just the bridge and turn around. still a bit disappointing since it was an aspect I liked about the ride.

I am excited about the new slides coming to Splashtown but does anyone have any ideas about the long term plans for Funtown/Splashtown? Is this the final phase for the water park or is there another phase? Next does anyone know if Funtown has any plans or ideas on what they want to do with the ride park?

I do not believe that they have a long turn plan written out for the park and water park.

But it will be interesting to see where they go from here.

Agreed.

How can a park with a layout like Funtown/Splashtown have a master plan??? :unsure:

That being said.......I don't see the separate area of rides (Go-Karts, Barney Oldfield Cars, Carousel, Balloon Ferris Wheel, Bumper Boats) being around much longer. The Carousel and Balloon Ferris Wheel could easily be worked into the existing ride park........the rest will probably be sold off. Then that entire area can be used for another Splashtown expansion........it would truly make sense now that the new slides have been placed where they have. A wavepool and lazy river would be great.......but those can become maintenance nightmares in Maine's climate. I'll tell you what would REALLY make a big impact.......a water coaster! They are above ground and extremely popular.

I agree that that ride section need to be relocated. It would be a great location for a lazy river and possible a wave pool. The winter is not all that far on the water attraction since they are drained on the off season. Keep in mind Whales tail has both a river and wave pool and they are further north and a higher elevation.

They are at a point were they need to buckle down and start clearing trees and expand the property

Again.......agreed!

Good point about Whale's Tale. You know......I went there as a kid when it was brand new and I remember it as a spectacular and scenic little waterpark.

Back to Splashtown.........if (when) they expand again, you have to think that a lazy river and/or wave pool and/or water coaster are in its future. They'll have more than enough regular slides now. Other than a water coaster, which would REALLY put Splashtown on the New England waterpark map IMO.........I'd think that they would be going for higher capacity "people eaters" like a lazy river or wave pool. That's the real problem for Splashtown......small footprint with mostly slides (and long lines).......if you're not into laying in a lounge chair.........you better be ready to climb stairs and stand in line a lot!

As far as Funtown (the ride park) is concerned.......totally agree on pushing an expansion into the forested area toward the back (they own 84 acres for cripes sake!). It's pretty much do or die time for the ride park. An expansion into the wooded area would allow them to build a larger attraction and would also allow them to get more into theming (SEVERELY lacking at Funtown!). If they don't expand the ride park soon, I think that eventually you will see the ride park (and Funtown) die off........they would probably keep about 15-20 acres for Splashtown (parking and expansion) and sell the rest off to developers as this area of the state is growing fairly rapidly.

Thing is an expansion would be easy since they could relocate the wheel, cars, and a few scattered rides form the park into a new rides area. A new area would really only need one staple attraction to pull guests in.

as for themeing I could care less. They are an amusement park. so unless they are looking to add a themed ride with a few other supporting attraction I'm fine with standard ride. but I wan to see more park models and landscaping.

They would have to do something with the main entrance though. So they can split the walk ways funtown USA to one side and Splashtown USA on the other( If they expand to the area.)

And Mrceagle, my dad owns a construction company. Out of my experience it looks like they are starting a new foundation for a building over were yo think another slide tower could go. That may be the other building they were talking about.

What foundation are you referring to? I saw no new or extra pads.

the pump house, candy cabin, and Restaurant are already built or nearly finished.

You were talking about how they may be able to put another major slide tower to the right of it. Is that going to be the gift shop?

Actually I was trying to say I was unsure how they would fit in another tower. the way they have it set up. I have sen no 4th Concrete pad. One shot you can see the pad for the picnic pavilion.

It would be really nice if funtown would lets us know there master plan for the park. I am really happy to see the park growing but I thin they have given way to much attention to the water park and negliected there ride park. They need to deciede do the want to be a water park or a true overall theme park. I will say with the addition of the new slides Aquaboggin just up the rd must be worried.. Has anyone heard anything of what Funtown might have planned for there future?

I haven't heard anything about Aquaboggin getting new slides. can you fill us in a bit more on this. or are you saying they can leave the water park alone till Aquaboggin adds something.

I said in the past and still feel this way I don't think Funtown splashtown has a long term plan.

I have also heard a little info on those new slide going in at aquaboggin. It don't know too much about them though.

I really think funtown has a lot of work set out for them in the next few years.

I'd like to see Funtown go more with some nice "Maine" theming around their park. Look at Canobie's theming........it's terrific. Their new entrance, Untamed, Boston Tea Party and more.......it's all very well done.

The Cormiers seem to just not have very good taste.......much of their park is very dated and "Frenchy" looking for lack of a better term. Maybe it has improved over the past few years........

Maybe you can explain Frenchy since it not a word.

They have some taste. they removed and opted to not add certain rides. like the shortly lived Zipper. Problem is many of the rides were added in the 80's. Only a few attraction were added in the 90's and since 2000 much of the focus has been on the water park. the only dry park additions were Dragons Descent and the Mouse replacement for the galaxy

tHEY have anounced that they are expanding the wadding pool and other pools in splashtown. Also renovation in funtown.

the slides are almost complete!

Expanding or connecting the 2 small ones.

They said they are expanding the mushroom pool. This is the swimming pool with the mushroom-shaped fountain in it. In order to do so, they would have to connect it to an adjacent pool. One of those adjacent pools is the landing pool for Corkscrew and the Speed Slides. The other adjacent pool is the landing pool for Splish, Splash, and Liquid Lightning. I recall that the later pool has some extra space as if it has been reconfigured from a former use. They could reconfigure the walls and join these two. Another possability is that they could be removing Corkscrew/Speed Slides which are older slides and join those two pools. I hope a removal of slides isn't the case, but it wouldn't surprise me given their age. Any thoughts on these possabilities?

Edit:
I just noticed on the park's website that the Speed Slides are not listed on the attractions page for Splashtown. I only assume they used to be listed among everything else there. The new slides are not on that page either, however, so take it for what it's worth.
http://www.funtownusa.com/information.php?...08d608f59796324

The 2 sleep slides can be seen removed on their photo update. The corkscrew slide is still there. though they could be removing it.

Thanks for pointing out the photo. I suspect that only the Speed Slides are being removed because they're the only ones not listed on the official website.

Ya , unfortunate that corkscrew slide is horrible.

I can see why the speed slides are gone. They were just cheesy slides. They are starting to mature and they don't need those two slides when they have those awsome 4 speed slides right next to it.

Yes the corkscrew does suck. They should replace it with a new tube slide.

I can understand completely. it's just why bother keeping the corkscrew. that pool is not there for just the corkscrew along with the stairs and platform.

I don't understand either. Mabey in the future they will remove it for a new family raft slide. They couldn't just leave that area stripped empty for the season. Possibly next season well see replacements for both slides

if the goal is to at some point replace it they need to remove it till then. they could have expanded the umbrella pool be across both pools and the space between them. and the removed stair way would have increased lunge space and would be more visible to life guards.

Just looking at the pictures of the "racing slides" it seems to me that the white slide furthest to the left (looking at the second picture posted above) would always win the race assuming the same body weight and push. It has the largest drop in the beginning meaning it is going fastest around the corner and I don't think the others would have time to catch up.

Thing is the second drop is largest a you move to the right. I think you will find the sliders will stay close.

After the water park expansion is complete what are Funtown/splashtowns next set of plans? Does anyone know how long will it be before the expand more? Does the park ever share what future ideas the have for continued growth?

Not really, and plans can chance. The slide tower originally planed a few years back would have been different then what they added this year.

but the dry parks needs some attention.

Don't get me started with the rest of the park haha.

I see that they put out the brand new park map. Its much more easier to get aroung now. They really separated the two parks.

Ok, if no one has any ideas when or what Funtown/Splashtown is doing does anyone have any ideas as to how long we will have to wait to see something new happening? Also does Funtown pay cash for its expansions or do they finace everything?

Funtown is very strange when it comes to construction and so on. Due to the demand for a new thrill ride the park, they will probally do something next season. But it really all depends on how well this season turns out.

And i'm not sure about their finace, i don't really get to deep into funtown.

Funtown adds an attraction about every 2-3 years. For the most park they finance their addition on their own. They did take out loans for Dragons and Excalibur which they are still paying off.

They have been a little quiet for the past month. My guess is that there close to complete with most of the construction. Its been a good winter for every new england park.

There was an update today. slide are up. everything now is related to walkways and the secondary projects.