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14-542: Wild Adventures (formerly known as Liberty Farms ) is a zoological theme park located in Clyattville , Georgia , 5 miles (8.0 km) south of Valdosta, Georgia . The park is owned by Herschend Family Entertainment and has been managed by Jon Vigue since October 2020. Wild Adventures has rides, exotic animals , the Splash Island water park, and live shows. Kent Buescher and his wife Dawn Buescher founded

28-1177: A $ 4 million renovation to turn the park into a Polynesian-themed paradise. Wild Adventures also announced their intent to build a new ride, the Wahee Cyclone. Animal theme park Two examples of animal theme parks are Disney's Animal Kingdom in Orlando, Florida (580 acres or 2.3 square kilometres) and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in Tampa, Florida (335 acres or 1.36 square kilometres). These commercial parks are similar to open-range zoos and safari parks according to size, but different in intention and appearance, containing more entertainment and amusement elements (stage shows, amusement rides, etc.). The term "animal theme park" can also be used to describe certain marine mammal parks , oceanariums , and more elaborate dolphinariums , such as SeaWorld , which offers amusement rides and additional entertainment attractions, and are also where marine animals such as whales are kept, contained, put on display, and are sometimes trained to perform in shows. In 2010

42-666: A 100-meter drop double slide. In 2004, the Adventure Park Group purchased Cypress Gardens in Winter Haven, Florida , a company that Buescher privately held. The expansion of the park was slowed down following the purchase of Cypress Gardens. In 2005, an S&S Power Screamin' Swing named Gauntlet was added. For the park's 10th anniversary in 2006, the park announced its intent to add the Shaka Zulu River Adventure log flume, relocated from

56-577: A live concert area. At the end of the season, the Yo-Yo ride was removed from the park. In 2023, the Go Bananas roller coaster was renamed to Marsh Mayhem, and the Sidewinder flat ride was renamed Sandstorm Chaser and moved to the new Oasis Outpost-themed area of the park. In 2019, the park created Discovery Outpost, a new children's section, using old rides that were repainted and renovated to match

70-674: The COVID-19 pandemic , later reopening in July 2020. In early 2021, it was announced that the park's CCI wooden coaster Cheetah would be retired after its closure in the 2020 season, as well as the park's go-karts and mini-golf course . For the 2022 season, the Falcon Flyers were renamed the American Flyers and received a new paint job. The restaurant Brews and Bites began selling alcoholic beverages and added covered seating and

84-403: The 166-acre (670,000 m) park and hosts seven rides and five shops. It is frequently the most crowded area of the park. Splash Island first opened in 2003 and was Wild Adventures' largest expansion since rides were introduced in 1999. When Splash Island was opened, it had no theming and more closely resembled a community pool. In 2008, Wild Adventures announced that Splash Island would undergo

98-627: The Gauntlet but opened The Rattler on March 21, 2008. It is a Huss Frisbee -type flat ride manufactured by Moser Rides of Italy. Also in 2008, the Tiger Terror roller coaster was sold and moved to Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa, Florida , and renamed "Tasmanian Tiger". In February 2009, the movie Zombieland was filmed at Wild Adventures for its theme park scenes. For the 2010 season, the park added several rides including Viking Voyage, Whirling Wildcats, and Falcon Flyers. All three rides were from

112-506: The S&;S Double-shot was renamed Blazer Blast for a new children-themed area called Discovery Outpost. After the 2019 season, Viking Voyage was moved to Fun Spot Kissimmee. Beginning in the 2020 season, Blackfoot Falls was renovated and renamed Island Falls, and the Pharaoh's Fury was moved to another zone of the park after the closure of surrounding rides. Wild Adventures was shut down due to

126-530: The defunct Miracle Strip Amusement Park in Panama City Beach, Florida . However, the ride was delayed due to engineering problems and was later canceled. In September 2006, Adventure Parks Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. On September 25, 2007, due to bankruptcy proceedings, Adventure Parks Group LLC auctioned off Cypress Gardens and Wild Adventures. Despite the Chapter 11 filing,

140-485: The now defunct Celebration City in Branson, Missouri. The Attractions, Gold Rush, and Mystery Maze were removed. Bug Out was renamed Go Bananas. The S&S Double Shot was renamed Firecracker. Two new rides, Tailspin, and Wacky Wheels were added before the 2013 season. In 2015, Jungle Rumble, a flat ride, was also added. Before the 2019 season, Fiesta Express was moved out of storage and was renamed Swamp-water Snake and

154-440: The park on a plot of farmland outside of Valdosta , Georgia . It was established in 1996 for around $ 10 million. Wild Adventures started as a small petting zoo known as Liberty Farms D&L (Distribution & Logistics ). The park now hosts six roller coasters and numerous flat rides. Rides were initially added to the park in 1998. Splash Island, the park's water park, opened in 2003 as the park's largest expansion which features

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168-416: The parks remained open for operation. The initial bids were set at $ 17.4 million for Cypress Gardens and $ 38.85 million for Wild Adventures, with a combined starting point of $ 53.25 million. The group's situation only worsened after hurricanes Charley , Frances , and Jeanne damaged Cypress Gardens in 2004. Herschend Family Entertainment later purchased Wild Adventures for $ 34.4 million. Herschend removed

182-564: The practice of keeping animals as trained show performers in theme parks was heavily criticized when a trainer was killed by an orca whale at SeaWorld Orlando in Florida. Most zoos have a carousel and/or Safari Train , but some zoos have more amusement attractions than that. Disney%27s Animal Kingdom Too Many Requests If you report this error to the Wikimedia System Administrators, please include

196-586: The theme of the area. Oasis Outpost was added for the 2023 season with two rides being moved to this new section – the Sidewinder was renamed the Sandstorm Chaser and the Trail Trackers. Past themes included Base Camp, Bugsville, Australian Outback, Alapaha Preserve, The Lagoon, African Pride-lands, and Wild West. Splash Island is a Polynesian-themed water park that is free with admission to Wild Adventures. It takes up 27 acres (110,000 m) of

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