We all know “everything is bigger in Texas,” so when it came time to designing the water features for Typhoon Texas, a new water park located in Katy, Texas, the park knew they had to impress. That’s why they hired Soft Play to develop two Texas-themed custom water play areas. Let’s look at how Soft Play accomplished the design of these attractions.

Typhoon Texas Opens with a Splash

The 25-acre Typhoon Texas water park opened in May 2016. “The first privately funded water park built in the United States in the last 10 years, Typhoon Texas opened with a media frenzy, hitting capacity attendance and season pass goals faster than expected,” says Jon Norby, Founder and Creative Director of Soft Play. The $45 million park, located next to Katy Mills Mall, was created to compete with the Schlitterbahn chain and Wet ‘n’ Wild Splash Town. The park uses a filter that pumps 70,000 gallons of water per minute, providing some of the cleanest water in Texas. The park also uses powerful slide pumps to keep the water flowing and make for shorter lines at rides.

The park’s 13 main rides include body slides such as the 50-foot “Open AquaDrop,” tube slides such as the “Constrictor” that spin pairs of riders through series of loops, and raft slides such as the “Family 6 Boomerango” that sends groups gliding up and down a 60-foot wall bearing a painting of the Texas flag.

Soft Play Creates Texas-Themed Water Features for the Whole Family

To gain an advantage over other water parks, Typhoon Texas knew they needed to have activities for everyone – from a big slide for all the daredevils out there, to shallow water pools for the little ones. And since Typhoon Texas wanted to ensure visitors of all ages would have a great time in their park, they asked Soft Play to design two custom water play areas with Texas themes to please families with young kids.

Soft Play contributed their expertise to two areas in Typhoon Texas. “Buckaroo Bayou, the toddler splash pad play area, was designed and manufactured by Soft Play, and features a Texas-shaped climber, oil rig squirting slide, and a water spitting rattlesnake, among other themed mini-squirt elements,” says Norby. “In addition to other floatables, Soft Play also provided a Texas star-shaped floatable for the children’s play pool, and a custom-themed water walk where kids can walk across floating gators and log slices.”

Encouraging Physical Activity and Development Through Water Play

When creating the splash pad play areas for Typhoon Texas, the Soft Play design team wanted to make sure they used aspects and features that exploit the magic of water. They were sure to take into account the physical, cognitive, and social development of the children who would be using the area. Most parents have fond memories of running through the sprinklers in their backyard and this immersive design takes that fun experience to the next level.

The Texas themed water playscape was designed to encourage essential childhood development skills such as jumping, dodging, running, or simply standing under an aquatic component. Additionally, interactive water features like an alligator slide, fishing boat, and beaver water walk all stimulate the development of important gross motor skills. The sensory aspects of water also provide an understanding of different textures such as misting, splashing, dumping, raining, squirting, and sprinkling.

Soft Play Is the Expert When It Comes to Water Play Elements

Soft Play is the global leader for interactive indoor, outdoor, and water play. By combining best in class design with handcrafted manufacturing, Soft Play is able to provide custom play areas that maximize return on investment.

Soft Play offers a wide selection of stocked and custom water play elements, including water walk systems, splash pads, climbers, floatables, and kiddie water slides. Water walk systems help kids defy water with elements that float, such as lily pads or hippo heads, engaging kids of all ages. Floatables create a sense of adventure, allowing kids to float on the back of characters while in the pool. Because their products get considerable use, Soft Play finishes its water play elements with UV- and chlorine-stable, abrasion-resistant, HydroTuff™ coatings to make sure all products are safe, durable, and easy to clean.

Typhoon Texas offers the cleanest environment possible and loads of family fun. That’s why the water park incorporated custom elements designed by Soft Play, making this water park suitable for all ages.

To learn more about Soft Play and their water play areas, visit our website today!