Schlitterbahn Corpus Christi Opening New Shoot-The-Chutes Ride

Although the ride was purchased and moved to the park years ago, Schlitterbahn Corpus Christi is now ready to open their classic Shoot-The-Chutes ride to the public.  Named the Padre Plunge, the ride originally operated at Alabama Adventure theme park for only a couple seasons.

It will now be a part of the expansive Corpus Christi property, filled with unique water slides and attractions.

© Schlitterbahn Corpus Christi

Padre Plunge takes boats of up to 15 riders to a height of 45 feet above the park.  The boats slowly make their way around a 180 degree turn before plunging down into the water below.  The splash that is created by the boat is 20 feet tall, and soaks both guests watching nearby but also a slide that is positioned inside the ride's layout.

In anticipation of the ride's opening, Schlitterbahn Corpus Christi released this promotional video of the Padre Plunge in action:

The hottest, coolest ride is coming to Schlitterbahn Corpus Christi this summer.

Are you ready to #TakeThePlunge? 😱 #PadrePlunge #BahnLove pic.twitter.com/Rd0jmoKKoJ

— Schlitterbahn (@Schlitterbahn) May 10, 2017

Relocated Alabama Adventure Ride Opening at Schlitterbahn Corpus Christi

© Schlitterbahn

It has been quite a while since we've heard anything about Schlitterbahn Corpus Christi, the latest park to open in the Schlitterbahn family.  The park was initially delayed until 2014, but only partially opened this past year.  That's probably why it's been fairly low on the radar so far.

From what I can tell the new park, which is being built on the grounds of a former country club, is still operating some country club features like a nine hole golf course, restaurant and club house.  Last year it opened a redesigned club pool featuring a swim up bar, cabanas and an adjacent kids play area.

© Schlitterbahn

Here's a look at the swim up pool area, which is listed as being open daily for club members.  While the entire water park - which will feature several interconnected rivers, pools, and slides - didn't quite make it open last year, some parts of it appear to have come online late summer.  The entire project will be impressive when completed, here is a look at the original plans:

© Schlitterbahn

This layout is from when the park was first announced, back in 2012, so things have changed slightly since then.  It still gives a nice overall idea of what's planned.  The park will have lodging eventually built in, and an even larger residential area is planned for open space to the left of this development.  One change from these original plans is the addition of a theme park ride, a Shoot the Chutes located on the island around the torrent river in the plans above.

© Schlitterbahn

The Shoot the Chutes ride is the first of its kind in a Schlitterbahn park, seen above after being constructed last year.  It appears as though the ride is the former Buzzsaw Falls from Alabama Adventure, which sold off all its amusement park attractions before its current rebirth.  Schlitterbahn picked up a lot of other rides at the Geauga Lake sale many years ago, with plans for many of them to come online in the Kansas City park.  We haven't seen that happen just yet, but we still may one day.  It's neat to see more rides being incorporated into these water parks, though.

I can't see any official announcement about the opening of the full water park in Corpus Christi, but it appears as though that will happen this Spring or Summer.

Schlitterbahn Corpus Christi Delayed to 2014

Conceptual Plan © Schlitterbahn

After an exciting public development process that took place earlier this year the plan was to have Schlitterbahn Corpus Christi open for the 2013 Summer season, but delays at the company's South Padre Island Schlitterbahn Beach Resort have pushed that opening back to 2014.  The company has received up to $117 million in tax incentives to move forward with the project, and despite the delay it sounds like that deal will still be honored.

The water park would be part of massive development that would include a golf course, Marina district, Island Walk retail area, and a resort/housing development and potentially hotels.

Schlitterbahn owner Jeff Henry reports that he would like to focus on completing developments at The Beach resort, then be able to focus his team on making one of the largest and best water parks for Corpus Christie.

Proposed plans for the park show the use of the transportainment system for most of the park, with many water ways connected by slides and channels.