Competition and thrills combine at Worlds of Fun in 2020 when RipTide Raceway, the longest mat racing water slide in the Midwest, debuts next summer at Oceans of Fun water park, Kansas City, Missouri. From WhiteWater West, RipTide Raceway will take guests five stories high before they speed down four side-by-side tunnels atop a soft foam mat. Riders in each lane will race more than 476 feet (145 m) to be the first to reach the finish line as they make an exhilarating journey down a winding hillside, around a tight 360º loop and through a rapid final descent before splashdown.
“With its thrilling twists and competitive elements, RipTide Raceway is sure to be an instant fan-favorite,” said Tony Carovillano, Worlds of Fun’s vice president and general manager. “We’re constantly looking for new ways to delight our guests, whether it’s an event like the international street festival Grand Carnivale that debuted this summer, to great new dining venues, and now this exciting water park attraction. Our collection of rides, slides, and immersive events provides a complete lineup of family entertainment that’s unmatched in the region.”
RipTide Raceway has been designed to follow the natural terrain of the park’s landscape, and is the first thrill attraction added to the water park since 2013 when Oceans of Fun and Worlds of Fun were conjoined. It will replace Diamond Head, one of the park’s original water slides that opened in 1982. Construction will begin this fall after Oceans of Fun closes for the 2019 season. Entry into Oceans of Fun is included in admission to Worlds of Fun.
