Birch Bay Waterslides
| Birch Bay Waterslides | |
|---|---|
| Slogan | Where the fun always shines! |
| Location | Birch Bay, Washington, United States |
| Operated by | GMAP |
| Previous names | Birch Bay Waterpark |
| Operating season | June–September |
| Status | Operating |
| Area | 13.06 acres (5.29 hectacres) |
| Website | https://www.birchbaywaterslides.net/ |
The Birch Bay Waterslides is a water park in Birch Bay, WA operated by Global Management Amusement Professionals (GMAP). It is the only water park in Whatcom County and one of five in Washington State.[1][2]
The water park was built in 1985 amidst the wake of tourism from Canadians into Whatcom County, and is a big part of the community with many residents and tourists alike spend summer days there with their families.[3]
On August 25, 2023, an incident at the water park occurred. A man going down one of the slides known as “Hairpin”, when he ran into a broken splash guard panel and severely lacerated both of his legs. Eyewitnesses described the scene as “chaotic ” and “gruesome”. The park was sued, subsequently closed, stripped of its permits, and underwent renovations to address safety concerns. The park remained closed until June 2025 when it reopened after nearly two years and prepared to celebrate the 40th anniversary.[4][5][6]
Attractions
[edit]The water park features 6 total waterslides:
- Twister - A winding slide branching from the main tower of slides.
- Corkscrew - the second of 3 slides that branch from the main tower.
- Snake - the third winding slide from the main tower.
- Hairpin - formerly a fourth slide from the main tower, but was removed due to the incident in 2023.
- River Ride - tubed ride that uses both single and double tubes feeding into a large pool.
- Blue Bearacota - separate tubed ride distant from other slides in the park.
- The Drop - near 90 degree free-fall slide with high velocity.
The water park also has 3 separate pools for swimming, including a kiddie pool, a normal beach-entry swimming pool, and a hot tub.[7]
Amenities
[edit]Birch Bay Waterslides has a gift shop, various seating areas, volleyball and basketball courts, and many concessions for food.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ "List of water parks in the Americas", Wikipedia, 2025-06-29, retrieved 2025-07-04
- ^ Tellman, Julia (2025-01-30). "Under new management, Birch Bay Waterslides touts 'significant updates' but won't share specifics | Cascadia Daily News". www.cascadiadaily.com. Retrieved 2025-07-04.
- ^ "Birch Bay Waterslides | Waterpark | Birch Bay, Washington". Birch Bay. Retrieved 2025-07-04.
- ^ "Birch Bay Waterslides closes early for season after man severely injured on waterslide". king5.com. 2023-08-31. Retrieved 2025-07-04.
- ^ McCarthy, Grace (2024-03-06). "Investigation into Birch Bay Waterslides injury hampered by missing inspection records". The Northern Light. Retrieved 2025-07-04.
- ^ McCarthy, Grace (2024-05-15). "Man sues Birch Bay Waterslides for serious injury on slide". All Point Bulletin. Retrieved 2025-07-04.
- ^ "Attractions | Birch Bay Waterslides | Birch Bay, Washington". Birch Bay. Retrieved 2025-07-05.
- ^ "Attractions | Birch Bay Waterslides | Birch Bay, Washington". Birch Bay. Retrieved 2025-07-05.