World Waterpark Association Presents the 2025 “Leading Edge Awards”

(eap) As part of WWA’s annual Symposium and Trade Show”, which is being held for the 45^th time and is still taking place until tomorrow at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando (Florida), the World Waterpark Association (WWA) has presented its “Leading Edge Awards 2025” for outstanding projects within the global waterpark industry.

Bavarian Blast Indoor Waterpark © Photo: Aquatic Development Group In the U.S., one of the award winners is Michigan’s new – and at over 15,500 square meters, also the largest – indoor waterpark: the Bavarian Blast Waterpark at the Bavarian Inn Resort in Frankenmuth. Opened only a few months ago, the waterpark offers guests a total of 16 waterslides and additional attractions such as a wave pool, a wild river, cabanas, and a pool bar – read more in our EAP News of March 31, 2025. Award recipients for this project also include the involved companies WhiteWater West (waterslides), Aquatic Development Group (design & construction), Open Aire (retractable roof structure), Life Floor (flooring), and H&LA (consulting).

Also honored with an award is the Summer Savanna Outdoor Waterpark at Kalahari Resorts & Conventions in Round Rock (Texas), whose recent expansion added new water play modules and slides for children. The slides (also from WhiteWater) are themed with natural motifs such as honeybees, flowers, ladybugs, and dragonflies. The Canada-based manufacturer Vortex supplied the water play modules for the new Adventure River. In addition, Water Technology Inc. (WTI) and Murphy’s Waves were involved in the project and are likewise celebrating the WWA distinction.

Okana Indoor Waterpark, "Wild Rapids" © Photo: ProSlide In Oklahoma City, the Chickasaw Nation opened the Okana Indoor Waterpark this year – the largest waterpark to date in the state of Oklahoma. The approximately 9,300-square-meter facility, which represents an investment of around 400 million USD, also receives a Leading Edge Award 2025. Highlights of the guest offerings include five large slides from Canadian manufacturer ProSlide Technology, designed as tube and mat slides with high capacity. Aquatic Development Group (ADG) was responsible for master planning and construction services and also installed its WaveTek technology in the over 550 square meter wave pool. Read more about the new Okana Resort, which in addition to the waterpark also includes a hotel, in EAP issue 3/2025.

Another award goes to the Miami-based cruise company Carnival Cruise Line for its new vacation destination Celebration Key on its private island Grand Bahama (Caribbean). The “Suncastle,” serving as the landmark of the island, which is mainly focused on wellness and relaxation offerings, features two body slides by WhiteWater, equipped with the “AquaLucent” lighting technology for special visual effects. Life Floor supplied the slip-resistant flooring for the destination, whose overall concept was developed with the participation of U.S.-based design and engineering firm Martin Aquatic.

In Abu Dhabi (UAE), the Yas Waterworld, operating since 2013, opened its extensive new Lost City expansion this summer, which includes several WhiteWater slides installed on multi-level slide towers and has likewise received a Leading Edge Award. With “Bahamut Rage,” WhiteWater also delivered a “Shoot the Chute”-type boat ride – a classic attraction known from amusement parks. A large water play area (featuring Life Floor surfacing) offers varied fun for the youngest guests. All about Lost City can be found in the upcoming EAP issue No. 6/2025, to be published on November 3.

Among the projects honored by the WWA this year is also the large-scale development of the new Sun World Hà Nam Water Park in Vietnam. Waterslides from manufacturer ProSlide, which is already under contract for future projects of the Sun Group, and water play modules from Waterplay ensure diverse aquatic fun.

The WWA Trade Show, where numerous manufacturers of water attractions and technologies are exhibiting, opens its doors once again today. Those who have not had the opportunity to attend the 45th Symposium of the association will have another chance to learn about current developments and new products for leisure facilities – then at IAAPA Expo in Orlando. ■