A helicopter will install the St. Marys Super Splash water attraction this week
St. Marys, Ont. is about to add a new attraction to one of its biggest tourist attractions.
The quarry, also known as Canada’s largest swimming pool, will house the London area’s first floating water park.
The attraction will include slides, climbers, swings, and jump and splash areas.
“There is nothing like it here. It’s near London, Kitchener an hour away. Stratford is also close,” said Super Splash owner Patrick Jackson.
He and his wife started the business in 2017, and their first location opened near Hamilton the following year. Although the attraction is inflatable, getting it to St. Marys is far from a simple feat.
Police, firefighters and other emergency responders have been working on a plan for several weeks.
Their involvement focuses on the challenges of installing 55 concrete anchors, which will hold the inflatable structures in place, each weighing over 408 kilograms. They will be placed at the bottom of the 10 meter long quarry.
To bring them there, a specialized helicopter is brought in.
St. Marys Fire Chief Richard Anderson says his pilot will complete an obstacle course to place each cylinder.
“It will hover over water and then perform hot refueling operations here, with engines running and blades spinning during refueling.”
It could take up to 12 hours to put all 55 anchors in place.
“Once all the anchors are in place, everything will fit together like Lego,” Jackson said. “So you change the obstacles and change the layout however you want.”
Jackson says his estimated $200,000 investment in the project should pay off on a five-year lease with the city.
Profits will be shared with the municipality, which in turn will provide staff.
“We believe this will drive traffic to St. Marys as it is still reasonable for a family to come and enjoy it,” St. Marys Mayor Al Strathdee said.
The opening of Super Splash comes as another similar water attraction is being discussed for Port Dover, Ontario.
Super Splash is set to open alongside the Quarry on June 25 and those interested can find more information here on the City of St. Marys website.