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Keep cool at Blue Bayou theme park
Published Tuesday, July 29, 2008
BATON ROUGE — As the temperatures continue to rise, Blue Bayou and Dixie Landing theme park in Baton Rouge offer a great way to keep cool.
“It’s a great place to beat the heat,” said Liz Harrison, director of marketing and entertainment for the park.
The water park has more the 20 rides, including the Azuka, the Voodoo, the Racers and the Conja’, which are the most popular.
One of the favorite rides of Blue Bayou is the Azuka .
“We have an advertising campaign called Land of the Giants because all of those are the biggest in the world,” Harrison said.
However, the park offers more than just thrill rides.
“There’s something for all ages — things that they can do as a family,” Harrison said.
Pirates Cove is a water play area for children under four feet tall, and is very popular with kids, Harrison said. The Hurricane Bay wave pool also offers family fun with three to four foot waves.
Admission to Blue Bayou includes admission to Dixie Landing Theme Park, which offers several thrill rides that won’t leave you dripping. The roller coasters are by far the most popular rides, Harrison said. Especially, the Extem and the Ragin Cajun.
Like, Blue Bayou, Dixie Landing has several rides that appeal to non-thrill seekers, like the 90 feet Ferris Wheel and the Grand Carousel.
On Saturday nights, you can top off the day with a nationally know musical act. The park’s summer concert series, which has brought in artist including Craig Morgan and Good Charlotte, has been very successful, Harrison said. Good Charlotte, who performed with Boys Like Girls, Metro Station and the Maine, brought a huge crowd, she said.
Vanessa Hudgens, one of the stars of Disney’s High School Musical, performs Saturday and should be very popular with younger children, she said.
General admission to the concert is included with the park tickets, but reserved seating can be purchased for $25.
No outside food or drinks are allowed in the park, but they do offer a variety of food choices, serving every thing from chicken to tacos to turkey legs, Harrison said. Guests can expect to spend around $7 a person on food.
Admission to both parks is $34.95 for people over 4 feet tall, $27.95 senior or those under 4 feet tall, and free for those under 3 feet tall.
However, if you want to extend your park visit into a second day, you can have your ticket validated and get a second day in the park for free.
The parks are located at 18142 Perkins Road, near I-10 and Highland Road and are open every day through Aug. 6, and will then be open Saturday and Sunday’s through and including Labor Day.
More information can be found at www.blue bayou.com
Comments
Posted by free_radical (anonymous) on July 29, 2008 at 11:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGhExssWy...
Posted by ntzmom (anonymous) on July 30, 2008 at 3:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
That link to me to Rick Ashley sing????
Posted by oldschool (anonymous) on July 30, 2008 at 6:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh remeber all you guys thought a water park is for LOWER CLASS TRASH!!!! that is what you keep saying. I am glad their is something for the kids there to enjoy too bad NATCHEZ is clueless on this! I will make the short drive as long as I don't spend my money local anymore since I am TRASH!!!!! lol If you only knew.
Posted by npc (anonymous) on July 30, 2008 at 8:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Oldschool, Natchez isn't clueless on this. Natchez can't support a water park. If it is such great idea, get your money together and open one. My kids would love go to the park. I just don't understand people that say that Natchez is clueless. A water park is a private venture. Anyone can open one up. Apparently know one thinks that they can make money with one in Natchez. All of the people that constantly complain about the kids having nothing to do, please open something up. I can think of very few towns the size of Natchez with a water park or anything else that is geared toward kids.
Posted by mike8427 (anonymous) on July 30, 2008 at 8:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
NPC - You took the words out of my mouth, I haven't a clue what oldschool is talking about. I have never heard of anyone being called trash for going to a water park either.
Posted by Teach4Peace (anonymous) on July 30, 2008 at 9:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes, NPC, a water park is a private venture and the couple who ran Rapids on the Reservoir in Ridgeland, MS are retired now, closing that park down! It was our nearest one. Now, we have to go to the Philadelphia, MS or I guess to Baton Rouge.
Posted by Swapmeet (anonymous) on July 30, 2008 at 9:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
free_radical: LOL, you are wrong for posting that. I heard that song in Shoney's the other day. I can't believe I grew up in the '80s. That guy sure did have some rhythm. Thanks for the laugh this morning.
Posted by firered (anonymous) on July 30, 2008 at 9:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ha, ha, I am w/ Swapmeet.. Thanks for the laugh! Who would've thought that such a voice was coming from him! Looks too small for such a deep voice! Turning my radio on now, in hopes of that song not getting stuck in my head!!!!
Posted by Swapmeet (anonymous) on July 30, 2008 at 11:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
free_radical and firered: Here's an even better one. Your song reminded me of this one.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=PXw4qqQqTrY
Posted by natchezsouthside (anonymous) on July 30, 2008 at 11:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
open one on the north side between Natchez, Brookhaven and Vicksburg, and then you will also draw in Vidalia etc.
it's hot outside--a waterpark would be perfect!
Posted by NTZglasshouses (anonymous) on July 30, 2008 at 2:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeah...Natchez could open a waterpark. It could be as succesful as the City pool in Duncan park. Which is closed, but when it was open, there were 200 people in the shallow end, and 2 in the deep end.
We can't even support national stores in our mall, but we should open a waterpark...yeah, ok.
PB&J made a recent post that pretty much sums it up.
"Water Park....Come on redusmfan, you should know as well as anyone what would happen to a facility like that here, it would be run by people who are not capable of actual management and then would become dirty, filled with rude employees and loiterers."
Just try to go to our Wal-Mart, or the mall on a friday night around 8 pm, Thats what our waterpark would be,
Posted by firered (anonymous) on July 30, 2008 at 3:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
AH NO Swapmeet, y did you have to do that! I struggle w/ that song being stuck in my head almost everyday! I love that song, but man I was doing good! LOL...
Here's my contribution!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ra8VTlXVq...
Posted by humorme (anonymous) on July 30, 2008 at 3:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
NTZglasshouses you are right! Blockbuster is a good example. Nice location, clean store, rude and incapable management. I know netflicks and other web based companies hurt it but people still like to rent from stores, me included.
I was so excited when we got that store here I felt like maybe Natchez was finally on the map. Quickly it was apparent that the "management" couldn't handle the job. They ran the customers out. Now the doors are closed.
Waterpark?
Posted by Hey_Yall (anonymous) on July 30, 2008 at 3:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Y'all should be proud of Natchez and grateful to live in such a great small town. Sure, there are no water parks nor big malls but I wouldn't suggest striving for those things. Sure, I miss home and the conveniences of my hometown of Baton Rouge.
However, I love Natchez for everything it's NOT. It's far safer and there's just excitement(e.g. Friday night events) to keep the kids guessing and the parents from getting bored. And a 1.5 hour drive to Baton Rouge, despite gas prices, is still a viable option for a daytrip at the Mall of Louisiana or Blue Bayou.
But when you live in a larger city, too many options quickly become distractions from what's really important: family and safety.
Two sidenotes:
1. While we had a GREAT 4th of July on the Bluff in Natchez, take a look at newspapers in Baton Rouge or Jackson on July 5th.
2. I suggest a visit to any Wal-Mart in Baton Rouge before you even think about complaining about the Wal-Mart in Natchez.
I love it here in my new hometown. Don't take your town for granted.
Posted by natchezsouthside (anonymous) on July 30, 2008 at 4:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
nothing but negativity. you people need to grow up.
Posted by NTZglasshouses (anonymous) on July 30, 2008 at 7:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Not always negative southside. Just stating facts, which, unfortunately are negative this time.
I wouldnt want a waterpark here. Nor did I want casinos...but you cant win them all.
Posted by josey (anonymous) on July 30, 2008 at 8:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Here is my contribution: a blast from my past!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7VjrW5zg...
Posted by oldschool (anonymous) on July 30, 2008 at 8:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The comment came from when they were talking about the St. Catherine Creek. somebody voiced that only low class trashy people went to a water park! that is where the comment came from!
Posted by lilredhead (anonymous) on July 30, 2008 at 10:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Teach there is a nice new water park in Collins, MS. It is only two hours away if that is closer for you. It is in a small town so it is not very busy. That is where we go!
Posted by Swapmeet (anonymous) on July 30, 2008 at 10:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Josey: Hungry Like a Wolf would have been a tad cornier. LOL. This next one I post has to top them all guys.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJt3f6Lac...
Posted by Dd (anonymous) on July 30, 2008 at 11:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Blue bayou is not worth the trip....save yourself time and money ...pack up your things and head out to a creek,it's probally cleaner ;)
Posted by recycleyourair (anonymous) on July 31, 2008 at 12:58 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by drawpaintsing (anonymous) on July 31, 2008 at 2:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I and some church members took our youth department to Blue Bayou last July, and I did not enjoy myself. For one, it was packed over the capacity level. I figure that, because any time you walk and bump into someone every step you make, it's crowded. People were walking shoulder to shoulder. I also didn't like the fact that they were still letting people in the park. It would be easy to lose a child and harder to find them. The wave pool was so packed that it looked like a daylight scene from the "Titanic". I don't know how the two lifeguards could have watched everyone. We had to wait in line for at least 15 minutes for just about everything. Maybe, because I went at the wrong time of the year, but the fact that they were letting people in while crowded kind of had me concerned. We were thinking of our safety, as well as the group of children. I'm not saying I won't go back. I guess I have to plan a different time of the season.
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