Collaborator Profile: Martin Aquatic Design & Engineering
In our final installment of our Collaborator Profile series, we’d like to spotlight Martin Aquatic Design & Engineering, which WhiteWater has worked with for many years. Formerly known as Aquatic Design & Engineering, the company was founded by Ken Martin 32 years ago and has designed over 2,500 projects worldwide. While we have collaborated with them on many projects, there are two in particular that really stand out due to their uniqueness: Perfect Day at CocoCay and Morgan’s Inspiration Island, which opened this year and in 2017 respectively.
To bring Royal Caribbean International’s (RCI) vision to life, Martin Aquatic and WhiteWater joined forces to design slides that would put the “thrill” in Perfect Day at CocoCay’s signature “Thrill Waterpark”. Situated in the heart of paradise, the privately-owned island was once a quiet beach retreat in The Bahamas, dotted with bars and restaurants and accessible solely by cruise ship. RCI had a vision to revolutionize the cruise industry by creating an island destination that would add tremendous value to holidaymakers wanting not only a cruise experience but an exciting and unique excursion on land, too.
Thus, we teamed up to create Thrill Waterpark, which, when opened this past summer, instantly garnered attention from both the press and customers alike. The park’s postcard-worthy, iconic structure, Daredevil’s Tower, houses the tallest slide in North America, Daredevil’s Peak, which stands at 135 feet (41 metres) tall. The park was divided into sections which would appeal to visitors of all ages and walks of life, from kids to thrill-seekers. Families and groups of friends can enjoy multi-person slides on Splash Summit, which features an AquaSphere + Boomerango Fusion and a Constrictor, while kids can join in the fun at Splashaway Bay, which has kids’ Ramp Slides, Multi-lane Slides, and an AquaTube Slide. Splashaway Bay also utilizes the award-winning splash pad surface, Life Floor, which helps absorb impact, improve traction, and recently gained NSF/ANSI 50 Standard certification.
At the recent World Waterpark Association (WWA) trade show in Orlando, Florida, Perfect Day at CocoCay was honoured with a Leading Edge Award, which RCI, Martin Aquatic, and WhiteWater are all very proud of.
Morgan’s Inspiration Island in San Antonio, Texas, on the other hand, is unique in a completely different way. The park made national headlines when it opened, as it was the world’s first ultra-accessible water park that welcomed guests of all ages and physical and cognitive abilities. The water park is part of Morgan’s Wonderland which opened in 2010, built by Gordon Hartman for his daughter, Morgan who lives with cognitive and physical challenges. Both parks are non-profit and admit special needs guests for free.
With Martin Aquatic’s precise engineering paired with WhiteWater’s whimsical attractions, the park has become the once-in-a-lifetime visit for many families. Although it is a fully accessible park, it also welcomes guests from all walks of life and abilities and has been touted as a wonderful meeting ground for kids and adults to learn more about their peers who may have physical and cognitive impairments.
Morgan’s Inspiration Island is home to various themed splash pads such as Rainbow Reef, which is a warmed-water splash pad designed for guests of all ages that may not be able to tolerate regular water temperatures. With so many play structures and splash pads, Martin Aquatic worked to engineer flawless water quality at the park so that children who have compromised immune systems can safely play and have fun.
