Roommates, get into this piece of news taking over social media! It looks like Lake Lanier is getting an upgrade in the form of a waterslide coaster.
RELATED: Man, 24, Dies After Jumping Into Georgia’s Lake Lanier
People In Charge Of Building The Waterslide Coaster Stand By Chosen Location
According to WSB-TV, Margaritaville is the establishment leading the new build. The waterslide coaster is reportedly set to be the first one of its kind in Georgia.
It will be a part of the newly renovated ‘Fins Up! Falls,’ formerly known as The Water Park at Lanier Islands. But it won’t be open until later this spring.
Still, those in charge gathered for a steel-signing ceremony on Wednesday (March 13), per Access WDUN. Their signatures were meant to serve as “good luck” for the remaining construction that began last month.
As if the idea of a waterslide near Lanier wasn’t enough, the ride will be called the ‘Apocalypso.’ Four slides with different names will be attached to one tower, but the park itself will be even BIGGER!
Park officials released a statement about Lake Lanier’s forthcoming waterslide coaster, per WSB-TV.
“This monumental investment marks the most significant expansion of Margaritaville at Lanier Islands in decades, adding Georgia’s largest waterslide complex to the water park, boasting an impressive 15 slides in total in 2024.”
The president of Go Outdoors, Dale Kaetzel, says their “core purpose” is to “create happy places that make smiling faces.” In his words, he couldn’t “think of any better place to do that than right here at Lake Lanier Islands.”
So, How Will Lake Lanier Be A Part Of The Water Park?
It’s unclear if the water used in the new park will be sourced from Lake Lanier. However, Margaritaville officials clarified that their park guests will not have all-access to what folks call haunted waters.
“After careful consideration, we have decided to no longer offer swimming in the lake area. While we understand that this may be disappointing for some, we believe it is the right decision to maintain a safe environment for all our guests to enjoy and will allow us to put added focus on other parts of the park to offer a better overall experience for all our water park guests.”
WSB-TV reports that park officials haven’t clarified their specific worries about the waters. However, they did say that there will be lake access in a “controlled environment” at the Aquatic Adventure attraction.
So, from the looks of it, the waterslide coaster won’t be sending its riders straight into Lake Lanier’s waters. Still, these facts haven’t stopped folks on social media from bugging out over the May 4 opening of the attraction.
Lake Lanier this spring: https://t.co/JFvPLwmrLH pic.twitter.com/BLyjq0PBSv
— Vaccine Shaw (@TheJazzyBelle) March 15, 2024
Me looking at the new water park at Lake Lanier pic.twitter.com/aivLjWomkQ
— Pizza Dad (@Pizza__Dad) March 15, 2024
"Hey…. let's go out to the water slide park at Lake Lanier and…."
Me: #LakeLanier
pic.twitter.com/m3TQJk4Tvp— P. Against The World🤘🏿🕊 (@chillin662) March 15, 2024
Lake Lanier listening to plans to build a water park. https://t.co/sZauAVq4PO pic.twitter.com/UYRtMfdKvt
— Leftysbetta (@Leftysbetta) March 15, 2024
Water slide park at LAKE LANIER?!
Please go to hell.
Nevermind…the ancestors gone do it for yall.
God bless. pic.twitter.com/cQFYpf0psQ
— ✨ The Pretty Villain ✨ (@ZanaGee01) March 15, 2024
Lake Lanier: https://t.co/04lw90ZsE0 pic.twitter.com/98GyqD6MAR
— Big Girl Slay 💋 (@Biggirlslay) March 15, 2024
Lake Lanier 30 minutes into its all-you- can-eat buffet https://t.co/1aw7lTk2Q7 pic.twitter.com/cN4vEM9RcF
— DwayneNoWayne (@DwayneJay) March 15, 2024
Lake Lanier rn while patiently waiting for this water slide to be finished pic.twitter.com/mSft5ncqkX
— TLiMS63 (@peacewyns93) March 15, 2024
Lanier Has A Lil’ Shaky History
On a serious note, safety is the keyword here, roomies. Every year Lanier becomes a trending topic, primarily for the loss of life in the recreational waters.
In July 2023, a 24-year-old man named Thomas Shepard Milner passed away after he dived off a dock at the lake. An investigation determined that he died from electric shock drowning due to impacted wiring from a boat lift attached to the dock.
Not even two months later, another young man passed away at Lake Lanier. Gavrie Alexander Whitlock, 23, died after falling into Lake Lanier in September. He never resurfaced. His body was found in 17-foot-deep water on the same evening he fell in.
At the time, his death marked the eighth one in Lanier’s waters for 2023.
