Wild Adventures

Previously known as Liberty Farms
Location	Valdosta, Georgia, United States
Coordinates	30°43′12″N 83°19′24″W / 30.72000°N 83.32333°W / 30.72000; -83.32333
Status	Operating
Opened	1996
Owner	Herschend Family Entertainment
General manager	Jon Vigue
Theme	Zoological
Slogan	Creating Memories Worth Repeating
Operating season	Mid-March through December
Area	1,566 acres (6.34 km2)
Attractions
Total	15
Roller coasters	6
Water rides	9
Website	www.wildadventures.com

Wild Adventures (formerly known as Liberty Farms) is a zoological theme park located in Clyattville, Georgia, 5 miles (8.0 km) south of Valdosta, Georgia. The park is owned by Herschend Family Entertainment and has been managed by Jon Vigue since October 2020.^[1] Wild Adventures has rides, exotic animals, the Splash Island water park, and live shows.

Kent Buescher^[2] and his wife Dawn Buescher founded the park on a plot of farmland outside of Valdosta, Georgia. It was established in 1996 for around $10 million. Wild Adventures started as a small petting zoo known as Liberty Farms D&L (Distribution & Logistics ). The park now hosts six roller coasters and numerous flat rides. Rides were initially added to the park in 1998. Splash Island, the park's water park, opened in 2003 as the park's largest expansion which features a 100-meter drop double slide.^[3]

In 2004, the Adventure Park Group purchased Cypress Gardens in Winter Haven, Florida, a company that Buescher privately held. The expansion of the park was slowed down following the purchase of Cypress Gardens.^[4] In 2005, an S&S Power Screamin' Swing named Gauntlet was added. For the park's 10th anniversary in 2006, the park announced its intent to add the Shaka Zulu River Adventure log flume, relocated from the defunct Miracle Strip Amusement Park in Panama City Beach, Florida. However, the ride was delayed due to engineering problems and was later canceled.

In September 2006, Adventure Parks Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. On September 25, 2007, due to bankruptcy proceedings, Adventure Parks Group LLC auctioned off Cypress Gardens and Wild Adventures. Despite the Chapter 11 filing, the parks remained open for operation. The initial bids were set at $17.4 million for Cypress Gardens and $38.85 million for Wild Adventures, with a combined starting point of $53.25 million. The group's situation only worsened after hurricanes Charley, Frances, and Jeanne damaged Cypress Gardens in 2004. Herschend Family Entertainment later purchased Wild Adventures for $34.4 million.^[5]

Herschend removed the Gauntlet but opened The Rattler on March 21, 2008.^[6] It is a Huss Frisbee-type flat ride manufactured by Moser Rides of Italy. Also in 2008, the Tiger Terror roller coaster was sold and moved to Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa, Florida, and renamed "Tasmanian Tiger". In February 2009, the movie Zombieland was filmed at Wild Adventures for its theme park scenes.^[7]

For the 2010 season, the park added several rides including Viking Voyage, Whirling Wildcats, and Falcon Flyers. All three rides were from the now defunct Celebration City in Branson, Missouri. The Attractions, Gold Rush, and Mystery Maze were removed. Bug Out was renamed Go Bananas. The S&S Double Shot was renamed Firecracker. Two new rides, Tailspin, and Wacky Wheels were added before the 2013 season. In 2015, Jungle Rumble, a flat ride, was also added.^[8]

Before the 2019 season, Fiesta Express was moved out of storage and was renamed Swamp-water Snake and the S&S Double-shot was renamed Blazer Blast for a new children-themed area called Discovery Outpost. After the 2019 season, Viking Voyage was moved to Fun Spot Kissimmee. Beginning in the 2020 season, Blackfoot Falls was renovated and renamed Island Falls, and the Pharaoh's Fury was moved to another zone of the park after the closure of surrounding rides. Wild Adventures was shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, later reopening in July 2020.^[9] In early 2021, it was announced that the park's CCI wooden coaster Cheetah would be retired after its closure in the 2020 season, as well as the park's go-karts and mini-golf course.

For the 2022 season, the Falcon Flyers were renamed the American Flyers and received a new paint job. The restaurant Brews and Bites began selling alcoholic beverages and added covered seating and a live concert area. At the end of the season, the Yo-Yo ride was removed from the park. In 2023, the Go Bananas roller coaster was renamed to Marsh Mayhem, and the Sidewinder flat ride was renamed Sandstorm Chaser and moved to the new Oasis Outpost-themed area of the park.^{[citation needed]}

In 2019, the park created Discovery Outpost, a new children's section, using old rides that were repainted and renovated to match the theme of the area. Oasis Outpost was added for the 2023 season with two rides being moved to this new section – the Sidewinder was renamed the Sandstorm Chaser and the Trail Trackers. Past themes included Base Camp, Bugsville, Australian Outback, Alapaha Preserve, The Lagoon, African Pride-lands, and Wild West.

Ride	Photo	Manufacturer	Year Opened	Description
Aviator		Chance Rides	2004	A Chance Aviator.
Blazer Blast Off		S&S - Sansei Technologies	1999	A Double Shot tower sponsored by Valdosta State University. Renamed to Blazer Blast Off (Formerly the Double Shot and Firecracker).
Jungle Rumble		Zierer	2015	An Aladdin's Ride-type attraction.
Rattler		Moser	2008	A Sidewinder ride.
Swingin' Safari		HUSS	1998	A HUSS Himalaya ride.
Tail Spin		Zamperla	2019	A Disk'o coaster.

Ride	Photo	Manufacturer	Year Opened	Description
American Flyers		Larson	2009	A Flying Scooter ride, originally installed at Celebration City. Formerly called Falcon Flyer.
Century Wheel		Chance Rides	1996	A Ferris Wheel.
Kite Flyer		Zamperla	2005	A Kite Flyer ride.
Pharaoh's Fury		Chance Rides	2003	A Chance Swinging ship.
Safari Train		Unknown	1996	A narrow gauge C.P. Huntington ridable miniature railroad.
Sandstorm Chaser		Chance Rides	1999	A Trabant ride. Formerly called Sidewinder.
Smash Attack		Bertazzon	1999	A Bumper car ride.
Trail Trackers		Zamperla	2023
Turtle Twist		Larson	2003	A Tilt-A-Whirl ride.
Wacky Wheels		Zamperla	2013	Tea Cup Ride.
Whirling Wildcats		Eli Bridge Company	2009	A Scrambler ride, originally installed at Celebration City.

Splash Island is a Polynesian-themed water park that is free with admission to Wild Adventures. It takes up 27 acres (110,000 m²) of the 166-acre (670,000 m²) park and hosts seven rides and five shops. It is frequently the most crowded area of the park. Splash Island first opened in 2003 and was Wild Adventures' largest expansion since rides were introduced in 1999.

When Splash Island was opened, it had no theming and more closely resembled a community pool. In 2008, Wild Adventures announced that Splash Island would undergo a $4 million renovation to turn the park into a Polynesian-themed paradise. Wild Adventures also announced their intent to build a new ride, the Wahee Cyclone.

• Bonzai Pipelines

3 Inter-twined slides featuring the tallest slides in Georgia built in 2004

• Catch-a-wave bay

A large 25,000-square-foot (2,300 m²) wave pool built in 2003

• Hakini Rapids

A 5-story "Family Sized" water slide with unexpected turns and drops built in 2011

• Kalani Blasters

2 Medium sized intertwined slides built in 2003

• Kona Cliffs

A giant family sized speed slide with three drops built in 2011

• Paradise River

A relaxing lazy river ride through the water park built in 2003

• Polynesian Adventure

A 4-story water fortress built in 2003

• Wahee Cyclone

A 5-story water tornado built in 2009

• Sea Turtle Cove

A small water play area for younger children built in 2006

• 
  Bonzai Pipelines
• 
  Kalani Blasters
• 
  Kona Cliffs and Hakini Rapids
• 
  Paradise River
• 
  Polynesian Adventure
• 
  Wahee Cyclone

^[10]

• Boy Scouts Day.
• Girl Scouts Day.
• Great Pumpkin LuniNights and Pumpkin Spice Festival - Halloween themed event with several attractions, Terror in the Wild is currently discontinued.
• Wild Adventures Christmas - Christmas themed event.

• Official website