Springing into Summer: Shipwreck Island preps for season

PANAMA CITY BEACH — Spring cleaning is just part of the preparation that began at Shipwreck Island Water Park back in March, when fresh water started flowing into the Wave Pool and lifeguard training began.

With opening day approaching on April 22, the preparation for the season was in full swing this week. Staff bleached patio tables, pressure-washed lounge chairs and sidewalks, cleaned inflatables and performed  a hundred other maintenance activities. Herbafex workers planted new flowers and shrubs, while other staff vacuumed leaves deposited in pools by the week's downpours — the downside to having so much lush landscaping.

“Jimmy Lark, the park’s founder, went out of his way to make Shipwreck truly unique by saving plenty of green space, with slash pines and numerous other trees native to the area,” according to a fact sheet provided by General Manager Buddy Wilkes. “The trees add some challenges to the maintenance of the pools, but today, they offer some of the most luscious shade on Panama City Beach.”

Shipwreck Island, a local landmark since 1983, boasts 12 attractions that require 3.5 million gallons of water. The Wave Pool alone uses 500,000 gallons to generate 3-foot waves every 10 minutes. Other rides and attractions in the park include The Rapid River Run, Skull Island (a family activity pool), White Knuckle River, Tree Top Drop, the Pirate’s Plunge, the Great Shipwreck (from which guests swing out on a cable and drop into a beautiful lagoon pool), the relaxing Lazy River, and Tadpole Hole (another kiddie area with slides, forts and “The Silly Sub”). Added in 2011, the Shipwreck Island Water Co. fort has a slide and super soaker topped by a giant Tipping Bucket, which fills with 750 gallons water that it dumps out more than 100 times each day.

With so much water and so many families visiting the 20-acre park, it should be no surprise that a pool technician monitors chlorine and ph levels throughout Shipwreck every half hour. This week's rains have kept the crew busy re-balancing the pools to keep them clear. 

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The staff also includes 80-90 in food service positions and 25 in guest relations/cashiers, with 125-150 lifeguards (more are added as peak visitor days arrive).

SAFETY FIRST

"In mid-March, we start (lifeguard) training," said manager Buddy Wilkes. "This week, we have our third group of kids. About half of them are return kids — they worked here before — and we have more that are at college right now. The college kids come back at the end of May."

Lifeguards as young as 15 are trained in water rescue techniques, CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver. They're also taught to backboard a guest who might have injured their back jumping or falling into the pool from the Pirate Ship rope swing. They receive CPR inservice training almost daily during the season, and have refresher courses three times a week.

They practice over and over, running through skills tests each morning before the park opens. Anyone who doesn't pass the skills test on a given morning will be reassigned to a different job for the day.

"Guests going in don't have a clue," Wilkes said. "Every single day before we open, they're in the Wave Pool."

The training becomes rote, Wilkes said. The lifeguards have even used their training outside the park; one lifeguard did the Heimlich on a choking student at her school, and another rescued a woman who had driven her car into a bayou.

After several rounds of jumping into the Wave Pool on Tuesday to "rescue" their teachers — Aquatics Director Nicole Becker and John Stewart — from a variety of dire situations, lifeguard Rebecca Salazar paused on the deck to catch her breath.

"This is my second year," she said. "It's very tiring and there's lots to learn. But I feel very confident that, in any situation, I'd know what to do and work in the correct ways."

SEASON OPENER

Shipwreck's opening day, April 22, is also the first day of the Season Pass Sale (the other is April 29). On those days, special pricing will be offered of $89.99 plus tax, with $10 in "Splash Cash" loaded onto each pass that is purchased in person, at the park. (Regular price for season passes is $99.99 plus tax.)

The season runs roughly 90 days, starting with only weekends on the schedule and ending on the first weekend of September. It will be open every day in June and July, barring bad weather.

Regular prices for day passes are $35.98 for persons 50 inches or taller; $29.98 for those shorter than 50 inches; $24.98 for seniors age 62 or older. Babies under 35 inches always enter free, and season pass prices are the same for adults or children 35 inches and taller. (Note: The Raging Rapids and Tree Top Drop each have a 48-inch height restriction.)

On May 6, the park plans to give away prizes from Buffalo Rock Pepsi, Panama Jack, hundreds of dollars in Splash Cash, and even some additional season passes. This will be the first "bring a friend day" of the season, when season pass-holders can bring one friend for $15.99. Check the calendar at ShipwreckIsland.com for other special offers and dates.

Where: 12201 Hutchison Blvd., Panama City Beach

When: Season opens April 22; initial hours are 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., open until 5 p.m. during June and July

Admission: $35.98 for guests 50 inches and taller; $29.98 for guests between 35 and 50 inches; free for guests under 35 inches; $24.98 for senior citizens 62 years of age and older (prices shown are before tax)

Details: ShipwreckIsland.com, Facebook.com/ShipwreckIsland or call 850-234-3333

Shipwreck Island Water Park