TRIPADVISOR GIVES SPLASHDOWN BEACH TOP HONORS
July 28, 2015

Fishkill, NY, July 28, 2015 – SplashDown Beach has been named a 2015 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Award winner as a Top 25 Water Park in the United States. The Fishkill attraction received the #16 spot, beating out several well-known water parks throughout America. Travelers’ Choice Award winners are determined based on the reviews and opinions of millions of TripAdvisor travelers around the globe.

“We’re thrilled to receive this recognition as one of the best water parks in the country,” said Steve Turk, President of Turk Hospitality Group, which owns and operates SplashDown Beach. “Since purchasing the park in 2004, we’ve invested over $20 million dollars in new rides, refurbishments and aquatic training and safety programs. Our mission is to continue investing heavily in new attractions geared towards our young family market; and of course, we have another new surprise coming for 2016! SplashDown Beach just keeps getting better and better!”

SplashDown Beach expanded again this summer with the opening of the $2.5 million Arctic Mammoth Family Raft Ride. At over six stories tall and 650 feet long, the Arctic Mammoth is one of the largest family raft rides in the Northeast.

SplashDown Beach, America’s Biggest Little Water Park, is located in Fishkill, New York, just 60 minutes from New York City. Owned and operated by Turk Hospitality Group since 2004, SplashDown Beach offers water fun and adventure for the whole family. New for 2015, the Arctic Mammoth Family Raft Ride is a 5-person raft ride down six stories of twists, back-to-back curves and vortex loops. Thrill seekers will experience an adrenaline rush on Arctic Plunge Racer, a 5-story mat racer that launches riders into a head-to-head drag race to the bottom, flying over vertical curve humps and gaining even more speed before landing at the finish line. Humunga Half-Pipe is New York’s only 4-story zero gravity half-pipe, and everyone is sure to make a splash with the Bullet Bowl, Monster Wave Pool, Croc Creek Lazy River, Coconut Pool, and Rock Beach. Little ones will love Bob the Builder™ Splash Works™ with over 50 interactive water features and Dizzy’s Water Whirler, the first Bob the Builder™ ride of its kind. Boasting the best food in the water park business, SplashDown Beach offers hungry swimmers selections like Cosimo’s Pizza on the Boardwalk, Cosimo’s Shipwreck Grill & Café, Iggy’s Fresh Mex, The Waffle Hut and Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs. Birthday parties, corporate picnics, family reunions and groups are welcome and private catering is available. Open daily Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. For more information contact (845) 897-9600 or www.splashdownbeach.com.

SPLASHDOWN BEACH ANNOUNCES NEW ATTRACTION
“Arctic Mammoth” Family Raft Ride Opens June, 2015

Fishkill, NY—SplashDown Beach Waterpark – One of the biggest Family Raft Rides in the Northeast will be built in Fishkill, NY. “The Arctic Mammoth, standing nearly six stories tall and more than 600 feet long, will be by far the largest attraction in the waterpark,” says park general manager Andrew Chafatelli. Guests will climb aboard a 5 person raft and twist and turn down breathtaking back-to-back curves, drops and vortex loops. This thrilling new attraction is projected to open in June, before the park opens full time for the summer season. ProSlide Technology from Ottawa, Canada has been awarded the contract to manufacture the new attraction.

It will be located adjacent to Dizzy’s Water Whirler and follows the 4 Lane Arctic Plunge, which opened in 2013, as the second of many new ‘Arctic Adventure’ attractions the park is planning for the future.

“The Arctic Mammoth is definitely an experience for the entire family,” says owner Steve Turk. “With a minimum rider height of 36 inches, families will be able to ride the raft together and share in the fun.” The Turk family has added a wave pool, Bullet Bowl, 2 Pipelines, Bob the Builder ™ spray ground, and 10 other major attractions at the park since taking ownership in 2004.

SplashDown Beach, America’s Biggest Little Water Park, is located in Fishkill, New York, just 60 minutes from New York City. Owned and operated by Turk Hospitality Group since 2004, SplashDown Beach offers water fun and adventure for the whole family. Thrill seekers will experience an adrenaline rush on Arctic Plunge Racer, a 5-story mat racer that launches riders into a head-to-head drag race to the bottom, flying over vertical curve humps and gaining even more speed before landing at the finish line. Humunga Half-Pipe is New York’s only 4-story zero gravity half-pipe, and everyone is sure to make a splash with the Bullet Bowl, Monster Wave Pool, Croc Creek Lazy River, Coconut Pool and Rock Beach. Little ones will love Bob the Builder™ Splash Works™ with over 50 interactive water features and Dizzy’s Water Whirler, the first Bob the Builder™ ride of its kind. Boasting the best food in the water park business, SplashDown Beach offers guests selections like Cosimo’s Pizza on the Boardwalk, the Shipwreck Grill & Café, and Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs. Birthday parties, corporate picnics, family reunions and groups are welcome and private catering is available. Open daily Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. For more information contact (845) 897-9600 or www.splashdownbeach.com.

Andrew Chafatelli, General Manager of SplashDown Beach, is pleased to announce lifeguard Sarah Borchert has been named a “Golden Guard” award winner by Jeff Ellis & Associates, Inc., the nation’s leading organization in aquatic training and safety management.

During the final Ellis & Associate audit of the season Sarah, a first year lifeguard, received the Golden Guard award. “This is one of the biggest acknowledgments a lifeguard can receive in our industry,” said Chafatelli. “Each year, only a handful of lifeguards across the U.S. earn this prestigious award. Sarah exemplifies our dedication to providing guests with the safest and cleanest family destination imaginable.”

“Sarah is a shining example of our commitment to comprehensive aquatic training and safety programs,” said Steve Turk, President of Turk Hospitality Group, which owns and operates SplashDown Beach and Rocking Horse Ranch Resort. “SplashDown Beach is known as a premier destination for summer family fun, but guest safety is our number one priority.”

Sarah was recognized for outstanding performance in attentiveness, professionalism, and readiness to make a rescue if a guest were in distress. “I enjoy making sure each guest in the park is safe,” said Sarah. “It is a team effort and I know that each member on our team cares as much as I do too.” Sarah, 19, is a graduate of Arlington High School in Lagrangeville. She is a Biology major at Ithaca College interested in entering the healthcare field upon graduating.

Love the relaxing waves of the beach, but also the exciting speed of water rides? SplashDown Beach is the perfect place for you and your family this summer.

SplashDown Beach, America’s Biggest Little Water Park™, has everything you need for summer fun! Discover the thrills of the Bullet Bowl, Humunga Half-Pipe, Monster Wave Pool and the new Arctic Plunge Racer, a 5-story racer that launches riders into a head-to-head drag race to the finish line!

If you’re looking for a more relaxing experience, head over to the Croc Creek Wavy Lazy River, which is one of the few lazy rivers in the country to have its own wave area. Or, utilize the Coconut Pool, perfect for catching some sun while spending time with your family.

Don’t worry, there’s space designed just for your little ones too! Bob the Builder™ Splash Works™ is great for the kids, with more than 50 interactive features, and Dizzy’s Water Whirler™, the first Bob the Builder™ ride of its kind. There’s also the Shipwreck Lagoon, a themed pirate ship, which is the perfect place for kids to cool off.

New for 2014, Safari Outpost is an up-close and educational encounter with all types of amazing animals with whom we share the planet. Featuring capuchin monkeys, live tigers, giant parrots and huge reptiles, you’ll learn about rare species from all over the world and how they live and play in the wild. Don’t miss this chance to discover a little of the jungle right here in Fishkill!

After hours of waterpark fun you’re sure to get hungry. Visit Cosimo’s Pizza on the Boardwalk, Cosimo’s Shipwreck Grill, Frosty Shack, and Nathan’s Famous Restaurant. It’s as close to dining al fresco on the Boardwalk as you can get in Dutchess County!

SplashDown Beach is the perfect family destination and easily located near the intersection of Route 9 and I-84 in Dutchess County! Purchase your 2015 season pass now and get the rest of 2014 free!

Dutchess County Tourism

Join SplashDown Beach on Friday, June 20th, 2014, as tens of thousands of kids and adults at aquatic facilities around the world unite for the fifth year in a row to set a new Guinness World Record™. The global record attempt for The World’s Largest Swimming Lesson™ (WLSL), will take place at 3:00 p.m. GMT (11:00 a.m. ET, 8:00 a.m. PT.). Team WLSL holds the current Guinness World Record™ for the largest simultaneous swimming lesson, which stands at 32,450 participants representing 13 different countries across five continents!

SplashDown Beach has partnered with the Wings Over Water School of Swimming to instruct the swim lesson. Wings Over Water, with locations in Brewster, NY and Fairfield, CT, provides professional instruction in learn-to-swim, tri-athlete training, water exercise and adaptive aquatics. Tragically, drowning remains the leading cause of unintended injury related death for children ages 1-5, and the second leading cause of accidental death for children under 14. Research shows participation in formal swimming lessons can reduce the risk of drowning by 88% among children aged 1 to 4, yet many kids do not receive formal swimming or water safety training.

SplashDown Beach is an official Host Location Facility for the WLSL 2014 event. Parents are invited to learn more about water safety and this phenomenal event by visiting WLSL.org. To register, visit https://splashdownbeach.com/attractions/worlds-largest-swimming-lesson. Registered participants will receive $10 off the regular daily pass admission price.

SplashDown Beach, America’s Biggest Little Water Park, is located in Fishkill, New York, just 60 minutes from New York City. Owned and operated by Turk Hospitality Group since 2005, SplashDown Beach offers water fun and adventure for the whole family. Thrill seekers will experience an adrenaline rush on Arctic Plunge Racer, a 5-story mat racer that launches riders into a head-to-head drag race to the bottom, flying over vertical curve humps and gaining even more speed before landing at the finish line. Humunga Half-Pipe is New York’s only 4-story zero gravity half-pipe, and everyone is sure to make a splash with the Bullet Bowl, Monster Wave Pool, Croc Creek Lazy River, Coconut Pool and Rock Beach. Little ones will love Bob the Builder™ Splash Works™ with over 50 interactive water features and Dizzy’s Water Whirler, the first Bob the Builder™ ride of its kind. Boasting the best food in the water park business, SplashDown Beach offers hungry swimmers selections like Cosimo’s Pizza on the Boardwalk, Cosimo’s Shipwreck Grill & Café, and Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs. Birthday parties, corporate picnics, family reunions and groups are welcome and private catering is available. Open daily Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. For more information contact (845) 897-9600 or www.splashdownbeach.com.

Growth trends seen in the jobs market appear to be intact in the latest report, offering modest hopes for the Hudson Valley in a notoriously slow-growth economy. Total jobs in the seven-county region were up by nearly 1 percent in the July accounting issued Thursday by the state Department of Labor.

Meanwhile, there’s a seasonal surge in the tourism sector, known to the statisticians as “leisure and hospitality.” That’s normal for summer. But the category also shows year-over-year growth of 3.7 percent, which was the strongest percentage gain of any category and signifies a healthy trend.

A case in point: SplashDown Beach, a water park in Fishkill, employs about 350 people this year, said General Manager Andrew Chafatelli. It’s grown year by year, adding features with extra land bought last year. SplashDown is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. “Ninety percent of our staff is college and high school students,” said Chafatelli. They are readily available for jobs that will end when summer does. Jenn Lupo, 16, a Roy C. Ketcham High School student, got her first summer job here this year. “When I turned 16, this was a perfect opportunity,” she said. She’ll use the money for buying clothes and school supplies.

Tourism, along with trade, professional and business services, education and health, showed gains versus the same month a year earlier. Even construction, in the dumps for years, posted a 2.1 percent gain in the region. The job-losing sectors were manufacturing, information and government. Government jobs fell by 2,700 in the valley, a drop of 1.7 percents, while private-sector work rose by 10,600, a boost of 1.4 percent. Combine the two, and you get an overall 0.9 percent increase.

But it’s not evenly spread. In the statistical area that encompasses Dutchess and Orange Counties, growth in jobs was far lower — only a percent overall, just 200 jobs more than in 2012. In that two-county area, private-sector jobs increased by 1,500, or 0.7 percent, while government jobs dropped by 1,300, or 2.8 percent. Growth was in health care and in professional and business services as well as in tourism, which added 700 jobs. In Ulster County, overall growth was 0.3 percent, most of it in trade and tourism. Statewide unemployment was 7.5 percent in July, the same as June, and down from 8.7 percent a year earlier.

Johny Nelson, regional analyst for the Labor Department, said the region’s private-sector jobs boost was “double the growth rate recorded over the same period last year.” “Leisure and hospitality posted a growth rate of 3.7 percent over the period, its strongest July in three years,” he said. Most of it was in lodging and food service.

SplashDown offers a case study. At the park, there are jobs like lifeguards, parking attendants, ticket sellers, janitors, maintenance technicians, landscapers, managers and food-service workers. There are three food courts and three snack shops in the 15 acres of attractions. Buses roll in from across southern New York and Connecticut, filled with summer campers.

Chafatelli said a jobs fair is held each year and that more than 600 applied this spring. Hiring continues through the summer to fill vacancies. “This time of year is touch,” said Operations Manager Matt Stevens, “because we have people going back to school.” There’s a 65 percent return rate, but everyone must come in yearly for a new interview.

Marcello Castelli, 16, a junior at Ketcham, is a janitor in his first year at SplashDown. He was having trouble finding work when a friend tipped him to this place. “Every place I looked, they either weren’t hiring for they were looking for 18 or over,” he said. John Scelzo of Wappingers is studying information technology at SUNY Albany. He began at SplashDown during high school as a lifeguard and worked his way up to lead lifeguard.

Rescues do occur, mostly little kids, Scelzo said. But the job is mainly keeping watch and keeping order, especially during peak attendance times. “You’ve got to do a little more crowd control,” he said.

The big challenge for management is at the start. That staff must be put in place in short order. “It’s getting the engines running at the beginning of the season,” said Chafatelli.

Craig Wolf, Poughkeepsie Journal

New Rides, More Fun, Same Price!

Fishkill, NY — Mega Funworks Inc., dba SplashDown Beach Waterpark, is proud to announce the completion of its 2013 expansion with today’s opening of the Arctic Plunge Racer.

Arctic Plunge is the first of 6 new attractions to be completed as part of the Arctic Adventure complex. This competitive, multi-lane, headfirst Mat Racer reaches 5-stories tall and is one of America’s hottest Waterpark attractions! Its precisely engineered curves are strategically placed to create positive pressure for maximum acceleration as riders exit the 360° horizontal loop. Riders are launched into a head-to-head drag race to the bottom, flying over vertical curve humps, experiencing weightlessness, and gaining even more speed before the smooth deceleration run-out. The experience will leave the entire family talking about who the fastest rider was!

In addition to the ride that opened today by ProSlide Technology, the Mega Funworks team collaborated with Zamperla Rides and HIT Entertainment to introduce Dizzy’s Water Whirler, completed just prior to the Park’s opening in May. Located at the Bob the Builder Splash Works™ attraction, the Water Whirler accommodates up to 24 guests at one time and features 30 interactive water elements, currently the only of its kind in the world and first in North America.

“We’ve added something for everyone this year, from toddlers to adults to enjoy with Dizzy’s Water Whirler and Arctic Plunge. This has been our largest single expansion at SplashDown Beach since we purchased it in 2004, creating a true family destination for summer fun,” say owners Shelley and Steve Turk.

The $12 million expansion received Planning and Zoning Board approvals earlier this year and will be fully built-out in subsequent phases.

SplashDown Beach, America’s Biggest Little Water Park is located in Fishkill, New York. The park is open for the season through Labor Day and offers something for everyone including the Monster Wave Pool, the thrilling Bullet Bowl, Humunga Half-Pipe – New York’s only 4-story zero gravity half-pipe, the Croc Creek Lazy River, Coconut Pool, Rock Beach, Bob the Builder Splash Works with over 50 interactive features for the kids including slides, dumping buckets and geysers and much, much more. Need a break? Reserve one of our private cabanas for ultimate outdoor relaxation and enjoy a bite to eat at the new Frosty Shack, Candy Shoppe, Cosimo’s Pizza on the Boardwalk, Cosimo’s Shipwreck Grill & Café and Nathan’s Famous. Visit www.SplashDownBeach.com for more information.

We’re halfway through summer, which means the heat is at its highest and ideas to keep the kids busy are running thin. You’ve soaked up the sun at the beach, met up with friends at the swim club, and lounged in any air-conditioning that you could find, but there are still some local activities that you may have missed. From getting in touch with nature to getting wet and wild, here are five don’t-miss things to do with your children before Labor Day. (You’ll probably enjoy them, too!)

1. Get wild at a water park
Take a trip to Fishkill’s SplashDown Beach. It’s filled with slides and attractions like the Arctic Plunge Racer, Cowabunga Falls and Pirate’s Plunge — not to mention a lazy river, wave pool, and the new Bob the Builder children’s area.. Between racing into the water and relaxing on some sand at Rock Beach, everyone will have fun at “America’s Biggest Little Water Park.” Details: 16 Old Route 9W, Fishkill. 845-897-9600, www.splashdownbeach.com.

2. Let them dress up
The Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival is back again, and one of this year’s shows is perfect for children. “The Three Musketeers” is the timeless, action-packed tale of bravery, treachery and honor, focused on a team of swashbuckling swordsmen aiming to defend the queen. Better still: there’s an opportunity for kids to dress up as the characters. They can dive into the trunk of props and racks of costumes, then make their way to the “Portrait Palace” where you can take photos of your little one in 17th-century garb. Tickets for the show range from $26 to $58. Details: 140 Main St., Cold Spring. 845-265-9575, www.hvshakespeare.org.

3. Head to a concert
No need to worry about tweens getting lost in a huge arena. They can head to their first pop concert right in Westchester. Rye Playland offers shows throughout the season, featuring bands that kids obsess over (even if you’ve never heard of them!). R5, a pop band made up of four siblings (including Ross Lynch, the star of Disney Channel series “Austin & Ally”) and a friend, will perform July 27. KIDZ BOP Kids, a group of children singing family-friendly Top 40 hits, are schedules for Aug. 10, followed by an appearance by hip-hop artist Jake Miller on Aug. 23. Enjoy a day at the amusement park and then head over to the stage. All shows are free with park admission, although you can buy tickets for reserved seating. Details: 100 Playland Parkway, Rye. 914-813-7910, www.ryeplayland.org.

4. Hang out with butterflies
The Greenburgh Nature Center’s annual butterfly exhibit, running through Aug. 4, allows kids to get up close and personal with these beautiful critters. Visitors walk through a hoop house on the meadow — a more natural environment for these insects — where children can learn about the various colors, shapes and sizes of adult butterflies. (If you’re lucky, a few will land on you!) You can also take in one of the center’s many other summertime activities, including the return of the annual Story Walk; through Sept. 29, naturalist John Mancuso leads you along a woodland trail to enjoy the story of “Chipmunk at Hollow Tree Lane.” Open from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; closed on Friday. Admission: $7 for adults; $6 for seniors and students; $5 for children 2 to 12; free for children under 2. Details: 99 Dromore Road, Greenburgh. 914-723-3470, www.greenburghnaturecenter.org.

5. Take in an outdoor movie
You’ve seen the summer blockbusters in theaters, but what about watching some fun flicks under the stars? Every Friday through mid-August, Ossining presents themed movie nights at various parks: For example, take in an Aug. 9 viewing of “Jaws” on the beach at Louis Engel Waterfront Park. (For details, visit www.celebrateossining.com.) The animated hit “Rio” will screen outside at Kensico Dam on July 31 (914-328-1542, www.parks.westchestergov.com), as will “Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax” at Orangeburg’s Veterans Memorial Park on Aug. 2 (845-359-5100, www.orangetown.com). And on Aug. 16, view “Oz: The Great and Powerful” at Philipse Manor Hall in Yonkers (29 Warburton Ave., Yonkers. 914-965-4027, www.nysparks.com).

Stephanie Smith, The Journal News