Lazy river

A lazy river is a water ride found in water parks, hotels, resorts, and recreation centers, which usually consists of a shallow (2½ ft. to 3½ ft.) pool that flows similarly to a river.^[1] There is generally a slow current, usually just enough to allow guests to gently ride along lying on rafts. There may also be scenic elements added, such as small waterfalls on the edge of the river. Some lead into wave pools, while some just go around in circles.

The lazy river of Boulder Beach, at Silverwood Theme Park

An indoor lazy river at the Water Park of America in Minnesota

The lazy wave river at Ramayana Water Park in Pattaya, Thailand

A torrent river, or wave river, is a related concept. Torrent rivers feature wave machines similar to those that are in wave pools; the waves then push riders (who are on rafts, as they are in a regular lazy river) around the river faster than they would be traveling in a regular lazy river. Torrent rivers appear at all of the Schlitterbahn water parks and Aquaventure in Dubai and the Bahamas. Most have a policy of no swimming-everybody must ride in a tube.

A current channel is another water feature found in aquatic facilities that uses moving water for enjoyment. A current channel usually consists of water of 3–5 feet deep and the width of the channel no greater than 10 feet. Water flows similarly to a lazy river but because of the depth can be used for aquatic therapy and swimming or walking against the current.

Examples

• Endless River at Morey's Piers in North Wildwood, New Jersey^[2]
• River Adventure at Morey's Piers in Wildwood, New Jersey^[3]
• Lazy Rider at Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia
• Never Ending River at Splash Planet in Hastings, New Zealand
• Ushi-Gushi River Creek at Sandcastle Water Park (Blackpool) in Lancashire, England
• Crocodile Run at Kings Island (1989–), Mason, Ohio
• Build-A-Raft at Legoland Florida, Winter Haven, Florida
• Lazy River at Great Wolf Lodge
• Kickback Creek at Thunder Falls Family Water Park, Mackinaw City, MI
• Lazy River at Wet'n'Wild in North Shields, England
• Lazy River and Fantasy Surf at Fantasy World Resort in Kissimmee, Florida
• White Water Rapids at Schlitterbahn
• Castaway Creek at White Water Bay in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
• Adventure River at Water Country in Portsmouth, New Hampshire
• Lazy River at Reunion Resort in Reunion, Florida
• Lazy River at Rapids Water Park in Riviera Beach, Florida
• Castaway Creek at Typhoon Lagoon in Orlando, Florida
• Lazy River at Wet'n'Wild in Orlando, Florida
• Cross Country Creek at Disney's Blizzard Beach in Orlando, Florida
• Lazy River at Splish Splash in Riverhead, New York
• Lazy River at Boston University Fitness and Recreation Center in Boston, Massachusetts
• Bahari River at Holiday World & Splashin' Safari in Santa Claus, Indiana
• Congo River at Holiday World & Splashin' Safari in Santa Claus, Indiana
• Floatation Station at Splashtown at Darien Lake in Darien Center, NY
• Lazy River at Canada's Wonderland in Vaughan, Ontario
• Safari River at Wild Rivers in Irvine, California
• River Ride at Calypso Bay and Coconut Cove in Wellington, Florida and Boca Raton, Florida
• Unknown at Mindy O Waterpark at Clarion, Kissimmee, Florida
• Lazy River at Regal Palms Resort in Davenport, Florida
• Rambling Bayou at Adventure Island in Tampa, Florida
• Lazy River at Runaway Rapids Waterpark in Keansburg, New Jersey
• Lazy River at Six Flags Hurricane Harbor in Arlington, Texas
• Lazy River at Hawaiian Falls in The Colony, Texas
• Lazy River at the Schlitterbahn in New Braunfels, Texas
• Lazy River at Waterland WaterPark in Thessaloniki, Greece
• Lazy River at Aqua Park Macedonia in Probištip
• Sunset River at Knott's Soak City in San Diego, California
• Lazy River at The Island Waterpark in Fresno, California
• Lazy River at Wild Water's Adventure Park in Clovis, California
• Warrior River at Splash Adventure in Bessemer, Alabama
• El Rio Loco at The Wave in Vista, California
• Blue Nile Adventure River at Camelbeach Waterpark in Tannersville, Pennsylvania
• Lazy River at MGM Grand Las Vegas in Las Vegas, NV
• El Río Loco at Costa Caribe Aquatic Park in Tarragona, Spain
• Endless River at Waldameer Park in Erie, Pennsylvania
• Recreation Center at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in Chattanooga, Tennessee
• Lazy River at Audubon Zoo, New Orleans
• Lazy Rider at RamaYana Water Park in Pattaya (Chonburi province, Thailand)
• Big Bird's Rambling River at Sesame Place
• Lazy River at Centennial Park Pool Orland Park, IL
• The Lazy River at Magic Mountain Waterpark in Moncton, New Brunswick.
• El Rio de Xocomil at Parque Xocomil of IRTRA in Retalhuleu, Guatemala.

References

1. White, Jill E. (2012). Starguard: Best Practices for Lifeguards. Human Kinetics. p. 209. Retrieved 18 September 2013.
2. Endless River at the Wayback Machine (archived July 30, 2016)
3. River Adventure at the Wayback Machine (archived July 30, 2016)