Sandcastle Waterpark

Infobox Water park
name = Sandcastle


caption =
location = West Homestead, Pennsylvania
location2 =
location3 = United States flagicon|USA
coordinates =
address = 1000 Sandcastle Drive West Homestead, PA 15120
phone_numbers = [phone] fax: [phone]
homepage = [http://www.sandcastlewaterpark.com/index.php official website]
owner = Kennywood Entertainment
general_manager =
opening_date = 1989
closing_date =
previous_names =
season =
area =
pools =
slides = 14 rides
slogan =

Sandcastle is a water park located in the Pittsburgh suburb of West Homestead. The park is located on a 67 acre piece of land along the banks of the Monongahela River. Sandcastle is owned by [http://www.kennywoodentertainment.com/ Kennywood Entertainment] , the same company that runs its sister parks, Kennywood, Idlewild Park, and Lake Compounce. The park contains fourteen water slides, several swimming pools, and a handful of other attractions.

History

The site where Sandcastle currently sits was formerly a railroad yard for U.S. Steel. In 1988, Kennywood Entertainment bought the land and began construction on the park. Sandcastle officially opened for business in July 1989. The park was originally supposed to be called Splashdown, however park executives decided on Sandcastle.

Current Attractions

The park has a total of 14 water slides including 3 speed slides. Other slides include the Blue Tooba Looba ,the only closed slide in the park, Thunder Run, Tubers Tower and Cliffhangers. Other attractions at Sandcastle include a "lazy river," a large swimming pool, Mon-Tsunami, which is Sandcastle's very own wave pool, a hot tub, Formula-One Race Tracks and an area of water slides and water attractions designed specifically for children called Wet Willies. The park also features an entertainment complex called The Sandbar and a marina. New in 2007, the park will have free WiFi internet in select locations throughout the park.In January 2007, the Chevrolet Amphitheatre, formerly known as the IC Light Amphitheatre, under plans by concert promoter Live Nation, was disassembled. According to new design plans, the new amphitheater will rest between Sandcastle's west perimeter and the Waterfront section of Homestead Borough along the Monongahela River. Sandcastle already had an existing amphitheatre on the property, but was outdated and was seldom used. The new amphitheatre will be completed in conjunction with the completion of the renovations of the Homestead Grays Bridge. It will feature a riverfront view for the audience, picnic areas, VIP areas, multipurpose areas for large festivals and parking, and will open in time for the 2008 concert season.

The Castle at Night

Sandcastle also offers various events and promotions during the evening. Starting back up on June 13, 2008 the Sandbar will offer great drink and menu selections, along with live entertainment for those guests over 21 years of age. Every Sunday night, from 6pm to 10:30pm is Jukebox Sunday Night, in which the park provides guests DJs, live entertainment for the typical olides crowd, drink specials and a dinner buffet. Extending this 2008 season from July 6th through August 17th, the park is also offering Dive-In Movie nights, which will be hosted at their wavepool. Doors open promptly at 6pm. Finally, the park offers a Saturday-Night Swim, in which the Mon-Tsunami Wavepool will have extended hours from 6:00pm-9:00pm, from July 5th through August 16th.

Location

The park is located in West Homestead, a suburb of Pittsburgh. The water park is located down the road from the Waterfront, a large shopping complex with stores, restaurants, and movie theaters. The park can be easily accessed via Interstate 376, and one PAT Transit bus line, the 59A (which also runs past Sandcastle's sister park Kennywood) runs near the park, but does not run up to it. In the summer of 2007 another Pittsburgh local will be paired with Sandcastle; The Chevrolet Amphitheater will be sitting next to the park.

ister Parks

External links

* [http://www.sandcastlewaterpark.com Official website]
* [http://annoyingpittsburgh.blogspot.com/2007/02/amphitheater-homestead-waterfront.html Blog Discussion of Amphitheater addition to Waterfront area]