JACKSON, NJ — The sounds of people screaming down waterslides and splashing in the wave pool will resume at Six Flags Hurricane Harbor on Thursday, after the park announced it will reopen.
The park will reopen with attendance level limits, in accordance with Gov. Phil Murphy’s opening guidelines for waterparks in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Those attendance levels will gradually increase, park officials said.
The park also will be open Thursdays through Mondays, and closed on Tuesdays and Wednesday, through August. There will be select days it’s open in September.
The waterpark has added new safety measures and hygiene protocols, including several new advanced technology systems to protect guests and employees.
“We are thrilled to welcome families back to one of the Northeast’s most popular waterparks, Hurricane Harbor. The safety of our guests and team members remains our No.1 priority, and the new safety guidelines we have put in place are designed to create a safe environment for everyone,” said John Winkler, president of Six Flags Great Adventure and Hurricane Harbor Park.
The online reservation system, like the one used for Great Adventure and the Wild Safari Drive-Through, will manage attendance, schedule guests for entry by day, and stagger arrival times to minimize proximity exposure.
The reservation system opened Monday, with members and season pass-holders getting first access, and everyone able to make reservations as of noon, park officials said.
Great Adventure opened July 2, with restrictions on park capacity, mask requirements and efforts to promote social distancing. The Wild Safari, which had operated as a guided tour for the last several years, reopened in late May with a return to its drive-through set-up, to promote social distancing.
Here are the rules and procedures in place for Hurricane Harbor.
Health Screenings for Guests and Team Members
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Contactless IR thermal imaging will be used to screen temperatures of guests and employees prior to entry;
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Guests who have recently been exposed to the coronavirus or are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 are not allowed in the park;
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All guests over the age of 2 and all team members will be required to wear face masks covering the nose and mouth throughout their visit/work day.
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Masks will be available for sale at the front gate for any guest without one; and
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Masks will not be required on waterslides, water attractions, or in pools.
Strictly Enforced Social Distancing
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Distance markers added in all park entry, ride, restroom, retail locations, and dining queue lines;
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Dining areas adjusted to allow ample space between seated parties;
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Advanced security screenings will enable touchless bag checks;
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Capacity at indoor venues and on some attractions, including the Wave Pool and Lazy River, will be reduced;
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Guests will be allowed to ride on a tube with family/group members, but will not be allowed to share a tube with those not in their immediate party;
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A limited number of lifejackets will be available upon request, but families are encouraged to provide their own U.S. Coast Guard-approved lifejackets for children under 42 inches, or those who are not strong swimmers. All Hurricane Harbor lifejackets will be sanitized after every guest use.
Park officials said there will be extensive sanitizing and disinfecting throughout the park, including on rides and handrails, tubes and rafts; and high-touch points such as public seating, tabletops, counters, doors, deck chairs and trash cans.
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Restroom staff will be stationed to disinfect stalls, sinks, and shower areas frequently;
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Multiple hand-washing and alcohol-based hand-sanitizer stations will be located throughout the parks.
Sanitized Food Preparation and Service
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Modified menus and implementation of mobile food ordering will help facilitate touchless transactions;
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Self-service buffets and salad bars will be reconfigured to eliminate guest contact with food;
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Condiments, self-serve cutlery, and napkins will be provided to guests with their meals as required; and
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Beverages will be served by attendants; any drink bottle refills will be served in a paper cup each time guests refill.
The reservation system allows people to reserve their spots as they buy their tickets. Members and season pass holders receive booking priority over single-day and group ticketbuyers.
Parking passes can be purchased at the same time as making the reservation.
More information is on the Six Flags website.
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This article originally appeared on the Brick Patch
