SplashDown Concessions Inc., a longtime Spokane Valley water-park operation, plans to expand the business with a giant bowl that drops swimmers out of the bottom.


Its the first phase of a planned multiyear expansion, which will add several new rides at the 3.5-acre park at 11203 E. Mission, just south of Interstate 90, says Geoff Kellogg, who owns the park with his wife, Melissa. The Kelloggs bought the business about a year ago.


The park was founded in 1983, and the original owners wanted to add new rides over time, but they decided to hold off, he says. Not too many businesses can remain the same for that period of time and survive. I know the community has been hoping for some new rides.


SplashDown employs about 30 people during the summer months. Kellogg declines to disclose the parks 2004 revenues, except to say it had about 45,000 visitors, which was about the same as the previous year. SlashDown has eight tube rides, including four for children.


Kellogg says the added feature will help the park compete with other water parks in the Inland Northwest, including Silverwood Theme Park and Wild Waters, both located in North Idaho.


We think its a good idea to keep the population in Spokane rather than having them go to North Idaho, Kellogg says.


The new ride will be called the Cannon Bowl and will be located on the west slope of the park property, he says.


The Cannon Bowl will introduce a whole new water slide technology to our region, says Kellogg. Its a nontraditional ride that has been very popular at other parks around the world.


The Cannon Bowl ride operates similarly to traditional water tube attractions, except that riders will be launched into the large bowl, which is designed to give them a number of revolutions around the inside of the bowl before dropping them through a hole in the center of the ride, which connects to an exit slide.


Its going to be different than any other ride we have, says Kellogg. People will be going at pretty good speed when theyre launched into the bowl. Then theyll be flushed or dumped out.


The attractions manufacturer, Proslide Technologies Inc., of Ottawa, Ontario, will install the ride. Kellogg says he will put out to bid some site-work preparation jobs in the coming months, including excavation and mechanical work.


The project is expected to cost about $500,000 and likely will be completed by the parks seasonal opening on May 29.


It should be pretty easy to install because of the natural topography of the land, Kellogg says.