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Reptiles Aren't Only Ones Getting Wet In Gator Falls

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By LENORA LAKE

Tribune correspondent

Published: June 26, 2008

TAMPA - Parker Farris' shoes and socks were soaked.

The 8-year-old had just gotten off Lowry Park Zoo's newest ride, Gator Falls, which he rode Thursday with his mother, Laurie, friend Chase Ehrhardt and Chase's mother, Pam.

The boys said "the drop-down," a 30-foot drop during which riders get splashed with water, was the best part of the ride. However, both said they had been on flume rides at theme parks with bigger drops.

"I'm not a big ride person, but it was fun. It was refreshing," Laurie Farris said.

After a nearly two-week delay, the $1.5 million water flume is open. It features six log-shaped cars seating up to four riders each. The 90-second ride, which costs $4 during day hours but is free during special evening events, rises above the zoo's Florida section.

It also takes visitors over the zoo's newest exhibit, two albino alligators. The ride and the exhibit replace the bison that previously roamed the area.

The opening was delayed at first by two minor defective parts, said David Zimmerman, the zoo's vice president and chief operating officer during a media day interview Thursday.

The parts were replaced, but issues concerning water speed and distance between cars plagued the staff, Zimmerman said. Afternoon thundershowers also delayed fixing the problems, he said.

Zimmerman said the addition of the ride "is almost entirely due to exit surveys and focus groups."

He said play areas with water, such as the manatee fountain, are well-liked by visitors.

"We know how popular 'wet' is here," he said.

Speaking of the wet set, the albino alligators are a 70- to 80-pound male, between 5 and 6 years old, and a female, between 3 and 4 years old and weighing 50 to 60 pounds. They lack melanin, or skin pigment, making them white with cloudy eyes that appear pink. They cannot tolerate sun, and the zoo has installed canopies in their exhibit area.

John Than, assistant curator for herpetology and aquatics, said the tricky part is keeping them warm but out of the sun.

Than said the alligators came from an alligator farm and are two of fewer than 45 in zoos. They wouldn't survive in the wild because when small they would be prey for other gators or large birds such as herons.

Pam Ehrhardt said she didn't notice the gators from atop the ride "because we were just anticipating how wet we were going to get."

Riders must be at least 42 inches tall, and those 6 and younger must ride with their parents. The rules disappointed some children, but Rachel Nelson, director of public relations, said it is an industry standard for such rides.

IF YOU GO
WHAT: Gator Falls
WHERE: Lowry Park Zoo, 1101 W. Sligh Ave.
WHEN: Zoo hours are from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily (open till 8:30 p.m. on select nights during the summer).
HOW MUCH: Zoo admission is $18.95 for ages 12 through 59, $17.50 for ages 60 and older, $14.50 for ages 3 to 11 and free for ages 2 and younger. The charge for Gator Falls is $4, except during special events.
INFORMATION: Call (813) 935-8552 or visit www.lowryparkzoo.com.

Tribune correspondent Lenora Lake can be reached at (813) 865-4851 or llake@tampatrib.com.

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TOPICS IN THIS ARTICLE

lowry park zoo • albino alligators • david zimmerman • skin pigment • lowry park • assistant curator • cloudy eyes • pound male • florida section • water speed • wet set • speed and distance • exhibit area • foot drop • herpetology • evening events • melanin • farris • ehrhardt • alligators

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