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This looks pretty radical.

Now that would be fun. Do they allow belly boarding?

How is the fundraising going on this? Well enough that they expect to begin work in 2014?

This was always to be the last phase after the play area and zip line.

The zip line is just starting, so I would expect the surf park to start not long after that, although I'm not sure about the fund raising.

This was always to be the last phase after the play area and zip line.

The zip line is just starting, so I would expect the surf park to start not long after that, although I'm not sure about the fund raising.

So to be clear, the only thing along the river that is part of MAPS3 is the stadium lighting, grandstand & whitewater facility. This is separately funded?

Yes, the SandRidge Youth Pavillion (play area, zip line, surf park) is privately funded.

MAPS 3: Lighting, grandstand, wind screen, whitewater facility and some other minor improvements.

Other Boathouse District projects: UCO Boathouse (starting this month) and OU Boathouse (starting in 2014).

Ah, yes, the windscreen. Forgot that one. All told..amazing now AND will be even more awesome when totally finished!

Ah, yes, the windscreen. Forgot that one. All told..amazing now AND will be even more awesome when totally finished!

When it's done, it will alternate with the Thunder as the real downtown draw.

When it's done, it will alternate with the Thunder as the real downtown draw.

But, of course, the Thunder are only available for 41 days, 2 1/2 hours minimum per day. This will be frequented much more...

Plans move forward for city-owned surf park (https://www.okctalk.com/content.php?r=665-Plans-move-forward-for-city-owned-surf-park)

The MAPS3 board voted yesterday to seek construction bids for a proposed double occupancy surf machine to be located along the Oklahoma River.


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/surf092619a.jpg


The facility would cost $1.45 million and would come from $7.9 million in excess MAPS funds that were allocated to the Boathouse Foundation as part of improving the MAPS 3 whitewater facility that opened in 2016.

An engineer from Hornbeek Blatt Architects told the board that the facility would generate additional revenue for the complex as the new facility would bring more visitors and revenues, especially through repeat visitors seeking to improve the skill on a surf or body board.

Since opening, the whitewater facility has proven expensive to operate and has contributed to sizeable loses for the foundation which manages the several river-based facilities on behalf of the city. Earlier this week, city council voted to provide $1.5M to the foundation in additional funding to help cover a $3M annual cost.

Last June, the MAPS3 board also approved $2 million in additional funding. Along with the excess MAPS funds, taxpayers have provided nearly $11.5 million to the foundation in just over a year. As a part of studies and an independent financial audit, several personnel and board changes were mandated.

The surf machine uses turbines to pump a continuous flow of water across a soft neoprene surface similar to a trampoline.

Construction bids are due at the end of October with work starting in November with a targeted opening of spring 2020.

The facility would be located directly next to the main whitewater structure and add to other river attractions such as ziplines, an exercise park, and bike pump track.


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Along with excess Maps fund’s, the city has provided over 11.5 million this year. That needs to sink in, don’t you think? How much money, that could used productively in the city, going down the rapids ( drain ).
And now another 1.5 million project that costs more to run, than the revenues it brings in. Follow the money...

Keep in mind the $1.5M gift earlier this week was because they are projecting a $3M loss this year.

I've been worried about this for quite a while. I would be less so if any of the foundation's projections actually came to pass.

It's been going on for years where they present big plans, talk about the return the latest/greatest expenditure will generate, then in the end they are bleeding cash faster than ever.

It's too late to turn back now, as the city has spent hundreds of millions on the river and the related facilities. But it seems time to come to grips with the fact that for the foreseeable future, this entire operation is going have to be funded by an on-going budget allocation from the city, just like the Myriad Gardens and now Scissortail Park.

This has really turned into a broken promise and completely unrealistic numbers around MAPS3 that no one wants to address so close to the next MAPS vote.

And the City can’t even repair and keep the west river bike path open, along with repairs and maintenance on the rest of the bike paths.

Has Riversport ever advertised (e.g., billboard) in DFW? I don't think I've ever talked to anyone in DFW knows they live three hours from whitewater rafting. Just seems like there is such a huge market that is largely untapped.

Has Riversport ever advertised (e.g., billboard) in DFW? I don't think I've ever talked to anyone in DFW knows they live three hours from whitewater rafting. Just seems like there is such a huge market that is largely untapped.


Not sure people will drive 2 hours for something like this. I wish they would have more things to do in the Spring. I had family visiting first week of April and wanted to check things out. Go zip lining down the slide, it as 77 outside on a Friday and it was closed. I get it kids are in school and stuff but maybe get a few more attractions so that you can stay open in March, April when the weather is starting to get nicer.

This is the same company and looks identical to the ones I've used on Royal Caribbean ships.

Will they have multiple FlowRiders? On the larger RC ships, they have 2.

They ARE a lot of fun, but with only 2 people possible at a time, the lines will be long.

I think a downtown Mumble Rap museum would be a better idea.

15633

I wish they would put in an indoor snow skiing facility. I have been to one before and it had a lot of business and it was a lot of fun.

Pretty stoked about this. It is approved and moving forward.

Flowriders are neat little things that are popular at a number of water parks. Spectating is a lot of fun. It doesn't really seem like something you would do by itself though... usually you only get a few minutes at a time and what you can do is pretty limited.

I mean, it's another cool little toy for an area filled with a lot of cool little toys... it just doesn't feel cohesive at all. You know what would tie it all together a lot better? Adding an actual water park of some kind. White Water/Hurricane Harbor is about the only true water park in the metro, and even it is undersized IMO. Oklahoma in general is surprisingly sparse on water parks despite our obvious demand for them.

Now at 1.9M from 1.4M projected.

An indoor water park there would kill it.

IMO it's fun window dressing, but not a draw. I mean, they have these on cruise ships.

More like something you'd see White Water add and feature.

Regardless, we are on the fence about buying season passes this year. We bought for awhile, then stopped. Considering it again. Mainly for the adventures at other area lakes.

It's hard to say. I am a avid surfer. It's my sport of choice. This isn't a true "wave pool" that simulates oceanic undulations. It is a "wave form" that is static. I have never been on a Flowrider but would assume that it would help with balance training and style development.

I might be an exception, but I suspect there are many landlocked Californians here that would enjoy it. Right now, there really isn't a draw to the river for me.

Work has started directly next to the Whitewater Facility:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/surf012620b.jpg

Is this going to open year round? If not, why are they putting it inside?

This is the same company and looks identical to the ones I've used on Royal Caribbean ships.

Will they have multiple FlowRiders? On the larger RC ships, they have 2.

They ARE a lot of fun, but with only 2 people possible at a time, the lines will be long.

The ones on Royal Caribbean are modified a little. They are a little more narrow and much shorter than the land based double Flow Riders. So you are much less likely to hit the back wall on a land based one. I believe the pumps are the same though, so the wave is basically identical.

I've also never seen anywhere that will allow two surfers on a wave at the same time, as shown in the pictures. Only bogie boarding can be done on a split wave. So if they are doing stand up it'll be one at a time.

I've been to Flowhouse (https://www.flowhouse.com/) before, which is a restaurant/bar concept and there is never much of a line, but there is always a long like at water parks. What slows the line down is noobs getting on it who are afraid to do any tricks and they just sit there riding forever, and then you if you have a 30 minute line good people will camp too because who wants to wipe out in 15 seconds after waiting 30 minutes. I think at the Flowhouse you have to do an intro lesson before you can go in a normal time slot, and then if you only have to wait 5 minutes and people are watching, you'll try tricks and wipe out.


Flowriders are neat little things that are popular at a number of water parks. Spectating is a lot of fun. It doesn't really seem like something you would do by itself though... usually you only get a few minutes at a time and what you can do is pretty limited.

I mean, it's another cool little toy for an area filled with a lot of cool little toys... it just doesn't feel cohesive at all. You know what would tie it all together a lot better? Adding an actual water park of some kind. White Water/Hurricane Harbor is about the only true water park in the metro, and even it is undersized IMO. Oklahoma in general is surprisingly sparse on water parks despite our obvious demand for them.

I love Flowriders and have really hoped for one here. However, this seems like the wrong concept. I think a place like the Flowhouse that could be open and busy year-round and where people want to go hangout would be the way to do it. Making it basically a stand alone attraction I really don't think will pan out.

smaller than I was expecting. not sure why I was expecting bigger.

Getting close:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/surf071220a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/surf071220b.jpg

Opens this Saturday.

More info.: https://www.riversportokc.org/boathouse-district/adventures/surfokc/

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They've built up so many amenities, yet the area is still so dead. They really need commercial/housing development in that area in the worst way.

They've built up so many amenities, yet the area is still so dead. They really need commercial/housing development in that area in the worst way.

Hopefully with BarK coming soon it will spur more growth.

Hopefully with BarK coming soon it will spur more growth.

I'm not sure that is still going to happen.

After the announcement, there has been no movement and I'm sure Bar K is not obligated.


I know from interviewing the Up-Down guys that they are not doing anything for the foreseeable future and they had ambitious plans for growth.

They've built up so many amenities, yet the area is still so dead. They really need commercial/housing development in that area in the worst way.
Seems like we have had a habit in this city of complaining about lack of things to do but when they happen, we fail to support it well. There’s a lot to do down here. The commercial will follow the crowds. Having apartments there won’t suddenly make people come surf, zip line, raft, row, skate, or walk. If we want bigger city choices we need to support it. We make too many excuses. People need to participate.

It’s like bike lanes, sidewalks, etc... Last Saturday I rode bike for about two hours through most of downtown. Went by the park, bricktown, midtown, west village, deep deuce, automobile alley, and I was the ONLY biker on my whole ride. And there were hardly any walkers except at the park. At nearly 70 yrs of age, I shouldn’t be the only one out doing physical things. Where are the people and the demand? Gotta live it, not just say it.

All of this.

It’s hilarious the amount of people that complain about sidewalks and nothing to do in dumb ol OKC. You can freaking whitewater raft in downtown! It’s a mile from like 5 breweries and countless restaurants, all easily accessible by sidewalks, scooters and a dang rail thingy. We have phenomenal climbing facilities and the WMA outside of Lawton has great climbing of you need the real thing. You can also hunt bears and catch trout a few hours away. It’s a pretty cool place, you just gotta actually get off your ass sometimes.




Seems like we have had a habit in this city of complaining about lack of things to do but when they happen, we fail to support it well. There’s a lot to do down here. The commercial will follow the crowds. Having apartments there won’t suddenly make people come surf, zip line, raft, row, skate, or walk. If we want bigger city choices we need to support it. We make too many excuses. People need to participate.

It’s like bike lanes, sidewalks, etc... Last Saturday I rode bike for about two hours through most of downtown. Went by the park, bricktown, midtown, west village, deep deuce, automobile alley, and I was the ONLY biker on my whole ride. And there were hardly any walkers except at the park. At nearly 70 yrs of age, I shouldn’t be the only one out doing physical things. Where are the people and the demand? Gotta live it, not just say it.

I think a wave pool, like at Disney, would draw huge summer crowds - post COVID. In normal times, crowds draw crowds.

It’s not complaining. The area is poorly developed. It’s absolutely dead a lot of the time. If we want these massive expenditures to pay off then the area needs to be less isolated. The entire area is clearly failing to attract enough people regularly so something needs to change. I believe the district needs mixed uses to succeed.

I see what you mean now and agree. The cotton mill project would certainly help. Not sure how much they can really squeeze into the boathouse area considering how much of the land was acquired.


It’s not complaining. The area is poorly developed. It’s absolutely dead a lot of the time. If we want these massive expenditures to pay off then the area needs to be less isolated. The entire area is clearly failing to attract enough people regularly so something needs to change. I believe the district needs mixed uses to succeed.

This is great, but when you look at the aerial view towards downtown, it looks so barren. Why doesn't the city/state put a couple of rows of trees along the freeway to help beautify and help with the highway noise pollution? It seems like that cloverleaf from the boulevard to I-40 could be filled with trees to help spruce things up there.

I used to work at a water park in California that had one of the early FlowRiders. They need to add some seating here for non-surfing people to just watch the falls and good runs (we had two full sets of bleachers). I think watching was better than riding.

I used to think this was dumb and a waste of money before I saw it in action, I still think it's fairly dumb and probably a waste of money but at least the videos of people surfing on it are pretty entertaining.

Yes the area needs more trees. Empty grass lots are no better than parking lots.

The city needs to run more commercials in DFW. They need to do a digital campaign to reach young families in DFW to come up for the weekend. Yes people from DFW will come to OKC for these types of attractions. As shocking as it is, DFW people will make a weekend out of Bricktown, Oklahoma river activities, the memorial, Scissortail Park, and Turner Falls (on way up/back). They just have to know about it. Everyone wants to have a quick 3 hour getaway. Especially in this age of non-flying vacations. What is 3 hours out of DFW? Austin? Fine, I suppose, but for families? There are so many DFW residents new from California that have no pre-conceived notion about Oklahoma. They need to advertise it!

Yes the area needs more trees. Empty grass lots are no better than parking lots.

The city needs to run more commercials in DFW. They need to do a digital campaign to reach young families in DFW to come up for the weekend. Yes people from DFW will come to OKC for these types of attractions. As shocking as it is, DFW people will make a weekend out of Bricktown, Oklahoma river activities, the memorial, Scissortail Park, and Turner Falls (on way up/back). They just have to know about it. Everyone wants to have a quick 3 hour getaway. Especially in this age of non-flying vacations. What is 3 hours out of DFW? Austin? Fine, I suppose, but for families? There are so many DFW residents new from California that have no pre-conceived notion about Oklahoma. They need to advertise it!


https://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/surf082720i.jpg

This is where OKC and areas in Oklahoma can take capture tourism dollars who want that 3 hour out-of-state drive get away. Oklahoma has some fascinating places like WinStar World Casino, Turner Falls en route to Oklahoma City where you build clientele with venues like the OKC Zoo, museums, adventures in OKC Riversports, with the zip lines, rapids & surf machine.

Blame, Rand. He didn't want trees interfering with this sterile design.

I 100% agree that more ads in DFW could succeed. Almost no one in DFW knows this exists.

I wonder why they don’t build super large swimming, diving and paddling pools there, those pools will draw huge crowds.

How else could Hurricane Bay OKC compete?

totally agree about OKC ads in DFW but why limit to just them; ads are needed in WICHITA, KC, STL, Tulsa, Little Rock, Memphis, Austin, Amarillo, ABQ and so on.

I think Wichita is the hidden gem when it comes to disposable money being spent in OKC. We are the largest city closest to them with big city amenities, we should be up there advertising everything there is to do "in the big city" for the 2-hour vacation. I recall Kansas City used to do this ads in Wichita when I was younger and it worked like a charm, OKC's turn.

I also feel the same about Amarillo and Little Rock though they are a little further (I feel Amarillo people already kind of know about OKC as they're so isolated, but still). Sure Tulsa people know and do patronize but why not remind them from time to time during OKC thunder games or OU games, hey you can do all of this while in OKC. ... The further out cities, yes are 5+ hour drives but again, OKC has a family friendly scene going that many in those cities don't realize; why not - again ad especially during OU and OKC Thunder games broadcast in their metros (and esp during Mem, Dal, SAT, HOU, Den, New Orleans etc games when they play in OKC, they're only about an hour or so away and the ads might encourage more of their fans to vi$it.)

Can't also hurt to ad in the big cities (NY, CHI, LA) for that getaway where you can afford the "big city" or "family friendly" getaway.

Let's more effectively utilize those OKC tourism dollars on advertising that can and will make a huge difference, not just so city officials can take trips to conventions. ....

Seems like we have had a habit in this city of complaining about lack of things to do but when they happen, we fail to support it well. There’s a lot to do down here. The commercial will follow the crowds. Having apartments there won’t suddenly make people come surf, zip line, raft, row, skate, or walk. If we want bigger city choices we need to support it. We make too many excuses. People need to participate.

It’s like bike lanes, sidewalks, etc... Last Saturday I rode bike for about two hours through most of downtown. Went by the park, bricktown, midtown, west village, deep deuce, automobile alley, and I was the ONLY biker on my whole ride. And there were hardly any walkers except at the park. At nearly 70 yrs of age, I shouldn’t be the only one out doing physical things. Where are the people and the demand? Gotta live it, not just say it.

I've ridden my bike at Scissortail and along the river. But I've never ridden downtown to the degree you have. Is riding fairly safe in the downtown area on the weekends?
I'd like to give it a try soon.

I've ridden my bike at Scissortail and along the river. But I've never ridden downtown to the degree you have. Is riding fairly safe in the downtown area on the weekends?
I'd like to give it a try soon.

I go there quite a bit to ride and see what is going on. I've never had any issues, except watch out when going over the streetcar tracks and take the right angle. I almost got thrown when my front wheel twisted into the channel and almost flipped me into the curb. Otherwise, use the same precaution with cars as elsewhere, and also it seems like pedestrians have more of a habit of stepping in front of you downtown. Otherwise, it's great to see what is going on and the traffic isn't bad on weekends.

I've ridden my bike at Scissortail and along the river. But I've never ridden downtown to the degree you have. Is riding fairly safe in the downtown area on the weekends?
I'd like to give it a try soon.
More safe than most downtowns, even before COVID-19. Went down to Elemental, and at 11:30 the streets were pretty empty, account the holiday. Mindful of the traffic, and make sure you cross the trolley tracks at 90 degree angles.

I've ridden my bike at Scissortail and along the river. But I've never ridden downtown to the degree you have. Is riding fairly safe in the downtown area on the weekends?
I'd like to give it a try soon.

I live downtown and ride my bike there frequently. VERY safe. Have never had an issue. Ride my bike to work (NW 36/Tulsa) when I'm not busing. Only a couple areas of concern.