Mother Nature smiles big for Raging Waves’ opening day

May 30, 2010
By Erika Wurst

It was no walk on the moon, but Yorkville residents Kayla McClarren and Andrea Stampaugh were just as proud of their small steps on Saturday morning during opening day at Raging Waves water park.

"We were the first ones with our footprints in the sand this season," Kayla, 15, said enthusiastically. "We were actually really proud."

The girls, like many eager season pass holders, were in line 45 minutes before the park opened on Saturday morning. Each was counting down the minutes until they were free to frolic among the swirling slides and lounge in the lazy river of Illinois' largest water park.

"You couldn't ask for better weather," said General Manager Michael Fijas as he took in the scene. "This is water park weather" -- and it's exactly what Raging Waves needed after last season's disappointing summer.

"Ugggh," he lamented, thinking about last year. "It was terrible and cold. Nothing like this."

The grass wouldn't grow and the trees wouldn't bud.

"We put all this time and effort into the design, and Mother Nature just wouldn't cooperate," Fijas said. "But that's the roller coaster of this business."

This season, green leaves blanket the trees and bushes beautify the park.

"It's how it's supposed to look," Fijas said with a giant grin as he watched riders scream and splash down the park's most popular ride, The Boomerang.

"A day like today would have been the best day of the season last year," Fijas said. "And it's only opening day!"

The printed paper forecast in Fijas' pocket is proof that this year Mother Nature is on his side.

"It's supposed to be great next weekend, too" Fijas said, which means he'll be seeing a lot of Robb and Cheryl Lucas.

The Lucases, along with daughters Becca, 5, and Emily, 8, are third-year season pass holders. And as the girls age, so does their taste for adventure.

"Becca woke me up this morning and said, 'We're going to the water park!'" Cheryl Lucas said while soaking up some rays near the wave pool. The family drove from Plainfield to spend the day in the sun, which on Saturday seemed perfectly compliant.

"At this rate," Cheryl said. "We'll be back tomorrow."

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