New Wave Rides

New Wave Rides was an American water-attraction manufacturer associated with the development and sale of water slides and larger water-slide complexes. The company emerged from the amusement-park consulting activities of Bill Crandall, a former general manager of AstroWorld. Crandall held that position from 1975 to 1981 and had earlier participated in the creation of Thunder River, a river-rapids attraction developed with Intamin in 1979. That experience in ride development and park operations provided the background for a later independent venture focused on aquatic attractions. After Thunder River completed its debut season in 1980, Crandall established Crandall & Associates as a consulting business. In January 1984, the consultancy was contracted to supervise Frontier City amusement park. During that engagement, the team developed a water-slide attraction named Riptide. The attraction was installed at Frontier City in the fall of 1984 and became the debut project associated with New Wave Rides. In November 1984, Crandall & Associates founded New Wave Rides, formalizing the company's role as a specialist supplier of water rides. New Wave Rides subsequently sold Thunder Falls to Frontier City. The attraction opened in 1985, making it the company's second documented ride. The available reference material identifies the company's work primarily through these attractions and describes its broader business as the manufacture of water slides and water-slide complexes. This places New Wave Rides within the amusement-park and water-park equipment sector rather than the general industrial-machinery market. Publicly documented information about the company's later ownership, management, product catalog, financial performance, geographic reach, and present operating status is limited. No reliable information in the supplied material establishes whether the brand remains active, was acquired, or ceased trading. Its documented historical significance rests on its connection to early commercial water-ride development and on the installation of Riptide and Thunder Falls at Frontier City.

New Wave Rides developed out of Bill Crandall's experience in amusement-park management and ride development. Crandall served as general manager of AstroWorld from 1975 through 1981. In 1979, while working with Intamin, he partnered in the creation of Thunder River, identified in the available historical account as the first river-rapids ride. The attraction's first operating season concluded in 1980, after which Crandall moved toward independent consulting. Crandall founded Crandall & Associates following Thunder River's debut. The consultancy later received a contract in January 1984 to supervise Frontier City amusement park. As part of that work, the team developed Riptide, a water-slide attraction installed at Frontier City in the fall of 1984. The project led to the creation of New Wave Rides in November 1984, with Riptide serving as the company's first documented attraction. The new company continued its relationship with Frontier City by selling the park a second attraction, Thunder Falls. That ride opened in 1985. The documented history therefore shows New Wave Rides transitioning from a consulting and park-development context into a dedicated water-ride manufacturing business. Its stated manufacturing scope included water slides and water-slide complexes, although the available material does not provide a complete catalog of installations or identify additional customers. Beyond the early Frontier City projects, reliable details about New Wave Rides are sparse. The supplied reference does not establish a later corporate owner, executive succession, headquarters, international expansion, financial results, or a definitive closure date. Accordingly, the brand's current status remains unknown rather than being classified as active or defunct.

1. 1985Thunder Falls opens at Frontier City

   Frontier City opens Thunder Falls, the second documented ride sold by New Wave Rides.

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2. 1984Frontier City supervision and Riptide development

   Crandall & Associates is contracted to supervise Frontier City and develops Riptide, which is installed at the park in the fall.

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3. 1984New Wave Rides founded

   Crandall & Associates establishes New Wave Rides in November, with Riptide as its debut attraction.

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4. 1980Thunder River completes its debut season

   Thunder River finishes its first operating season, after which Crandall decides to establish an independent consulting business.

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5. 1979Thunder River developed with Intamin

   Crandall partners with Intamin on Thunder River, described in the reference history as the first river-rapids ride.

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6. 1975Bill Crandall becomes AstroWorld general manager

   Bill Crandall begins the period in which he served as general manager of AstroWorld, gaining amusement-park operating experience before founding New Wave Rides.

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A specialist amusement-park supplier focused on water slides, water rides, and water-slide complexes.

• RiptideWater slide attraction1984

  Riptide was a water-slide attraction developed during Crandall & Associates' supervision of Frontier City. It was installed at the park in the fall of 1984 and became the debut attraction associated with New Wave Rides after the company was founded in November of that year.

• Thunder FallsWater ride1985

  Thunder Falls was the second documented attraction sold by New Wave Rides. Frontier City purchased the ride, which opened at the amusement park in 1985. The supplied reference does not specify its exact ride configuration or later operating history.

• Water slides and water-slide complexesAmusement-park equipment

  New Wave Rides manufactured water slides and larger water-slide complexes for amusement and water parks. The available historical source provides no complete product catalog, technical specifications, or verified list of installations beyond Riptide and Thunder Falls.

1. New Wave Rides