Storytelling, Theming

Jumbo Water Slide Fun with a Real 747 

September 07, 2024

Challenge: 

How to incorporate a real jumbo jet in a water park at an aviation museum 

Creative solution: 

A place dedicated to inspiring kids and adults in the areas of science and technology, Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum in McMinnville, Oregon, wanted to do something phenomenal that reflected just that—incorporating a real Boeing 747 into its Wings and Waves Waterpark.

  

Taking a retired Jumbo Jet from the Evergreen shipping company, the plane was flown in, placed adjacent to the site, and stripped of its useful parts. Before lifting it onto its permanent spot on the roof of the water park, the building had to be re-engineered to withstand the physical load of the plane as well as the wind load, as the 747 still wanted to “fly” whenever there were strong winds. Significant design and engineering went into attaching four inner tube and body water slides launching from the jet’s back exit doors, running them through a massive roof truss system.  

The result is a head-turning attraction that is instantly recognizable from a distance and allows guests to experience the iconic Queen of the Skies like never before, with water slide names like, “Nose Dive,” “Mach 1,” and “Sonic Boom.”