Wild Waves: Final Fright Fest runs through Nov. 1
The Federal Way amusement park hosts its last Halloween event before closing permanently.
By Javier Sanders ·
The Wild Waves Theme and Water Park in Federal Way will hold its final Fright Fest this Sunday, Nov. 1. This marks the last time visitors can ride the park's coasters in the dark and enter its haunted houses. The park is closing for good after nearly 50 years of operation.
The park operates on a weekend-only schedule for this final event, opening from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. Most of the scary attractions are active after sunset. The water features have already been drained and will not be refilled.
Visitors noted that some rides have already been removed from the grounds. The park is also using generative AI for parts of the experience, a change some guests found distracting. One visitor said the changes made the closure feel logical. "Yeah, it makes sense why this place is closing down," they said.
The Wild Thing roller coaster remains a central feature of the event. The ride was originally named the Loop Corkscrew at Rocky Point Park in Rhode Island. It arrived at Wild Waves on June 24, 1997. It was initially painted lime green and blue, then repainted yellow and blue in 2010. The coaster features a corkscrew track and a vertical loop.
The Timberhawk: Ride of Prey is another major attraction for the final weekend. This wooden roller coaster debuted on June 7, 2003. It stands 75 feet tall and reaches speeds of 50 mph. Visitors reported long wait times, with one couple waiting nearly two hours in the queue. The ride includes multiple large drops and is particularly intense in the dark.
The park also offers live entertainment, including the Insidious Circus. Acrobats perform daring feats for guests who do not have time for long ride queues. Food and drink stands remain open, including a Dippin' Dots vendor. The event requires a ticket purchase, with parking costs starting at $25.
Wild Waves has been a local institution in the Pacific Northwest for decades. It opened as a water park and later expanded to include a theme park section. The closure ends an era for families who grew up visiting the site. The final Fright Fest will conclude with the park's lights going out at 10 p.m. on Nov. 1.
The park's location along Enchanted Parkway will remain, but the rides and attractions will be dismantled. The decision to close stems from operational costs and market conditions. The final weekend offers one last chance to experience the park's legacy attractions before they are gone.
