Croatia Welcomes Aquacolors Waterpark & Magicone

The waterpark is among the largest in southeast Europe and brings the first "Magicone" to the continent

Aquacolors Waterpark opened on May 16th in Poreč, nearly 2,000-year-old town located on the western coast of the Istrian peninsulain Croatia.

The 24.7-acre (10-hectare) location is near perfect for a water park; the climate is relatively mild year-round, and summers average high temperatures of 82 degrees F (28 degrees C) with low humidity, little rainfall and plenty of sunshine - more than 10 hours daily. The town has been popular among tourists for more than a hundred years. The first tourist guide on the town was printed in 1845, and the coast of Poreč has been the most-visited tourist destination in Croatia since the 1970s. The town also attracts a large number of conferences, symposiums and conventions.

A European first

As a result, Aquacolors owners chose to make a significant investment - US$27.19 million (€25 million) - in the new Aquacolors Waterpark, working with Polin to install a wide variety of signature attractions. In fact, the 548,959-square-foot (

51,000-square-meter) facility - one of the largest waterparks in southeast Europe - will include one ride that will be the first of its kind in Europe: Polin's Magicone.

Magicone is a high-capacity waterslide, shaped like a gigantic funnel on its side. The slide gives guests a one-of-a-kind riding experience. They being their journey by descending a steep incline. They are sent whirling around the interior of the cone, undergoing surprising changes in momentum created from the ride's unique parabolic shape. They then end the adrenaline-pumping trip in either a pool or a run-out exit. Aquacolors version ends in a dry-out section.

While its slide path is especially unique, Magicone sets itself apart from other slides also due to the advantages offered by its manufacturing process. Polin uses resin transfer molding (RTM) composites technology to create Magicone, as well as nearly all of its slides. Polin established itself as the expert in this technology for the manufacture of waterslides. The process creates two perfectly shiny sides, which Polin has dubbed Magic Shine, that offer an ultra-attractive appearance plus the benefits of two patented options: Natural Light Effects technology and Special Pattern Effects technology, as well as translucent color choices.