Bootlegger’s Run is the signature attraction at Splish Splash water park in New York.
This ProSlide hydromagnetic water coaster features one of the best drops on any water slide plus a
rapid series of ascents. Find out why this water coaster should be on your radar in this review.
Bootlegger’s Run opened in 2013 as the first water coaster in New York.
This attraction was built by ProSlide like many of the park’s recent additions.
Placed in the back of the park, Bootlegger’s Run looks quite good. The ride has a flashy
multi-colored paint scheme. The trough is red. The covered tubes are rblue and white. And the lift
is yellow. And the series of steep drops really grab your eye as you approach the attraction.
This slide also has its own dedicated entry plaza similar to a roller coaster.
You pass under this wooden archway and enter the ride’s queue line. Unlike most slides where
you have to walk atop the tower, you take a conveyor belt lift to the top of the slide.
So you board at ground level for this one. The queue starts with this uncovered outdoor
section past some illicit goods. Remember, the ride is lightly themed to bootlegging.
Then the final section of the queue is a covered series of switchbacks. This is the
park’s most popular attraction, so it’s not uncommon for it to have 30-60 minute waits.
Therefore, I would recommend hitting this attraction early in the day. That’s especially
true since it’s in the back of the park, so you can sneak in a few laps before most people reach
it. There also is the park’s skip-the-line pass, which really comes in handy for this attraction.
Each raft seats up to 4 riders. You need at least two riders. The max weight per raft is 700 lbs and
there is a scale right before you board. Once dispatched, you ascend the nearly 5
story tall conveyor lift, which offers a nice view of the drops you’re soon to experience.
At the top, you get a surprisingly thrilling entry into the tube. The tube isn’t flush with the lift,
so you’ll feel your raft abruptly drop a few feet into the trough,
which gives a little pop of airtime. You then round an enclosed turn and
head towards one of the best drops on any water slide. The first drop is 47 feet or 14 meters tall
and it’s one of the steepest plunges you’ll find on a tube slide.
This treats riders to some great floater airtime. It’s always freaky and exhilarating
feeling yourself start to lift out of a raft since you have no restraints. This drop has
similar power to the shed drops on Holiday World’s Wildebeest if you’ve experienced that attraction.
You then rocket uphill. The magnetic linear induction motor propulsion method is smooth and
swift. Whoever rides up front will get some mist in their face, but it is refreshing.
You then round another quick covered turn and head down the ride’s second drop.
While it’s not nearly as tall, it’s another steep one so you still get a little pop of airtime.
You then charge uphill again. You round another turn, keeping the pace up, and then zip down
the ride’s third and final drop. This one didn’t offer the airtime of the first two,
but it’s still decently fast. You then head uphill one last time, entered a covered tube, and wind
towards the final splashdown, which is an absolute soaker, especially for the person up front.
You then slowly float back to the station, ending what I think is Splish Splash’s best
attraction. And many guests seem to agree with that sentiment.
So what would I rate Bootlegger’s Run? I would give this water coaster a 7 out of 10. This is a
good water coaster. While the ride only features three drops, the first one is among the best on
any water slide and the ride maintains its speed well with the magnetic ascents and smooth turns.
This was the main reason I wanted to visit Splish Splash and it did not disappoint.
If you’re a fan of water coasters, Splish Splash is worth checking out,
especially since the rest of the park has a lot to offer as well.
So those are my thoughts on Bootlegger’s Run, the water coaster at Splish Splash. What are
your thoughts on this attraction? How do you think it compares to the other water coasters out there?
Let me know your thoughts down below. If you enjoyed this review, I’d appreciate it if you
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more roller coaster and amusement park videos here at Canobie Coaster. Thanks for watching!