Soaky Mountain Waterpark officials today announced that Soaky Mountain Waterpark will officially open for the 2021 season on May 15 and 16, and then daily starting May 22.

A season pass holder sneak preview day is planned for Friday, May 21 from 10 am to 6 pm.

The massive, 50-acre waterpark, located at 175 Gists Creek Road in Sevierville, Tenn, which opened in 2020 during the pandemic, will also be hosting an official Grand Opening celebration for tourism industry partners on Friday, June 4, at 9 am since it was unable to do so last year.

According to Dave Andrews, general manager of Soaky Mountain Waterpark, “We can’t wait for another summer of fun at our amazing waterpark. 2020 was truly a challenging year for us, first, we had to get our construction completed while the country was shut down due to the pandemic, and then we were only able to be at reduced capacity levels as a safety precaution due to COVID-19.”

“That’s why we are taking the time on June 4 to properly celebrate our great new waterpark with our fellow
tourism industry partners.”

Guest coming to the park this year can expect to see some changes including the addition of 12 two-person
cabanas that include two lounge chairs and safe.

Rentals start as low as $50.

In addition, Yukon Frozen Yogurt is being incorporated into the Candy Cabin building.

At Yukon Yogurt guests will be able to build their own refreshing frozen treat. All they have to do is grab a cup, choose from a variety of flavors of frozen yogurt or sorbet, add whatever delicious toppings they want, have it weighed, pay and
enjoy!

There are also plans for Summit Snacks food carts to be added to the main plaza area. At these carts, guests will
be able to purchase nachos, pretzels, popcorn, hot dogs, novelty ice cream, cookies, fresh-squeezed lemonade,
beer, bottled water, Icees and fountain drinks.
Finally, the park received its liquor license for 2021 so at its two bars located in the park guests will be able
to purchase frozen margaritas, daiquiris, Pina Coladas, and other refreshing adult beverages.

Attraction highlights of Soaky Mountain Waterpark include the Avalaunch, a first-of-its-kind water coaster with
four flying saucer features that create a drop-and-dive sensation and one wave curved wall; Soaky Surge, a
massive, 35,000 square foot wave pool capable of generating waves 6 feet high; Black Bear Rapids, an
adventure river encompassing 24,000 square feet; and The Hive, a bee-themed play-and-spray feature with
countless hands-on activities for younger children.

There is also Boomers Bay, a super fun kid activity pool area with smaller versions of the adult-size towering
slides including Lil’ Rattlers and Mini Mayhem so kids can experience the thrills and chills of the waterpark on
their level; an adventure pool with a water obstacle course; a 3,800 square foot flat-water cabana pool for
relaxing poolside; and Hang 10essee, a double FlowRider surfing simulator.

In addition to the Avalaunch watercoaster, there are other massive slides including two five-person raft rides; a
tubing tower with five flumes; two high-intensity body slides; and a four-lane, head-first mat racing challenge to
satisfy everyone’s racing desires.

Some of the slides feature translucent tubes which create a swirling array of light effects and others are themed in colors like the Rainbow’s Revenge which features all of the colors of the
rainbow and the American Racer’s Rush which features red, white and blue stars and stripes.

Season admission passes are on sale now through April 30 for $99.99 and include one guest daily admission
ticket.

Starting May 1 they will be $109.99. Daily admission tickets are $44.99 for anyone above 42 inches and
$39.99 for anyone under 42 inches. Children ages three and up require a ticket.

The waterpark will be open through Labor Day, with additional select days being considered through mid-September. Wilderness at the Smokies guests can purchase a discounted daily admission ticket for $19.99.

The new waterpark cost nearly $90 million to construct and employs approximately 500 employees. It is currently hiring for all positions. It is anticipated to draw over 400,000 visitors in 2021, of which 100,000 will be new visitors to Sevier County.

It is also expected to increase the average nightly stays in the region while generating approximately $400,000 annually in Tourism Development Zone Tax.

Wilderness Resorts and Waterparks currently owns and operates Wilderness at the Smokies in Sevierville and Wilderness Resort, Glacier Canyon Lodge, and Wilderness on the Lake, Wild Rock Golf Course, Sundara Spa, and Glacier Canyon Conference Center in Wisconsin Dells.

For more information visit: SoakyMountainWaterpark.com.

On Thursday afternoon, April 15th, Indiana State Police Sergeant Greg Day of the Bloomington District A.C.E.S. (Aggressive Criminal Enforcement Section) was notified that Lance P. Dawson Jr., 19 years old of South Bend, Indiana was possibly hiding out in Bloomington.

Dawson, who was wanted on an active homicide-murder warrant that was issued on April 7th from St. Joseph County, had been tracked to the emergency room at IU Health Bloomington by utilizing various investigative techniques.

Through those techniques, Sgt. Day, along with A.C.E.S. team members Troopers Richard Klun, Caleb Garvin, Allen Deel, Matt Hatchett, and Chance Humphrey began planning a safe attempt at the apprehension of Dawson.

While conducting surveillance, Trp. Garvin observed Dawson and two other males exit the hospital and get into a 2004 BMW sport utility vehicle. As the BMW exited the emergency room parking garage, Sgt. Day pulled directly behind the vehicle, while other troopers and South Bend Police officers surrounded it.

A high-risk stop was conducted in the parking lot of the hospital before the BMW could get onto a busy city street where pursuit would have been extremely dangerous to the public. Dawson, who was in the backseat and armed with a handgun, complied with officer commands and was taken into custody without incident.

Officers from South Bend took custody of Dawson and transported him to St. Joseph County.

Sgt. Day commended the team effort and praised the involved officers for great police work that led to a safe and peaceful conclusion.

Sgt. Day would also like to thank the Bloomington Police Department narcotics detective division for their assistance as well.

Any questions regarding the actual homicide should be directed to the South Bend Police Department.

Tuesday morning at approximately 6:15 a.m., Trooper Dennis Griffin was dispatched to a rollover crash on I-65 southbound lanes at the 220 mile-marker. 

Preliminary investigation by Trooper Griffin shows that a gold 2002 Ford pickup side-swiped a 2016 Freightliner semi-truck/trailer. 

After the initial impact, the pickup crossed the southbound lanes and drove off the roadway and into the west ditch where it overturned several times.  The vehicle came to a rest on its wheels in a field. 

The driver, identified as Dustin P. Schilling, 28, from Indianapolis, IN, was extricated from the vehicle and flown to South Bend Memorial Hospital by Lutheran Air.  The driver of the Freightliner was not injured. 

Several good Samaritans who saw the crash take place stopped to assist the injured driver.  The vehicle was towed by Village Motors.

Assisting at the scene was the Rensselaer Fire Dept., Phoenix Medics and Village Motors Towing.

Today, the Indiana State Police arrested a 74-year-old Hanover, Indiana man after a search warrant was served at his home on Ten Cent Road in rural Jefferson County, Indiana.

The investigation, conducted by Detectives with the Indiana State Police-Internet Crimes Against Children Unit, began two months earlier when a cyber tip was received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. 

The cyber tip indicated that Vic Weil, age 74, Hanover, IN had possibly engaged in sexual activity with a 15-year-old child.

Investigators conducted a search warrant at Weil’s residence this afternoon.  Weil was then located at his place of employment in Madison, Indiana where he was taken into custody. 

Weil was arrested and transported to the Jefferson County Jail where he was incarcerated on initial charges of Sexual Misconduct with a Minor and Child Solicitation, both Level 4 Felonies.  Weil will soon make his initial appearance in the Jefferson County Circuit Court.

The investigation is ongoing.

The Indiana State Police-Internet Crimes Against Children Unit was assisted by the US Secret Service and the Madison Police Department.