With the start of summer, roses are in full bloom while midday heat intensifies the longing for water play. Everland, around this time of year, uniquely offers both its rose festival and Caribbean Bay water park at the same time, providing sights and activities for family travelers.
According to Everland on Monday, the Rose Garden, where the rose festival is being held, has reached its peak with a bloom rate now exceeding 90%. Everland opened the rose festival on May 22 and is set to close it on June 21. More than 200,000 customers have visited the Rose Garden so far. Records from visitors capturing the romantic atmosphere are being posted one after another on social network services (SNS), with phrases such as "#FantasyLand" and "A day where even my nose enjoyed the abundant scent of roses."
In line with the festival's "Hotel Lolotie" concept, Everland has designed the space from the entrance to the rose castle like a single journey of checking into a hotel. At the entrance to the Rose Garden, a hotel gate combining an antique signboard with climbing roses has been set up. At the center, a photo zone reminiscent of a garden party has been created along with a Purple Rose Zone. A large chandelier about 3 meters in size and the rose castle at the far end of the garden are also points that draw admiration from visitors.
A jazz band performs daily against the backdrop of the rose garden. "This is the time when 3 million roses display their peak beauty," an Everland official said. "Visitors can enjoy a romantic outing in the Rose Garden, decorated like a hotel garden alongside the splendid roses."
Caribbean Bay has also entered full operation. With midday temperatures approaching 30 degrees since last month, visitor numbers have reached twice the usual level. In response, Everland has decided to run all water facilities at full capacity by the middle of this month, including operating additional outdoor slides up to five weeks earlier than originally planned, in addition to facilities currently in operation such as the Wave Pool and Mega Storm.
First, Tower Boomerango, Tower Raft, Adventure Pool, Water Bobsled, and Surfing Ride began early operation from late last month. Tower Boomerango and Tower Raft are attractions that start from the top of a 19-meter-high tower designed with a pirate watchtower concept. Each lets riders experience rapids riding after a steep drop and vertical ascent.
At the Adventure Pool, visitors can enjoy a refreshing 2.4-ton downpour of water cascading from a skull sculpture, the symbol of Caribbean Bay. The Water Bobsled, where riders enjoy a steep descent with their bodies, and the Surfing Ride, where riders enjoy waves on a board, are also not-to-be-missed fun. In addition, popular outdoor water facilities such as Aqua Loop and Wild Blaster are scheduled to open in sequence by June 20.
Everland will also hold a summer festival called "Hello Summer Party," in collaboration with the globally popular intellectual property (IP) Sanrio Characters, from June 12 to September 6. Through the collaboration with Sanrio Characters, which owns various characters including Hello Kitty, Everland will present diverse attractions such as a restaurant decorated with Hello Kitty and hamburgers featuring the Kuromi character.
Safari World, which reopened in April after a full upgrade, is currently one of Everland's most popular facilities. "In a recent customer survey, Safari World recorded a satisfaction score of 96, the highest level among all facilities," an Everland official said. "Over about 50 days since opening, through last week, the number of visitors has surpassed 300,000."
The new Safari World features upgraded natural landscape elements such as waterfalls, ponds, and trees. The "Predator's Forest" where tigers live, the "Savanna Grassland" home to lions, and the "Northern Forest" with brown bears were created with safari environments themed on the actual habitats of these wild animals. For example, high rocks are provided in the grassland-style space so lions, which favor high and open areas, can rest. For tigers, a forest and waterfall were provided to create conditions allowing them to hide, move, and explore as wild predators. "Over time, the beasts are gradually adapting to the new space," a Safari World official said. "Customers will also be able to see more natural images of the beasts."
The Safari World exploration vehicle has also been changed to a 40-seat electric (EV) bus. With reduced vibration and noise, visitors can focus on encounters with animals in a more comfortable environment. Along with this, the animal viewing program "River Trail Adventure" has also been upgraded. This is a program in which visitors walk along the waterway between the two popular safaris, Safari World and Lost Valley, vividly experiencing nine species of wild animals such as lions, hyenas, giraffes, and elephants up close.
