Liquid Planet Water Park Partners

Candia water park invests in zip lines

By GRETYL MACALASTER, Union Leader Correspondent

   CANDIA — Liquid Planet Water Park is gearing up for its fourth season, and new investors mean new attractions.
   The family-run business made its last 1,000 shares available at the end of last season for $1,000 a share, with a 25-share minimum buy-in, and successfully sold about two-thirds of those to four area investors.
   The $670,000 investment is allowing the park to add a 1,000-foot tandem zip line, which is scheduled to open Memorial Day weekend.
   Owner Kevin Dumont said the business hopes to sell the remaining 330 shares as soon as possible in an effort to raise enough capital to add two new "speed slides" to attract older children to the small park.
   In the last four years, about $2 million has been invested in the park, which is situated off Route 27 between Candia and Raymond.
   The cost to install the new zip line is about $75,000, and the new investments mean the business does not have to borrow any money to install the dry attraction.
   "The value of the park has doubled, but we haven't borrowed any new money," said Dumont.
   "We really are trying to expand the park right now with just our own money, and we are fi nding it will just make us a stronger company."
Room for expansion
   And there is room for further expansion. The Dumont family purchased the 45-acre property in 2006 and is only using about nine of the 38 usable acres for the park.

Liquid Planet Water Park, below, has secured investors to fund the purchase of zip lines at the Candia attraction, and another round of investment will expand the four-year old park further, with installation of two new "speed slides," shown above in a digital rendering.

   But they need to sell the remaining shares in order to have enough money to install the two new "speed slides," which will cost about $250,000 to purchase and install, Dumont said.
   He said once the funding comes through, it will take about two weeks to get the slides up, inspected and operating.
   The remaining capital will be used for operating expenses.
"We want to sell the last 330 shares and we want to do it as soon as possible,"
Dumont said.
   Running a water park is no easy feat. The season is short, only about 80 days, and critically weather dependent. The first two years the park was open, rain and cold weather kept the gates shut on many days, but last year was a boom year, allowing the business to make up the losses of the fi rst two years, Dumont said.
   Each year, the park employs about 75 people, mostly high

school and college students, and last year the park saw about 25,000 visitors come through the gates.
Keeping it affordable
   Dumont said that, despite the two bad years, they have worked to keep the park affordable for families, raising ticket prices by only $1 this year to a $25 admission rate for adults and $20 for children under 48 inches tall.
   Dumont said there are also $4 discount coupons available at businesses in the area. In addition to the park pass, it will cost an additional $5 to ride the zip line and $3 to play a round on the mini-golf course, which was added last season.
Visitors not interested in water activities can purchase individual tickets to the zip line for $10 apiece.
   For the grand opening of the zip line Memorial Day weekend, the cost to fly the line will be $5 per person.
   "Our feeling is that we are a very fairly priced park for what people are getting," Dumont said. "We are trying to offer a full day of fun for a reasonable price."
   The business now has 14 investors who all committed at least the $25,000 minimum.
"They are normally regular people who like the idea of owning something they can be a part of," Dumont said.
   He said they recognize that when the park is "mothballed" it is hard for people to see what they are investing in, and thinks more investors will jump on board when they can see the park in action.
   Liquid Planet Water Park officially opens for the season on June 18.

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Have you always wanted to invest on "Main Street", instead of "Wall Street"?! Interested in investing in a growing NH business that's loads of fun and family-focused? Liquid Planet, LLC is accepting new shareholders who would like to join us on this exciting journey! We're just scracthing the surface of our plans for this park and welcome new investors who have a long-term time horizon and share a passion for this adventure! Please call or email to schedule some time to learn about our exciting growth plans, and how you can be part of our success story!

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