225BatonRouge.com - Blogs

As November whispers its last lame attempts at generating cold weather, let’s talk about what’s on everyone’s mind: Blue Bayou Water Park. Well maybe you’re not making that a dominant thought at the moment, but reader Bryant Bell is. So am I, for that matter, because every time someone gives me a wedgie, I think about Blue Bayou and how it felt to have a swimsuit nearly surgically separate my bum cheeks. I hear you screaming “TOO MUCH INFORMATION,” so I’ll stop now and get to work making you smarter. Keep the questions coming here, because if you don’t I’ll be forced to inflict more heinous mental images.

QUESTION: How sanitary is the water at Blue Bayou?

ANSWER: As sanitary as can be.

If you’re not thinking about wedgies when you think of Blue Bayou, I know you’re probably thinking about the water. You may think you have a horror story of narrowly averting floating fecal matter or witnessing someone make the “I’m peeing in the pool” face, but that’s just your experience and memory. According to Bob Johannessen with the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, Blue Bayou is inspected once or twice during its open season unless DHH receives a complaint, which it never has. As part of the inspection, DHH checks a long list of components including lighting, showers and toilets, how clear the water is, chlorine levels, pH levels, bacteria samples, sewage disposal, hair catchers and more. Blue Bayou’s last inspection occurred June 22, 2006, and DHH found no problems with bacteria. Of the 12 pools inspected, the only component that wasn’t marked as satisfactory was a high concentration of chlorine in one pool. So rest assured next time you go floating down that lazy river, you’re not floating with any unwanted “friends.” And if you find one, well, now you know whom to call. Thanks to Bob Johannessen for testing the waters and fielding the questions.

QUESTION: What does Blue Bayou do during its closed season?

ANSWER: More than meets the eye.

Their sign says they’re having a hibiscus sale, but they’re actually doing more than that until they reopen in May 2007. (But attention holiday shoppers, if you do want a $5 hibiscus, they still have thousands left over. They start each season with anywhere from 8,000 to 10,000 hibiscus plants so there are plenty for the picking.) All of the equipment is serviced, most of the water is drained and any necessary refurbishments are done. Also, new attractions are added. During this closed season, workers are adding a little “Voodoo” to the mix. Actually, it’s not very little. “Voodoo” is the world’s largest Behemoth Bowl. Once atop the 76-foot tower, riders go through the enclosed slide on a four-man raft, where they end up spinning around in a giant bowl and then are spit out into a catch pool. Planning for the open season is also done in regard to corporate events and the park’s summer concert series, which stretches over 10 Saturdays. Josh Turner will headline the first concert of the series, June 2. Thanks to Liz Harrison at Blue Bayou for the flood of information.