RIVERSPORT fully opens for summer, introduces more unique attractions

More people in the Oklahoma City metro are venturing outside this summer, particularly as the pandemic’s severity lessens and pent-up demand for outdoor activities rises. One local outdoor attraction that has been the beneficiary of this uptick in activity is RIVERSPORT OKC.

“One thing that we did learn through COVID is that being outside and being active is one of the best things you can do,” said Mike Knopp, executive director of RIVERSPORT Foundation, a 501(c)(3) foundation and owners of RIVERSPORT OKC.

Located in the Boathouse District just south of downtown and Bricktown on the north shore of the Oklahoma River, RIVERSPORT is a regional outdoor recreational destination that features zip lines, a ropes course, bungee jumping, a bike park, rock climbing walls, kayaking and rowing, whitewater rafting, tubing and the tallest dry slide complex in the U.S. There are also camps and a nature center where visitors can see many varieties of snakes, lizards, turtles and other crawling creatures.

Knopp explained that even though RIVERSPORT was open for business in 2020 when the pandemic was still going strong, they were restricted with what activities they could offer to guests. The facility is now fully open, however, and people are responding accordingly, even from other states.

“I talked to a couple from Kansas City just the other day, and they were overwhelmed with what they saw here and wished they had something like it back home,” Knopp said. “It’s a very unique attraction that’s in our own back yard. Sometimes it’s good to get that outside perspective of just how unique and world class it really is,” he said, describing RIVERSPORT as more of an outdoor lifestyle experience rather than a theme park.

Two of the newest attractions at RIVERSPORT that have come online since the pandemic started, and which are already receiving rave reviews, are Surf OKC and Ski OKC. Surf OKC opened late in 2020, while Ski OKC opened last month. Both attractions provide visitors, regardless of skill level, a unique opportunity to surf or ski without having to travel to Colorado or Southern California.

Because it opened so late in the year in 2020, Knopp said Surf OKC is still new to most people. For those people who have already tried it, they have really enjoyed the experience. And many have already become regulars to the attraction.

“It’s super fun, but it’s also skills based so you can keep coming out and get better and better. You can either boogey board or you can actually stand up and surf,” said Knopp, who explained that visitors surf on endless waves on a trampoline-like surface.

Knopp said Surf OKC has been so popular that RIVERSPORT will be hosting the state’s first-ever pro-am surfing competition at the end of July.

“We have some pros coming in and we will have opportunities for other people to compete. You can just sign up, and there will be a novice category,” he said.

Because of the success of Surf OKC, officials wanted to create yet another unique experience for visitors coming to the park. Adding skiing to the mix was a good complement; thus, Ski OKC was introduced.

Ski OKC is an indoor simulated ski slope featuring a quick inclination system that allows the slope to change from a less challenging run to a more challenging run, or vice versa, within seconds. The surface is covered in a specially developed artificial ski grass that is misted with water to create a feel similar to that of real snow. Guests will wear normal skis and boots just as if they were on a real slope. If you prefer to snowboard, those are also provided by the facility.

An added ramp offers the opportunity to practice jumps and a projected ski course offers slalom practice. Advanced augmented reality capabilities ensure the experience will continue to expand as technology advances, according to Knopp.

“You can work on learning to ski here, and it will actually make you a better skier as get you ready for the actual slopes in Colorado or elsewhere,” Knopp said.

Knopp said they are gearing up for the summer with various events, including the Super Cup August 20-21, which will be televised to an international audience.

“The Olympic champions in paddle sports from the Tokyo games will come to Oklahoma City and race under the lights, and there will be a race in the whitewater center as well. It is probably the highest profile event we have ever had,” Knopp said.

This story originally appeared in the July 2021 edition of the VeloCity newsletter.