On June 15, community members from throughout the Region flocked to Whihala Beach in Whiting for the season-opening of WhoaZone at Whihala Beach. This aqua park, which has been in operation since 2017, is one of three WhoaZone locations and features an inflatable floating obstacle course that guests seven years old and up can enjoy. WhoaZone at Whihala Beach also features rentable shaded seating and the SnackZone concessions and beach store, where guests can purchase hamburgers, hotdogs, ice cream, soda, and WhoaZone toys and souvenirs. Jen Rice, general manager at WhoaZone and Empire Recreational Management, seeks to make every WhoaZone at Whihala Beach experience a memorable one.
“I hope that our guests make some great memories here,” Rice said. “Thinking about how our guests will make fond memories that they'll be laughing about for days and weeks to come after their visit really makes me happy. We’re excited to welcome the many guests who visit us year after year, but we're already seeing lots of new faces this year. We’re so excited to meet all of the new guests and have fun with them.”
The sprawling WhoaZone at Whihala Beach obstacle course sits afloat on Lake Michigan and is separated into three sections of varying difficulty. The obstacle course includes such awesome features as the Halfpipe, the Roundabout, the Wigglebridge, and the ActionTower XXL. Francisco Matchain, manager of WhoaZone at Whihala Beach, first began working as a lifeguard at the aqua park when it was first established. Having risen through the ranks of WhoaZone at Whihala Beach over the past eight years, Matchain has seen the unique role that the aqua park plays in the community.
“WhoaZone is about bringing people together," Matchain said. “I believe that it’s a great part of the Whiting community. A beach day is all about family, friends, and having fun, and I think WhoaZone serves to enhance that experience. Our staff loves being outside and we love helping our guests. I hope that everyone who came out today walks away feeling excited, full of happiness, and ready to come back another day and have some more fun at the WhoaZone.”
WhoaZone at Whihala Beach’s opening day was particularly special this year. It marked the opening of the aqua park’s PartyZone, a VIP area that can be reserved for birthday parties. Guests were also able to try out the all-new WhoaZone aqua socks, which are available for online and in-person purchase, for the first time. Rice believes that WhoaZone offers even more than just a fun day at the beach.
“WhoaZone at Whihala Beach offers fun to the community, but we benefit from it in other ways too,” Rice said. “One way we do so is by offering young Whiting residents a variety of job opportunities. Most of our team members are between the ages of 14 and 18. In some cases, their job with us is the first they’ve ever had. Our goal is to teach them how to be great employees and how to be a part of a fun and engaging team.”
Guests can check out the WhoaZone at Whihala Beach Deals Zone for online purchase discount offers. These include the “2 for Tuesday” deal in which guests can purchase a single splash and get one free every Tuesday. Guests can use the “Woah Wednesday” deal to get 20% off a single splash every Wednesday. The "Family Fun Friday 4-Pack," which can also be applied to in-person purchases, provides the family with four single splash sessions during their visit.
To learn more about WhoaZone at Whihala Beach and how to purchase tickets, please visit whoa.zone/whiting. To learn more about the City of Whiting, please visit whitingindiana.com.