Fairmont renovates waterslide

By The Montana Standard Staff - 11/15/2008

Fairmont Hot Springs Resort's waterslide has reopened after a month-long renovation project.

As part of the project, the entire pale green fiberglass tube was replaced with a new, modern darker blue fiberglass tube.

While the new waterslide is essen-tially the same design, the experience has changed considerably. The ride is faster, darker and slightly longer.

"I've ridden the old slide over a hundred times, but the new tube is a completely different experience," said Steve Luebeck, general manager at Fairmont.

The exit to Fairmont's waterslide is into the outdoor pool, which is typically 92 degrees. The outdoor waterslide is open 365 days of the year.

In addition to the replacement of fiberglass, the slide tower and pumping system were also extensively renovated. The original waterslide was opened in 1987, and stood essentially unchanged for 21 years.

Today, the slide is 354 feet in length and the starting point is more than 48 feet above the pool level.

The waterslide opens at 4 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.