HIVE 20 Water Ride Sets a New Benchmark in Environmental Storytelling
The HIVE 20 water ride, ProSlide Technology's latest innovation, has officially opened at Zoombezi Bay's new Conservation Tower, blending high-thrill ride engineering with strong environmental storytelling.
Located in Powell, Ohio, adjacent to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Zoombezi Bay is among the Midwest's most beloved water parks.
What Is the HIVE 20 Water Ride?
Thrilling Helix Turns & Panoramic Views
The HIVE 20 features two-person tubes that take riders through high-speed, high-G 360-degree spiral (helix) turns with sweeping vistas, designed to evoke a buzzing beehive experience.
First-of-Its-Kind Installations
This is the world's first installation of the dual HIVE 20 features, marking a milestone in slide design.
Conservation Tower: More Than Just Rides
The Conservation Tower expansion includes three immersive ProSlide-powered water attractions, all themed around environmental impact:
The Hive (HIVE 20) – as above.
Mussel Mayhem – including TornadoWAVE 12 / TORNADO 18 SwitchBACK elements, celebrating freshwater mussel conservation.
Captina Falls – the world's first Matting RallyRACER® slide combined with FlyingSAUCER® 8 elements, offering competitive, side-by-side mat racing action.
The thematic design delves into pollinators, stream health, aquatic species, and other conservation stories – weaving education into ride queues, visuals, and guest experience.
Significance & Industry Implications
Zoombezi Bay has worked with ProSlide for 17 years, delivering such signature rides as TORNADO 60, CannonBOWL, and ProRACER.
The launch of the HIVE 20 water ride further pushes boundaries in ride design, showing how parks can combine exhilaration with meaningful messages.
Anthony Sabo (VP, Zoombezi Bay & Guest Services) said the Conservation Tower is "full of firsts" and a strong alignment of ride innovation with mission-driven conservation. ProSlide+1 Jeff Janovich (Senior VP, Global Strategic Partnerships at ProSlide) emphasized that this project elevates storytelling in the water park sector.
What Guests & Stakeholders Can Expect
For visitors, the HIVE 20 water ride promises both adrenaline and an immersive narrative: the dual helixes, high-G turns, and visual elements make this more than just a slide. For the industry, it sets a new standard: parks that incorporate environmental themes aren't just offering if-you-must thrills, but creating experiences with ongoing value.
Conservation Tower officially opened June 20, 2025, coinciding with other expansion at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium-but this water ride makes clear that Zoombezi Bay is aiming to be a water park with a purpose.
