After a long winter, the staff at Gulf Islands Waterpark was busy with final touches - dabbing paint on waterslides, blowing up inner tubes, and setting out lounge chairs Thursday in preparation for the park's seasonal grand opening day this Saturday. Operations Vice President Glenn Haggerty says he expects more visitors to the park this year than last - despite, or rather because of, the economic crunch many families are feeling. "From a business perspective, how the economy and the high gas prices affect tourism dollars... that's part of what makes this a wonderful place to visit," said Haggerty. "It's easy to get to, it's just easy. We mainly target the areas within a one-hour drive, and most of our visitors are local, but when you think about what a family can get here, compared to a long drive to a theme park outside of the area, the value is really here." Haggerty said that instead of extending resources to add new attractions during the off-season, this year the staff focused on ways to improve operations, such as how to decrease waiting-time at the attractions, add amenities like larger cabanas and expand the menu. A second food service area featuring a barbecue café is expected to open on the far side of the property in mid-May. "We shut down for the 2007 season last September, and started working on the 2008 season on Oct. 1. We've really focused on service, and we're excited to put it all in to play." Water temperatures in the 750,000-gallon wave pool were nearing 80 degrees Thursday. Park administrators decided to extend the season by opening a week earlier than in previous years, and temperatures were a concern. "We looked at the temperatures over the past several years, and thought we could do it without a problem, but we did have some colder temperatures last week. I don't think I've ever sweat so much in 30-degree weather, but I think that was the last of it. The heat is here now." Betty Wallace, director of marketing for the water park, said the park also plans to expand the weekend and evening concert offerings, with more bands featured on the wave pool stage. The stage was added last year, and got a positive response from visitors. "It has been great having the stage there; you can just sit in your inner tube in the water and listen to the music," she said. "Even the little kids get into it - you see them bouncing up and down to the music over the speakers. It's a lot of fun."
When: Open weekends starting Saturday.

Open seven days May 17-Aug. 17.

Open weekends only Aug. 23-Sept. 14.

Hours: 10 a.m.- 7 p.m. April to Aug. 17.

11a.m.- 6 p.m. Aug. 23-Sept. 1.

11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 6-14.

Admission: Full-day tickets $27.95 ($19.95 under 42" tall).

Season passes $89.95 ($79.95 under 42").

Group rates available.

Cabanas and lockers available to rent (first come, first serve).

Where: Located off I-10 in Gulfport. Exit U.S. 49 north to Landon Road, turn left at Sportsplex entrance.

More info: 1-866-GULF-FUN or gulfislandswaterpark.com

A lifeguard looks over the Horn Island Blaster slide Thursday at Gulf Islands Waterpark at the Sportsplex in Gulfport.

Gulf Islands Waterpark lifeguard Billy Hickman cleans the pool at the base of the Deer Island Express and Cat Island Catapult slides ahead of this Saturday's opening of Gulf Islands Waterpark in Gulfport.

The shallow waters and falling waters in the Lil Pelican's Bay area attracts both kids and adults at Gulf Islands Waterpark in Gulfport.