One of the hardest things to do when you’re thinking of building a cable park is to find the information you need to get started. Many things are site specific, like the availability of water and excavation costs. And others are completely dependent on your state and county’s regulations. But The Wake Park Project has done it’s best to give you a path to follow, and below you will find some of the first steps towards park ownership.

Of course it’s not in any way comprehensive, so we’d be happy to speak with you if you’ve got a site in mind, need advice for dealing with zoning or just prefer to speak to a real person.

Email: info@thewakeparkproject.com

Here are a few guidelines to get you started:

The Basics

The first thing you need to understand is that there is a lot more to building a cable than ordering one from the manufacturer. So be prepared to put in some time on the front end.

You have to consider your site’s zoning regulations, water source and proximity to a population that will support the park. You’ll also need to coordinate elements outside of the actual cable, such as the excavation of an artificial lake if there is not an existing body of water, parking structures, and buildings for check in, which will require you to deal with several local agencies/businesses including the city/county planning departments, contractors and excavators, engineers and more.

And, of course, you will need funding and a serious business plan in place to make sure you know how to reach out to your local population and make the park successful. Depending on the cost of land, construction, and number of cables, you will need anywhere from $950,000 to $2 million or more to build a park in the U.S.

But the good news is that once all the upfront work is handled, cable parks are some of the most satisfying businesses anyone in the watersports industry can own. And the Wake Park Project does provide ancillary services for some of these obstacles such as business and marketing plans, obstacle programs and site feasibility studies to help you make the right decisions and build a successful park.

Choosing a Site

Size: There are several factors to consider when you’re looking to purchase land, but the first question is usually size. As a general rule, you’ll need at least 10-12 acres to build a decent sized cable, have some on-site parking, and construct a small building for check in. But when you’re dealing with a plot this size, you’ll be using every square foot, so shape, easements and other factors come into play more.

If you can swing it, 20 acres gives you ample breathing room for a decent sized cable, parking and a building. Your options will be more open, and it only gets better the larger you go, making room for future expansions, including other cables and ancillary businesses like skate parks, pro shops, snack bars and more.

Keep in mind that a cable system can be placed in fresh and salt water, so if you’re in a costal area bays and inlets are definitely options. This would require less actual acreage as far as land goes, but a little more work in the water to define cable areas and provide a safe place for riders to return back to the starting dock after a fall.

Zoning: This is very site specific and will need to be coordinated through your county or city government. It is generally best to contact them when you first start looking for land. They can help you understand where the park will work outright by code, where you might be able to apply for some kind of conditional use permit, and the zoning designations you want to look for or avoid. There are also possibilities to partner with parks and recreation departments. But your local zoning or planning departments are the best place to start.

Tip: Meet face to face with your local planning departments rather than having a phone conversation, and prepare an informative and thorough presentation with photos, videos and as many visual aids as you can. Many people in the United States, especially those outside of the watersports industry, are unaware of the benefits cables have, including community building, bringing revenue into the local market, opening the sport up to a new demographic, and less stress on the environment. Email us for help with these presentations.

A few things to look for in prospective sites:

• Water Rights to an existing body of water, a well, or access to city water lines will ensure you won’t run out of that precious resource. (Be careful though, buying your water can get expensive.)
• Cable systems work in both fresh and salt water.
• If a site is level, there will be less excavation and sloping, which can get expensive. That said, if the price of the land is right, it may be worth it.
• Visibility. If your site is visible from a major roadway, that is a marketing plus.
• Proximity to a large population. (500,000 or more is ideal, but smaller populations of avid watersports enthusiasts are also viable)
• The correct zoning designation or ability to get a permit for a specific site to build the park is essential.
• Soil that will hold water means you won’t have to line your lake, which can get expensive. Talk to a local soil expert to determine what type you have on your proposed site and what that means for your lake.
• Weather. Many cable parks thrive in areas that have colder winters, but it is a factor in determining your overall operating days. If you have the right population, you can still build a successful park, (There are 40+ cables in Germany that do just fine.) but you should keep this in mind when doing your research.

Once you’ve got a site in mind, we’d be happy to take a look at it and give you a specific idea of where to go next. One of the services the Wake Park Project provides is a site feasibility analysis, which will indicate whether the site has a good chance of becoming a successful park.

Do The Numbers

Demographics: You can find the basic demographic info for your area on the US Census Bureaus website. But it’s a little trickier to determine current watersport participation in your area. If you choose to build a park with The Wake Park Project, we can help you with specifics for your region.

Revenue: To write any good business plan (which you will certainly need to do to start looking for investors) you’ll need to have solid projected revenue. Through Sesitec, who’s owner, Christian Lerchenfeld, personally owns and operates three cables systems, we can give you realistic information on what a park in your area can do if you choose to work on your project with us. And The Wake Park Project can drill down even further with access to industry information that gives you a broader look at your area’s potential. We can even assist with a full business plan.

Armed with this information, you can collect your total start up costs for a specific site and look for ways to fund your cable park.

Choosing a Cable

The Wake Park Project and Sesitec can provide custom layouts for each site. The key here is to get the best system for your site—one that maximizes your space, leaving as much room as possible for your other amenities with as many running meters of cable as possible, which will maximize the number of carriers you can have, keeping more people on the water. The average number of carriers on a cable is about eight, but the larger the cable, the more carriers you can fill with customers.

The Wake Park Project is well equipped to discuss the best custom design for your site and give you several options for layouts. Remember, none of the systems are off the shelf, they are all built for optimal conditions at your specific site.

Sesitec builds the most streamlined, durable and efficient cable systems on the market. Click here to read more about the systems. And they also offer something that no other cable manufacturer does—Lake Control. Click here to read more about this innovative product that allows cable owners to take full control of their operation

A cable system package from Sesitec comes standard with Lake Control, and costs around $390,000 depending on exchange rates and other options like more towers, obstacle packages, variable height starting docks and more. Shipping, customs fees, and taxes are determined by your location.

The Wake Park Project also offers an exclusive two-tower system from Sesitec called the System 2.0, which can be used in conjunction with full size cables as rail parks or on its own at events or as a personal cable system. It is the only straight-line cable on the market that provides a continuous ride. And it can even be installed indoors. Click here to learn more about this new system.

Once your cable is ordered, you’ll have between four and six months to prepare your site for the installation.

Preparing the Site for Installation

Once you’ve settled on a system, The Wake Park Project and Sesitec can provide detailed specifications on lake design (including sloping the shorelines, size of your island, depth and total area) concrete anchors, and foundations for starting areas, which will need to be in place before the system in delivered. This can be accomplished through local contractors in your area.

You’ll also need to make sure that you have rented the heavy equipment (a crane or helicopter), installed electricity and a safe place to store small tools when the experts from The Wake Park Project and Sesitec arrive to install your system to make everything as seamless as possible.

Once the site is prepared and the cable arrives, we’ll handle everything from placing the towers and constructing the starting dock to training your employees and testing the complete system.

Buildings and Parking Lots

You’ll need a building to check in your riders and a place for everyone to park. What kind of building is used is really up to the park owner, and size is determined by what you want to do with it. But The Wake Park Project can provide some guidelines for sizes once you have determined your building’s uses.

You’ll also need a parking lot, which is a given. But do keep in mind that if you plan on having major events at your site, you need to make sure you have space for the extra vehicles, even if its just in a grassy area.

Before Opening

Before you open, there are a few things you need to have in place.

Insurance: Insurance is a big hurdle, but it is essential for any cable park owner. The Wake Park Project has worked with a highly respected insurance agency to lower rates and make policies more accessible to owners. Click here to email us for more information.

Marketing: You can have the best park in the world, but if no one knows its there, you’ll have trouble being successful. Think about ways to get the word out, both on a grassroots level and through more mainstream media. The Wake Park Project offers assistance with marketing plans when you build a park with us.

Sponsorships: A big portion of the revenue for cable parks comes in the form of sponsorships. The Wake Park Project has come up with innovative ways to quantify the number of participants at your park, including Sesitec’s Lake Control, which can track rider information and the total number of laps ridden on your cable per year. This is essential information for sponsors, who are looking to get the most exposure possible. The Wake Park Project sees the possibilities for cable venues to strive for NASCAR marketing potential, and if you build a park with us, we will help you maximize your sponsorships.

If you’re ready to take the first steps toward owning your own park, we’re here to help. Watersports is what we do, and The Wake Park Project focuses on providing all of the tools you need to build a premiere site.

Email: info@thewakeparkproject.com