Frontier Town's latest attraction slides into view

Maryland's instantly recognizable state flag design has been transformed into many things through the years: bathing suit tops, beverage koozies, smarphone covers, neckties, golf head covers and dog tags — to name a few.

Now it's a five-story-tall water slide.

The slide is part of a slate of changes coming this season to the iconic Frontier Town campground and resort in West Ocean City, Maryland.

When the campground amenities open for the season on Memorial Day weekend, guests will be greeted by three new water slides, a new miniature golf course and a revamped zip line attraction, its operator says.

“I’m really excited for it," said assistant general manager Michael Manley. "We’re just hoping the weather will turn. That's our biggest problem right now with the cold weather.” 

The 59-year-old park has been undergoing a large-scale makeover since it was purchased by Michigan-based Sun Communities in 2015, along with sister park Fort Whaley in Whaleyville.

Workers are winding up a project to connect the property to Mystic Harbor's sewage plant. Once that's completed, it will open the door for Sun Communities to add 200 additional campsite spaces to its existing crop of 584.

The centerpiece of the resort has been its Wild West-styled "town," and that won't be changing much this season beyond some new skits and animals, Manley said.

But visitors may be forgiven for thinking otherwise when they see the resort from its main entrance on Route 611. 

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The grassy mound and concrete water slides are gone. Taking their place: three 50-foot water slides.

The structures are so tall that Sun Communities had to get a special building height waiver from the Worcester County government, Manley said. They're at least 15 feet taller than what was there before.

The main slide is painted in the familiar red, yellow and black colors of the Maryland flag.

“We just figured since we are in Maryland we wanted something that was eye-catching," he said. “People love the Maryland flag down here.” 

Resort managers have dubbed it "The Rattler" because riders will find themselves sloshing well up the sides of the tube as they descend.

All three slides will be accessible from the same raised platform, Manley said.

“If you want to race down the slides, everyone can start at the same time," he added.

The Rattler and a second slide will be the type that require an inflatable tube for riding. The third is a "body slide."

The slides aren't the only new ripples in the water park. Little ones will have more space to play with a splash pad that Manley estimated to be three to four times bigger than the old one.

Another Frontier Town upgrade: The aging miniature golf park has been removed. A new one near the ice cream stand will give players a new challenge and its owners fewer headaches. Unlike its predecessor, the new course is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act requirements.

Frontier Town has sported a high-ropes course for a few years — a series of climbing challenges involving high wires. 

Previously, the course's pièce de résistance — a long, pulse-pounding zip line — was only accessible to those who complete one of the courses. Now, it can reached as a stand-alone attraction, Manley said.

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