Selfie Contest

The Colony and Garland parks are doing selfie contest with our Chaplains.  Nice.

The start of July is a great time to reflect on the fun and frolicks that make life fresh.  Here are some pictures of our Ambassadors being crazy, learning leadership and character and in action at Connections.

Big Night in Pflugerville

Big Night in Pflugerville

Big Night in Pflugerville

Mansfield Getting Goofy

Mansfield Crowd

Chillin

Crowd Control 

Chaplains meeting at Chick fil a

Contemplation

All Seats Takin

Garland Big Night

White Settlement

Ahhhhh White Settlement Chill

WS Selfie Alert

Champion’s Day 2014

Champion’s Day

Today was a great day! I say that based on the work we did for the Kingdom today.

I have two quick stories to share with you from the Mansfield park. These stories are not exclusive to Mansfield. You could substitute the park and names at any of our parks. Lauren, water safety lead, at Mansfield took it upon herself this morning to get a whole tower clapping and cheering on a champion who was a little afraid of the mat racer. She not only rallied support for him she then went down the slide with him in the next lane. Yes, she was wearing her “dry” uniform when she did this. Lauren is one of the finest examples of a Hawaiian Falls employee that I have encountered this season. Second, Jeff and Andrew, water safety supervisor and EMT, carried a girl, who is wheelchair bound, from the bottom of the slide to the top so that she could ride in a tube with her friend for just one ride. I have attached a picture of their amazing selflessness. (Thanks Kristin for picture) Again, these are just two of the stories that were played out all over our parks today. So, for one day forget the guest concerns and all the “issues” and instead focus on and rejoice in the good. Each one of you impacted the Kingdom today by living out our mission of “Serving the Lord by Bringing Families Closer Together”. Thank you all for being servants! I don’t think this day could have come at a better time for us all.

Champion’s Day 2014

Champions Day stories appeared on Fox 4, cw33 and NBC5. Don’t have links to the first two, but here’s the NBC 5 story: http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Hawaiian-Falls-Makes-a-Splash-with-Special-Needs-Children-264119871.html
Champions Day photos from Garland are online at https://hfalls.shutterfly.com/ and on Facebook.com/hfalls

Another World’s Largest Swimming Lesson story ran on NBC5 TV in DFW: http://www.nbcdfw.com/entertainment/the-scene/Hawaiian-Falls-Attempts-Record-Breaking-Swim-Lesson-263973001.html

Dallas Morning News sent a photographer to HF The Colony for a summer’s eve story/photo:

http://thescoopblog.dallasnews.com/2014/06/summer-officially-starts-tomorrow-but-the-real-heat-has-yet-to-come.html/

A Fathers Day to Remember

Dear HF Roanoke, 

I’m not sure who will get this, and I wanted to send something in the mail (and I still will) but I am hopeful that this will get into the right hands.  I wanted to write this tonight, after leaving your park, while I still had the feelings fresh in my mind.

My name is AMAZING GUES and myself and my 4 children want to thank you profusely for the kindness y’all have bestowed upon on our family. Our story with Hawaiian Falls begins 2 years ago.

My husband, was out running before work, around 4:30 in the morning on June 21, 2012, when he was struck from behind and killed instantly. The driver fled the scene and killed himself a week later.  I was left behind to be a 34 year old widow with 4 children, one of which is considered severely autistic. Hawaiian Falls was contacted by someone and they donated a full day pass for each of us, a free cabana rental and all the food my kids could eat! It was a day my family has never, nor will we ever, forget! It was a day filled with laughs and memories that we so dearly cherish.  The staff doted on my kids and just made us feel like royalty. 

2 years later...

Today, Father’s Day, we knew would be so incredibly tough. Most people don’t know this, but the second year is much more difficult than the first. People go back to their lives and you are left to pick up the pieces for you and your children all alone.  Knowing that I have no family here, (although I am blessed with amazing friends who have become family) I struggled to know what to do to help my kids make it through this Father’s Day.  We have all been dreading it and emotions have been running high.  I knew I wanted to get season passes to Hawaiian Falls. I wanted something to do with the kids to help make this summer easier and still fun for them.  So, I decided to spend Father’s Day with them at your establishment.  I even managed to rent a cabana to really try and make it special. We packed so much food but I was allowing my kids a few treats. They were so grateful as they know money is very tight.  An hour before we left Hawaiian Falls tonight, our sweet hostess told us that the cost of all the food was being covered by Hawaiian Falls. I broke down in tears immediately.  I couldn’t believe it.  I don’t know how y’all knew who we were or how much we needed that blessing but thank you to whomever made that possible. Thank you for listening to God’s promptings and being so kind to my children and I.  Thank you for making our day just a little brighter. 

As I watched my children run from slide to slide today, I was brought to tears several times thinking of how desperately I wanted my husband there with me to watch the joy on their faces.  I ached for him in ways I cannot explain. And then God sent me this very big gift of generosity to remind me that He hears my cries, and reminds me that angels, both living and dead, are all around. My sweet son (the one with autism), said “This was the best day ever! Thanks Mom!”  Thank you for blessing my family! We cannot wait to come back!

Much love,

AMAZING GUEST

TJ Launches the Torpedo! 3...2...1...Serve!

To whom it may concern,

I never do this and I'm not sure who will be receiving this email but I want to make sure I do my part to ensure that your general manager TJ at your location in Garland TX gets his merited recognition.

My wife, coworker and I are just leaving your park. Our friends had visited the park a week before and could not stop talking about how fun the "Torpedo" ride was. We are from Utah and decided we had to check this ride out before we had to go back home. Upon paying for entry we saw that the Torpedo was not working, and upon inquiring as to why we learned that it was because a number of employees hadn't shown up to work that day (an issue that I'm sure is pandemic with the number of summer only employees that you have).

Needless to say we were disappointed as we felt that we had paid for something that we weren't going to experience because a couple of high school kids decided not to show up to work that day. We happened to run into the park manager TJ and expressed our frustration to him. TJ was fantastic! He empathized from us from the beginning, dispatched and employee to the slide and then he himself came down and operated the slide for us so that we didn't have to go back to Utah without saying that we rode the famed Torpedo.

While his "whatever it takes" attitude and great personal care are extremely impressive perhaps what impressed us the most is that TJ understood that we probably won't be in a position to offer much further business to him or your company as we don't live here. It was clear to see that TJ was bending over backwards for us simply because that's the kind if guy he is, he genuinely wanted us to have the best possible experience at his park.

You are very fortunate to have an employee of the caliber of TJ!

Thanks for your time,

Alex Knight

Kudos from a Grandmother at Mansfield

Virginia Wilder, Mansfield Season Passholder, called and left this voicemail: 

“I just wanted to tell you what a great staff you have at Hawaiian Falls.  A young man in the office named Ryan (Forson)… I had a situation with two of my grandchildren.  He fixed that situation.  My whole day was wonderful, my grandchildren were happy.  I just adore him.  He helped me so much.  Being a grandmother with my grandchildren there it was a wonderful experience.  That young man made my day and my grandchildren’s day.   I want to thank him and I want to brag on him a little bit.  Your whole staff there at Hawaiian Falls is just marvelous.  So I just wanted to give you all a pat on the back for the great job your group does.  So thank you very much.  I have been a Passholder for a while now and I guess I will continue.  But that Ryan, that young man… I was crying because he was helping me so much and it was a wonderful day.  Thank you so much!” 

Hear it in her words here...

Summer Blessings - A Day in Customer Service

Meet the Rowland Family who were nominated for our Summer Blessings this year!  With eight kids and one on the way, Matthew and Jane could certainly use a day of family fun at the waterpark!  Heidi Durbin made their day by offering additional tickets to allow the whole gang to visit!  Check out the email exchange below and video of their fun family day at the park at:  http://youtu.be/J1yX1o55FY8

From: Heidi Durbin

Subject: Re: Congratulations! You have been chosen as a Hawaiian Falls Summer Blessings Winner!

Aloha! Congratulations!  You and your family have been chosen as a Hawaiian Falls “Summer Blessings Everyday Hero” Winner! Someone who cares about you very much nominated you as a deserving family!  Please confirm your family information below.

From: Jane Rowland:  Heidi, Thank you so much! We love Hawaiian Falls!! We have Nine!  :-) We are very blessed with a large family. I am due to have baby number nine at the end of September.  I've attached a picture of our eight kids.  Our children's ages are 14, 13, 11, 9, 8, 5, 3 and 1.  :-) So yes, only seven over the age of three. I thought you were asking how many total tickets we would need to be able to bring our whole family. 

From: Heidi Durbin:  Goodness…you are truly blessed.  I was going to see if I could get a couple more tickets added to your envelope but wanted to make sure all were over the age of 3.  Ages two and under don’t need a ticket as they are free.

From: Jane Rowland: If you could add more tickets, that would be awesome!!! We are having a hard time trying to decide who gets to go..they've each been coming to us trying to convince us why they should be the one to enjoy a day at Hawaiian Falls. Ha!   ;-)  No problem though if you aren't able to add more tickets, we are blessed either way.  Thanks again! Jane

From: Heidi Durbin: If I send 9, looks like everyone would get to go and not leave anyone behind. :-)  The kids are too cute to leave behind but I can only imagine the conversations going on in your household of who will get to go!

From: Jane Rowland: We received the nine tickets to Hawaiian Falls yesterday!!!!! Thank you so very much!! It's not very often that we are able to do something as fun as this!!! We are all so very excited.  Thank you for everything you did to be able to acquire the extra tickets for our family.  We appreciate you very much!!!

From: Jane Rowland:  Heidi, our family had such a fantastic day at Hawaiian Falls!  Here's a picture of the kids. You can tell by their smiling faces what a blast they/we all had!  My husband also made a three minute video of our time. I will send it to you soon!  Thank you so much for all you guys do to bless families! Keep up the great work!  Mahalo!

From: Heidi Durbin:  We loved the picture!  Thank you for sharing it with us.  It does look like they were all happy and having a great time.  We would love to see the video as well when you get a chance.

From: Jane Rowland:  Heidi, here's the link to our Hawaiian Falls Rowland Family video. Enjoy!  Jane

http://youtu.be/J1yX1o55FY8

THANK YOU HEIDI FOR ALWAYS MAKING OUR CUSTOMERS FEEL SPECIAL!