Project Overview
In 2025, Carowinds introduced Charlie Brown’s River Raft Ride, an interactive floating ride designed around Charles Schulz’s beloved Peanuts characters. The water-based attraction delivers a whimsical and action-packed guest experience, blending themed visual storytelling with playful, user-driven water effects.
In designing the River Raft Ride, aquatic design firm Martin Aquatic specified 15 SplashValves to bring each of the Peanuts character themed water features to life, as well as a SplashBotix MCP to maintain basin water levels and orchestrate water quality systems.
Solution Objectives
Deliver responsive, dynamic water features to enhance rider engagement.
Provide centralized control of basin pumps and water quality systems.
Streamline project commissioning and operator hand-off.
Provide operations with easy-to-use real-time system monitoring and control features.
Solution
Main Control Panel
The SplashBotix MCP serves as the system’s centralized control hub, seamlessly integrating with:
7 Pumps: Including a nozzle pump supporting the feature manifold, weir pumps, and filtration pump.
Overflow and Auto-Fill Valves: To maintain proper basin water level.
UV & Chemical Systems: Monitoring and taking signals from these water quality systems and managing system interlocks accordingly.
RMF Filtration System: Monitoring and taking signals from the RMF system and interlocking filtration pumps and other dependent systems accordingly.
Ride Operations Panel & DMX Controller: Communicating with feature controllers to ensure synchronization between ride controls and basin quality systems.
Pressure Transducers: Monitoring manifold pressures to enable closed-loop filtration system and feature system control.
Once the MCP, pumps and water chemistry systems were installed, contractors were able to fully commission the ride in just three days, significantly faster than the weeks of commissioning work often required among systems supported by custom basin control solutions. Contractors were also able to use the MCP’s pump control interface to fine-tune flow rates across the entire attraction, achieving optimal performance among both the feature and filtration systems.
SplashBotix MCP Equipment Room Controller
Part Number: 071071C001
The MCP is your pump room’s central command center — it automatically controls water levels, interlocks critical systems, and provides your operations team with real-time insights into the health and performance of your aquatic operations.
SplashValves
Rather than supply each interactive feature with its own pump, the ride’s SplashValves enabled Martin Aquatic to specify just one dry pump to support the entire network of independently programmed features. Programmed to fit the ride’s narrative, the SplashValves support a diverse mix of fast-acting, variable height effects across each Peanuts character-themed water feature.
Notable Water Features:
Linus’ Snorkel: In one corner of the ride, Peanuts character Linus shoots streams of water from his snorkel mask splashing riders as they float by.
Woodstock’s Nest: Several SplashValves work in concert with one another to give the illusion that Woodstock, Snoopy’s beloved avian sidekick, and his nest are being continuously suspended by a plume of water.
Leaky Boat: In a scene featuring Peppermint Patty and Marcie frantically bailing water out of a sinking boat, one SplashValve is used to mimic water bubbling up through the leaking hull.
Snoopy’s Tube: Just behind Woodstock sits Snoopy – Peanuts’ iconic beagle – shooting water from his mouth at raft riders while reclining in his tube.
Each feature offers controlled sequencing, precise height modulation, and engaging variability—hallmarks of the SplashValve’s unique proportional control capabilities.
SplashValve Robotic Water Switch
Part Number: 072089W001
A fast-acting proportional water switch, SplashValves allow theming professionals and creatives to independently control multiple themed water features operating on a common manifold. SplashValves offer waterparks an easy, cost-effective way to massively increase the value of their aquatic attractions.
Results
Streamlined Commissioning: Once systems and devices had been installed, contractors were able to commission the basin system in just three days.
Enhanced Guest Experience: Seamless coordination of pumps, features, and sensors allow for immersive storytelling.
Operations-Focused: The MCP offers 24/7 equipment protection and provides Carowinds’ operations team with a real-time view of their system’s performance.
Maximized Interactivity: Dynamic, themed water effects foster greater guest engagement with the ride narrative.
Conclusion
Carowinds’ Charlie Brown’s River Raft Ride is a strong example of how SplashBotix products can help waterparks and aquatic designers bring their most dynamic, innovative and thrilling attractions to life. SplashBotix is immensely proud to have supplied the MCP and SplashValves, and help transform such a novel concept into a safe, efficient, and unforgettable themed ride experience.
Reach out to SplashBotix today to specify SplashBotix standard controls on your next project.
