When we think of water parks, we often imagine children frolicking around with smiles on their faces, long lines for every ride, and laughter everywhere we go. We don’t usually think of desolation and pure creepiness, but the now-abandoned Water Wonderland between Midland and Odessa is exactly that. The rides are still fully intact, adding to the spookiness because you can almost picture people actively enjoying their day before disappearing right in their tracks. Wondering if there’s a such thing as abandoned waterparks in Texas? The answer is yes – there is – and they’re creepy. 

The park was built in 1980 and sat on over 16 acres.
YouTube/nathanks
It even featured a mini golf course! West Texans came in flocks during the summer because it was the only place around to beat the heat. After a bankruptcy in 1994 and a lawsuit in 1996 over a ride malfunction that injured a young boy, Water Wonderland was left to rot into the waterless wasteland it is today. Honestly, that's kind of wild, considering that parks still operating to this day have had literal deaths occur onsite.

Related Stories

This Drone Photographer Took Flight Over An Abandoned Quarry In Texas And Found A Submerged Surprise

This Drone Photographer Took Flight Over An Abandoned Quarry In Texas And Found A Submerged Surprise

 Once Abandoned And Left To Decay, The Zedler Mill In Texas Has Been Restored To Its Former Glory

Once Abandoned And Left To Decay, The Zedler Mill In Texas Has Been Restored To Its Former Glory

 This Fascinating Texas Town Has Been Mostly Abandoned And Reclaimed By Nature For Decades Now

This Fascinating Texas Town Has Been Mostly Abandoned And Reclaimed By Nature For Decades Now
As for its future, there are no current plans to restore the park despite a movement started in 2012 by Midland and Odessa residents to do so.
YouTube/nathanks
The cities are, however, considering building a new, larger water park in the coming years so that West Texas children can make summertime memories like their parents did decades ago. We can only hope that perhaps this abandoned waterpark in Texas will someday be something great again... but we're not holding our breath.

Take a look at this video of Water Wonderland as it stands today and imagine yourself amidst the eeriness:

Did you ever go to Water Wonderland before it was abandoned? Are there any other abandoned water parks in Texas that you’re aware of? Let us know.

If you find you can’t get enough of the amazing abandoned places in Texas, you might want to check out this epic abandoned Texas road trip that’ll lead you to some truly fascinating (and eerie) hidden gems.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

More to Explore

Abandoned Water Parks in Texas

Tori Jane | February 01, 2023
  1. Are there any creepy abandoned water parks in Texas? 

This might seem like an oddly specific question, but yes, there are abandoned water parks in Texas - as well as abandoned amusement parks in TX, too. Some of these include creepy spots such as:  

  • Water Wonderland, in Midland-Odessa – abandoned since 2003 
  • Adventure Pointe, in Texas City – abandoned since 2019 
  • Aquarena Springs, in San Marcos – abandoned since 1996 

Learn more about one of our favorite creepy abandoned places in Texas! 

  1. What are some truly creepy abandoned places in Texas? 

Naturally, with as large as Texas is, there are thousands of abandoned places peppered all over the place. Some of the most notorious abandoned places in Texas are:  

  • The Aldridge Sawmill in Zavalla, destroyed by fire and closed in 1919 
  • Baker Hotel in Mineral Wells, easily the most famous abandoned hotel in TX 
  • The Bexar County Juvenile Home in San Antonio, the site of plentiful suffering during its time as a facility for troubled and orphaned youth 
  • The pool at what’s left of the Branch Davidian cult compound in Waco 

Learn more about some of the downright creepiest places in Texas. 

  1. Where are some of the creepiest places in Texas? 

Texas is a state where creepy things seem to happen with a strange frequency if you ask us. There are a notorious number of creepy places in TX, including places like:  

  • Yorktown Memorial Hospital – abandoned since 1982 
  • The town of Old Town Spring – most buildings are abandoned and the whole place is said to be haunted 
  • Woman Hollering Creek – said to be one of the many lurking spots for infamous Mexican spirit La Llorona 

Learn more about some of the most haunted places in Texas!   

Related Articles

Explore Texas