These Abandoned Water Parks Are An Eerie Reminder Of Summers Past

In a world where the times are always rapidly changing and responsibility seems never ending, we often daydream about our favorite childhood experiences, like going to a water park. While we may have loved spending the day at our favorite swimming holes and lakes, there was nothing ever quite like taking a trip to your local water park to cool off and get your adrenaline going. Whether you enjoyed wading in the lazy rivers or lived for the thrilling water slides that would get your blood pumping, these places provided their visitors with fun days in the sun. Unfortunately, not all that we loved in the past can withstand the test of time. Many of our beloved childhood water parks failed and are nothing but testaments to economic conditions, poor planning or location, or some other circumstance that contributed to their demise. Several such water parks stand – or stood for several years – abandoned and decaying.

No longer the adventurous paradises that they once were, these images of abandoned water parks in the USA serve as an eerie reminder of summers past, but more images from twisted nightmares than childhood dreams.

West Texas Drone/YouTube

For the younger residents living in the Midland, Texas area, this now deserted water park once gave purpose to every hot summer day. One of the most missed spots on our list, Water Wonderland has a history of locals petitioning for its revival. Sadly, as much as people miss the bumper cars, wave pools and water slides, it would cost millions of dollars to get it up and running again.

Another issue? The location is an arid, drought-stricken region. Having a giant water park not only seems a bit tone deaf but quite out of the question to many folks in the area. Currently, the water park is in its worst condition ever, covered in overgrown grass and an outrageous amount of disappointing graffiti.

A special thanks to West Texas Drone for capturing this amazing, yet creepy, footage of the abandoned Water Wonderland!

Danielle Hallett/Flickr

This water park, which closed in 2005, was located in Kissimmee, Florida. It was home to one of the largest wave pools in the area. The nearly 40-acre park opened in the late 1980s and was a wonderful place to cool off when you were tired of swimming in your average pool.

Many thanks to Danielle Hallett for uploading her video of Water Mania to YouTube - such chilling footage!

adamthewoo/YouTube

What was once the largest water park in the Pacific Northwest, Coeur d'Alene's Wild Waters, had become an eyesore to anyone driving on the highway nearby. When it opened back in the early 1980's, everyone always longed for a season pass. To Idaho residents, there was nothing better than sneaking in some time at Wild Waters before the day was through.

However, it closed its doors several years ago, but locals dreamt of restoring the water park or even turning it into a skate park. Basically anything other than the overgrown mess it had become before the property was purchased by a hotel developer in 2019.

Pictured above, you can see an image from adamthewoo, who has an amazing YouTube channel that will keep your eyes glued to the screen! Check out his awesome 2017 footage from Wild Waters!

Dzealand/Wikimedia Commons

Also referred to as Lake Dolores Waterpark, this once extravagant water park became open to the public back in the early 1960's after only being used as a private resort. Rock-A-Hoola would end up closing after an unfortunate event that took place back in 1999. After undergoing a great deal of renovations, the park would find itself experiencing legal troubles when an employee was injured on a ride. After the park was closed, an employee went down one of the rides that resulted in serious injuries. In return, the water park would have to pay millions of dollars in legal fees that would play a huge part in this Newberry Springs attraction's demise.

Check out ​​Expedition Theme Park's awesome footage of this haunting water park!

triton115/YouTube

If you want to discover a water park that looks as though it's been picked up and dropped off into a dense forest, then Ebenezer's is the place for you. The water park is on private land owned by the original water park operators and remains swallowed by overgrown greenery without a true explanation as to why it ever closed in the first place. It opened in the late 1980s, but the park doesn't appear to be terribly missed by the locals who once took advantage of its wonderful but wacky water slides.

A special thanks to triton115 for trekking through the woods to explore this abandoned water park!

SchautMaster98/Wikimedia Common

Wild Waters was built in Silver Springs, Florida in the late 1970s. It was actually one of the first water parks in the South and opened to much acclaim. But due to increased competition and dwindling visitation, the park shuttered its gates in the mid-2000s.

Check out ​​Latin Vixen's video footage of her exploration of this creepy abandoned water park.

As water parks open and close across the country, many, like those above, sit deserted for many years before being demolished or redeveloped. Other abandoned water parks simply rot away, left to nature’s whims. Regardless, we think the sight of an abandoned water park, whether in haunting drone video or out of a car window on a desert highway, evokes feelings of growing up and an inability to regain all that we may have once cherished as children. That’s why these images can be so haunting.

The OIYS Visitor Center

Abandoned Water Parks In The USA

June 04, 2023

Trent Jonas

Where can I learn more about these abandoned water parks in the USA?

You can learn more about these abandoned water parks in the USA from the more detailed articles Only In Your State has published about them. You'll find more information about several of the water parks listed above in the following articles:

• Water Wonderland in Texas
• Rock-A-Hoola in California
• Ebenezer Floppen Slopper’s Wonderful Water Slides in Illinois