Anyone noticed that there aren't many old school water theme parks anymore? I remember the mermaids and the swimming pig at Aquarena Springs in San Marcos when I was a kid. They also had a space needle, gondola and glass bottom boats. I remember watching the mermaids in the submarine show, sitting on their lilly pads eating sandwiches underwater. And my 8 yo self was worried the swimming pig might steal them.

There was also Cypress Gardens in Winter Haven, Florida where they had the acrobatic water skiing shows. When I was 6 I wanted to be a water skier at Cypress Gardens when I grew up. I loved that place.

Anyone else remember these places or places like these? They don't seem to exist anymore and I think it sucks.

They still have the glass bottom boats in San Marcos. I was on one last year. Just about everything else had shutdown at Aquarena Springs.

I know several people that grew up going to Action Park and they say the documentary doesn't give how crazy that place was justice. Great documentary.

I grew up in Alabama and remember a couple of Cypress Gardens trips as a kid in the 70s. The waterskiing shows were fun to watch.

Ragoo said:

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RIP old school Schlitterbahn

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Wait what happened to Schlitterbahn

Ragoo said:

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RIP old school Schlitterbahn

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That was a cool place! The old tube chutes were way cool.

Fame City Waterworks on a school trip in Jr High…a certain person in a fluorescent orange 2 piece…and Def Leppard on the radio

80-90s were the best

wangus12 said:

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Ragoo said:

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RIP old school Schlitterbahn

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Wait what happened to Schlitterbahn

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it had to be sold following the Kansas City fatality

This was THE SPOT in Midland during the 80s/90s.



Now it looks like a third world country. Not sure if renovations ever actually happened. I think it's been completely bulldozed now.

https://www.mrt.com/news/article/Renovations-begin-to-take-shape-at-Water-13488126.php

America's largest water park still going strong for 45 years.

This is completely filled in and bulldozed over; an oilfield type of company bought all the land and are using for their facility. This was completed within the last year or so.

I had hoped it was going to be restored to it's former glory, but it's never going to happen now.

Growing up in DFW, I went to Wet n Wild (now Hurricane Harbor) in Arlington and White Water just down the highway in Grand Prairie. I always preferred White Water, but it didn't win the battle and was eventually bought out, the pools filled in with concrete and years later it became the site for Grand Prairie Ford.

Screenagers

aggiegrad01 said:

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This is completely filled in and bulldozed over; an oilfield type of company bought all the land and are using for their facility. This was completed within the last year or so.

I had hoped it was going to be restored to it's former glory, but it's never going to happen now.

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Remember when people were saying Disney was going to come to Midland-Odessa?

Ah, memories of getting kicked in the head and almost drowning in that wave pool and then getting caked in dust when you got out.

White Water kid here, at least the one in Garland. Much preferred it to Wet & Wild. Was a lot of fun in the early to mid 80's!

C@LAg said:

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Aggie Dad 26 said:

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80s and 90s Schlitterbahn was about as good as it gets in the summer. I wish they would double the price of admission

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yep. crowd levels were about perfect mid 80s.

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It's insane how crowed the New Bransfels, and the Galveston parks are. Nothing but trashy families too

Tree Hugger said:

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Growing up in DFW, I went to Wet n Wild (now Hurricane Harbor) in Arlington and White Water just down the highway in Grand Prairie. I always preferred White Water, but it didn't win the battle and was eventually bought out, the pools filled in with concrete and years later it became the site for Grand Prairie Ford.

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had no idea

Do we not like the Texas Tornado at Fiesta Texas? I do.

I was too old for those!

You're never too old for Roller Coaster or water parks.

lol, that is true.

Aquamarina

gabehcoud said:

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Tree Hugger said:

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Growing up in DFW, I went to Wet n Wild (now Hurricane Harbor) in Arlington and White Water just down the highway in Grand Prairie. I always preferred White Water, but it didn't win the battle and was eventually bought out, the pools filled in with concrete and years later it became the site for Grand Prairie Ford.

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had no idea

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Just behind that was Lion Country Safari, a drive through zoo. I think there was also like a kids arcade/play place/science museum back there too

If you're ever in Florida, Weeki Wachee Springs is still around and pretty fun. Last time I was there I went swimming in the springs and a bunch of manatees just swam up to hang out. It was a really cool experience. They also have a vintage Mold-A-Rama souvenir machine.

https://weekiwachee.com/

Jungle Surf in Galveston was awesome. Small, clean, wholesome fun. For some reason, the trashy people generally stayed away.

I didn't know that was still there! Last time I was in that area I didn't check.

Sea Arama in Galveston.