While developing SeaWorld, George Millay realized the need for a water park, later recalling "being in Florida, with all its heat and hot sun, you naturally think about cooling off in water". In the mid-1970s, he directed his time and money towards the project. The idea stemmed from the splash pad at Ontario Place in Canada and the wave pool at Point Mallard Park in Alabama. His desire was to combine these two elements and build upon it in order to achieve a good return on investment. Due to his prior success with SeaWorld, he was able to form a team of investors to fund the project.[2]
The park opened in Orlando, Florida on March 13, 1977. Although it opened to rain and suffered a $600,000 loss in its first year of operation, Millay kept it open. He later claimed it "started making money the second year and never looked back".[2] The success of the park spawned several other Wet 'n Wild-branded parks across the Americas.[3][4]
In 1998, Millay sold off his interests in his parks. The Orlando location was purchased by Universal Studios Recreation Group, who continued to lease the land on which it is located.[5] In mid-2013, Universal purchased the 50 acres (20 ha) of land for $30.9 million.[6]
Expansion and later years
Brain Wash
In 1998, the Hydra Fighter was added to the park.[7] Riders were able to control their suspended gondola through the use of high-powered water guns.[8]
In 2000, the park renovated their Kids Park children's area. The original aviation theme was converted into a sandcastle theme. The renovation saw three ProSlide Technology "Kidz" slides added as well as a castle with a tipping bucket which dumped 250 US gallons (950 L; 210 imp gal) of water every three-and-a-half minutes. With the exception of the three slides, it was manufactured entirely by Integrity Attractions.[9][10]
In 2001, the park began a multi-year expansion plan with Canadian manufacturer ProSlide Technology.[11] It added The Storm, a pair of ProBowls, in 2001;[12][13] The Blast, an inline tube slide, in 2003;[14] Disco H2O, an enclosed Behemoth Bowl, in 2005;[15][16] and Brain Wash, an enclosed Tornado, in 2008.[17][18]
In 2011, the Kids Park was demolished and was replaced by Blastaway Beach, a larger children's water play area that opened in 2012, also themed around sandcastles.[17]
In 2014, the Bubba Tub was removed and replaced with the Aqua Drag Racer, a four-lane race slide.
On June 17, 2015, it was confirmed that the park would close on December 31, 2016, to be replaced by a new water park, Universal Volcano Bay, which opened across the site on May 25, 2017.[19][20][21] The park permanently closed on January 1, 2017, and was demolished in early 2017.[22][23]
^ abO'Brien, Tim (November 16, 1998). "George Millay: From Sea World to Wet'n Wild, the father of the modern waterpark has definitely made a splash". Amusement Business. 110 (46): 19.
^ abPowell, Tom (July 6, 1998). "New ride, promos keep Wet 'n Wild at the top of waterpark industry". Amusement Business. 110 (27): 13.
^ abThomas, Rebecca (April 10, 1998). "Hydra Fighter Makes Splash". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on January 6, 2014. Retrieved January 6, 2014.
^ abO'Brien, Tim (March 18, 2002). "Orlando Waterpark plans to let kids get 'Wild'". Amusement Business. 114 (11): 6.
^ abSwain Vadnie, Rebecca (April 25, 2003). "Watery Fun At Full Blast". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on January 8, 2014. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
^ abBarbieri, Kelly (January 2006). "Waterparks catch a nice wave". Amusement Business. 118 (3): 12.
