Waco Waterpark Becoming Hawaiian Falls Waterpark - 12 News KBMT and K-JAC. News, Weather and Sports for SE Texas

Waco Waterpark Becoming Hawaiian Falls Waterpark

With a traditional Polynesian dance, the turning over of the dirt and the first big wave soaking Waco Mayor Jim Bush, the City of Waco's waterpark is now Hawaiian Falls Waterpark.

"Get wet Waco, here we come," exclaims Hawaiian Falls President David Busch.

Busch's Dallas based company is teaming up with the city to transform the existing park into a $10-million water wonderland, three times the size of the existing park. 

"We'll have two major, major slide complexes that are 60 feet in the air, about a mile of fiberglass they'll be sliding on, on several different slides. Very unique slides," says Busch.

Plus a lazy river that winds through the trees and a football field sized wave pool complete with surfing. The existing water park will be re-themed and turned into a children's area. The renovations that will cost $6.2 million.

The City of Waco will pay $2 million of that and maintain ownership of the land. Hawaiian Falls will pay the rest and will own and operate the actual park under a 40-year lease with the city.

Together, the private-public partnership will create 150 seasonal jobs and an attraction that is expected to draw 150,000 people a year.

"One of the thing you hear a lot about Waco is there's nothing to do, well this is gonna really be a fairly affordable avenue for something for our young folks and teenagers to do," says Waco Mayor Jim Bush.

Hawaiian Falls estimates the park will draw out people within a 90 mile radius and that each summer, 70,000 of the park-goers will be tourist.

Hawaiian Falls Waco will also have dive-in movies and special events for families. The park is set to open Memorial Day Weekend 2012.

Tickets and season passes are available now at special rates. You can purchase tickets online by clicking here.

Reporter: Ashley Goudeau / Photographer: Rocky Bridges