Wet 'n Wild (Las Vegas)

Wet 'n Wild was announced in June 1984,[3] as a joint venture between Howard Hughes Development Corporation – part of Summa Corporation – and San Diego-based Wet 'n Wild. The Hughes corporation conceived the project because of the potential to expand the local tourism market through family entertainment, and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority believed that the water park would appeal to families visiting Las Vegas. Hughes chose a water park theme as the company did not want to compete against southern California's Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm theme parks, as many Las Vegas tourists were residents of southern California. The concept of a water park in Las Vegas was also considered ideal because of the city's dry and hot weather. Construction on the 27-acre park was underway by October 1984. It was built on the Las Vegas Strip, between the Sahara and El Rancho hotel-casinos.[4]

Wet 'n Wild opened on May 18, 1985,[5][6][7] after $14 million was spent on construction. The park included three turbine engines capable of creating rolling four-foot waves in a 170-foot pool. The park also featured a 17,000-square-foot surf lagoon containing 500,000 gallons of water, ranging in depth from eight feet to two inches. The surf lagoon was a main attraction, as well as a 76-foot-high water slide known as the Der Stuka,[8][9] located along Las Vegas Boulevard on the property's west end, south of the Sahara.[10] Wet 'n Wild was the latest Las Vegas effort to appeal to visiting families. The park proved to be successful in its early months.[11][12] Approximately 500,000 people were expected to visit the water park during its first year.[4][8] By June 1986, park attendance had increased 19.7 percent from the previous year.[13] A capsule known as the Bomb Bay was eventually added atop the Der Stuka. The Bomb Bay required people to push a button, which opened the floor beneath them, plummeting riders to the slide approximately 20 feet below.[10]

In 1993, the park was sued by Russell Beatty, a man who suffered temporary paralysis after his neck was broken in three areas. Beatty had been waiting for his son at the bottom of the Hydro Blaster water slide and was struck by a 275-pound man. Beatty alleged that lifeguards allowed the man to go down the slide too soon, resulting in the injury.[14]

In the mid-1990s, the park began offering its Summer Nights celebration, which featured live music, as well as contests and games.[15] In 1995, security measures were taken after someone in the parking lot had videotaped young girls in bathing suits and began selling the footage. More than 100 trees were planted to obscure the view to outsiders, and a canvas screen was placed over a chain-link fence that separated the parking lot from the water park.[16][17]

In 1995, Bill Bennett purchased the Sahara resort from Santa Fe Gaming, and it was initially believed that the sale included Wet 'n Wild. This led to persistent rumors that the park would close and be demolished to make way for a Sahara parking lot. However, Bennett's purchase did not include the park, which had a lease with Santa Fe Gaming through 2004. To help combat the closure rumors, the park announced that it would build a new attraction, the Royal Flush.[18][19]

Playboy event held at the park in 2000

In 1997, a nine-year-old girl nearly drowned in a wave pool at the park before being rescued by lifeguards. The park had never experienced a fatality or near-drowning up to that point. The girl was hospitalized at Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center where she was declared brain-dead and put on life support[20][21] before dying a week later.[22] Some bystanders criticized the lifeguards' actions and considered them to be incompetent.[23][24][25] However, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department found no wrongdoing.[22]

The Royal Flush eventually opened in 1998. It consisted of a water slide leading into one of two bowls: one open and one enclosed. Riders would go down the slide and around one of the bowls at up to 45 miles per hour. It was the park's first new attraction in seven years.[26][27]

In October 1998,[28] Universal Studios Recreation Group acquired the park as part of its purchase of the Wet 'n Wild brand.[29] Ogden Corporation purchased the park in early 1999,[30] and announced plans later that year to sell it.[28] The park was purchased by Alfa Smartparks in 2000.[31][32]

In 2000, the park hosted a Playboy home video release party and fashion show. The event included 40 Playmates, the most ever assembled for a single event.[33] As of 2002, Wet 'n Wild was considered by Clark County to have one of the best maintained pools in the Las Vegas Valley.[34]

Palace Entertainment purchased the park in July 2002.[32][35]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wet 'n Wild Las Vegas.

• Official website (archived)
• Photo gallery at Las Vegas Review-Journal