Raging Waters San Jose announced Wednesday It will be closed for the current season and will not reopen in 2024.
The water park posted on Facebook that it thanked the community and its team members for “helping bring Northern California’s largest water park to life for nearly 40 years.”
The announcement surprised and shocked many, including park officials.
“We weren’t aware of it specifically through official channels other than social media,” said Ronit Prasad, an employee at the park. He is one of dozens of park employees who said they were blinded and went to work Wednesday for answers.
“If anything, it’s a bit sad for the community,” Prasad said. “I grew up across the street. For many teenagers around here, that’s a lot of work. Just a nice summer of money and lots of memories.”
The owner of Raging Waters told NBC Bay Area that the closure was a “business decision.” This comes a year after the company closed Racing Waters in Sacramento.
San Jose city leaders expected the move to come due to declining attendance and only one year left on the park’s lease, but they weren’t expecting an announcement so soon. said he had not.
“I think this is an opportunity for us as a city to explore amenities that can provide entertainment, community gatherings, and a home for our community’s young people in particular,” said the San Jose City Council member. Domingo Canderas said.
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan said the city has already heard from potential investors who are considering repurposing the area, which could attract even greater interest.
Read the full Raging Waters statement below.
Raging Waters San Jose is closed for the season and has no plans to reopen in 2024. Thank you to the San Jose community and talented team members who have brought Northern California’s largest waterpark to life for nearly 40 years. Thank you San Jose for the wonderful memories!
