Forgotten waterpark footage perfectly captures ‘unabashed California culture that is long gone’

Say hello to cowabunga culture.

Nearly 65 years ago, America’s first water park was created and home to over 250 acres deep in the Mojave desert. Right off I-15, its remote location proved to be a spot where kids across California drove hundreds of miles for a chance to drift down one of 10 waterslides.

The Lake Dolores Waterpark was recently brought back to life after an X post shared footage of the now-long gone swimming spot.

The poster — Brian Roemmele — dropped the video and commented, “It was another time and it was another place. Unabashed California culture that is long gone.” The video was from an old news program showing the place in all its glory.

The footage features tons of swimmers on zip lines, hurling themselves on the slides and lying around the lake. The video shows an interview of the then-owner walking the team around the park — which he ran with his entire family.

Fans from all over raced to try eight of the identical 150-foot slides from the man–made hill or conquer the two V–shaped waterslides — also about 150 feet — where thrill seekers would ride the slide standing up.

The waterpark was built by Bob Byers — a local in Newberry Springs and named after his wife. The man-made playground used underground springs fed by the Mojave Aquifer, pumping water to fill the lake and its attractions.

The park also featured a zip–cord ride, where folks hung from a hand–held device attached to a guide wire — getting flung from the cord at approximately 200 feet above the water on a 30–degree downward angle.

Parkgoers could lie in the lazy river, drive around in bumper boats or even catch a race around the Go-Kart track.

For the less adventurous, there were also diving boards and a lake to swim in and watch the daredevils.

Even the news anchor got in on the fun as the clip shows him trying to master the stand up slide and hanging on for dear life when using the zip line.

Users flocked to the post and shared in on the nostalgia from years ago.

“We need [to] bring back this type of California energy,” one wrote.

Another said, “Holy smokes I remember this place!! My teenage years were spent in Barstow.”

Folks who drive by the famed spot where kids once splashed and screamed will now see an abandoned site. The California park was deserted back in 2004 after three failed attempts to revive it.

According to Realtor.com, the sunken swimming attraction is covered in graffiti and dirt where overgrown trees rule the barren stretches of land. Folks can see a slew of barbed wire and chain link fence protecting the area as it’s in desperate need of repair.

The park had tons of legal and other financial troubles which ultimately led to its closing back in 1980s. Lake Dolores rebranded almost 20 years later, and reopened in 1998 under the new name “Rock-a-Hoola.”

Shortly after opening, an employee was paralyzed after an accident resulted in a $4.4 million judgment against the park, forcing the investors into bankruptcy, according to Jam Press. But the park was resilient, in 2002, it was again trying its luck with a new name — Discovery Waterpark.

The move was short-lived as it was only around for two years after closing for a third time in 2004. Reports show that slides were sold off to other major parks and the once-climbed structures were left to rubble.

Realtor reports revealed it was last listed in 2023, at a whopping $11 million and was later removed just almost 180 days after.

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