Splash Canyon Delayed, photo taken 1/15/2012

Las Vegans will have to wait another year before they can once again enjoy a water theme park close to home.  Splash Canyon, the much anticipated water theme park, will not be opening in May of 2012 as originally planned, according to a Splash Canyon executive. Red tape caused a delay in getting construction started on the $18-million park. Splash Canyon is located at Fort Apache and Warm Springs roads and plans call for a 25-acre park with a 15-acre expansion planned for the future, bringing the total size to 40 acres. Sales were already underway for season tickets this year at the introductory rate of $99 per person. As of this afternoon, the Splash Canyon website has been taken offline.

Another developer is planning a 22-acre water park for Henderson near Gibson and Galleria roads.  Vegas Residential LLC is still securing financing for the proposed project.

The last water theme park operating in Las Vegas was Wet and Wild.  Located on Las Vegas Blvd. near Sahara Avenue.  That park closed when it’s lease expired in 2004. Landowners were to build a mega-resort there but that project never got off the ground.

Previous Splash Canyon Article

Photo by: LasVegas360.com

Las Vegas is getting a new water park.  Since the closer of Wet-n-Wild in 2004, Las Vegas with it 110+ degree weather has been water-park-less. A new joint venture with private/public ownership including the County and Howard Hughes Corporation. A new water-park is making its way to Las Vegas. Splash Canyon Water Park will be located away from the Strip and out in the suburbs on 7055 S. Fort Apache Road in the southwest part of town near the I-215.

The public/private partnership was announced November 14, 2012 by the private investment team, Clark County and The Howard Hughes Corporation representatives. In comparison, Wet-n-Wild, open in May 1985, sat on a 27 acre lot next to the Sahara Hotel on the Las Vegas “Strip” and lost it lease after 20 years. Splash Canyon will be a 25 acre $18 million project for its first phase and expanded to 40 acres in phase II.

Splash Canyon in the southwest area of  Las Vegas expected to open May 2012

Splash Canyon Waterpark is expected to open Memorial Day weekend and will employ more than 500 seasonal employees. Splash Canyon will feature the following:

• Surfable Wave Pool
• Three-Slide Complex with Multi-Rider Tube Slides
• Big Slide Complex with Speed Slides and a six-lane, head-first Mat Racer
• 1,000-foot-long Lazy River
• Children’s Water Playground with toddler features
• four-story RainFortress playground with a 500 tipping bucket
• private cabanas for rent, which includes waiter and cabana service
• food outlets
• group picnic area accommodating up to 2,000 people with catering facilities and staff-led activities

Season passes are already on sale for $99 while they last. Visit their website for more information.

UPDATE: This was put on hold for a year and re-branded as Wet’n’Wild and is currently open on the southwest part of town.