Fallsville Splash Park facts for kids

Fallsville Splash Park was a fun water park that used to be in Niagara Falls, New York. It was right next to what was once the Niagara Falls Convention Center.

The Story of Fallsville Splash Park

How the Park Began

The park first opened its doors on May 29, 1988. Back then, it was called Niagara Splash Park. It was part of a big plan to build up downtown Niagara Falls, New York. This plan also included two entertainment spots and a hotel. Building the park cost about $18 million.

Why the Park Closed (The First Times)

Even with all the money spent, the park faced some challenges. It didn't have enough staff, wasn't advertised very well, and the tickets were quite expensive. Because of these issues, the park was ordered to close in 1991. This happened because it had unpaid water bills.

The city of Niagara Falls decided to take over the park in 1992. The city ran the park until 1998. After that, the park closed again and stayed empty for a while.

Reopening and Final Closure

In 2005, the original owners bought the park back. They spent $4 million to fix it up, especially repairing damage from people who had broken in while it was empty. However, the park still didn't make a profit.

In 2006, the land where the park stood was taken by New York State. This was done using something called eminent domain. This means the government can take private land for public use, even if the owner doesn't want to sell it. The land was then given to the Seneca Gaming Corporation. The park was torn down. As of 2015, the area was an empty lot, with no new buildings planned.

Future Possibilities

People from the Seneca Gaming Corporation have talked about building a water park again. They think a water park would make their nearby casino more appealing. It might also help bring families to the hotel next door. The area still has some special water park equipment, which makes rebuilding seem possible.

Land Ownership and Legal Talk

The land where Fallsville Splash Park was, and other areas near the Seneca Niagara Casino, have been part of a legal discussion. In 2010, a lawsuit was started by a lawyer for some local residents and a company.

The Seneca Niagara Casino is on land owned by the Seneca Nation of Indians. This land is considered "sovereign," meaning it's like its own territory and usually not taxed by the state or city.

However, the land right next to the casino, including the old Splash Park area, is owned by the Seneca Gaming Corporation. This land is not sovereign. This means it can be taxed. If this land were taxed, the Seneca Gaming Corporation would be the biggest taxpayer in the City of Niagara Falls. This difference in land ownership and taxes has been the main point of the legal discussion.