Schlitterbahn Kansas City facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Schlitterbahn Waterpark Kansas City |
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| Location | Kansas City, Kansas, United States |
| Coordinates | 39°07′15″N 94°48′15″W / 39.12083°N 94.80417°W |
| Opened | July 15, 2009 |
| Closed | September 3, 2018 |
| Area | 370 acres (150 ha) |
| Pools | 2 pools |
| Water slides | 14 water slides |
| Children's areas | 2 children's areas |
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Schlitterbahn Waterpark Kansas City was a fun water park located in Kansas City, Kansas. It was announced in September 2005 by Schlitterbahn Waterparks, a company known for its exciting water attractions. The park officially opened its doors on July 15, 2009. It was planned as a huge project covering about 370-acre (150-hectare) of land, with an estimated cost of around $750 million for the entire development. The water park itself was nearly 40-acre (16-hectare). This was Schlitterbahn's fourth water park and its first one outside of Texas. In the end, only about $180 million of the planned work was actually completed.
Following a serious accident on the very tall Verrückt water slide in 2016, the park permanently closed on September 3, 2018.
Contents
Exploring the History of Schlitterbahn Kansas City
The construction of the park began on September 18, 2007. It was built on land that used to be the Wyandotte County Fairgrounds. The park was located across Interstate 435 from the Kansas Speedway and Village West, making it easy to find.
The first part of the park opened with 12 exciting water attractions, 3 restaurants, and 2 shops. Some of these attractions were even brought from another amusement park called Geauga Lake in Ohio. There were big plans for a second phase, named Schlitterbahn Vacation Village Resort. This phase was supposed to include over 1,000 hotel rooms, a large Scheels sporting goods store, and a shopping and dining area. However, these plans were put on hold because of economic challenges at the time. Despite this, the water park itself expanded on April 30, 2011, adding six new attractions for visitors to enjoy.
The Verrückt Water Slide and Its Closure
In November 2012, Schlitterbahn Waterparks announced plans for a record-breaking water slide called Verrückt. This slide was designed to be the world's tallest and fastest. It featured a huge 17-story drop, followed by an uphill section. Standing at over 168 feet 7 inches (51.38 m) tall, it was taller than Niagara Falls and could reach speeds of up to 65 miles per hour (105 km/h)! Verrückt opened on July 10, 2014, after some delays.
Sadly, in August 2016, a tragic accident occurred on the Verrückt water slide, resulting in the death of 10-year-old Caleb Schwab. Two other passengers were also injured during the incident. Immediately after the accident, the park closed for inspection. While the rest of the park reopened a few days later, the Verrückt slide remained closed permanently due to safety concerns.
What Happened After the Accident?
In 2018, which was the park's last year of operation, four other attractions also stayed closed. This was because regulators found they didn't meet the Kansas Amusement Ride Act's safety rules. The Verrückt slide was taken down starting in November 2018.
The water park did not open for the 2019 season. On June 13, 2019, another company, Cedar Fair (which is now part of Six Flags), agreed to buy two other Schlitterbahn parks in New Braunfels and Galveston for $261 million. Cedar Fair had the option to buy the Kansas City location too, but they decided not to. So, the Kansas City park remained closed and unused.
Future of the Former Park Site
On November 6, 2020, Homefield LLC signed an agreement with the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas. They planned to transform the former Schlitterbahn site into a new amateur sports complex. This project involved completely removing all the remaining structures of the old water park. The demolition of the nearby Wyandotte County Courthouse Annex building began in February 2021, and the demolition of the Schlitterbahn park itself was finished before September 2021. Today, the site is being redeveloped for new community uses.
