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Water park franchise in Texas, United States From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hawaiian Falls Waterparks is a chain of waterparks operated by ProParks Management Company. The five locations Hawaiian Falls operates are located across the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex area and Central Texas.
 | This article reads like a press release or a news article and may be largely based on routine coverage. (July 2019) |
| |
| Industry | Water parks |
|---|---|
| Founded | Garland, Texas May 24, 2003 |
Number of locations | 5 |
Area served | Texas, United States |
Key people | Ryan Forson (Managing Director) |
| Owner | Varies by park |
| Parent | ProParks Management Company |
| Website | http://www.hfalls.com |
The Hawaiian Falls chain began with the groundbreaking of Hawaiian Falls Adventure Park in Garland, Texas on December 18, 2002, by David Busch of Horizon Family Inc., a California-based company. Mr. Busch has built and operated other water park properties in several states, including the park located on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. Hawaiian Falls' mission is: "Serving the Lord by Bringing Families Closer Together."[1] The City of Garland City Council and the Parks and Recreation Board provided the land on which the water park was built. Construction for Hawaiian Falls Garland began in January 2003 and opened in May of the same year. In late 2003 Hawaiian Falls made a similar agreement with The Colony, Texas. Also in 2003, Hawaiian Falls entered into a lease agreement with the city of Dallas to manage what would become Bahama Beach Waterpark.
In late 2004, Busch experienced financial problems and he had to sell his company to Herschend Family Entertainment. Under the Herschend management, Busch continued to operate the waterparks.[2]
In 2005, the Dallas aquatic center opened as Bahama Beach Waterpark in Dallas, Texas under the management of Busch once again.[3] Bahama Beach is known as "the first inner-city waterpark" in the entire country since it was "built to serve its community" and moreover, the launch of this park was considered a risky endeavor since the waterpark was not built near a wealthier, highly populated area, which is the traditional areas that waterparks tend to be located within.[3]
In December 2006, after Bahama Beach's second operating season, David Busch informed the city of Dallas that the park was operating at a loss of over $178,000 over the course of two years [4] "Low discretionary income in the park's market area," was one of the main reasons given for the loss.[4] Among other things, Busch suggested that re-branding the park to Hawaiian Falls might solve the problem. Also in 2006, Busch had repurchased his company from Hereschend Family Entertainment and sold the parks in Garland and the Colony to CNL Lifestyle Properties.[5]
In 2007, the city of Dallas allowed the renaming of Bahama Beach to Hawaiian Falls Dallas.[6] yet the re-branding did not sever the operations loss. This led to the city of Dallas and Hawaiian Falls agreeing to allow the termination of the eleven-year contract with the city .[4] Today, the park is still open today and operates under its original name, Bahama Beach.
Also in 2007, the company acquired its first non-waterpark property, Aloha Adventure Park located in Lewisville, Texas.
In 2008, the chain expanded by adding Hawaiian Falls Mansfield in Mansfield, Texas.
In late 2010, the city of Roanoke, Texas, entered into a Letter of Intent with Harvest Family Entertainment to build another Hawaiian Falls waterpark in Roanoke.[7] They later broke ground on November 22, 2010. Hawaiian Falls Roanoke opened Memorial Day weekend 2011 with the Mega WaterWorld attraction, the World's largest water playground.
In October 2011, Hawaiian Falls entered into an agreement with the city of Waco to take over the former Waco City Water Park and transformed it into the new Hawaiian Falls Waco, which opened Memorial Day weekend 2012.
In December 2011, Hawaiian Falls announced plans for a $2 million expansion for the Roanoke waterpark and another $4.3 million in expansions for the other three North Texas parks to be completed by Memorial Day 2012.
For the 2014 season, Hawaiian Falls opened two new locations in Pflugerville and White Settlement, Texas. Each of the new parks featured an adventure park that were projected to be open year-round.[8][9] On August 6, 2013, the city of Pflugerville agreed on a development deal with Harvest Family Entertainment to build the sixth and largest Hawaiian Falls water park just south of the intersection of Texas State Highway 130 and Texas State Highway 45 in the city. The plan for the Pflugerville location consisted of a 15-acre water park along with a 5-acre adventure park, the largest water park in the company.[10] In early November 2013, the city of White Settlement finalized with Hawaiian Falls to build their seventh location in the city in western Tarrant County, Texas where it features an adventure park, water park, event center, and an arcade center near Interstate 820.[9] Both Pflugerville and White Settlement locations opened in summer 2014.
Busch promised the city of Pflugerville “year-round revenue," stating, "We will fill that place up all winter long."[11] The adventure park did not prove viable enough to stay open through the coldest winter months, and Hawaiian Falls closed the adventure parks in White Settlement and Pflugerville in December 2014 until spring 2015. Eight year-round employees at Pflugerville were let go.[12] Austin television news station KXAN [13] ran a story about the lay-offs in response to Facebook comments of Pflugerville residents.[14]
In 2005 Fontana, California City Council authorized Fontana City Manager to enter into a lease agreement with Hawaiian Falls to renovate and improve the waterpark already inside the Martin Tudor Regional Park.[15] The City Planning Commission would still need to approve the deal. Some Fontana residents supported the park, but neighbors living near the park were concerned about noise, traffic, and security issues. In 2006, the existing waterpark was closed for renovation “because the ground at the hilly location became unsettled, and as a result, cracks began to surface in the equipment”. In 2012 City reopened the renovated park without Hawaiian Falls. San Bernardino County funds and $400,000 state grant were used for the renovation. No private company seems to have been involved. Entrance is approximately $3 per person.[16]
In May 2006 Hawaiian Falls withdrew an application submitted to city of Gilbert, Arizona to develop a Hawaiian Falls park there, saying they did not think they would be able to meet their deadlines for the project.[17] Gilbert residents had voiced opposition to the project for over a year, citing environmental issues, and arguing that it would be a violation of the separation of church and state to allow a company who openly proselytizes in their parks to partner with the city.[18]
In 2012 the city of Greenville Economic Development Director Greg Simms approached Hawaiian Falls about a public-private partnership to build a $12 to $14 million waterpark in that City. On November 19, 2013 Greenville City Council chose to partner with Splash Kingdom instead of Hawaiian Falls. Splash Kingdom was providing its own funding, $5 million, while Hawaiian Falls was requesting over $10 million in incentives from the city.[19]
On April 27, 2013, Hawaiian Falls presented a public-private partnership proposal to the city of Escondido's economic development subcommittee. Hawaiian Falls proposed an 80–20 split on the construction of the proposed $13 million waterpark, with Escondido contributing $10.4 million and Hawaiian Falls contributing $2.6 million. Hawaiian Falls proposed that the park be built in the city's existing Kit Carson Park. Hawaiian Falls would pay the City 5% of the park's revenues. Escondido Mayor urged Hawaiian Falls to come back with a better deal because payment on revenue bonds used to fund the park would be at least double what Hawaiian Falls proposed paying in rent. He said Escondido would consider furnishing the land, but not the money for the construction.[20] On April 15, 2013 angry Escondido residents presented a petition to City Council opposing Hawaiian Falls’ proposal. Escondido Mayor told residents “The fact that you are here today will make sure this proposal won't go anywhere. It will put the skids on this project.” [21]
On April 7, 2014 the Rockwall, Texas City Council voted not to enter into the public-private partnership with Hawaiian Falls. Rockwall Mayor David Sweet told reporters, “I am very hesitant and have serious concerns about another public-private partnership involving a $25 million debt paid back over 30 years.” Mayor Sweet and city council were also concerned about water issues during a statewide drought.[22]
In October 2013, the city of Elk Grove, California selected P3 International to design, build, and operate an Aquatic Center for the city. Hawaiian Falls was a subcontractor for P3 and would be responsible for the waterpark that was proposed as part of the Aquatic Center. On April 14, 2014 P3 International notified the City that Hawaiian Falls had withdrawn from the project.[23] On September 10, 2014 City Council voted to build the aquatic center without a waterpark.[24]
On June 12, 2014 Hawaiian Falls executives proposed a $20 million waterpark to the Richland County Council – Hawaiian Falls would design, build, and operate the park if the county would fund it.[25] On June 12, 2014 County Council approved a 2% hospitality tax on prepared meals to fund a waterpark. Later in June 2014, members of the Richland County Council spent $7,560 in tax dollar to visit Hawaiian Falls parks in Texas.[26] A request for proposals on the waterpark was issued on August 11, 2014 and closed on September 18, 2014.[27] Plans for this project were scrapped on April 19, 2016 after the Richland County Council declined funding for the project.[28]
All Hawaiian Falls parks are built using the public-private partnership model, where cities contribute funds and/or other incentives and the parks are built on public land. Each of the seven parks has a separate lease structure with the cities participation ranging from contributing land and infrastructure costs(Garland and The Colony)to 100% financing .[29] The first two parks were in the city of Garland and the city of The Colony, both in Texas. The third park was located in the South Oak Cliff neighborhood of Dallas.
Busch sees his parks as a "mission field."[30] The parks are often used for baptisms and other religious activities, and Busch says there were "more than 2,000 baptisms in our lazy rivers and wavepools" in 2011 alone. The parks often feature Christian concerts and events, such as "Modesty Matters" in 2013.[31] Hawaiian Falls employee program is called "Connections."[32] According to Rawd B. Jones, whose company Pure Group, administers Connections, the program includes after hours Bible study and church services, as well as training on how to bring the gospel to guests.[33]
| Park name | Location | Coordinates | Opening date | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaiian Falls Garland | Garland, Texas | 32°57′23.2″N 96°39′3.9″W | May 24, 2003 | |
| Hawaiian Falls The Colony | The Colony, Texas | 33°04′35.7″N 96°52′31.6″W | May 2004 | |
| Hawaiian Falls Mansfield | Mansfield, Texas | 32°33′26.7″N 97°04′59.7″W | May 2008 | |
| Hawaiian Falls Roanoke | Roanoke, Texas | 33°00′19.5″N 97°13′53.7″W | May 2011 | |
| Hawaiian Falls Waco | Waco, Texas | 31°59′50.3″N 97°16′43.4″W | May 26, 2012 | [34] |
All four of the former parks are currently operating with different owners and park names.
| Former Park Name | Current Park Name | Location | Coordinates | Opening Date | Last season | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaiian Falls Dallas | Bahama Beach | Dallas, Texas | — | May 2005 | 2007 | |
| Aloha Adventure Park | Zone Action Park (now defunct as of May 2020) | Lewisville, Texas | — | May 2007 | 2008 | |
| Hawaiian Falls White Settlement | Splash Dayz | White Settlement, Texas | — | June 6, 2014 | 2015 | |
| Hawaiian Falls Pflugerville | Typhoon Texas Austin | Pflugerville, Texas | — | June 9, 2014 | 2016 | [35] |
Hawaiian Falls Garland (Also known as Hawaiian Falls Firewheel) was the first park in for the chain and officially opened on May 24, 2003, in Garland, Texas.
The water park sits on roughly 12 acres (49,000 m2) adjacent to the Spring Creek Forest Preserve and is visible from the George Bush turnpike, which broke ground on December 18, 2002.
It consists of fifteen attractions: 11 water slides, a lazy river, an interactive water tree-house, a wave pool, and an activity pool, as well as a few food stands. The park was built for roughly $5.5 million in a public-private partnership between the city of Garland and Hawaiian Falls. In 2006 Hawaiian Falls Garland was purchased by CNL Lifestyle Properties for $6,305,000. CNL leased back the park to Horizon Family Holdings, which operated the park until ProParks Management Company took over the lease in May 2018. EPR Properties acquired the property from CNL in 2017.
Hawaiian Falls The Colony the second Hawaiian Falls Water park in the Hawaiian Falls Water park chain and officially opened in May 2004 in The Colony, Texas.
It consists of fifteen attractions: 11 water slides, a lazy river, an interactive water tree-house, a wave pool, a water walkway, a private picnic area, and a private cabana area, as well as several food stands. The park was built by David Busch of Horizon Family, Inc., (now Hawaiian Falls Water parks), and is a joint public/private venture with the city of The Colony, TX. In 2006 Hawaiian Falls The Colony was purchased from Horizon Family Holdings by CNL Lifestyle Properties for $5.82 million. CNL leased back the park to Horizon Family Holdings, which operated the park until ProParks Management Company took over the lease in May 2018. EPR Properties acquired the property from CNL in 2017.
Hawaiian Falls Mansfield is located in Mansfield, Texas, which was announced on September 10, 2007, and opened on Memorial Day Weekend in May 2008.
The water park sits on 14 acres (57,000 m2) on Heritage Parkway and Texas State Highway 360.
It consists of 14 water slides, a lazy river, an interactive water tree-house, a football-field size wave pool, and a children's activity pool, a private cabana area, as well as a few food stands. The park cost roughly $10 million and was built by David Busch of Hawaiian Falls Water parks in a joint public/private venture with the city of Mansfield. Hawaiian Falls Water parks signed a 40-year lease with the city of Mansfield to operate the park.
Hawaiian Falls Roanoke is located in Roanoke, Texas. The park was announced on November 22, 2010, and opened on Memorial Day weekend of 2011.
It became home of the world's largest aqua play structure which will include a three-lane racer, a family raft ride with several exciting body slides, one 500-gallon and one 1,000-gallon dump bucket, numerous interactive pulleys, wheels and much more. Ground broke for Hawaiian Falls Roanoke on November 22, 2010.
Hawaiian Falls Waco is located in Waco, Texas. The park is the fifth and most recent addition to the Hawaiian Falls Water park chain. It was originally known as the Waco Water Park until October 2011 when Hawaiian Falls and the city of Waco agreed to a takeover.[36] Three times its original size, it reopened as Hawaiian Falls Waco on May 26, 2012.[34]
The park sits on approximately 14 acres of land.[37] As of 2019, the park had 12 slides, 3 restaurants and 1 gift shop. It is known for its Breaker Bay family wave pool, the first large-scale wave pool in central Texas, and the 800-foot long Kona Kooler lazy river.[38]
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