This South Carolina Water Park Has Sat Empty For Years But Could Soon Make A Comeback
Twenty-four water slides, a wave pool, and a go-kart track once shared one patch of land. Today, crews are crushing concrete where kids used to splash.
That is a strange sight for anyone who grew up with summer trips to the South Carolina coast.
The park ran for 32 summers before closing in 2022. Its founder pointed to heavy debt and said keeping it open was no longer possible.
The slides came down soon after, piece by piece.
I believe empty lots tell stories if you know where to look. This one held lazy river floats, bumper boat battles, and a pond full of hungry turtles.
I can’t imagine a more cheerful place to lose.
Now the land is getting a second act. It won’t involve inner tubes, but it could change the neighborhood.
So what comes next?
Thirty-Two Summers Of Splashing Started Here
Few roadside attractions last three decades, yet Wild Water & Wheels pulled it off. The Surfside Beach park welcomed families for 32 seasons before closing its gates for good.
It started under Burroughs & Chapin Company, a big name in Grand Strand development. Later, Lazarus Entertainment Group took over the keys and kept the fun rolling.
That same group also runs Myrtle Waves Water Park and Broadway Grand Prix nearby. So the folks behind it clearly knew a thing or two about summer thrills.
The park sat along Highway 17 Business, an easy stop for beach vacationers. Many families planned whole days around it, sunscreen and towels packed by breakfast.
Thirty-two years is a long time in the amusement world. Rides age, tastes shift, and repair bills climb faster than kids up a slide tower.
Still, that long run left a big mark on South Carolina beach culture. Parents who rode the slides as kids later brought their own children along.
That kind of family loop is rare. It’s also why so many people still care about what happens to this land today.
Two Dozen Slides Made Choosing The First Ride Tough
Twenty-four slides and attractions packed the grounds at its peak. That’s a lot of decisions for a kid holding a soggy map.
The lineup ranged from towering drops to gentler rides for smaller swimmers. One enclosed slide went by the name The Dark Hole, which sounds about as calm as it was.
Climbing was part of the deal. Those slide towers meant plenty of stairs, so legs got a workout before the big splash.
The variety helped mixed-age groups stay together. Teens could chase speed while younger siblings stuck to smaller slides close by.
Height rules applied on the bigger rides, as they do at most water parks. Smart parents checked the signs before any tears started.
Fiberglass slides take a beating from the coastal sun year after year. Upkeep on two dozen of them is no small job, and the bills add up quickly.
By 2023, those slides were coming down for good. It’s wild to think the skyline of twisted tubes has vanished from the Surfside Beach roadside entirely.
Somewhere, a lot of former riders are still bragging about surviving The Dark Hole.
The Lazy River Was The Ultimate Do-Nothing Zone
Not every water park hero needs a steep drop. At Wild Water & Wheels, the lazy river earned its own fan club by simply drifting along.
It was one of the park’s most talked-about features. Grab a tube, lean back, and let the current handle the hard work.
Water features along the way kept floaters cool. Getting splashed while half asleep is a very specific kind of summer joy.
Parents loved it for a reason. After chasing kids between slides, a slow loop felt like a well-earned break.
The wave pool offered another way to cool off. Two kiddie areas gave little ones their own space with small slides and splashy features.
Those calmer zones made the park work for grandparents too. Not everyone wants to plunge down a dark tube, after all.
Here’s a tip for any water park: float the lazy river during the hottest part of the day. It beats baking in a slide line.
That gentle river is gone now, but plenty of folks remember drifting in circles there. Honestly, few places made doing nothing feel so productive.
Go-Karts Put The Wheels In The Name
Water parks usually stop at water. This one added engines, which explains the second half of its catchy name.
A winding go-kart track sat right alongside the pools and slides. Families could dry off and race each other around the turns.
That combo solved a common vacation problem. Some people love water, and some would rather stay dry and drive.
Bumper boats mixed both worlds together. Riders steered little motorized boats and bonked into friends on purpose.
Miniature golf rounded out the dry-land options. A putting course is perfect for cooling down, or settling a family rivalry.
Kiddie carnival rides also gave the smallest guests something to cheer about. It made the park feel like a mini fair beside the pool.
Having so much in one spot meant fewer car trips around town. On a busy Grand Strand vacation, that’s a real win.
The go-kart track turned out to be a fan favorite for years. Racing in wet swimsuits probably wasn’t on any official checklist, but it happened anyway.
Hungry Turtles Stole A Little Spotlight
Slides got the headlines, but a pond of turtles had its own loyal audience. Red-eared sliders swam up to the edge when visitors offered food.
Feeding them became a fun send-off for some families. It was a calm moment after a loud, splashy day.
Kids love animals that actually respond. Turtles paddling straight toward you is hard to top for a seven-year-old.
Small touches like this gave the park personality. Plenty of water parks have slides, but turtles made this place feel a bit quirky.
The park also had a food court to refuel hungry humans. Lockers and rentable cabanas helped families stash gear and grab shade.
Those details matter on a hot coastal day. Shade can save a family outing faster than any snack.
Here’s a takeaway for any future visit to a water park: wear water shoes. Hot pavement in South Carolina summer is no joke.
The turtles are part of the park’s charming backstory now. It’s a sweet reminder that the best memories aren’t always the biggest rides.
Closing Day Came With A Tough Explanation
October 2022 brought news that stung for Grand Strand families. Wild Water & Wheels would not reopen, ending a 32-year run.
Founder Mark Lazarus didn’t sugarcoat it. He cited significant debt and said keeping the park open was simply impossible.
That kind of honesty is rare in business announcements. It also helped people understand this wasn’t a quick or easy choice.
Running a water park costs a lot. Water, staff, safety checks, and repairs keep adding up every single season.
Coastal weather adds extra pressure. Storms can shut rides down, and sun and salt air wear on equipment.
Once the closing was official, attention turned to the land itself. Nearly 16 acres along a busy highway don’t stay quiet for long.
By 2023, slides and buildings were being taken apart. Seeing those colorful towers disappear marked the end of an era.
For many longtime fans, the loss felt personal. It’s tough when a summer tradition becomes a story you tell instead of a place you visit.
The Town Had Plenty To Say About Round One
Plans arrived fast. In October 2022, a proposal mixed apartments with commercial space on the old park property.
Residents pushed back hard, especially on the housing part. Community opposition to the residential side was significant.
That reaction shows how much Surfside Beach locals care about their town’s character. Big changes on a familiar corner always get people talking.
The developers went back to the drawing board. Revised plans in August 2023 dropped the housing and went strictly commercial.
That version proposed a convenience store, gas station, and car wash on about eight acres. The Surfside Beach Planning Commission backed it.
Rezoning followed for the nearly 16-acre site. It moved to highway commercial, which fits its spot along a busy road.
It’s a solid example of local government at work. Residents spoke up, plans shifted, and the project kept moving.
Want to follow projects like this in your own town? Planning commission agendas are public and often surprisingly interesting.
Who knew zoning could carry this much drama?
Nine Lots And A Brand-New Road Are On The Map
Bulldozers replaced bumper boats. Now the former Wild Water & Wheels property is gearing up for its next chapter.
In December 2024, the town’s planning commission approved plans for nine commercial retail lots. A new road and direct Highway 17 access are part of the layout.
That road matters more than it sounds. Easy access can make or break a busy retail spot.
Later, the Town of Surfside Beach shared that concrete crushing was underway. Approved plans cover roads, utilities, and grading for long-term commercial use.
Crushing old concrete is a smart step. It clears leftover slabs and preps the ground for new building pads.
Talk around town also points to more growth nearby. Hotel and restaurant developers are reportedly buying neighboring parcels.
If that happens, this stretch could feel very different within a few years. Visitors may stop for lunch where they once raced go-karts.
It’s not the splashy comeback some fans hoped for. Still, empty land getting new life beats an overgrown lot slowly fading by the road.
Drive Past And You’ll Spot Where The Fun Lived
Coastal, not Upstate. The park sat in Surfside Beach, part of the Grand Strand in Horry County.
Its address was 910 Highway 17 Business South, Surfside Beach, SC 29575. That stretch connects beachgoers between Surfside and Myrtle Beach.
Driving by now shows open land and active site work. It’s a big change for anyone who remembers the colorful slide towers.
Missing the water park vibe? Myrtle Waves Water Park in Myrtle Beach is run by the same company.
Broadway Grand Prix also scratches the go-kart itch nearby. Together, they cover much of what Wild Water & Wheels once offered.
Surfside Beach itself remains a relaxed spot on the South Carolina shore. Its beach is still the main attraction, and that hasn’t changed a bit.
As new businesses arrive, this corner will keep evolving. Stores, maybe a hotel, and fresh traffic are all on the horizon.
So next time you roll down Highway 17 Business, give a little wave. Thirty-two summers of splashes happened right there, and that deserves a nod.