Located in Silver Springs, Florida, Wild Waters was a small water park compared to modern standards. The park offered a more relaxed atmosphere compared to its larger competitors. Wild Waters was the sister park of the Silver Springs Nature Theme Park, one of the nation’s first national attractions and home to the world famous Glass Bottom Boat tours. Due to its exotic surroundings, Silver Springs became a desirable filming location. Movies like Tarzan, Creature from the Black Lagoon, and scenes for several television shows were all filmed at Silver Springs.
Wild Waters was built in 1978 by ABC Television and was one of the first water parks in the South. There were shady picnic areas, a snack bar, a gift shop, and an open-air fast food counter. Wild Waters would quickly became a favorite Florida tourist destination. The water park helped nearby Ocala to prosper from tourists for many years until Orlando became the primary Florida tourist destination due to Disney World and other major attractions.
Designated a National Natural Landmark in 1971, it was not until 1993 that thorough scientific studies of the springs were complete and wildlife rehabilitation had begun. The State of Florida purchased the property but allowed private companies to continue operating the attractions. Palace Entertainment managed Wild Waters and Silver Springs Park since 2002. Former Governor Rick Scott allowed Palace Entertainment to end their contract in 2013, which was supposed to run until 2029. As a result, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Florida Park Service took control of the parks. Once the state took over, downgrades in service and entertainment were imminent. In 2016, Wild Waters permanently closed. State officials cited financial reasons for the closing. The state wanted to return the property to a more natural environment, with less focus on man-made attractions. Construction crews began demolishing Wild Waters in December 2018.
Abandoned Southeast 
Wow. Close to home.
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So sad I use to take my kids there in the summer. It was close to home and I wasn’t afraid to make the day trip alone with a load of kids. Orland is too far and much to crowded.
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Great urbex photo essay! It’s amazing to se the results of just a few years of neglect.
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Wonderfully documented post. Thanks.
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This really brings back a lot of fun memories for me, my family and I visited Silver Springs Water Park in the early ’70s, when I was about 8 yrs old. I’m 54 now, we also rode in one of the glass bottom boats the article mentioned!
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Always founded abandoned theme parks so fascinating. All the stories and fun to imagine. Thanks for posting. Never heard of this one.
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Well…Wild Waters wasn’t huge, like nearby Wet N’ Wild now Volcano Bay. So….it’s no surprise you might not have heard of her. I miss her terribly.
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I had no idea they were closed, I was just telling my teenage daughter about hen I went there in 1983 and how they were building what I think was called the Hurricane water slide..The glass bottom boat ride I remembered with real animals unlike Disney…So many great memories there …
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Thank You Yes brings back memories for Me to I worked at Silver Springs when I was around
18 Years old on the Landscape Crew sorry to find out it closed I also worked at Six Gun Territory
Which was also in that Area also closed
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The RustyAnchorMountDora.com offers all day boat tour to Silver Springs from Mount Dora where you can see the real Florida all the way to the spring boil, it’s a great trip with flora and fauna abound. It’s a great way to see the old Florida waterways.
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Everything has been bulldozed and cleared out now. Cannot even tell that Wild Waters existed
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Many good times at water park . Grew up in Ocala we were so happy when park opened I started going in the 6th grade long time ago lol sad what it looks like in pics now
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It’s amazing what greed can do! The parks were never empty and always offered a great day for the family.
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This place was a huge part of my teenage years and my kids’ childhood. Swimming at Wild Waters then concerts at Silver Springs made for some great summer days!
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Leaves a lot of memories. Growing up in Gainesville in the 80’s, we used to go down to Wild Waters several times every year. I remember the park as having more of an anarchic atmosphere, where you could go down the rides with lots of kids at a time, or you could stop yourself halfway down until the next kid came barreling into you. So much more fun than the over-safe excessively lifeguarded water parks of today! Good times, thanks for the memories!
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Lived in Ocala several years, just a few miles from Silver Springs, and I remember when Wild Waters was built. In an odd coincidence many years later, my wife’s cousin (from her family thousands of miles away) became its manager for a time. Went there several times, and to this day my wife and I will periodically joke about recorded voice warning that “Here come the Wild Waters waves!” in the wave pool.
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I wish someone would refurbish the park and open it back up..That was my favorite place..
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Sadly the park is no longer standing, all structures/slides/pools are gone. All that is left is the parking lot
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Some of my fondest memories as a kid were going to Silver Springs for the weekend. We would hit the adventure park one day and the water park the next. My mom and aunt would find a place to hang out and me and my cousins would go nuts. Some truly great memories there.
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I always wanted to go and enjoy what I would see in the movies, but never got to. My family wasn’t financially able to. Now , I hear it being demolished. So sad to know I never will be able to take my grandchildren.
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THE FIRST FAMILY VACATION THAT I REMEMBER WAS TO SILVER SPRINGS. SADLY THE LAST VACATION BEFORE MY FATHER DIED WAS ALSO TO SILVER SPRINGS. I AM 73 YEARS OLD NOW AND IT BREAKES MY HEART TO HEAR THAT THIS PLACE IS FALLING APART. THIS WAS A IMPORTANT PART OF THE REAL FLORIDA.
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When I was growing up this was something to look forward to every summer.. we did not know that Orlando even existed as kids lol this was the place. We would spend half the day at Silver Spring looking at all the animals then the other half at Wild Waters. It was a shock to see it close but it was a bigger shock to see it all tore down. It’s like a ghost town like nothing was ever there and Silver Spring now is just a camp ground. Crazy how things come and go
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We moved to Ocala in 1990 and I worked in HR at E-One. I was in charge of planning all the social events for our employees. Our annual picnics were held at Silver Springs and Wild Waters, always with a concert. Everyone loved the picnics and there was so much to do all day and into the evening. The staff was very accommodating and we always had dinner prepared there by Jim Helfinger(I think) and Herm Larson was their social director. Silver Springs was such a nice place to visit. I had a season pass and often would go after church on Sunday and just sit in one of the rocking chairs overlooking the Springs and read a good book. We moved back to the Ocala area in 2010 and it was sad to see the demise of this wonderful attraction. Today, everyone wants bigger and better and travel to Orlando. Sad this has all been reduced to just the glass bottom boats and walking trails.
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Anything the government touches they ruin, this is just more proof!
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My nephew who lives in Ocala used to go there as a teenager. It’s a shame that it was abandoned. Kids and adults loved this outdoor fun. Not being crowded is a plus. I’ve been to Disney World, when I was young, but I would not even consider going now. Too expensive and too many people for me. I have always enjoyed going to Silver Springs Park where there are glass bottom boats and real animals. I think it is the best attraction in Florida. I live in Pensacola but I go to Ocala as often as I can to see my family.
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