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Two In Tow & On The Go: Three more days of water slides

Wild Waves Theme & Water Park, August 2025.

There are some family outings you do because they’re new, some because they’re nearby and some because the kids have been asking approximately 47 times.

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Our family goes to Wild Waves Theme & Water Park in Federal Way for the third reason. And also because our annual summer trip there with our Seattle friends is a family tradition.

But this summer, we also went because Wild Waves is closing after 50 years in business. Read on about our one last trip through the rides, water park and history of the local landmark.

First, for the uninitiated, Wild Waves is a combo water-and-theme-park located about 30 miles from Gig Harbor. It sports roller coasters and carnival-style rides on one side of the property and a pool with water slides on the other — all in an approximately 70-acre footprint. Its latest owner, Oklahoma-based Premier Parks LLC, announced in a press release last year that the park’s rising costs and millions of dollars in losses since 2020 prompted the decision to close.

Wild Waves Theme & Water Park, Wave pool, August 2026.

Having just been to Wild Waves last week, I bumped my previously announced Part II column about Chambers Creek Regional Park to remind you that there’s just three days left to experience the waterpark side before it’s gone forever. The last day the waterpark is open is Labor Day: Monday, Sept. 7, 2026. The Wild Waves theme park side, however, will remain open on weekends throughout October 2026 for the park’s Halloween-themed Booville and Fright Fest events that also include access to the theme park rides and attractions. On Nov. 1, 2026, everything will be closed.

My kids are particularly unhappy about this development.

Wild Waves Theme & Water Park, August 2023.

“I’m sad because I like going every year and it gives me something to look forward to every summer,” Clara, 12, told me after we got home last week. Going back every summer became our tradition, she said, “and we won’t be able to do that anymore.”

Her sentiment is basically the kid version of what I’ve been hearing from a lot of grownups, too.

Warehouse instead of water park?

Many of those opinions were expressed during a June public comment period on some big changes proposed for 36201 Enchanted Parkway. California-based Panattoni Development Co. wants to build a massive industrial warehouse in place of the theme park. The structure, described as a concrete shell, would accommodate large trucks and loading docks for up to four tenants in just over 1 million square feet, according to a land-use application filed with the city of Federal Way.

The project is called “Podium I-5,” presumably a nod to the site’s location next to Interstate 5. And it’s making its way through the city’s consideration process now, complete with traffic studies, mockups and an upcoming environmental review.

Longtime property owner and former park operator Jeff Stock told the Federal Way Mirror in a May 28, 2026 article that after learning the park would “no longer be financially viable to operate,” he explored several possibilities for the location such as a potential hotel or convention center. There wasn’t enough interest, he said, or time. Stock said he also considered what could happen if the shuttered amusement park sat vacant for years while waiting for another offer, according to the newspaper.

“I’m trying to make it good for the city,” Stock told the Mirror, saying he hopes to land “a great tenant that would provide a lot of jobs.”

The warehouse application

California-based Panattoni Development Co. submitted the warehouse application on May 8. The firm is seeking the city’s approval to build the warehouse, a process that requires impact studies for everything from air quality, noise and traffic to wildlife habitat and possible cultural resources, according to the city’s notice. After reviewing study results and hearing the public’s comments, then it’s up to the City Council on whether to approve the project.

Among the comments submitted in June, traffic concerns and community identity woes rose to the top. Many lamented over the loss of Wild Waves, saying it was one of the best parts of the city.

Commenter Timothy Jacobsen called replacing Wild Waves with a warehouse the “worst decision ever,” describing the destination as a place he grew up with and hoped to experience with his own wife and daughter.

Wild Waves Theme & Water Park, Wave pool, August 2026.

Commenter William Hahn pointed out a bit of local irony that the site’s Enchanted Parkway address itself was named for Enchanted Village. He also zeroed in on traffic issues.

Commenter Ella Miropolskiy said she sees no comparable summer experience in the area after Wild Waves is gone. “I was sad to hear about Wild Waves closing but having it replaced by a giant warehouse sinks to a whole new level of depressing,” she wrote. “This will be a tremendous loss for kids and families in our community. Please reconsider.”

Wild Waves Theme & Water Park, August 2025.

Commenter Henry S. McCormick asked the city to delay warehouse approval “until all reasonable community-focused alternatives have been fully explored.” He urged city officials to “actively encourage efforts to attract new owners, investors, or operators who may have a different vision for the property.” McCormick said Federal Way “has spent years investing in its identity as a destination for families, recreation, and sports. Converting this property into another warehouse may create jobs, but it would also
permanently eliminate” such a large site previously established for tourism. “Once industrialized,” he continued, “the opportunity to create a regional destination for future generations will be gone forever.”

Commenter Antoinette Johnson raised concerns about adding more commercial truck traffic to the area’s already-congested I-5 corridor. She, too, questioned whether a large industrial development would fit the city’s character. “While I understand that property owners have rights and that economic development is important, not every form of development provides the same benefit to our community,” she wrote. “Replacing one of Federal Way’s most recognizable family destinations with a warehouse would represent a permanent loss of recreation, tourism, and community identity.”

Wyatt and his giant ice cream at Wild Waves Theme & Water Park, August 2023.

Similarly, in a post to the Federal Way Subreddit, which I don’t believe counts as an “official comment” but is still interesting, Redditor Carl J. Petersen wondered whether the value of redevelopment should strictly be measured through jobs and tax revenue. “Like many people, I’ve been thinking about what Wild Waves has meant to Federal Way over the past five decades,” he wrote. “… Jobs and tax revenue matter, but so do places that give a community its identity.”

Back in the official city files, another commenter said they know Stock and city officials can’t force Wild Waves, a private company, to stay. But those parties do have quite a bit of authority when it comes to deciding what entity can build on the site after Wild Waves is gone, giving the city much to think about.

Next in the Podium I-5 application process comes the environmental review stage with additional meeting(s) to go over those findings. New meeting dates haven’t been released yet, but those interested can visit the city’s project page for updates.

Riding the ‘toilet bowl’

Thinking back to a few fun things to inspire your potential visit this weekend, Clara’s Wild Waves highlight is a water slide that resembles a well-known bathroom feature, which is exactly as elegant as it sounds.

“I really love the toilet bowl,” she said, although we skipped it this trip because the line was “waaaaay too long.” That slide, actually called The Riptide, sends riders on a single- or double-person inner tube down a chute and into a large open-air bowl of swirling water. Folks inevitably circle the bowl for a bit (which I’m sure is some metaphor for life) before dropping into an exit pool via a large hole at the bottom (which hopefully isn’t a metaphor for anything). Clara likes the steep beginning, the water sprayers and apparently a mirror where she can see herself circling around and around and around.

Wild Waves Theme & Water Park’s Jan. 8, 2026 Facebook post about its Riptide water slide, installed in 2011.

Wyatt, 10, told me he’ll miss the meandering pull of the current on one of the park’s most chill rides.

“I actually love the lazy river,” he said. “It’s nice because you can stay in there awhile and it’s not over in two seconds.”

Known as the Konga Lazy River, riders pick up an inner tube to float on at the exit points along the ride’s perimeter and then stand in line to join the procession.

Wild Waves Theme & Water Park, August 2025.

Wyatt has a laid back style, so I’m not surprised he likes the calm of floating indefinitely. That, and occasionally steering himself away from (or, directly at, depending on his mood) the cold splash of waterfalls overhead.

But for both kids, I’d say the wave pool remains the big family favorite. Clara describes it as the best of both worlds: a giant swimming pool that periodically turns itself into the ocean, complete with music videos playing on a big screen. When we were there last month, we found ourselves in the middle of a scene straight out of some musical rom-com awesomeness when Neil Diamond appeared on the wave pool’s big screen.

Wild Waves Theme Water Park, Wave Pool, August 2026.

Soon, everyone was singing “Sweet Caroline” in unison, with hundreds of swimmers bobbing in the water while belting out the chorus between waves. It was such a cute moment. I’ll never forget it. Also, whoever’s idea it was to play music videos on a wave pool big screen is a genius. Because it’s always been this mama’s favorite part.

Wild Waves Theme & Water Park, August 2025.

In previous years, when our kids were smaller, they also enjoyed the smaller slides at Hook’s Lagoon, a three-story “treehouse” area in a wading pool for the younger crowd. It has shapes to crawl through and buckets that dump water on your head. Personally, that sounds like a nightmare but kids sure love it!

Wild Waves Theme & Water Park, little kid area, August 2025.

An Enchanted past

Wild Waves’ roots go back well before waterslides. Former park owners Byron and May Betts opened a theme park of carnival-type rides in 1977 and called it Enchanted Village. A 2006 WestsideSeattle.com article reported that the Betts’ interest in local amusement industry dates back to 1910, when Byron’s ancestor Charles Betts bought a 1906 Parker carousel that made rounds at Seattle’s Woodland Park, Tacoma’s Point Defiance Park, and eventually landed at Enchanted Village in 1980.

Recent Wild Waves Facebook Page Post about the beginnings of Enchanted Village

In 1984, the Betts expanded the park by 50 acres, according to the Westside article, and added Wild Waves attractions centered around a large wave pool. That means the waterpark pool Clara loves has been making waves here for more than four decades.

Tacoma News Tribune, Image TNT0354W_141.jpg, Tacoma Public Library Northwest Room. Byron Betts by the wave pool after the park closed for the season on Sept. 10, 1987.

‘Booville’ and ‘FrightFest’

For now, though, there’s one last Wild Waves tradition (for some) happening before the park is razed — and that’s its special Halloween events, Booville and FrightFest. The first is a themed afternoon event for young kids slated for Saturdays and Sundays starting Sept. 26. The scare-free Kiddie Land-centered event, is designed for ages 12 and younger and features fall games, crafts, bubble shows, a costume contest, a magician even a Slime Challenge. Plus access to the family-friendly rides in Enchanted Village.

Fright Fest, the second event, takes over at night on weekends in October. Admission includes riding the Enchanted Village rides in the dark plus other scary stuff like exploring haunted houses and walking through other horror-themed areas. (Pssst. Wild Waves describes Fright Fest as “not for the faint of heart.”)

We haven’t been to Booville or Fright Fest, but I heard secondhand that the latter is for adults and teens and is actually super scary with live actors in costumes and makeup who are apparently big on jump scares. Eeek. The theme park’s schedule in its final weeks is a little confusing, so make sure you check out its online calendar as different things are available on certain dates.

So, this time, maybe we won’t see ya out there. But I definitely think the last three days of waterpark fun, the extended Enchanted Village access and maybe even a Booville sesh or two sound really cool before they’re all gone forever.

If you go

Wild Waves Theme & Water Park

Address: 36201 Enchanted Pkwy S., Federal Way

Info: https://wildwaves.com/