Deep River Waterpark employee spotlight: Olivia Rayson, Sophia Trpeski, Aly Wenglarz

Since 1995, Deep River Waterpark has promoted tourism and economic growth in the Region through attractions and unique family-oriented events. The waterpark has played a significant role in many people’s childhood in Northwest Indiana, including some who turned their love for the waterpark into an employment opportunity.

Olivia Rayson, Group Sales Associate at Deep River Waterpark

Rayson is in her second summer of working at Deep River Waterpark. Having grown up in Lake County, the first memories she recalls of the waterpark was when she visited it as a kid.

“I grew up going here a lot, and my dad was in the United Auto Workers (UAW) union, and they would have buyouts here,” Rayson said. “I would come to all the nighttime events.”

When she heard about the job opportunity last summer to guide group sales, she immediately jumped on it.

“I study communications at Trine University right now, so this job is really fun. I get to work with customers and get my people skills out there. I saw on the billboard that they were hiring, and I was just looking for another summer position there where I could be one-on-one with customers.”

In her two summers, Rayson considers the team she has worked with to be the biggest highlight of her experience at Deep River Waterpark. Even if it’s an off day, or when the season is not in session, she spends time hanging out with some of her coworkers, who have quickly become some of her best friends.

Rayson believes she has grown as a person in her position, and she will always have love for Deep River Waterpark.

“I honestly just like spending my summers here — whether it was as a kid in the water or now just being able to hang out with my friends and get paid for it,” Rayson said. “It’s fun being able to look at our schedule and say, ‘Oh, I get to work with my friend today.’ It’s pretty awesome.”

Sophia Trpeski, Group Sales Associate at Deep River Waterpark

Trpeski got her start with Deep River Waterpark six years ago, when she was an early high schooler. Working at Deep River Waterpark has always been a bit of a family tradition.

“My whole family grew up coming here for some summer fun. Once we started getting into high school, we needed jobs, and a lot of us worked here,” Trpeski said. “My older sister started, then I was after her — all of our siblings have worked here at some point. It’s been a big part of our lives.”

In six summers with the team, Trpeski has not only worked in multiple departments, but also with a plethora of different rosters.

“When I started, I was in the gift shop. After that, I went to admissions, and now I’m in group sales,” Trpeski said. “One thing that’s been the case throughout is how supportive we are of each other. We go through the same types of customer service experiences, and many of us are around the same age range as well.”

One of the best moments for Trpeski as a Deep River Waterpark employee has been the chaos that comes from the busy Fourth of July weekends. She gets satisfaction from making sure everything is good to go each day she walks into work.

Trpeski, much like Rayson, has also developed strong friendships with many of the staff members. She is looking forward to seeing how the team continues to grow not only this summer, but for the years to come.

“I’m looking forward to seeing where we go next,” Trpeski said. “I’m excited to see how it goes in terms of expansion and what we can do with the park. It’s always a blast to see all the new kids come in and do the things that we did when we were younger.”

Aly Wenglarz, Park Operations Supervisor at Deep River Waterpark

Starting in 2022, Wenglarz joined the Deep River Waterpark team — an opportunity that has made her summers memorable.

The first time Wenglarz stepped foot into Deep River Waterpark was when she was a kid. With many positive memories from the park in her early years, it’s no surprise that she would find herself working at the waterpark one day.

“We had season passes once, and I always came here with my friends and family,” Wenglarz said. “When I was in high school, I managed the Schererville Dairy Queen, and my friend worked here at the time and told me I should apply. I’ve been here ever since.”

Wenglarz’s favorite part about working at Deep River Waterpark has been the people, whether it’s the staff members or the customers at the waterpark every day.

“I always say that the people make the place. We’re here every day, 40 hours a week, and no matter who you’re working with, you’re having a good time while enjoying the summer,” Wenglarz said. “There’s so many people here that I never would have met without this experience, and we’ve become friends. A lot of us stay in touch even outside of work.”

Looking ahead, Wenglarz is ready to capitalize on another successful season at the waterpark.

“This is the first year we’ve had an Adults Only Night here. We also have our back-to-school night and all sorts of discount days coming up,” Wenglarz said. “I’m really excited to see how the rest of the season blossoms, especially as we get further into summer and more people are coming in.”

Deep River Waterpark has been the number one waterpark attraction in Northwest Indiana for much of the past three decades. This success is only possible with the contributions of the staff members, especially those who have been coming here most of their lives.

For more information on Deep River Waterpark, you can visit deepriverwaterpark.com.