Deep River Waterpark’s 30th Anniversary Celebration brings the ultimate splash party to the community

A packed crowd flooded Deep River Waterpark for a “simply splashtastic” party on Saturday, July 5. Lake County residents came to the park with friends, families, and visitors to celebrate Deep River Waterpark’s 30th Anniversary Celebration.

Chris Nawracaj, superintendent of park operations for Lake County Parks, has long been associated with Deep River Waterpark. Nawracaj is also the former general manager of Deep River Waterpark.

“The excitement level is really high,” Nawracaj said. “We’re sold out with about 2,300 tickets for tonight. People have been wanting to come out all year, and you can see how long the lines are as you walk up to the gate.”

This celebration officially ran from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The park operated like normal, as the normal visitors for the day could stay until 5 p.m. A half hour later, the evening anniversary bash officially began, with attendees going on rides, enjoying many food spots, and splashing the night away.

It feels like yesterday for Nawracaj when this park first opened up. As it celebrates three decades of success, it still feels surreal for him to think about.

“It’s crazy to think it’s been 30 years,” Nawracaj said. “We have people who started working here in 1995 who still come to the park. Some have started bringing their kids, and now we’re starting to see some of those kids as adults coming in with their own children. It’s awesome.”

The park has also implemented a brand new Flavor Point shop this season, located where the formerly known Milo’s Ice Cream Shop once was. Deep River Waterpark is motivated to have open ears to what the community wants to see. Lowering prices and creating more group discount opportunities to bring the family out for a night of fun only helps make it possible. 

“We’re always listening to the wants and needs of the community,” Nawracaj said. “At the end of the day, they’re the ones supporting us, spending their money to come visit us. We did lower prices this year, because we want everybody to come back and visit the parks. We have the first 30 people who can get in for free on the 30th of every month in our season. We also have a Country Night and Back To School Bash over the next few weeks as well. It also gives the customers a chance to come out for a later session, or to take advantage of these reduced prices.”

Deep River Waterpark hasn’t just been a spot for families and friends to have fun; it’s a place where you can bond with your close ones. The memories of challenging the wave pool, falling out of the tube once you reach the bottom of the slide, and conquering the most intense slides the park has to offer are core memories that will last a lifetime.

“I’m just thrilled that we’ve all been able to come together for something as special as this,” Nawracaj said. “This is my 23rd summer here, and 30 years is such a long time ago. I’ve been able to see this place thrive then and continue to thrive now, along with the changes over the years. Millions of customers and more than 10,000 employees have all stepped foot inside this park, and it’s crazy to think about it in terms of those numbers. When you see the lines of people coming in and leaving happy, that’s what it’s all about. That’s what we’re here to provide for the community.”

Randomly chosen people who entered the park for the Deep River Waterpark 30th Anniversary Celebration were presented with a giveaway prize, consisting of admission tickets and season passes!

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