Nevada water park Cowabunga Bays shuts down after…
A Nevada water park will shutter its doorways next yr after more than a decade — leaving local households livid over the “difficult decision.”
Cowabunga Bay in Henderson, Nev., about 5 miles southeast of the Las Vegas Strip, announced Monday that it had made the “difficult decision” to shut down.
“After 12 unforgettable years of making summer memories together, Cowabunga Bay will not reopen for the 2027 season,” the park said in a Facebook post.
Cowabunga Bay water park in Henderson, Nev., announced it’s going to close after 12 years, calling it a “difficult decision.” Getty Images
“This was a difficult decision, and we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to every guest, team member, and partner who has been part of Cowabunga Bay’s story.”
“From first trips down the slides to countless summer days spent with family and friends, we’re grateful to have been part of so many special memories,” the assertion added.
Cade Vereen, the park’s vice president of operations, said the choice got here down to consolidating the company’s operations at its sister property, Cowabunga Canyon, in Summerlin — about 25 miles west of Henderson.
“The decision ultimately came down to streamlining our operations,” Vereen told Fox 5 Tuesday.
“Moving the operation and focusing at the Canyon location in Summerlin really was kind of the best decision for the park,” he added.
The park said the closure will enable the company to consolidate operations at its sister property, Cowabunga Canyon, in Summerlin. Getty Images
Vereen also ruled out a particular event as the rationale for the closure.
But the reason has accomplished little to ease issues among locals.
Jim, a frequent customer who took his grandson to Cowabunga Bay, said the company wants to clarify what it means by streamlining operations.
Henderson locals are sad about dropping a well-liked summer time vacation spot for households. Getty Images
“What does streamline mean?” he requested the outlet. “Now, I can see if it closed down, you know, for economic reasons, maybe a water shortage, you know? But whoever owns this needs to put out a statement. What does streamline mean?”
Another visitor lamented the loss of a place for kids to spend their summer time days.
“There’s not much for kids to do in this town as it is, and to take away this … it just makes it tough for the parents to find things to do with the kids, you know?” the customer said.
“There’s not much for kids to do in this town as it is, and to take away this … it just makes it tough,” one local said. Fox 5
Henderson resident Greco Arias echoed comparable sentiments.
“Seeing it go is like the saddest thing. It’s very limiting. Cowabunga Bay was one of the biggest things for all ages, like for kiddos, for adults … Cowabunga Bay was one of the biggest things in summer,” Arias told KTNV.
The announcement also sparked an outpouring of disappointment across social media.
“Sure, take this away from kids and families in Henderson. This was the original park. These families are not going to drive out to Summerlin. This is awful,” one individual wrote.
The 23-acre park featured more than 20 slides, swimming pools and other points of interest. It was named runner-up in USA Today’s 10Best rating of out of doors water parks in 2025.
The park was still selling 2027 season passes on Facebook as lately as Oct. 1. Those passes can be honored at Cowabunga Canyon for your complete season, the company said.
Cowabunga Bay’s operator, the Pyek Group, also runs the Typhoon Texas water parks in Houston and Austin, as nicely as Daytona Lagoon in Florida.
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