Wild Waters at Silver Springs: History and What's There Now

What was Wild Waters?

Wild Waters was a water park on the grounds of what is now Silver Springs State Park in Ocala. Florida State Parks describes it as the 8-acre Wild Waters Park and says the attraction included a variety of buildings and facilities (Florida State Parks). Florida's 2014 unit management plan amendment places the Wild Waters area at the State Road 40 and Baseline Road intersection (Florida DEP). The state's pages and plans do not list its rides or give its opening year, so this page does not either.

It stood alongside the privately run Silver Springs attraction, which ended when the state took over management of the headsprings on Oct. 1, 2013. The rides, animal exhibits and other pieces of that attraction are covered in our Silver Springs amusement park history.

Wild Waters timeline

1. Opening year: Not stated. None of the state pages or plans opened for this article gives the year Wild Waters first opened or names the company that ran it, so this page leaves both out.
2. Oct. 1, 2013: The Florida Park Service takes over management of the Silver Springs headsprings area, and the whole park is renamed Silver Springs State Park. Source: Florida State Parks history page.
3. Summer 2014: The state’s 2014 unit management plan amendment says the park concessionaire is responsible for operating the Wild Waters Water Park, “opening during summer 2014,” and that the state intends to remove the water park later. It places the Wild Waters area at the State Road 40 and Baseline Road intersection. The plan does not name the operator or give the park’s original opening year. Source: Florida DEP, Silver Springs State Park unit management plan amendment (approved December 2014).
4. 2016: The 8-acre Wild Waters Park closes after feedback from park users, volunteers, local officials, business owners and adjacent landowners that the park’s main purpose is protecting and restoring Silver Springs. Source: Florida State Parks article, “Can You Recycle an Entire Water Park?”.
5. After closure (undated): Planners arrange for the water park to be dismantled and its debris recycled; the state lists the recycled materials as including 8,800,000 pounds of concrete and 129,080 pounds of rebar. Source: Florida State Parks article, same page.

Why did Wild Waters close?

Florida State Parks says the water park was closed in 2016 after feedback from park users, volunteers, local officials, business owners and adjacent landowners that the park's main purpose is protecting and restoring Silver Springs (Florida State Parks). The state does not name a single decision-maker or a closing date in that article, and this page does not add a reason of its own.

Then and now

Source: Florida State Parks, “Can You Recycle an Entire Water Park?”

What can you do at Silver Springs State Park today?

Florida State Parks lists glass bottom boat tours, paddling on the Silver River, hiking, mountain biking, birding, camping and cabins, and the park's gardens among the experiences at Silver Springs State Park (experiences and amenities). Admission, tour prices and hours change, so confirm them on the park's hours and fees page before driving out. For planning, see our Silver Springs State Park guide, things to do in Silver Springs and glass-bottom boats guide.

Where can you swim near Ocala instead?

Swimming is not permitted at Silver Springs, according to the park concessionaire's FAQ. Our public pools in Ocala guide covers the City of Ocala's aquatic fun centers, splash pads and other options, and springs near Ocala lists nearby spring swimming areas, including Rainbow Springs swimming. Ocala has no commercial water park.

Do you have photos or memories of Wild Waters?

Only In Ocala would like to hear from readers who visited or worked at Wild Waters, including the year they remember it opening and what the rides were. Share them through our contact page. Anything published here will be checked against records first.