After nearly 20 years of serving millions of guests, a Central Florida attraction is closing its doors.
Water Mania opened in 1986 on U.S. Highway 192 near Disney World, WESH 2 News reported.
At the time it boasted the largest wave pool anywhere in the region.
Its popularity peaked in the mid-90s, when 500,000 people a year passed through the turnstiles.
But competition from Disney, Universal, SeaWorld and other attractions has fatally wounded the Kissimmee business.
The owners of the park and a neighboring property containing the Country Hearth Hotel and the Racin' Station Go Kart track are closing and selling all 45 acres.
Water Mania will close at the end of business on Labor Day, but one of its competitors, Wet 'n Wild, will host a job fair that day for the roughly 75 employees losing their jobs.
Wet 'n Wild will also honor Water Mania customers still holding day tickets or seasonal passes
Water Mania opened in 1986 on U.S. Highway 192 near Disney World, WESH 2 News reported.
At the time it boasted the largest wave pool anywhere in the region.
Its popularity peaked in the mid-90s, when 500,000 people a year passed through the turnstiles.
But competition from Disney, Universal, SeaWorld and other attractions has fatally wounded the Kissimmee business.
The owners of the park and a neighboring property containing the Country Hearth Hotel and the Racin' Station Go Kart track are closing and selling all 45 acres.
Water Mania will close at the end of business on Labor Day, but one of its competitors, Wet 'n Wild, will host a job fair that day for the roughly 75 employees losing their jobs.
Wet 'n Wild will also honor Water Mania customers still holding day tickets or seasonal passes