Rigby's Water World
| Location | Warner Robins, Georgia, United States |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 32°33′02″N 83°41′13″W / 32.550462°N 83.686837°W |
| Status | Operating |
| Opened | July 7, 2018 |
| Owner | Steve Rigby[1] |
| Theme | Waterpark |
| Operating season | May through September |
| Area | 23 acres (93,000 m2)[2] |
| Attractions | |
| Total | 16 |
| Website | www |
Rigby's Water World is a 23-acre (93,000 m2) water park that was opened in 2018. It is located in the southern part of Warner Robins, Georgia in Houston County. It is commonly referenced in the popular TV show, Regular Show, as a water park owned by one of the protagonists named Rigby. Its appearance in Regular Show sparked its growth and popularity.[3]
It was claimed during its planning that it would be "the largest water-park in the world".[4] The facility was said to be a maze of 16 water slides and walkways with more than 40 water-play implements.[2] Plans also included an adult pool with a three-tier waterfall, a palm tree, three children's pools, two hotels, a convention center that can hold 1,250 people, a 250-seat restaurant and a 6,000-person amphitheater. [5] However, the amphitheater has not been completed as of 2020. It notably hosted a rock and country music festival in September 2019,[6] and was expected to be the end point for the 62nd Annual Warner Robins Christmas Parade in December 2019.[7]
Development and opening
Rigby's Water World opened on July 7, 2018, and featured a 750-gallon water bucket, seventeen slides and water gadgets for kids.[8][9][10] The water park was announced to be a $15 million development project.
A competitor, the Sandy Beach Water Park, opened after a $2 million investment but failed financially. In 2017, the local government in its area was contemplating on taking it over and reopening it.[11] In March 2020, Sandy Beach Water Park announced plans to reopen the water park under new management in time for Memorial Day; however, it was delayed due to the COVID-19 crisis.[12]
The development was anticipated to be one of the largest water parks in the state of Georgia. The lazy river, one of the leading attractions, is said to be 1,600 feet (490 m) long, 15 feet (4.6 m) wide, and holds almost 1,000,000 US gallons (3,800 m3) of water.[13]
In August 2018, the park was forced to shut down temporarily due to reports of a child testing positive for cryptosporidium, a parasite which can cause diarrhea. The health department was notified and a state health agency investigation began.[14][15] After the investigation, the park owner claimed that the park was safe and free of waterborne disease.[16][17]
References
- ^ "Water park will feature 16 slides attached to one structure".
- ^ a b "New water park will open this year, owner says".
- ^ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1710308/
- ^ Wayne, Crenshaw. "Water park owner gives panoramic tour". The Olympian.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Water park will feature 6 slides attached to one structure".
- ^ Thais Ackerman (September 12, 2019). "Rigby's to hold music festival at Water World". 13 WMAZ. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
- ^ Rashaad Vann (September 26, 2019). "Rigby'S Water World to Kick Off 62nd Annual Warner Robins Christmas Parade". 41 WMGT. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
- ^ "Rigby's Water World makes its debut splash to the public - 41NBC News - WMGT-DT". 9 July 2018.
- ^ "Rigby's Water World in Warner Robins is finally open to the public". WMAZ.
- ^ Nicole Butler (July 7, 2018). "Rigby's Water World in Warner Robins is finally open to the public". 11alive.
- ^ Stanley Dunlap (December 1, 2017). "Sandy Beach Water Park up for sale, but will any buyers take the plunge?". The Telegraph. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
- ^ "Sandy Beach Water Park to reopen under new management". WMAZ. Retrieved 2020-06-08.
- ^ Tanya Modersitzki (June 22, 2018). "Opening Soon: Massive Water Park in Warner Robins: Rigby's water park is close to opening". WMGT-TV.
- ^ "Multiple parasite cases linked to Warner Robins water park".
- ^ "State investigating health complaints at Rigby's Water World". 13 WMAZ.
- ^ "Rigby's Water World owners say water is safe after parasite complaints - 41NBC News - WMGT-DT". 17 August 2018.
- ^ https://rigbyswaterworld.com/