A Forgotten Park: Memories of a Waterpark Across from the Gulfarium

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Source unknown but THIS was the park featured in this story. It DID exist.

Growing up along the Emerald Coast, my childhood was peppered with unforgettable adventures. Yet, one memory stands out—a waterpark in Fort Walton Beach that seems to have vanished from collective memory. Located across from the Gulfarium, this hidden gem, in plain sight, was a place of laughter, adrenaline and an incredible day for me. It’s a story worth sharing, not just for the nostalgia but for the joy of talking about a piece of history that deserves to be remembered.

It all started when my mom and dad took me to Fort Walton Beach for a day, we only lived about 40 miles to the west. My dad took us to a pizza place with a patio overlooking a pool that had floating steps kids could jump on to get from one side of the pool to the other. While my parents insisted we were there to eat, not swim, my 9-year-old self couldn’t help but daydream of splashing around. The pizza was good, it was more like homemade rather than what we usually got at Pizza Hut, Dominos or Crusty's Pizza, but the pool seemed magical. That same day, I got to ride a go-kart at a nearby track—a thrill that I love to this day. What I didn’t realize at the time was that a waterpark was right next door, waiting to be discovered and how I don't remember it is beyond comprehension. I would have definitely noticed it, then again back in those days if I wasn't interested in something, I ignored it and I wouldn't experience my first waterslide until a few summers after.

Fast forward a few years and my love for waterslides had blossomed thanks to places like Tiki Island on Pensacola Beach and Waterville USA in Gulf Shores, Alabama. One summer, my parents surprised me and my friend John Register with a trip to a small waterpark in Fort Walton Beach. I believe it was called "Okaloosa Island Waterpark" or perhaps "Pleasure Island." It was located to the left just after crossing the bridge on Highway 98 onto Okaloosa Island, possibly where Wild Willy's Adventure Zone now stands. Despite my usually vivid memory, this one remains a bit hazy.

The park featured slides built into the terrain of a large hill, with a tower at the center leading to various slides. There were enclosed twister slides ending in splash pools and at the top, two speed slides with thrilling drops. One slide, a multi-drop or "MultiBump," was like the Bullet at Waterville and the other slide was very much like the Kamikaze at Waterville though a bit higher, not as high as the free fall slides at Tiki Island, both offering a mix of excitement and fear. The runouts for these slides were so close to the beach that, had the park not been fenced off, you could have dashed straight into the Gulf of Mexico or even down a pier that was built for either fishing or boats.

John and I spent the day racing down slides, laughing and conquering fears, not mine but his. At first, he was hesitant about the taller slides. He climbed to the top of the tower, only to chicken out and make the infamous “walk of shame” back down the stairs, hugging himself in defeat as I was looking up from the runout of the Free Fall slide I had just plunged down. But as the day went on, something shifted in him. Encouraged by adrenaline and maybe a touch of courage, John decided to take on the scariest slide—a steep drop that tested even the bravest of kids, as much as I love them, I still get a little wobbly in the legs when I get on them. Watching him cross his arms, lay back and take the plunge was exhilarating for him. By the time he reached the bottom, he was hooked, racing back up the stairs and not just limited to a few slides in the park. That moment was transformative—watching my friend overcome his fears and truly embrace the adventure was something I’ll never forget.

We fueled up on hot dogs, fries and sodas from the concession stand, sharing jokes about the size of the hot dogs and soaking in the camaraderie of the day. It wasn’t the last time I saw John before he moved away, but it was the last time we had an adventure like this—a day filled with laughs, memories and a day that he shared my love for waterslides. On our hour and ten minute drive home, my parents had another surprise for John and I, dinner at Pizza Hut. Not only did he and I have a blast at the waterpark, we ended the day at the pizza place all kids of the 1980's coveted and sadly, a place my family knew as forbidden due to a connection to the original owners, a story I'll share in the future.

Sadly, this waterpark remains a mystery to many. It stood for years, yet people remember Shipwreck Island in Panama City and Big Kahuna's in Destin far more vividly, most likely due to their close proximity to the location which probably contributed to it's demise. If you have any memories of this park or know more about its history, I’d love to hear from you. Let’s piece together the story of this lost treasure. Unfortunately, John and I lost touch after he, his mom and brother moved away and much to my parent's dislike, I was once again hanging out with my friend Stig and his gran.

Thank you for joining me on this nostalgic journey. If this story brought back memories or sparked curiosity, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below. And if you’d like to support my efforts in preserving these tales, your contributions are always appreciated. Together, we can keep the past alive for future generations.


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