More than 30 years after opening its doors, Tsawwassen’s Splashdown Waterpark is shutting down for good.
The waterpark’s lease is set to expire and the owners have decided it was time to move on.
As 80s music played throughout the park on its final day, longtime regular Simone Lavallee was overwhelmed by nostalgia.
“Today I’ve teared up a few different times, just thinking about the fact that this is it,” Lavallee said.
“It’s one of those things I remember from my childhood, how much I loved it.”
The day was also bittersweet for employees, who say working at Splashdown Park is as good a summer job as you can ask for.
“It’s probably my favourite place I’ve ever worked,” lifeguard Rachel Coulson said. “I love the people, I love the atmosphere.”
“This place is so memorable. In the…Lower Mainland everyone knows Splashdown.”
As for Lavallee, she said she was going to savour her last trip down all of the park’s many waterslides.
“I’m going on every single one of them with the kids and with friends just to make sure you have those last memories,” she said.
– with files from John Hua