Plans for California Dreamin’ Entertainment’s new water park at Cal Expo seem to be sinking faster than a leaky boat. After promising to renovate the former Raging Waters site and open a new attraction called CaliBunga by 2024, the reality now looks much murkier. With more than $202,000 in lease payments missed, the park’s future is now up in the air—with a target opening date pushed to 2027.
Executive Steven Dooner was initially optimistic about a three-year plan for the water park, which included exciting features like a Chuck E. Cheese-themed area to attract families. However, the state-owned property requires a lot of red tape that’s made moving forward a delicate dance. As the financial pressure mounts and the water park plans hang in the balance, it looks like enthusiasts will have to keep their swimsuits tucked away a little longer.
This isn’t exactly the splashy comeback everyone was hoping for after Raging Waters closed its doors in 2022. Will the dream of Cal Expo’s newest water attraction float back to life, or is it destined to remain underwater? Only time will tell, but it seems the wait just got a lot longer. Maybe we should all just invest in some floaties!
About the Author
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
