Cedar Park City Council on Thursday approved two measures to support development of a new Schlitterbahn water park near the intersection of 1431 and Parmer Lane.
Plans for a new water park in this are have been in development for a number of years, but the recent approvals could help bring the park to the city by 2012.
“We are pleased to have the opportunity to develop our new upscale waterpark retreat concept right here in Cedar Park,” explained Jeff Henry, principal for the Schlitterbahn Development Group. “Our team has been working on the creation and design of this world-class destination for more than two years and we are excited to be announcing this project today. Without the support of the local government, the realization of this dream could not have become a reality.”
According to news reports and city documents, the planned water park would:
- Be located about halfway between highway 183 and I-35, in the area between Parmer Lane and Raley Road
- Include a 230-room hotel and conference center
- Provide 160,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space
- Be complete by 2012
- Create more than 1,000 jobs
As part of the water park plans, Cedar Park would:
- Spend up to $6 million in sales tax revenue for roads and sewer lines around the area
- Share sales tax, property tax, and hotel occupancy tax revenue with Schlitterbahn
Schlitterbahn released the following additional information:
Located just minutes west of IH 35 on FM 1431, the initial Schlitterbahn Cedar Park Waterpark build out is a $75 million, 67-acre, year-round entertainment destination that will appeal to vacationing families and business travelers alike. Once complete, the entire project will span more than 95 acres and cost more than $360 million.
The Schlitterbahn Boutique™ Hotel and Conference Center is expected to entertain hundreds of thousands of guests per year and will create several thousand jobs, providing an economic boost to the region.
The Cedar Park project is the fifth expansion for the popular Schlitterbahn group of waterparks. Schlitterbahn currently operates three Texas water-based destinations – Schlitterbahn Beach Waterpark, South Padre Island, Schlitterbahn Galveston Island Waterpark, Galveston Island and Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort, New Braunfels.
The Cedar Park partnership is a collaboration of Schlitterbahn Waterparks and Resorts, along with entrepreneur Rick Redmond, current owner of Volente Beach Waterpark, the Principals of Suntex Ventures, LLC and Garrett-Ihnen Civil Engineers. Volente Beach will close after their 2011 season.
Read more on the Austin Statesman website, or visit Schlitterbahn.com.
Do you live in Vista Oaks, Sweet Farms, Mayfield Ranch, Hidden Glen, Ranch at Brushy Creek, Sendero Springs, Behrens Ranch, or other communities near the border between Cedar Park and Round Rock? What do you think about the water park plans near you?
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Shawn 01.29.10 at 12:24 pm
Austin caters very much to the single folks and we really don’t have allot to do in this town for families. We always have to drive out of town to enjoy a good zoo, water park or theme park. It will be great to have something like this down the road. Its about time. I think this is great.
Anon 02.02.10 at 6:18 pm
I live in one of the established neighboring communities (1 mile away) that you listed, and I just heard about this a few days ago. How Cedar Park can ram this through without consulting the neighborhood that will be directly impacted is BS. I see why Cedar Park decided to put this right on their border and pass all the traffic problems onto the neighbors directly east on 1431, which is technically round rock.
Right now, I don’t like this at all. Mostly because I have no information on the traffic problems this will invariably cause. What are the road improvement plans for Parmer and 1431? What about the water restrictions and drought issues we had this summer? What about crime?
I hate Cedar Park.
VS 02.08.10 at 8:59 am
I currently live a few miles from the new site for Schlitterbahn. I grew up near the New Braunfels Schlitterbahn location and had nothing but GREAT memories of being a season pass holder and going every chance I could. And the fact that it is bringing jobs and revenue to the city is great! I have mixed feelings about the traffic/but I hope that will be considered in the planning.
Welcome to Cedar Park Schlitterbahn!
smariani 02.26.10 at 11:05 pm
Thanks everyone for sharing your thoughts!
@Shawn, Great take on it. We hear a lot of parents who agree with you.
@Anon, Definitely valid concerns, and hope the City addresses them.
@VS, Good to hear that your prior experience near a Schlitterbahn was positive overall. Traffic seems to be the greatest concern for those in the area… Hope the city handles it better than they have in some spots!