The Abandoned & Dangerous Water Park in the Desert: Lake Dolores/Rock-A-Hoola | Expedition Extinct

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

What is your favourite Water Park growing up? Follow me on Twitter and Instagram for sneak peaks of upcoming episodes twitter.com/expthemepark & instagram.com/expeditionthemepark

[@adan26damianable]

My Favorite Water Park is Knott's Soak City Because it has amazing water Slides

[@alexgeorge501]

my favorites are: Splash Works at Canada's Wonderland, Hurricane Harbor at Darien Lake, Waves indoor at Americana resort Niagara falls & Fallsview indoor (also in Niagara Falls)

[@ASTER-IX]

The duplo valley waterpark. it was so cool!

[@JoseM10301]

My old local park (now closed, and very dangerous in it's day) Action Park

[@dwitefry4157]

@@JoseM10301 Meh, I live in Essex, the closest thing to a water park was flooding.

[@tombuck]

The dude spinning around on the standing slide before doing a flip into the water is an absolute champ.

[@thelovelymisshill]

Cool. As. Fuck. 😎

[@robertzacharias6815]

Flippy spinny on a standup slide was epic

[@mikemeyer4800]

Im sure he scored massive tail from the ladies for that sweet manuever.

[@mattberg6816]

@@mikemeyer4800 absolutely

[@dennislockhart7290]

It was the owners son, I'd say he had a lot of practice...lol

[@PeteTheWargamer]

I don't know what amazes me more. The fact that the design of that stand up slide was approved. Or that reporter deciding to ride it again after nearly giving himself concussion the first time around.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Haha can't knock it for trying

[@Erebogenic]

most likely some nose candy was involved.

[@TwistedMexi]

@@ExpeditionThemePark to kill people? It was a really good try, I'll give it that.

[@ericatucker2683]

It was never "approved" they just built it.

[@bb5242]

You didn't see all the chicks in bikinis just off camera. Those dudes sticking the back flips were getting sweet tail.

[@melasnexperience]

"Some even called it the Action Park of the west." You have my attention...

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Good 🤣

[@markingatlightspeed]

It's a very good description, too. Their water slides being built into the landscape is very similar to a lot of AP's slides. That and, yanno, the absolute batshit design of them lol

[@SirBlackReeds]

Someone get Johnny Knoxville on this crap.

[@rzum81]

Thanks for bringing Action Park up. I was trying to think of the place I compared this to.

[@ronniea.4830]

Not a compliment to be compared for a disastrous park

[@scottjones1736]

I grew up in Barstow and spent a many Summer in the 70s and 80s out at Lake Dolores, it was a blast! Over the years I have tried to explain the dynamics of what the Lake had to offer but I could never do it justice, Until Now!! Thank you to the people that put this video together, it brought back lots of fond memories!

[@nunyabizness6662]

Hell yeah we used to go there as kids in the 70s and 80s too. What a trip down memory lane.

[@CSDonohue11]

I always wondered what that park was and what happened with it It’s been abandoned as long as I can remember, which is late 80’s that I can actually 1st remember seeing it as We drove by from Vegas to DisneyLand.

[@zacr3dd205]

Tá junto meu tio

[@troy3456789]

Unfortunately, it could not survive a lawyer and an unethical jury.

[@sarrahhaynes8935]

My parents grew up in barstow (dad Newberry mainly) and I lived there until 9!

[@TroubledTribble420]

If anyone was curious about the fare of this water park still, as of 2021 it was listed for sale again

[@caseysmith544]

Thanks for the updated info on the park. I think just moving this to an RV park/camping park would make the most money given the cost for everything now being Super Jacked right now.

[@SportsThrowbacks]

Well, that's good to know! Thanks for the info! BTW, as of 2024, It Is still abandoned.

[@SeanFlaharty]

So THAT's what that place was? I have driven from L.A. to Vegas dozens of times since 1995. I have seen that place quite a few times but never pulled over to really check it out. Thanks for the informative video. You are the best!

[@dougkay3666]

I have done the same. I thought it was a paintball park. Lol.. Now I want to explore it!

[@epochseven4197]

@@dougkay3666 Lol I thought it was a skatepark with all the graffiti and (what appeared to be) skate bowls seen from a distance.

[@laur4620]

same! used to drive from Las Vegas to Anaheim a bunch growing up in the early 2000s, and i always wondered about that place every time we drove past over the years.

[@REALPLANETXVIDEOZ]

I DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S AN OFF RAMP,,,,,,FYI

[@kittenmatchvids6440]

same, I went to Vegas from Lancaster early 2020, saw this and thought 'there has to be a story behind this,' but forgot to look it up.

[@Proxinem]

I always feel sad when looking at old abandoned theme/water parks. Seeing footage of them before (in adverts, home movies etc) and seeing them as they are now - empty and overgrown - makes me think about all the good times people had there. All the childhood memories and happiness associated with a small plot of land, lost to time. Six Flags New Orleans is a good example of this - lots of footage coming out of that old park from urban explorers.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

I agree

[@markingatlightspeed]

I live like three minutes from an old trolley park that's had a lot of troubles and closed multiple times over the years, Bushkill Park, and though they're currently working on restoring it, a lot of it is still very messed up, and it breaks the heart to drive past. Especially knowing they had one of the few remaining Pretzel dark rides before it was destroyed by flood in '06. It's home to the oldest walk-through funhouse in the US, too, so knowing there's SO MUCH history there (including my own childhood) makes it all the more painful to see the wreckage they haven't gotten to yet.

[@Knight-of-Sarcasm]

I feel that way about our local parks that closed: Meyer's Lake, Summit Lake, and Geauga Lake/Sea World. Seeing the drone shots and having Josh visit the latter once and wander around Sea World made me so sad.

[@jessiethomas3391]

I've driven by the old park in new Orleans and it's really interesting to see

[@imnotscary-jisoo4966]

Well for a six flags update they finally found 3 different people who is willing to buy it (one being Drew Brees) and have plans to reopen it sometime in the future

[@jimoran5265]

The moment I heard "water slide - stand up style" I knew this was going to end badly.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Hahah right

[@Awesomesufff]

Why would anyone think that that was a good idea

[@MrKemoSpear]

@@Awesomesufff Because, back then we really didn't give a shit. We went there knowing the risks & loved every minute of it. There were spots at the park where you could sit and watch the chaos of the stand up slide & the tram (if you didn't let go before you hit the tire, you would get flung off the thing when you hit it). My friends and myself would kick back drinking beer giving scores (1-10) on the crashes. Aaahhhhhhhhhhh. good times lol

[@basti0007]

Today, Swiss Manufacturer Klarer actually sells his stand-up water slides very prominently all over the world. But they're much safer (narrower) now then back then, of course. :-)

[@brooklynmoede9480]

I was going to say pretty sure there are still stand up slides.

[@rachellombardi5253]

This place is such an amazing spot to explore. I loved looking at all the crazy graffiti and just strolling around. If you do go there please don't destroy anything! I hope they preserve it as it's such a unique gem in the desert.

[@Whatlander]

I was just thinking that the new owners would have to be massive fools if they painted over all of those years' worth of graffiti.

[@andrewwright.]

@@Whatlander why? it looks gash

[@abigails4088]

@@andrewwright. graffiti is always a mixed bag... living/working around a main East/West rail line you get to watch a lot of it just roll right in front of you so to speak... there is a lot of "garish" or gaudy or even just... CRUMMY... graffiti art out there, but I've seen a few pieces that look like they belong on someone's living room wall in a frame... my favorite is still a damned amazingly done BABA from Dragonball, sitting on her crystal ball staring at you...simple concept, but they clearly put so much effort into it, so much detail... wish I'd gotten a picture.

[@thelockpickinglebowski633]

I'm interested in checking it out, but I have a few questions and I hope you can answer them. Are there any "no trespassing" signs posted? Is it fenced? Are there security guards? Are most areas accessible by bicycle? Is there broken glass? I would at least like to tour the location by air with my drone. Thank you.

[@andrewwright.]

@@abigails4088 absolutely, where I live someone did a portrait of a death music artist who came from this city...was amazing, so life-like was of Keith from the prodigy

[@56KillerB]

I was a 29 year-old telecom R&D engineer in 1985, and we needed to test our equipment cabinet in an extremely hot environment. I (the lead dude), a mechanical engineer, and a field service tech took our equipment to Lake Delores, and camped there for a week. All of the recording test equipment was pretty automatic, so all we had to do was set up the gear and monitor it every couple of hours. I had to call back to the office in Anaheim every *morning*, to check in, as I was incapable of technical coherence by the afternoon. A parade of strangers came to our campfire each night, to see what we were up to, as we didn't seem to fit the usual clientele behavior and demographic. An hour or so around our fire cured them of that concern. We got our needed data, and the equipment survived the harsh desert, but I was probably ready for rehab by the end of our adventure. I'll always remember that time very fondly.

[@WiccanBear23]

My family visited Lake Dolores at least 10 times in the late 70’s and early 80’s. Yes… it really was the “Action Park of the West”. But, that’s the way the 70’s were back then. It was the age of “Play At Your Own Risk” and “Resulting Activity could cause great bodily injury or death”.

[@ShadowKing006]

Sounds like fun

[@fredgervinm.p.3315]

Action Park was one, remember Palisades Park across from the West side?

[@laikanbarth]

Good times!!

[@PhoenixLyon]

Isn't it crazy the way we went from, "at your own risk", to "I'm sueing for damages!", and warning labels on everything? Kids today aren't as tough as they think they are!LOL ✌😸

[@brianjones8432]

Grew up in the same era, just on the east coast. But yeah, I genuinely think the kids of the 70's and 80's were the last generation to be raised that way.... It was all downhill after the bicycle helmet. :) The parents of the kids now would sue over a stubbed toe. Back then, unless it looked like you were going to bleed out or had a bone protruding from your body, you would likely just get a laugh and a hardy "walk it off ya pussy".

[@Onoitsbroko]

I've driven by this place SO MANY TIMES and had no idea what this was! Amazing work as usual. Love the quality content.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thank you so much!

[@MrLuckyAndrew]

Makes you wanna pull over and check it out now huh? I'm already planning it

[@BlueOvals24]

@@MrLuckyAndrew Be careful out there, as mentioned in the video there are plans on resurrecting the park again, might even be fenced off by now. And even if it isn't, it is technically private property again so just watch yourself

[@Jackcrypto101]

@@MrLuckyAndrew don't pay attention, grab some beers and have some fun

[@jangamaster8677]

Go check it out sometime. There’s a hole in the fence around back opposite the main gate ;)

[@kylewilliams7457]

Man don't make me feel sad about a waterpark I never went to! Good episode.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thank you!

[@Austin.D]

Lol i would have never known this place even existed if i didn't see this video

[@sisco0304]

i drove by it twice love seen videos like this of the past

[@slurpwis]

that employee winning a lawsuit after willingly going down a slide after closing is INSANE

[@non-human3072]

Ridiculous isn't it...

It only takes ONE dumbass to ruin everything. Jobs lost, millions of dollars lost. No more waterpark for anyone.

[@mlm32809]

That employee and his attorney committed a crime, fraud, by filing that lawsuit based on lies!

[@Yeagerallday]

@@mlm32809 Welcome to the US legal system...which works inconsistently 🤷

[@Forestdude9000]

I normally side with employees, but that was just careless stupidity.

[@funlightfactory6031]

Ah the Seventies. Where you could smoke on a plane, drive a car with no seatbelts, hold your baby in your arms in the front seat, and walk out onto the tarmac and board your plane with no security checks.

[@Buc_Stops_Here]

Most amazing to me - that one family ran the most successful park of all the owners. You could say they knew what they were doing. More likely, they were in the right place at the right time and got lucky with the highway being built right in their front yard - which allowed them to start the concept.

[@tommurphy4307]

by 'successful', you mean they were able to go the longest before they went belly up- right??

[@geniewilliams1742]

@@tommurphy4307 they literally sold the place and retired??? How is that “belly up”?

[@rossbryan6102]

I AM SURPRISED THAT THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES DID NOT PUT THE GRABS ON THE WATER RIGHTS IN THE 1920 ERA! I NEVER REALIZED THAT THERE WAS THAT MUCH WATER THERE TO BEGIN WITH. OCCASIONALLY DRIVING TRUCKS THROUGH THE AREA I SAW THE REMNANTS, BUT NEVER REALIZED HOW BIG TIME IT REALLY WAS!!

[@5crassrocker]

@@rossbryan6102 San Bernardino county that's why

[@dwitefry4157]

This sort of video is why i'm subscribed to Expedition Theme Park and why every theme park fan should be: a near half an hour video on something that barely gets covered anywhere else that's genuinely fascinating.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thank you so much

[@kimturner282]

Agreed. I loooooove stuff like this about the places/rides I have or even haven’t see origin stories. It takes a lot of effort and research and I appreciate it.

[@shannong2174]

Agreed!! I love Disney and Universal but I don't need to see yet another video on their attractions. I love that this channel covers those places you grew up with in the middle of no where or the places you wish you had been able to go to.

[@jaysenwhittaker9680]

I grew up going to this place and knew the guy that paralyzed himself on the do-op super drop. He was foolish and blew all the lawsuit money within a few years. This park deserves more then the hand it was dealt. I remember it fondly. When I went to it though was when it was in its second stage.

[@Jeremiah_Gottwald]

"He was foolish and blew all the lawsuit money within a few years." Now that's the happy ending I wanted to hear. It disgusts me that his dumb ass was given a penny, but at least it didn't last.

[@bagofnails6692]

How does a guy who is paralysed blow all their money in a stupid fashion ? Hookers and cocaine I guess.

[@jaysenwhittaker9680]

@@bagofnails6692 he bought a million dollar RV as his first purchase, multiple exotic cars including a lambo, bought a bunch of his friends high end things like KTM dirt bikes, etc. didn’t invest in anyway so he lost most of it before he even realized it was gone.

[@bagofnails6692]

@@jaysenwhittaker9680 Silly person. Thanks for the reply.

[@espritmike]

@@jaysenwhittaker9680 It happens often enough that you can call it the rule and not an exception

[@RyanTreks]

The original "dangerous" park looks like so much fun. I notice most people were mid-teens and older. The danger added to the fun and creativity. You could ride the slide as you wanted rather than just sliding down.

[@craigkuna7503]

We had action park in the east!

[@DanknDerpyGamer]

@@craigkuna7503 You never forget how insane those waves in the wave pool are!

[@thehorrorist3471]

As a NJ native, it tickles me no end that Action Park has become a worldwide symbol of reckless amusement. This place had the right spirit!!!

[@LakeNipissing]

As an "Action Park" survivor, it surprised me to see the insanity of Lake Dolores was likely ten years earlier than what Gene Mulvihill brought to Vernon / Sussex county.

[@nintandrew13]

Would love to see a follow-up video in 3-5 years if the new plans ever get started, though it sounds more resort-y than theme park Great video!

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Hopefully third time is the charm for this park

[@SuperNuclearUnicorn]

Honestly, I'm just glad the Byers got out while they could and made their money. Good on them!

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

glad he got to enjoy a few years of retirement

[@chazzwozzio]

American dream achieved!

[@TheXerosyn]

I went here a few times as a kid, and to this day that stand up slide haunts me. First time I went down didn't know anything on it. Well after the first slide and a few layers of skin burned off my hands I learned the trick of using flip flops on hands to slide it. After that is was a blast. Glad I can say I enjoyed the original park.

[@stellaluna6421]

I'm glad the Byers at least had success-they made a waterpark when farming failed, it was very popular and successful, and they were finally able to sell it and retire

[@andrewward5891]

I agree. It’s funny that the park was fairly successful with risky slides set up on a dirt mound but failed after it was turned into a cookie cutter corporate water park.

[@BrokenFootRailfan]

I originally discovered this abandoned waterpark as a rockhound out in the Barstow area, and drove by it multiple times before I was able to look it up. I think it was 2010 when we went out and actually shot pictures in the early evening in January, which just made the whole place even more creepy. It's what started my obsession with abandoned places. I love learning more about the history of it!

[@FWDlol]

I'd seen this place on my way to Vegas for several years before I finally got tired of wondering what it was and headed out to see it in person. My girlfriend and I rode our motorcycles from Rosamond, CA to check it out and you could still feel the fun that used to happen there. I hope the next version lasts longer than all of the previous attempts but it seems like that place is just doomed.

[@shaneicereed3120]

Me too

[@CSDonohue11]

👍

[@CybermanBill]

Well done!!! I loved this park. We used to go summers of 82 and 83!!! The standup slide is what drew me to the park. I was 12 when we first started going! I remember being sick from Smiley elementary school in Redlands and seeing the commercial with the trapeze and standing slide and I knew I had to go!! Thank you dad (Rip) for being so cool and always telling me to make lasting memories no matter what!! So, on those days that I went only with you and not friends, they were some of my best childhood memories. Doing anything with you always made for good times and lasting memories! Its been a little over a year since your gone and I just thank you for always being there when I needed you and making me who I am! Memories and the world are just not the same without you!! Thanks again for making this! It really got me kind of emotional. I'm sorry!! Hope it didn't bother you! Thank u again!

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Doesn't bother me at all and made me feel the same as it was my parents that installed my love of theme parks and places like this in me. Thank you for watching. RIP to your Dad. Sounds like a great man.

[@orthopraxis235]

Go Redlands. Now get after that nasty University of Redlands for closing it's tennis courts to the public, the community and the kids. We don't need more CLOSED things!

[@joep4235]

this was a fantastic history lesson !!! I visited the park in each of its phases... with my parents in the 70's on a cross country vacation, Rock a Hoola with a bunch of my friends on a trip to Calico Ghost Town in the early 2000's, and Discovery a couple years later on a trip to Vegas. Never rode a single slide... we just watched the fun and had some burgers. The remnants are still there ( we saw them in early March on another trip to Vegas) and it always makes me smile to see them ... thanks so much for the vid!

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

That's amazing

[@BlueOvals24]

You planning on going again when/if the newest phase is done?

[@tommurphy4307]

in the 70's?? your folks must have been family- dolores was private property back then.

[@frankfitz3421]

Thanks for that memory, they also had a motocross track there. I went to high school in barstow and frequently went to lake Delores in 1973. What a great memory

[@jessmc6243]

I really din't expect my local waterpark to come up in this and had no idea the Colossal Canyon at Cultus Lake Waterpark was originally from Rockahoula. So interesting, it's one of my favourite slides.

[@franklinstephen3268]

Hello how’re you doing?

[@chip7090]

same here! it was so unexpected.

[@Kipper5776]

Wow, Lake Dolores, what a surprise! I always thought growing up in the 70s as a teenager was one of the best decades to grow up in. I bought my first car (66 cuda) when I was 15 1/2, and not long after I was heading with my friends to Lake Dolores. It was always a great place to take your girlfriends or just go out with your buddies. The tram rides were awesome as well as the slides. Lots of fun, sure it was risky. Was it worth it? I fell off my roof at home, never got hurt at Lake Dolores, so there you go. 😊 Great video, thanks for covering this not forgotten hang out for some of us. 😉

[@mamalupine7604]

👍

[@christophersoberg2627]

Yea I showed my adult kids this video and told them how awesome it was in my early teens going there.👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@audrealambert9583]

Great story 👍🤩🗽

[@harrywinslow3946]

The question is, what did you do with the Barracuda? In showroom shape, it's worth about 200 grand today.

[@toyamwarr]

That water park lawsuit over workmen’s comp has been used several times at several of my past jobs for why it’s important to clock in before going to work and to never continue working after clocking out.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

interesting!

[@andrewrobertson3894]

Very true and a great observation.

[@YurTypicalVegasMom702]

Being a Las Vegas native, I’ve watched this place come and go multiple times throughout my life. It’s always been a sort of mile marker between CA and NV. We would always look for it when driving to Disneyland or southern CA in general. It would we awesome if it opened again.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

I hope so!

[@goldenstate5]

Also a Las Vegas native here, I still have never known another person whoever visited it, but EVERYBODY knew about it.

[@Esdeath_0001]

Same, always seen it but never stopped

[@samlatlippe4597]

Yeah the water park and the Roy Rogers Museum, dad would threaten to take us to if we were bickering too much

[@dreamingnihilist653]

Funny, I’m a vegas native as well, and I don’t remember this park. I do remember being spun out in the early 90s as a kid, counting down the hours and minutes till we got to Disneyland. Reading Stephen King books and playing my game boy. Good Memories, wouldn’t trade them for all the modern media in the world. Actually, i was looking for info on Wet N Wild on the strip, that was a fun death trap, Lead me to this video, Impressed.

[@lordkreigs1978]

I've driven by it many many times and wondered the history. Great job in the story.

[@markwelker95]

my memory of this place was when it was turned into "rock a hoola", the "safer" park.....my band had a 2 day gig there,for the rock and roll...in 1998. when we were not playing, we were riding the water slides,or floating in the lazy river..;..probably one of the funnest gigs i ever played.

[@nope2303]

This is my childhood water park, me & 2 cousins who used to go when we were kids went to visit the abandoned site recently (we must’ve gone at similar times!) and the wave of nostalgia was unlike anything I’ve felt before. I felt like a ghost floating through my own vivid memories. I have an affinity and fascination for abandoned places, but this was my first time exploring one that I’d been to before it was closed & abandoned. Most of the people that were there when we were walking around were too young to have ever been at the park when it was still open- I myself was only 5 when it closed in 2001. 20 years later, still so much energy attached to the place. Great video, I liked the promo vids and commercials, hadn’t seen Lake Dolores the way I remember it in a long time.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

The old promo videos and commercials are so nostalgic. Thanks for watching.

[@DisneyMarkUK]

Those stand up slides have been popping up at water parks recently, they don’t seem as fast and dangerous as these ones mind. Thanks for another amazing video Sam, I’ve never heard of this place before. It still doesn’t look as scary as River Country was, that place was truly terrifying.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Haha thanks Mark!

[@Mokujo]

Man, I get feeling sorry for a guy who got paralyzed after one dumb mistake but legit how in the name of God is the park liable for that

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

yeah a real sad story

[@bb5242]

Well, it was a dumbass move. At age 18, my cousin got drunk and rode a dirtbike head first into a tree and was badly messed up for life. It is what it is.

[@TheEpic22]

If the park was being run with even moderate competence the employee would not have been able to do what he did.

[@Mokujo]

@@TheEpic22 He subverted everything else that was done. Do you want them to be constantly surveilling their employees?

[@grahamie]

I agree, the park should not be liable for an employee riding a waterslide before their shift, bypassing any security measures whilst doing so, and injuring himself. That was his own fault. Maybe the manger seeing him on the ground and not doing something immediately might be justification for a law suit? But still, his own irresponsibility resulted in his paralysis.

[@chadcovey1626]

This is totally my new favorite channel, i highly enjoyed Defunctland Material, glad you popped up on my algorithm

[@moniquemc4553]

I was a toddler and my parents took us religiously to Lake Dolores. Nothing but a bunch of unsupervised kids and drunk adults. lol Oh and lots of bikers 🤷🏼‍♀️ I have tons of pictures. By far you have found the most footage I’ve seen out of any video covering it.

[@cosmichef75]

I want to see the pictures.

[@carriebrettholtz7833]

You should make a slide show of your photos. I'm very curious to see them!

[@michellemorrow7]

I went here too, between 4 and 8 or 9 years old. I have the same memories you do, I’m sure! It was so freaking fun! I remember running around everywhere, no supervision, the smell of pot and beer wafting through the air. It was a blast!

[@alondrad19]

I literally pass that old abandoned water park multiple times a year and always wondered what happened. Thanks for the answers. I feel full filled. Say hi to Jackie for me! 😊👋🏽

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thanks for taking the time to watch 👋

[@MRLouieRS]

Countless scenarios, good and bad have played in my head (as well as whoever else is in the car) as to what happened to this spooky water park in the middle of nowhere. Thank you Expedition Theme Park for putting to rest the ghosts in my head!

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thank you for watching!

[@bb5242]

I can't imagine camping there in the desert heat. How quickly does it cool off at night?

[@BlueOvals24]

@@bb5242 It doesn't lol At least not during the summer, spring and fall are a bit better, you could see a 10-20 degree drop in the late evenings

[@richard_gonzalez]

I think that the lawsuit that was placed by the employee against the Waterpark was totally BS. If what was said is true, then the employee definitely knew that what he was doing was wrong and he was liable for what happened to him. Sad to see that the Waterpark had to take the fall for his stupidity and pay for it.

[@richard_gonzalez]

@@Mrwaffleandmilk because it wasn't their fault that a dumbass employee broke the rules and lied in court to make some money for something he did

[@cardinaloflannagancr8929]

@@Mrwaffleandmilk The business is owned and staffed by actual people not a sentient faceless nameless object. Saying oh it's just a business or a company. That's just something people tell themselves to rationalize away guilt they should be feeling.

[@tlrogers6083]

In California, the plaintiff’s always win

[@BlueOvals24]

@@Mrwaffleandmilk What @Cactus Rider said, and to add to it, it was a small business too, not a mega corporation like Disney that wouldn't even notice they had a lawsuit. If small business is running things right, which it sounds like this one was, they shouldn't get slapped with dumb lawsuits like this. It's like getting into a car accident because you weren't paying attention and then suing the car manufacturer. That's not how it works, you don't get financial gain from self-inflicted injury or death.

[@satanofficial3902]

It's *SEXIST!!!* to use the term "bullsh*t" when she cows go poop, too. And, it's also *SPECIESIST!!!* because non-bovine animals also expel digestion remnants through their anal orifice. In the future, instead of saying "bullsh*t", everyone should please say "Non-gender-specific non-species-specific animal excrement". And instead of using "BS", please use "NSNSAE". Thank you for your cooperation.

[@barbarakendrick652]

Wow I had forgotten about Lake Delores. My grandma and grandpa took me there when I was about 8 to 10. Love the reporting Sam. Thank you for bringing back that great memory.

[@adventurekitty1016]

I gasped when I heard Cultus Lake Waterpark get mentioned. I go there all the time. It’s interesting to hear that my favourite slide there is the remains of this old waterpark.

[@Soonjai]

The incredible ways we always come back to being supid in Primm.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Heheh yesss

[@CheesyNoodlez]

“supid” hahaha

[@Joey-rs7uq]

Im stupid cause I always climb the top of the rollercoaster expecting something, but never actually finding anything and have to climb back down.

[@The_DC_Kid]

Primm? I was there earlier today. Here's a warning: don't go into The Bison Steve without Eddy.

[@tomlink5784]

A man of culture. Indeed. But honestly, do people in primm really climb the rollercoaster?

[@JasonRasmussen]

True story. I worked for a major computer company in Victorville in the 90's and the owner of this waterpark tried to buy a lot of computers from us on credit. We had a feeling this would not pan out well so we turned him down. Good decision.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Interesting!

[@dmannevada5981]

Curious what that computer company was? Lived in A.V. from 82-2001

[@andyb9720]

I remember seeing the updated park as we drove by to Vegas as a kid. Never stopped. It was such a wtf moment seeing it truly in the middle of nowhere it stuck with me all these years. Thanks for doing the history of the place

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thanks for watching, hopefully in the next few years it will come back to life.

[@jerrysullivan8424]

It was a fun place back in 1977 or 1978 when I was there. Thank you for bringing back good memories.

[@sukamayoutube2323]

The employee who rode the slide when he shouldn't and got paralysed only has himself to blame. Can't believe he could sue for his own stupidity.

[@skorpion7132]

My thoughts exactly.

[@arbel7655]

It's a shame he was terribly injured but ridiculous he won. He had to know better since it was shut down for the day. "Unclear" rules is such a "don't eat tide pods" bunch of bull.

[@ronscurti1269]

THIS IS THE BEST AMUSEMENT PARK/ ROLLERCOASTER CHANNEL OUT THERE.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thank you so much

[@mattr8090]

This by far has been my favorite Expedition Extinct episode! Good Job guys!

[@JamesonThomas24]

I am so glad you keep finding ways to include the desperado clip. Is it really a Las Vegas video without it?

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

It is not!

[@AwkwardKidAdventures]

Is that the "that was really stupid" clip? I'm not a movie buff, and I've only seen 2 videos from this channel so far, but it was in both lol

[@AbandonedMines11]

Reopening in 2022? I wouldn’t bet on it. Great video! Really enjoyed the thorough reporting and classic footage.

[@rustyshackleford6730]

The work is supposed to begin in 2022 to be opened in 2023

[@CodysGarage]

@@rustyshackleford6730 did the work start?

[@cucaelhombre]

I’m passing by there this week on a trip to Vegas. Might even go explore if I get the chance. I’ll let you know when I pass by.

[@UlshaRS]

Down to the pandemic? Anyone wanna tell them about the mega drought and PR nightmare such a wasteful excess will spark?

[@dianarodriguez1900]

Reopening? Hopefully that will never happen! Do people forget that we are in a MAJOR DROUGHT or they just don’t care?! If they can still get water for every day usage then why worry about the rest of us? People only care about themselves!! Stupid people!

[@DeanGilberryCrunch]

As a Victorville native I’m glad to see this get some attention. My family always called it “Spooky Water Park”. It is very much a landmark to us

[@aprils376]

I lived in Victorville

[@DeanGilberryCrunch]

@@aprils376 I’m so sorry to hear that

[@johnnyvo6833]

ahhhh thank you so much for making this! I've driven by this every time on my trip to Vegas for the last 30+ years and I've always wondered about it. I love your work!

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thank you so much for watching!

[@nickporras1126]

I've been here a few times as a kid. Always had a lot of fun here. I remember they had some promotional days where the temperature determined the price. If it was 102 degrees the price was like $1.02. Very affordable water park from what I can remember. Blueberry hill thrill was a thrilling slide. I remember the big bopper as well. Shame that it closed. Thanks for keeping rock a hoola's legacy going!

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thanks for watching. Glad you got to experience the water park!

[@travelljohnson5117]

I CANT BELIEVE I NEVER ASKED YOU GUYS TO DO THIS ONE! I remember when I was a teen and we’d go to Vegas, I’d always be so intrigued to know how that place got there. I googled that place and found out sooo much! This is when I became interested in the past that still was in our present! Haven’t even really started the video and I’m so excited!!!! Thank you foe this one!!!!

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thank you so much I hope you enjoy!

[@travelljohnson5117]

@@ExpeditionThemePark this was so nostalgic! Thank you again!!

[@ashley_engle]

How fantastic this place must have been in it's first year 💕 so free feeling and open I imagine

[@randomhero6365]

My family and I got to visit Rock A Hoola during it's last week of operation. I was very young at the time but I do remember walking around with my mom while my dad did some slides. We didn't stay long as all the food places were shut down and we ended up leaving after too long.

[@Shannondionleelee]

I can’t believe I’m getting weepy and sentimental about a water park in a country I’ve never even been to!

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

my job is complete ha!

[@melissablakeman2659]

Don't you just love shit like this? I always get all choked up about abandoned water and amusement parks. I'm weird though 😂

[@sct913]

Even before you said it, my immediate thought on seeing the initial clip was "Action Park of the West."

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Haha right?!

[@toyamwarr]

I thought the same thing.

[@jgatzby4263]

Just missing a version of the infamous teeth collecting, looping Action Park water slide

[@dindog22]

same. although it seems Action Park was a little worse

[@sct913]

@@dindog22 Yes, Action Park was worse.

[@Ramonatho]

I like the juxtaposition of an acting magician faking something poorly, compared to the real reporter going back up the hill just to hurt himself more.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

right?!

[@luther1546]

So the guy sent himself rocketing into a concrete hole without making sure there was water in it? And a jury awards him millions? That's America for you.

[@jockfl24]

Who would have thought about building a waterpark in the middle of no where.....AWESOME!!!!

[@robertsmith9397]

"I'm Johnny Knoxville and this is skateboard waterpark." I knew I've seen that place somewhere.

[@dimanfpv3247]

It's also a big destination for the fpv drone community. I hope to visit it one day

[@CivilianSatellite]

"Located halfway between Las Vegas and LA-" Wait for it... " 2:36 " There it is!

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

🤣

[@Kazick228]

Every time Primm comes up I cant agree enough with how bad that place is/was. Note, I used to work at Primm.

[@helmutkok7833]

Does it almost makes you wish for a nuclear winter?

[@KichiUki]

What is that clip from?

[@meghanteress]

i explored this park on my trip back from vegas last time! it’s so cool seeing all the art and abandoned structures. i wish i could’ve experienced it in its heyday. or i wish it was still open! thanks for doing this video

[@karnubawax]

Last time I was there, the floating canal was pretty much free of debris, still was paved on the bottom, and large enough to fit a compact car - with a ramp going down into it! Sadly, I was there with my mom and it was her car, so I let it go...

[@reyzapata9375]

I remember my dad & myself would stop at lake Delores so we could rest and have fun on our way to Colorado Springs. It was such a beautiful place to enjoy. I was able 7yrs old back in 1968. To day it’s a ghost town with only the fun memories I had as a child. R.I.P. Mrs Dolores. Ps, Lake Dolores will always be the first water park ever built in the world.☹️🌹🙏🏽👍

[@princesskristan]

I've looked into this place and it's pretty cool looking in its abandoned state

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Yep!

[@jazminmascorro584]

It used to be way cooler when they still had the slides. I would say it has been 10+ years since they took them down.

[@Aloha745]

@@jazminmascorro584 I wonder if anyone has footage of it being abandoned before the slides were removed?

[@jazminmascorro584]

@@Aloha745 There is a bunch if you look. Rob Dyrdeck skated the location when it was abandoned before they took the slides out and it was on MTV.

[@Aloha745]

@@jazminmascorro584 thank you! I’ll have to look more into it.

[@djbronzed]

Have stopped at this abandoned park several times; so wish it were still open. The location is literally in the middle of nothing within the desert! This is the most informative coverage I’ve seen on this park; nicely done!

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thank you!

[@mikeminard4115]

I remember the commercials growing up in Southern California as a kid; by the time I was old enough to to go to Vegas in the early 90s, it was already closed.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Ah that's a shame!!

[@_JellyDonut_]

Same here, I never went but my friends and I were obsessed with it just because of the commercials. Wasn't there a catchy jingle in the late 80's version of the commercial? I can't find it anywhere

[@bobcunningham9899]

Yes, there was a very catchy jingle. I still remember it. It was constantly aired during commercial breaks in the 70s.@@_JellyDonut_

[@fireisfire95]

Danger aside, this place looked like it was fun as hell.

[@lindalapierre2344]

I was 5 years old when my grandparents took me and some family friends to camp at lake Dolores in 1985. I still remember that place like it was yesterday. So much fun!! Hope this place makes a come back and I could take my boys and it’ll be a full circle since I went 😃☺️

[@SpankMyFace]

You think the CA government would allow this place to come back? Not to mention the costs of maneuvering around the most overregulated economy in this country, they'd never be profitable. Can't even build a shed in your backyard without getting a handful of permits, yet alone a water park.

[@thetravelingsteampunkkitty534]

Every time I passed there going to Vegas I said who be crazy enough to put a water park in the middle of desert...

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

haha someone was!

[@aceofcheems7685]

I remember when i first saw the waterpark back in early 2003, its was my grandmas last trip to vegas since her cancer had become terminal and wee stayed there for a week, ive always wanted to go there. But never got the chance.

[@pickles3128]

It's funny and sad that Bob Byers couldn't get any real _buyers_ for his park, amirite? (Sorry, I'll go home now.)

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

I did think that when writing it ,😉

[@V0YAG3R]

no

[@AwkwardKidAdventures]

I'm proud to be the 80th like on this comment. :P

[@BitterDemo]

As a Kansas Trucker hauling meat to the Las Angeles , Ca. Basin I stopped several times at the old Water Park and it was always a Thrill to take that standing slide. It was very refreshing as well as Therapeutic to me because as a much younger kid I and two buddies from St. Joseph, Missouri would Hitchhike to Huntington Beach California and loved Body surfing there.

[@anaclaudiabecker6636]

Great video. And I am enjoying to read all these stories about this park here. I am from Brazil. I was born in 1972. Reading this stories make me go back to my childhood. Great time. Different country but the same feeling of the 70s, 80s. Wonderful time. 🤗

[@SemiShweet]

Wow, that really sucks for the guy that created Rocka Hoola, I hope he got something better.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Right?!

[@chatteyj]

I think its never a good idea to expand and spend so much money on a development so quickly its such a risk and debt repayments can kill you, its better to start small providing something good and expand slowly.

[@RobbieSuede13]

I'm so happy to say that back in 1999 i got to experience this park, It was so simple and chill i spend most of the time in the lazy river and the arcade but sadly i only went once but i do remember it was alot of fun lets really hope they bring it back, awesome video 🌊🏊🌅🌞

[@bradleysmall2230]

In mid-October 2018, the abandoned park was the victim of arson, and many of the remaining buildings, including the Lazy River Cafe and Arcade, were burned to the ground. After this, security officers were engaged to protect the property.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

the buildings are still there

[@bradleysmall2230]

@@ExpeditionThemePark are they all there my info is wikipeadia

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

@@bradleysmall2230 most of the Wikipedia about this park is wrong. Including the opening.

[@bradleysmall2230]

@@ExpeditionThemePark wiki said some not all burned. are SOME burned to ground

[@nancyjones6780]

Haha I love how right when that lifeguard was talking about making sure everyone was out of the way of the water slide a guy comes flying down and literally almost landed on a swimmer in the water!!I 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@davidginn55]

I went to this water park as a kid. I forgot all about it. Feels like it was a dream.

[@rich_edwards79]

Looks as though the lake finally dried up, probably due to the CA droughts. They're going to have a tough time running a water park with no water... I suspect this place is never going to reopen.

[@chatteyj]

The video mentioned there is a natural spring there

[@GreebleClown]

@@chatteyj Natural springs still need to get their water from somewhere and can dry up.

[@DouglasLippi]

Droughts have come and gone in California since forever.

[@dmannevada5981]

There is a massive amount of water under the Mojave desert. Also, the droughts are largely Agricultural & Hydrological, not meteorological...for the most part.

[@dimanfpv3247]

California stole a lot of the water from these areas to supply the shore cities "LA San, Francisco" there will probably never have enough water to reopen

[@michaelgrimaud4778]

Yes yes yes. YES YES YES!!! I’ve been WAITING for you to do Rock-a-hula! The time has come!!!!!!

[@michaelgrimaud4778]

I’ve done my homework on this place. But you my friend, went above and beyond.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thank you!

[@michaelgrimaud4778]

@@ExpeditionThemePark Years back, I don't remember why, on my way to vegas, I met with the groundskeepers (at the time) and white water west who installed the water slides and we reviewed blueprints inside the old arcade building. They explained how the bones are good! Just got to install and fix something things but its possible to bring her back to life. How I ended up there going over the plans at the time is beyond me, but I was excited to be witness to the beginning stages of what then was another attempt to resurrect the park. Since then some people have claimed ownership, or that they were project managers, but I am pretty sure Om forbid them to interact with the project whatsoever.

[@fifthrider]

I'm grateful for a childhood in a 1970's California. Although Lake Dolores was infamous for those steel slides, most of the other waterslide parks that existed used concrete/gunite slides. You had to use a mat to slide and if you got separated from it, you just slid down on your chest without it, followed by a trickle of red. It truly wasn't a day at a waterslide park if you didn't need stitches. I remember people in the Huish family's La Mesa park ( Family Fun Center ) actually launching out of the concrete slides and over the trestle into the bushes below. All that aside, yes, it really was the Action Park of the west. Helicopter parents today wouldn't have the grit to tell their kid "Quit crying. Get back up there and try it again."

[@bb5242]

I don't notice any parents in any of the clips. That place was teen city. I wonder how many unplanned pregnancies were initiated there?

[@rondajones7526]

That's funny and sad, 70s kids tell stories of getting hurt like badges of honor or war stories. Things were more relaxed and if you got hurt you sucked it up and moved on. Not a bad skill to have really

[@BlueOvals24]

@@rondajones7526 Yeah, not a bad skill. Unless you get so jacked up, paralyzed, lose a limb or some other life changing injury that you can't even live life the way you were hoping to. Don't get me wrong, some of these 70's parks look real thrilling, but some of them can easily ruin the rest of you're life.

[@MrFace-pr1zp]

I miss the good old days where there were no seatbelts. Really fun to imagine all those people that got to fly out windshields, I bet it was so fun.

[@BlueOvals24]

@@MrFace-pr1zp Too bad you survived those days.

[@accordingtotaylor]

I spent severallll birthdays here as a kid in the 90s, and never understood its history until recently. Still live in the high desert and honestly had no idea they were trying to resurrect it! Considering that just the high desert population has grown so much over the years, I feel as if that alone will help the come back immensely. I guess time will tell! Thank you for the incredibly informative video!

[@Dilligff]

I got to visit there as a kid in the 80s, back when it was mostly the mud ponds and a few slides. I was one of those 'lucky' ones that ended up in the dirt on the other side of the lake. Wish I'd gotten the chance to see the Rock-A-Hoola version before it closed.

[@michaelwilliams1532]

This is a very good video, but a sad one too. It is a real shame that a once thriving and fun place to go and vacation at had to go away like it did. I truly hope that the knew owners can rebuild it again and maybe do like a Six Flags style or a White Water style park. Would love to see the final outcome of it once they are done and see it come back to life in full force. I'm sure Lake Dolores will rise again soon.

[@eddienhp]

Thank you so much for making this video! Now I understand on why Lake Dolores/Rock-A-Hoola became an abandoned theme park over the years! Hopefully it will reopen soon! 🤞

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thank you!

[@kimhudd6879]

Experienced that water park 2 times camping with friends in our 20s. Great fun, big party with lots of water activities! This documentary Brings back great memories with lots of fun with Friends back in 1980 and 1982. Thank for sharing that little bit of history of Lake Delores! At that time very popular place/ destination to go and have a blast!

[@HunterFunk]

I wish I was a teenager when this place was around. I try not to do as much dumb reckless stuff anymore but damn does that look like a lot of fun. This was such a nice video with so much love and respect to the Byers family well done

[@Bronwon]

Driven past who knows how many times, always begged to stop by and just explore for a tiny bit- this is awesome! Finally got to explore..! On my phone.

[@doctorbjones2283]

Living in Southern California, I've driven past this place several times on the way to Las Vegas. I always thought it would make the perfect setting for a horror movie.

[@BEANZI3xTFMx]

This reminds me of rainbow valley, family owned for decades and is remembered fondly by the kids who had visited. It's also an insane fever dream, you can't explain it to someone who has never been there.

[@HonorinTreason]

Great video, never knew about this place. Amazing how long they kept it going. I wish we could still have places like this. A little danger and personal responsibility makes it so much more thrilling.

[@unicornsandrainbowsandchic2336]

The reason we can't is right here in the video: kid makes what we call in preschool a "poor choice", claims it's not his fault, sues the company. If people aren't willing to truly accept the consequences of personal responsibility then we don't get it. It sucks.

[@starport5551]

Hey I drove by this a couple days ago on my way to Six Flags Magic Mountain! It momentarily caught my eye and now I understand what once stood there. I’m excited to see the next chapter!