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

Join us on this expedition as we look at the abandoned water park in the desert. Located in California, Lake Dolores was a place full of fun and danger. Right next to Highway 15 this park took thrills to the max and some even called it the Action Park of the west.
After many years it was later reborn as Rock-A-Hoola, a short-lived modern water park that was eventually abandoned after falling into bankruptcy.
#abandoned #extinct #waterpark
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Credits -
Philip Lima - • Abandoned Waterpark in...
Interstate 411 - • Interstate 15 - San Be...
Jason Cryer - • Calico Ghost Town and ...
A.V Geeks - • This Is Life (1950)
Jazmyn Lindgren - • Video
Speed Graphic Film and Video - • On the Road in Califor...
Gergory Taylor - • Lake Dolores informati...
DFields310 - • Lake Dolores / Rock A ...
ScottGordonMedia - • Rock-a-Hoola Abandoned...
Mark Daniel - • Lake Dolores/Rock-A-Ho...
JakeOrl - • ABANDONED Water Park -...
Slide Guide - • Colossal Canyon Cultus...
Carbon_FPV - • Rock-A-Hoola Water Par...

[@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.

[@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.

[@melasn9836]

"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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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!

[@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!

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@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".

[@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.

[@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!

[@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.

[@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 ;)

[@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.

[@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 😃☺️

[@SubtractZero]

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.

[@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

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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

[@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

[@chadbusch8541]

American dream achieved!

[@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!

[@anthonya995]

I was lucky enough to go here when I was between 12-15. This was in late 70's and early 80's. During a time when people knew what we got into, accepted any and all responsibilities of "our own" actions. We didn't and weren't sue happy like now. Me and my family would camp there for weekends with family friends. Was the best, we went on every slide, the trapeze, and zip line. Sooooo cool. What was the worst part about it. Climbing up the dirt clod hill (was never and easy walk up. You would hurt yourself more walking up then going on all the slides. Well the stand up was a bit hard to hold onto due to well, hot sun, shiny metal rails, which equals hands getting burned, lol. Place was awesome!!!

[@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.

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@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?

[@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.

[@smirage22]

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.

[@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

[@chadcovey1626]

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

[@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]

👍

[@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.

[@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.☹️🌹🙏🏽👍

[@davidginn55]

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

[@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.

[@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

[@fireisfire95]

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

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@4460cows]

I had cousins who lived in Barstow, CA. One summer while at band camp. No they took me out to Lake Dolores. Crazy fun day. Later that night we went hunting trip for rattle snakes got them in a gunny sack just lay there on the floor boards of the back seat of the desert rat VW bug bettle. Desert days and nights with my cousins was always fun memories. Crazy good memories.

[@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.

[@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!

[@lordkreigs1978]

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

[@ashley_engle]

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

[@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 👋

[@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

[@jockfl24]

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

[@TimCarter]

I always wanted to visit Lake Delores as a kid, but our parents never took us. I remember the commercials playing in the LA market. In 2010, while driving alone from Vegas to LA, I stopped to explore this place and I took a bunch of pics, found a plastic Rock-a-Hoola cup. It looked like it was the last existing souvenir of the place, as much of it the place was already burned or covered with graffiti..

[@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?

[@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!

[@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 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@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

[@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.

[@jerrysullivan8424]

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

[@the-trustees]

I was lucky enough to be close enough, as a kid, to Action Park while it was still dangerous. I went 4 times in my early to late teens and it was awesome every time. My memories are dimished, of course, by the poor people who got hurt and lost their lives there and my heart and sympathy goes out to all of them.

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

Yeah. There were at least 6 in the owner's son's book. Some were just dumb. Like going in a powerful wave pool when you can't even SWIM.

[@the-trustees]

@@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823 I hear that.

[@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?!

[@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.

[@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!

[@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.

[@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!

[@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.

[@OldManTheseDays]

We camped there in our motor home on the way to Vegas in (I believe) 82 or 83. I was 6, All I really remember is that the lake was so warm it felt like bath water.

[@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!

[@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

[@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.

[@tahoe2jt]

I went there many times as a young adult. The stand up slide was the best thing ever!!

[@franklinstephen3268]

Hello 👋 how’re you doing?

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@EagleStar15]

We went there as kids. Under the age of 11 and my little brother, dad and I used to stand up down the slide. Slide was made of sheets of aluuminum. Going down with out a skin barrier would've been killer. It was a nice place in the early 80s.

[@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.

[@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

[@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

[@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.

[@The_DC_Kid]

My favorite water park as a lad was a swimmin' hole in the crick with a notoriously dangerous rope and tire swing. Five feet deep and full of crawdads, sharp rocks, rusty car parts and busted beer bottles. That's where I first met my wife, IdaMay.

[@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_

[@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.

[@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.

[@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!

[@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 😂

[@JaybeeStarr]

I have gone to the empty buildings a few times. I even have handwritten accident reports they left behind. I can share if you’re interested! This is one of my favorite places. It makes me so emotional. It’s the place I sat and decided I would live in the Mojave. And I do now :)

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

I would love to see them! Email me [e-mail]

[@JaybeeStarr]

@@ExpeditionThemePark I sent them. Let me know if you can’t read them. I had to send as “Large” and not “actual size” so it didn’t make it use cloud or something. I hope you find them just as interesting as I did. I knew I had to preserve them from the side of the road.

[@gofast3209]

To bad you can't share it with all of us.

[@lshowitt]

@@gofast3209 they could upload it to imgur or smth and link it?

[@jelyfisher]

Those would be interesting to see!

[@waywasted1]

What a blast from the past. We spent a few weekends there ever summer as a kid. It was definitely a place and time that could never exist again.

[@VaBeachBeach2971]

One of my fears is going down a water slide and being mangled by a nail sticking out. People are horrendous and I wouldn’t put it past someone doing that on purpose or it’s possible accidental too.

[@sukamayoutube2323]

New fear unlocked. Thanks for that lol

[@japetro3]

Nails in slide injury that is horrific.

[@juliecreaser878]

Well…. That was interesting

[@VaBeachBeach2971]

@@juliecreaser878 Yeeppp, I know, I know. Lol!😬🫣 I need counseling for thinking of that one. Funny side note when I glanced at your name I saw Julius Caesar not Julie Creaser. 🧐

[@laser6170]

idk if i can ever go down a slide again without thinking about that

[@ronscurti1269]

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

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Thank you so much

[@scottpelka1211]

I was one of the people that got all scraped up using the rope glide into the water. Landed in the hot burning sand after being dragged down the hill. All I could do was jump in the water to relieve the burning wound on my side. All they did was offer to give me some bactene spray and a bandage.

[@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. 🤗

[@SeanLKearns]

You know you got a good water park when the diving boards are probably the safest ride.

[@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.

[@shaynak745]

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

[@jazminmascorro584]

@@shaynak745 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.

[@shaynak745]

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

[@imdbtruth]

So sad to hear about the pool technician getting paralyzed... That's such a high price to pay for one bad decision.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Yeah a sad one for sure

[@ocfos88]

@@ExpeditionThemePark The successful attempt at scamming the park in a lawsuit sucks though; Like, he absolutely fucked up, but took zero responsibility for his own mistake. That's just scummy, even if he was paralyzed like that. I'm surprised the third guy who turned the power on for it wasn't reprimanded in any way.

[@johnnywang206]

@@ocfos88 it’s because of people like him that we can’t have nice things.

[@Imowennn]

@@ocfos88 thats americas sue culture in a nutshell though

[@WrenchingMafia]

I remember driving through this as a kid when going to Vegas

[@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!