CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — City leaders confirmed the Waves Resort water park and hotel on Padre Island is expected to be demolished as soon as next month after the owner of the property made the big announcement it would be cleared for something new.
"It's too bad! It provided so many jobs for local island kids," said Island Resident Piper Carlson.
Carlson who lives near the property said the attraction provided a summer job for her nieces and nephew as well.
Then came the COVID-19 pandemic and almost a year since the property announced it was temporarily closing, it still remains mostly unused today.
"It was great for local residents, but I don't think it got the tourist draw as much as they were expecting," added Carlson.
"The water park was never successful. It never met the expectations of the owners, and frankly the community," City Council Member Greg Smith told 3 News.
Smith represents Padre Island and says he was notified Tuesday by Diamond Beach Holdings, the owners of the property about the decision to tear it all down, but Smith said a new plan could go before council by the end of April.
"I expect we will see a mixed-use development that will include hotel, shopping, multi-family and single-family development," said Smith.
In a statement made to the Island Moon newspaper, Diamond Beach Holdings said they are repurposing the 574-acre site and that quote, "with the new Park Road 22 bridge under construction and the canal completed, we want to create a future environment that will enhance Padre Island and its offerings."
"We're going forward with the Park Road 22 bridge. We've already built the canal with it. Their master plan might even run more canals off that already one-mile canal," said Smith.
Before it was Waves Resort, it was Schlitterbahn Corpus Christi.
Diamond Beach Holdings bought the property in 2018 after Schlitterbahn declared bankruptcy. The new owners even invested millions of dollars into revamping the site.
"Diamond Beach Holdings had a significant investment in that. The fact they are demoing it shows they feel they can improve that property much more than a water park and a hotel," said Smith.
"What I've heard is they will be having a lot of residential homes being built. I just live on the other side of the golf course, but I'm hoping they will build restaurants, retail space and make it still an attractive space people would like to come and spend time," said Padre Island resident Piper Carlson.
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