CLEARLAKE The Outrageous Waters water park has been sold, but the man who built the park believes the new owner plans to keep it open. Mike Walker, a retired California Highway Patrol officer and a contractor who has built custom homes in the county for 22 years, built the 10-acre park in 1998.
Walker confirmed this week that the park is in escrow which is expected to last another two weeks and identified the buyer as Pacific Funding Group LLC of Washington state. Leading the effort for that group was a partner, Barry C. Johnson.
“They have the desire to keep the park open,” Walker said. “I”m assuming they are going to keep it open. I”m hoping they are.”
Walker, who has run the park with his wife, Dorrie, has numerous limited and silent partners in the park. He said he was forced to sell Outrageous Waters because his principal partners, Greg Hawley of Livermore, wanted to sell the project.
“I could not find anyone to buy him out,” Walker said, so the entire park, not just a partnership option, was placed on the market.
The park has traditionally provided summer activities for the county”s children and teenagers, not just entertainment but employment as lifeguards and service positions.
“We employ approximately 70 people each year,” Walker said.
Walker was quick to credit his staff for making the huge task of running the park possible.
Johnson is no stranger to Lake County. He owns Willow Point in Lakeport, and he and business partner Dave Hughes own the property where Lakeport”s new DMV office is located.
Last July, Johnson”s company, Summitt Development Corp. of Redding, was one of four developers who went before Clearlake”s City Council to express interest in developing the city”s 27-acre business park, located next to Outrageous Waters.
Some of the projects initially suggested by those four groups included a shopping center with residential and commercial units, and a hotel.
All told, six groups including Wal-Mart expressed interest in the park, but the city hasn”t settled on any one of them.
In fact, City Administrator Kathy Kivley reported Thursday that the council wants to reopen the process.
“The council has said they want to open it up to everyone,” said Kivley, who is preparing to send out a request for qualifications on the park”s development.
“It”s a tremendous opportunity and a wonderful site,” Kivley said.
She reported that she has a list of some 50 parties that are interested in the project.
“The city deserves the very best project it can get,” Kivley said.
As for Summitt”s plans for Outrageous Waters, Johnson when reached at his Redding office on Thursday said he wanted to wait until escrow had closed to discuss the park”s future.
Terms of the sale were not disclosed.
Contact Elizabeth Larson at elarson@record-bee.com .
