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Will Lake Dolores rise from the dead, again?

yz450mm

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Abandoned water park near Barstow could reopen
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The remnants of what used to be home to Lake Dolores Waterpark in Newberry Springs, Calif. are all that is left of the park on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2017. The abandoned waterpark, which has been closed since 2004, can be seen off Interstate 15 Freeway. (File photo by Rachel Luna, The Sun/SCNG)
By Sandra Emerson | [email protected] |
PUBLISHED: December 5, 2019 at 3:18 pm | UPDATED: December 5, 2019 at 4:36 pm


An abandoned, graffiti-covered water park along the 15 Freeway to Las Vegas may be restored to its former glory.

Plans to redevelop the Lake Dolores Waterpark in the unincorporated community of Newberry Springs, will head to the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors after being approved Thursday, Dec. 5, by county planning commissioners.

The park, about 20 miles east of Barstow, has attracted vandalism, graffiti artists, photographers and film crews since closing in 2004. It was in a Mini Cooper commercial with Tony Hawk, British rock band Muse’s music video for “Reapers,” and an episode of Viceland’s “Abandoned.”

But the park’s owner, G&GF Enterprises, LLC believes it can again be known as an oasis in the desert and even “a county landmark of national fame.”

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“It’s a pretty amazing project,” Michael P. Wauhob, the project’s architect, told commissioners Thursday.

Lake Dolores has seen a lot of change since its construction in the 1950s. Initially a campground near a small lake, Lake Dolores was transformed into a water park with water slides, a lazy river, bumper boats, jet ski water racetrack and a swimming pool. Families flocked to the park in the 1970s and 1980s, when it was most popular. The park closed in the 1980s when it couldn’t compete with more modern parks, Wauhob said.

The park reopened in 1998 for a few years as Rock-A-Hoola, then again in 2002 as Discovery Park. It closed in 2004 due to poor attendance, but mainly because of a lawsuit filed by an employee who was injured, Wauhob said.


If approved by supervisors, the 267.41-acre park would be redeveloped in five phases over five years, with construction expected to start in 2020. The water park could be complete in 2026.

Plans include:

  • Rehabbing the 41-acre former water park
  • Restoring the 22-acre lake and 2-acre pond for boating, swimming and camping
  • Additional office and administration space, commercial and retail, which could include a library, amphitheater, hotels and restaurants
The water park will get its water from groundwater, which has been approved by the Mojave Water Agency. It will not be connected to public water or sewer, nor will any new wells be built, Reuben Areceo, county contract planner, said.

The water agency has allowed 455-acre feet for the lake and 483-acre feet of water for the park itself, which is more than what will be used, said Om Garg, manager of G&GF Enterprises.

Newberry Springs resident Paul Deel said the new project would be an economic boom for the area, but he worries there won’t be enough water.

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“Over the years I’ve observed the depletion of the water table and have seen the pain and desperation of my neighbors coping with failing wells who are unable to pay the $200,000 plus for a replacement well,” he said.

Vickie Paulsen, another Newberry Springs resident, suggested a more water-friendly project.

“You can be a pioneer of desert recreation and that would be cool,” Paulsen said, “with a lot of palm trees and water-friendly native vegetation, things like that. Rethink your idea from Florida to desert.”
 

monkeyswrench

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Vickie needs to think real hard...putting a desert, in a desert, will not draw anyone. Put an oasis in the desert, now you have a destination. It would be neat to see it open, and not just an abandoned, tagged up property.
 

JayBreww

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So not connected to sewer? How are they pumpin out the milkey ways?


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HB2Havasu

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Without a something to really draw people to Barstow I can't see this working out too well. What killed this venue back in the 70's was Water Parks sprouting up all over inland areas of SoCal. There was no reason to commute 100 miles to take Little Johnny swimming anymore, lol.

Hope it works out for the new owners!!!
 
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3queens

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be better off turning the property into a midway storage facility for boats rv and supper fly golf carts
and small fishing lake for RV's with hook ups and desert trail access

"there won’t be enough water"
 

Rondog4405

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Waste of money.. Dont see it doin much..
 

RitcheyRch

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Might get some people visiting that live in Victorville and Barstow areas. I don't see those going to Vegas making a stop there since there is water park in Vegas
 

Tank

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Wish 'em luck. Lots of potential and the land comes with the water rights to the water table bellow and last I heard / was involved (2009) there was no shortage of water, AT ALL.
 
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Tank

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Might get some people visiting that live in Victorville and Barstow areas. I don't see those going to Vegas making a stop there since there is water park in Vegas
They need to build a hotel like Great Wolf Lodge esq and build a really nice RV park on the lake so people can make it a destination. Plans were all there, it was going to be BITCHEN at one time.
 

TPC

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Would be better off investing on the Nevada side of the 15.
 

SCV2RVR

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Driving home from Vegas with a hangover, the last place I want to stop is a water park.

And what do they do with it the 7-8 months a year when it isn't very hot out?
 
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GOTTBoat

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Late 70's early 80's that place was the wild west of water parks. A handle and rope connected to a pully wheel on a cable, take off from a elevated stand holding on to the handle traveling over land a little bit to release once you got over the water lol. Metal slide with low sides, stand up and surf it barefoot and try to stay up all the way down to the lake.
Like Sundance of the 80's...………never going to be the same.
 

Sidebyside

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The owner is a kookie old guy who has no real concept of what would work at the park and no money to do it .He is fishing for investors but he’s not willing to give up any ownership ,he also does not understand that the water rights in the Mojave desert have been reduced to 30% which is not enough to sustain any part of what he wants to do .Mojave water agency made a midnight ,behind closed doors deal To buy up most of the available roll over water rights using taxpayers money.That move effectively shut down anything they want to do at Lake Dolores without spending a huge amount of money to buy more permanent water rights.
 

PaPaG

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That place is a joke, it won't make it as it failed the first, second and third time it will again...who in their right mind is going to stop at that park on the way to or from vegas...Dads are driving the car, kids are saying lets go, dad says hell no I want to go to vegas to gamble, sit by the pool and look at the amazing view :) , Mom says next time kids...and glares at the dad....Rushing to get to Vegas on a short trip NO STOPPING, coming home from Vegas after losing their money NO STOPPING....it may make it for a year or two but that is it..waste of tax payer money
 

guest hs

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It’s a different time now. Was a good idea back in 70’s and 80’s kids have different interest now and now there’s two water parks in Vegas now. Just bulldoze the place and keep its memory.
 

CLdrinker

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Look around the area of the location. How many potential customers do you see? Barstow that’s it.
Everyone in Hesperia, Victorville and Apple Valley will go down the hill to a water park.
dumbest location ever.
 

HALLETT BOY

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If it does open , Ca regulations / fees / taxes / insurance will kill it
 

BHC Vic

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I’d go but I also bought a place in bhc and not havasu 🤷‍♂️
 
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