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[[File:History-of-waterslides.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Figure 1. Image showing perhaps the first built water slide.]]__NOTOC__For many children, and even those young at heart, water parks are a key pastime of summer and, increasingly, winter, with . With indoor parks , it is now developed possible to play year-round in many areasplaces. The history of water parks is generally relatively recent. In particular, particularly it is after World War II when they became popular, but . But they have evolved rapidly in the last few decades from simple places of amusement to complex parks that compete for status symbols such as the 'largest water park' or 'tallest waterslide.'.

==Early HistoryWhere was the first waterslide built?==In the late 1940s, with the country recovering from World War II and beginning to contemplate more fun as normal life resumed, the United States began to look for new amusements. Many outdoor pools and lidos had existed already , but only a few had diving boards. Even fewer had slides. However, by the late 1940s , more pools began to integrate slides and even began to include water being incorporated into the slide to easy ease movement down towards the pool. Although this is often seen as the beginning of water parks, the waterslide appears to have first developed in New Zealand during the 1906 International Exhibition (Figure 1). In an exhibition called "Wonderland," a chute was installed that allow swimmers to slide right into the pool. The chute moved people down in a wooden ramp that then allowed them to briefly skim across the surface There could be earlier versions of the watersuch slides, as it came in a slight angle. Already in 1906, even government officials, such as the speaker of the but New Zealand House of Representatives, 's slide was impressed and gave the slide a try.<ref>For more on the earliest slides used for water amusement, see: Patrick, B. K., & Thompson, J. M. (2009). <i>An uncommon history of common things</i>. Washington, D.C: National Geographic, pg. 164first to attract major attention.</ref>

Perhaps the first document waterslide in the United States was in FaribaultIn an exhibition called "Wonderland, Minnesota, created by furniture maker Herbert Sellner in 1923. He created what " a chute was a water toboggan installed that allows swimmers to slide that would have riders going on right into the pool. The chute moved people down in a wooden sled and ramp that then slide into allowed them to briefly skim across the surface of the wateras it came in a slight angle. In fact, skimming the surfacealmost all early waterslides mostly skimmed riders rather than directly inserting them into water. It was given a patentIn 1906, number 1even government officials,737such as the speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives,032. Similar slides were built through impressed and gave the late 1920s and slide a few parks in the United States began to have slidestry. Most of In the 1910s and 1920s, similar slides were based on Sellner's original design. Most slides simply allowed one to go to the top, get on a sledcreated, with most being features at fairs and then go off in a slight angle towards the waterspecial summer events.<ref>For more on the slide developed by Sellnerearliest slides used for water amusement, see: AndersonPatrick, B. K., N& Thompson, J. DM. (19922009). <i>Ferris wheels: an illustrated An uncommon historyof common things</i>. Bowling GreenWashington, OhioD.C: Bowling Green State University Popular PressNational Geographic, pg. 230164.</ref>

[[File:History-of-waterslidesPerhaps the first document waterslide in the United States was in Faribault, Minnesota, created by furniture maker Herbert Sellner in 1923. He created a water toboggan slide that would have riders going on a wooden sled and then slide into the water, skimming the surface in a similar manner as the New Zealand slide.jpg|thumb|Figure It was given a patent, number 1,737,032, later influencing waterslide design. Image showing perhaps In fact, similar slides were being built throughout the late 1920s, and a few parks in the first build water slideUnited States began to have slides built in them.]]

==Later Developments==George Millay, who famously founded Sea World in San Diego and later Florida, took Water slides were not the idea developed by Sellner and also increasingly noticed main feature in the 1960s and 1970s incorporating splash pads and the first wavepool opening in Alabama. Waterslides became very popular within existing parks, so much so long lines were always evident. All all these gave Millay the idea that a purpose-built water park might be enough to be profitable. He needed a warmcases but just one feature among other, yearmostly land-round place to have such a park to keep revenues steadybased amusements. As Orlando, Florida already hosted well known amusement locations and had Most of the weather that Millay neededslides were based on Sellner's original design, this allowed Wet n’ Wild but soon some began to be founded there as do away with the first purpose-built water park in 1977 (Figure 2)sled. When it opened, Most slides allowed one to go to the first year proved disappointingtop, loosing about $600,000. However, Millay did not fret and from the second year it began to make get on a sled or simple down without a profit. The wavepool and its large waterslides became key features in the park. Although the park closed in 2016, it became the blueprint for most other parks in the United States, Europe, South Americasled, and Asia. Demonstrating the success of the park, Wet n' Wild averaged about 1.3 million visitors then go off at a year in its later years. Millay took the Wet n' Wild brand to many areas and other countries, expanding slight angle towards the brand and building new water parks.<ref>For more on George Millay and the development of Wet n' Wildslide developed by Sellner, see: O’Brien Anderson, TN. D. (20051992). <i>The wave makerFerris wheels: the story of theme park pioneer George Millay and the creation of Sea World, Magic Mountain, and Wet’n’Wildan illustrated history</i>. OrlandoBowling Green, Ohio: Ripley PubBowling Green State University Popular Press, pg. 230. </ref>

Since ==What was the first waterpark?==[[File:Wet-wild-aerial.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Figure 2. Wet n' Wild in Orlando was the 1970s, there has been a rapid expansion and often competition among parks to develop new types of slides, rides, pools and even novel features within first purpose-built water parkspark. For instance]]George Millay, for northern regions of the United Stateswho famously founded Sea World in San Diego and later Florida, where took the weather is too cold for much ideas of the year for water parks, a novel feature has been creating an ice skating rink waterslides and increasingly noticed in the main plaza by placing underground cooling pipes. By the early 1980s, communities around the United States 1960s and 1970s that pools began to realize that they could make their area more appealing to tourists by building water parks. This was incorporate splash pads, and even the case for Wisconsin Dells first wave pool opening in southern Wisconsin, not far from ChicagoAlabama had proven to be major attractions. In that case, five major water parks were built near each other, allowing the town People often wanted to claim itself as the 'water park capital' of enjoy the world. This inspired not only new water parks without having to be built across get directly deep into the country, where today there are more than 1000 water parks in the United States. Routinely, water Waterslides also became very popular within existing parks became ranked across the United States, with other countries sometimes followingso much so long lines were always evident. This has helped to inspire All these gave Millay the explosion of innovation in waterslides, rides, attractions within idea that a purpose-built water parkspark might be enough to be profitable.<ref>For more on how water parks spreadHe needed a warm, see: Hamilton, S. L. (2016). <i>Water parks</i>. Minneapolis, Minnesota: A & D Xtreme, an imprint of Abdo Publishingyear-round place to have such a park to keep revenues steady. </ref>

[[File:As Orlando, Florida already hosted well-known amusement locations, took advantage of an existing tourist market, and had the weather that Millay needed. This allowed Wetn’ Wild to be founded there as the first purpose-wild-aerial.jpg|thumb|built water park in 1977 (Figure 2). When it opened, the first year proved disappointing, losing about $600,000. However, Millay did not fret, and from the second year, it began to make a profit, never looking back. The wave pool and its large waterslides became key features in the park. Although the park closed in 2016, it became the blueprint for most other parks in the United States, Europe, South America, and Asia.  The industry largely considers it the inspiration for all modern water parks. Demonstrating the park's success, Wet n' Wild averaged about 1.3 million visitors a year in its later years. Millay took the Wet n' Wild brand to many areas and other countries, expanding the brand and building new water parks.<ref>For more on George Millay and the development of Wet n' Wild, see: O’Brien, T. (2005). <i>The wave maker: the story of theme park pioneer George Millay and the creation of Sea World, Magic Mountain, and Wet’n’Wild</i>. Orlando : Ripley Pub.</ref> Since the 1970s, there has been a rapid expansion and often competition among parks to develop new types of slides, rides, pools, and even novel features within water parks. For instance, for northern regions of the United States, where the weather is too cold for much of the year for water parks, a novel feature has created an ice skating rink in the main plaza by placing underground cooling pipes.  By the early 1980s, communities around the United States realized that they could make their area more appealing to tourists by building water parks. This was the first purpose-case for Wisconsin Dells in southern Wisconsin, not far from Chicago. In that case, five major water parks were built near each other, allowing the town to claim itself as the "water parkcapital" of the world. This inspired new water parks to be built across the country, where today there are more than 1000 water parks in the United States, but ideas to best competition continued to grow. Routinely, water parks became ranked across the United States, with other countries sometimes following. This has also helped to inspire the explosion of innovation in waterslides, rides, attractions within water parks.<ref>For more on how water parks spread, see: Hamilton, S. L. (2016). <i>Water parks</i>. Minneapolis, Minnesota: A & D Xtreme, an imprint of Abdo Publishing.]]</ref>

As cold regions struggled to build Other innovations included developing faster waterslides, new types of water parks features, including tubes, rides with mounted crafts, and large rafts that could attract new tourists, different ideas emergedwould be sent hurtling down large themed slides. The first indoor water park was built in EdmontonVerrückt, Alberta located in 1985 at the West Edmonton Mall. This soon proved successful, inspiring other locationsKansas City, including in became the UK, to create their own indoor tallest water parks. In 1994slide at 168 feet, the first significant indoor water park built although it closed down in the United States was in Wisconsin Dells at the Polynesian Resort Hotel2016 due to a tragic accident. The success of indoor and outdoor water parks made business investors realize that water parksled to a few trends. First, incorporated within hotels, allowed places many existing community pools began to cater to extend the tourist season. The Great Wolf Resorts/Great Wolf Lodge developed as the first company to build hotels around indoor water parks.<ref>For more on recent trends in desire for water parks by adding slides and indoor water parks, see: <ref> https://www.wisdells.com/media/facts/fun-factsfeatures such as wave pools.htm & Hamilton 2015: 12 </ref>

Other innovations included developing faster waterslides, new types of water features including tube with mounted crafts, and large rafts that would be sent hurtling down large themed-slides. The Verrückt, located in Kansas City, became the tallest water slide at 168 feet, although it closed down in 2016 due to a tragic accident. The success of indoor and outdoor water parks led to a few trends. First, many existing community pools began to cater to the desire for water parks by adding slides and features such as wavepools. In effect, they became small water parks that catered to local communities during the summer months and holidays. Water parks began to create amusement areas, such as in Wisconsin Dells, where new amusement parks began to develop as the Dells tried to keep tourists around longer. Local recreation centers even began to develop miniature indoor water park features, such as lazy rivers and slides. Water parks, today, bring in about 3 billion dollars annually. Indoor parks and municipal water parks or water parks incorporate within community recreation centres centers are perhaps the fasted growing segments of the water park industry.<ref>For more on water park trends and industry, see: <ref>https://www.ibisworld.com/industry-trends/specialized-market-research-reports/consumer-goods-services/sports-recreation/water-parks.html</ref>

Water parks continue to be very popular, where they are now found perhaps in over 100 countries. Water parks have also proven to be great economic engines for communities, generating tourist revenue in economically disadvantaged areas that struggled economically. Water parks have also generated new forms of tourism, with year-round indoor water parks, hotels and resorts built around water parks, and new amusement attractions incorporated in areas that feature water parks. Although water parks have come a long way from the first waterslides, the core thrill of combining speed, water, and excitement have has allowed waterslides and water parks to be highly successful.