It’s been 20 years since Manteca Waterslides closed. A look back at the iconic water park
Uniquely is a Modesto Bee series that covers the moments, landmarks and personalities that define what makes living in the Central Valley so special.
“Manteca Waterslides, slip away the day and leave your cares behind.”
Located just north of Modesto in San Joaquin County, Oakwood Lake and Manteca Waterslides offered one of the nation’s oldest water theme park experiences. For decades, families flocked to enjoy its attractions, creating cherished memories until its closure in 2004.
Opened in 1974, Manteca Waterslides was not just a water park but a hub for various events including concerts, job fairs, senior graduation nights and Fourth of July celebrations.
Drawing an average of 200,000 visitors annually, it held a special place in the hearts of the community.
“I miss this place. It was a lot of fun when I was a teenager!” wrote one Reddit user, under a post about the water park’s famous jingle.
“I remember wanting to go for years as a kid and I finally got to the year it closed. It was looking pretty shabby and it made me sad,” commented another.
Founded by alfalfa farmer R.H. “Budge” Brown, the park earned acclaim as one of the premier water parks nationwide, conveniently situated near Interstate 5. Also known as Oakwood Lake, it was a beloved destination for Central Valley residents.
“This place is historic,” said Elaina Johnson from a 2004 Bee article. “We’ve been coming here since I was a little kid.”
Manteca Waterslides was home to Oakwood Lake Amphitheatre, a venue primarily used for concerts. Among the artists who performed there were Willie Nelson, The Judds, The Go-Go’s, Night Ranger, Don Williams and Dio.
It also was the first water park to feature fiberglass slides – now a staple of the industry.
There were more than 20 waterslides, including California’s largest speed slide, V-Max, which was more than 100 steps up and one giant slide going down. The waterslides included mat adventures on Subway, High Tide, Cyclone, Out of Bounds, Turbulence and Thunder Falls. The latter comprised three sweeping body slides that would twist, loop, drop and plunge.
Additional amenities at the park included a grocery store, an arcade, various shops, an ice cream parlor, and multiple dining options.
In the summer of 2004, it was announced that the park would be closed. The owners attributed the closure to soaring workers’ compensation and healthcare expenses.
On Sept. 26, 2004, Manteca Waterslides shut its doors for the last time.
When it closed, the park had 22 water rides, a 2,500-square-foot pool, 400 campsites and a 6,000-seat amphitheater.
A 1999 article from the Modesto Bee had a rating system for the waterslides, as follows, “with four splashes indicating out-of-this-world fun; three will make your mother happy; two for the kids; and one splash for grandpa.”
V-MAX: Four splashes. Two thumbs up. It is as fast as they claim. It’s 124 steps to the top. After two or three more times, I’ll never ride it again.
THE PLUNGE: Two splashes. Just for history’s sake. The very first slide is made of concrete and you’ll feel it. For those too long or too wide for their sliding mats, the abrasions can draw blood.
THE RAPIDS: Two splashes. Strictly for kids. It is like tubing down the Stanislaus. Take your time and enjoy the scenery.
TURBO TUBES: Four splashes. A raft ride, these are as much fun as law allows.
CYCLONE: Four splashes. Hold on to your mat! Fastest turns in the park. WOW!
RAGE: Three splashes. Lean forward or you wipe out at the bottom. Weight transfers into speed in the water.
JET SCREAMS: Two splashes. Raft rides down a one-way chute. It’s a poor man’s Rampage without the bragging rights of the V-Max.
“One of the best things, though, is that the lines for the rides is never too long because there are so many to choose from,” reads a Bee article from 2000.
Although Manteca Waterslides may have closed its doors, the Great Wolf Lodge Water Park in Manteca emerged in 2021. This expansive indoor water park resort spans 95,000 square feet and is located just off Highway 120.
The park’s origin
During a Hawaiian getaway in the early 1970s, farmer Brown experienced the thrill of sliding down lava smoothed by years of water runoff. This pivotal moment sparked the idea for the world’s inaugural fiberglass waterslide.
“Dad had never had so much fun and he figured other people would like it just as much,” said his son, Mike Brown, who had worked at the park, in the 1999 Bee article. “He got home and started pushing dirt around to build a hill. Then he made a concrete waterslide. After the first one, he went to fiberglass because there was more you could do with it.”
Brown, who went back to farming after helping found the water park industry, surpassed all of his expectations.
Though the water park had high attendance, sun was essential in bringing people out, Brown had emphasized in a Bee article from 1999. “We’re just like valley farmers,” Brown said. “We depend on the weather. The hotter the better.”
Share your favorite closed recreational space
Readers, what other recreational spaces in the area do you miss and have fond memories of?
The Modesto Bee wants to take a closer look at the history of some nearby spaces that have shut their doors, but we need your help taking us down memory lane.
Fill out the form below to talk about your favorite closed down places. A Modesto Bee reporter may reach out to you for a followup story or poll.
