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.”
“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 boon for the area, but he worries there won’t be enough water.
“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 $20,000 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.”
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct the amount it could cost to replace a well.
