Seven Seas water park?

[DFWSignals89]

I recently acquired a road sign from an antique shop that shows the directions for Arlington Stadium, Seven Seas, and Six Flags. I was wondering if any of you guys had any info on the Seven Seas park. When did it open? When did it close and why? Id just like to know the history of it since now I have piece of its history, just wish it could talk!

Thanks
Sean T.

[X Factor]

1960 – Arlington’s population reaches 45,000


Summer 1961 – Six Flags Over Texas opened


September 1964 – Construction Began on the 10,000 seat “Turnpike Stadium” for the Texas League’s DFW Spurs


1970 - Arlington’s population reaches 90,000


October 1970 and October 1971 – Seating for Turnpike Stadium increased to 20,000 and 35,694 respectivly


December 1971 – Arlington was awarded the major league baseball’s Washington Senator franchise. Name of “Turnpike Stadium” changed to “Arlington Stadium”


April 24, 1972 – First game at Arlington Stadium


Spring 1972 – Seven Seas Water Park opened


1975 – Seven Seas Water Park closed


1977 – DFW Turnpike bonds paid off (17 years early), toll booths removed and designation changed to Interstate 30


1980 – Arlington’s population reaches 160,000


Spring 1983 – Wet’ N’ Wild opens


1985 – Arlington Convention Center opens


1990 – Arlington’s population reaches 260,000


April 1992 – Construction begins on a new stadium for the Texas Rangers

October 3, 1993 – Final game at Arlington Stadium


April 1, 1994 – First game at the new “Ballpark in Arlington”


1997 – Wet’ N’ Wild purchased by Six Flags Over Texas, becomes “Hurricane Harbor”


2000 – Arlington’s population reaches 330,000

[dfwcre8tive]

[dfwcre8tive]

Look familiar? The Marriott hotel in Arlington on the same site has a few remnants of the old park left.

[incrediculous]

As a kid, I swam in that Marriott's pool--which was much larger and still had the giant ship at the time. I couldn't have been more than 7, but I remember wondering why the entire pool was a "shallow end."

Now I know why. It wasn't really a swimming pool.

[Lakewooder]

I think they reopened it for a couple of years as "Hawaii Kai".

The place was just kind of sterile and people wanted rides, not wildlife, it seemed. Plus if anyone went to the trouble of driving to Arlington, they'd rather just go to Six Flags.

Maybe if it had been larger and more all-encompassing like Sea World it might have worked.

The drive-through zoo in Grand Prairie lasted a bit longer, but same problem...

[darkblood]

Like that amusement park in Grand Prarie called "Boardwalk" which seemed to close right after it opened, because someone got seriously hurt on one of the rides.

I found a site about it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boardwalk_Fun_Park

Wikipedia, will you ever NOT be useful?

[tamtagon]

I've always thought it would be cool if one of those trained aquatic animal performance 'parks' opened up in the Metroplex, but Galveston (or Kema) just seems like a much more fitting location to compete with the Sea World in San Antonio. Something along the lines of Busch Gardens or Knox Berry Farm seems like a better fit in North Texas.

[texastrill]

As a kid, I swam in that Marriott's pool--which was much larger and still had the giant ship at the time. I couldn't have been more than 7, but I remember wondering why the entire pool was a "shallow end."

Now I know why. It wasn't really a swimming pool.

Is that the same giant ship that was at White Water?