A new water park is set to open in Katy on May 28 and will provide an alternative option for Cy-Fair residents looking to cool off this summer.
Typhoon Texas—on 25 acres adjacent to Katy Mills—features nine water rides, multiple dining options and a slate of summer activities, including movies, concerts and a summer camp.
“Guests will experience an unparalleled environment, rides—and just fun,” said Keith Dalton, one of the co-owners of the water park. “Day one, we will be the most advanced water park in the country. We built this big park to take on the big crowds.”
There will be nine water rides at Typhoon Texas, including the children-themed Gully Washer.[/caption]The water park was a joint idea of Dalton and fellow co-owner Terry Hlavinka. The pair attended Texas A&M University and have worked on other construction projects together in the past.
Several years ago, the two friends decided they wanted to build a different kind of project, Hlavinka said.
“We wanted it to be fun. We took about six months studying the market, we focused on something entertainment-related,” Hlavinka said. “We both came up with a crazy idea of building a water park.”
The result of all their planning is one of the largest water parks in the state with one-of-a-kind rides and amenities, said Steve Mayer, the park’s marketing director.
“This is the biggest privately built water park in the United States in the past 10 years,” Mayer said. “The park will be lit at night, and we’ll do private corporate picnics and church events.”
Making a splash[/caption]Mayer said there will be nine different water features. They include rides for thrill-seekers, options that allow up to six people to ride together and a new feature ride that mixes gaming with a water slide where competitors can track progress on their cellphones.
“I kind of see the industry going in the direction of mixing rides with video games and social media,” Mayer said.
Additional activities will include weekly movie nights, music concerts on a stage near the wave pool and a summer camp for children, he said.
“It’s the customer experience [that will set us apart]. We’ve tried to not do some of the things other water parks do,” Hlavinka said. “In relation to food service, we’re cooking our foods from scratch. We brought in [Roegels Barbecue Co.].”
Roegels will have a $70,000 smoker on-site to make barbecue dishes, Mayer said.
“We are a regional park,” Dalton said. “The Grand Parkway is the key. We’re going to reach all the people around the Grand Parkway. It’s a big driver for us.”
555 Katy Fort Bend Road, Katy
www.typhoontexas.com
832-426-7071
Hours: Mon.-Sun. 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
