Typhoon Texas water park set to open May 28 next to Katy Mills

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.”

Kayce Reina, director of marketing and tourism for the city of Katy, said both city officials and local hotel owners are excited about the water park—which is expected to draw thousands of visitors daily.

“From a marketing perspective, it’s going to be a huge attraction for the city,” Reina said. “[Visitors] will shop at our mall and stores and eat at our restaurants.”

Katy officials had been approached in the past several years by numerous other developers proposing a water park in the city, but Reina said the city did not think those other projects were the right fit.

The Typhoon Texas project was accepted because of the high standards set by Dalton and Hlavinka, she said.

“It’s a first-class, nationally respected water park,” Reina said. “The city is very happy.”

[caption id="attachment_148128" align="alignright" width="460"] Typhoon Texas has rides for all ages, including a group ride that can hold up to six people in one raft. The Gully Washer is a children’s themed ride with features aimed at younger riders.[/caption]

Mayer said there will be nine different water features, including 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.”