Raging Waters May Reopen; New Plan Includes Food Trucks, Wine Garden

SAN JOSE, CA — Raging Waters may reopen this summer under a new operator after the San Jose park closed last season, seemingly bringing an end to nearly 40 years of warm-weather fun.

Mayor Matt Mahan announced Thursday that the city had reached a tentative agreement with California Dreamin’ Entertainment Inc. to run Raging Waters through at least September 2025.

“We were worried that this beloved local institution would have to shutter its doors,” Mahan said during a press conference posted on Instagram.

Instead, the interim operator would invest about $6 million, upgrading landscaping, partnering with food trucks and opening an outdoor wine garden, according to San Jose officials. The city would receive 6 percent of the park’s gross revenue, an increase over the amount provided by the previous operator, Palace Entertainment.

The city council still has to approve the agreement with California Dreamin’ and is expected to consider it Feb. 27. City staff will also continue to pursue a longer term plan to keep the park open beyond 2025.

At 23 acres, Raging Waters is Northern California’s largest waterpark, with slides, rides and a 350,000-gallon wave pool.