For nearly half a century, Wild Waves Theme & Water Park has served as the undisputed heartbeat of Federal Way, standing as a vibrant testament to family joy in the Pacific Northwest. Since its humble beginnings as the Enchanted Village in 1977, the park has evolved into a massive visual landmark that not only welcomes millions of drivers along the busy Interstate 5 corridor but also acts as the premier summer destination for the entire region. To us, this park is far more than just a plot of commercially zoned land or a collection of fiberglass slides; it is a cherished, irreplaceable piece of our collective childhood that has bridged generations. It is the hallowed ground where many of us conquered our first fears on the Timberhawk, where we found desperate relief during the region’s record-breaking heatwaves, and where families from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds gathered to share in simple, unadulterated joy.

The recent announcement that Wild Waves will permanently close following the 2026 season was a gut-wrenching blow that reverberated through our entire community. For countless residents who have grown up in the shadow of its roller coasters, a summer without Wild Waves is simply unimaginable. However, we are not merely fighting for nostalgia or the preservation of memories. We are fighting a critical battle against the permanent loss of a vital community asset, the erasure of our local history, and the destruction of a significant economic engine that powers our city.

What Is At Stake? (The Irreversible Consequences)

The importance of Wild Waves extends far beyond personal memories; if we allow this park to close, the consequences for Federal Way and the surrounding Puget Sound region will be devastating, multifaceted, and completely irreversible.

1. The Creation of an "Entertainment Desert" Wild Waves holds a unique and critical status as the only combined theme and water park in the entire Seattle-Tacoma metropolitan area. We currently reside in one of the wealthiest, fastest-growing tech hubs in the world, yet we are standing on the precipice of losing our only major family entertainment destination. If Wild Waves closes, it will create a massive recreational void, as the nearest comparable experiences are Silverwood in Idaho (over 300 miles away) or Oaks Park in Portland. This closure would effectively force millions of local families to take their tourism dollars out of state, leaving our local youth and working-class families—who cannot afford interstate travel—with absolutely nowhere to go for accessible, safe summer recreation.

2. A Catastrophic Economic Blow to Federal Way The park is not just a playground; it is a massive economic engine that fuels the local ecosystem through a powerful "multiplier effect." It acts as a reliable "tourist magnet," pulling thousands of cars off the interstate every single day of the summer season, injecting outside money into our local economy. These visitors do not just purchase park tickets; they fill Federal Way’s gas stations, book rooms in local hotels, shop at our grocery stores, and dine in our restaurants, creating a symbiotic economy that supports small business owners. The loss of Lodging Tax and Sales Tax revenue from these visitors will punch a significant hole in the city’s budget—money that currently funds essential services such as public safety, road maintenance, and parks. Replacing a high-traffic tourism destination with a low-employment, automated warehouse will inevitably result in a net loss of revenue and cultural value for the city.

3. The Decimation of Youth Employment Opportunities For decades, Wild Waves has stood as the region's largest single summer youth employer, providing a rite of passage for teenagers across the South Sound. This institution serves as the "first rung" on the career ladder for hundreds of local teenagers every year, teaching them critical soft skills such as responsibility, conflict resolution, customer service, and safety protocols that cannot be learned in a classroom. Eliminating these jobs removes a critical social structure for local youth during the summer months. Without these hundreds of positions, we lose a safe, supervised environment where young people can earn money, gain financial independence, and stay active, potentially leading to higher rates of youth disconnect and unemployment in our city.

4. The Erosion of Community Identity & The "Warehouse Sprawl" Federal Way is at a pivotal crossroads, and we are witnessing a troubling trend where too many recreational green spaces are being cannibalized by gray logistics centers and fulfillment warehouses. Turning this 70-acre specialized entertainment space into concrete industrial lots would strip Federal Way of its unique character, turning us into just another industrial stop along the highway. We desperately need "Third Places"—spaces that are not work and not home—where the community can gather face-to-face to build social cohesion. Once this land is paved over for industrial use, the trees, the hills, and the laughter will be silenced forever, and once that green space is gone, we will never get it back.
Our Proposed Solutions (A Path Forward)
We are not asking for a handout; we are asking for strategic, brave action to preserve a viable business because closure is not the only option.

We propose the following three-point plan to save the park:

1. Aggressive Pursuit of a Major OperatorWe call on the current landowners (EPI Realty Holdings) to immediately halt any plans for industrial redevelopment and instead pivot toward preserving the site's legacy. We demand they actively market the property to major entertainment conglomerates such as Six Flags, Cedar Fair, or Herschend Family Entertainment, who have the capital and expertise to manage such a facility. The value proposition is undeniable: this is a turnkey operation with a functional monopoly on a massive, wealthy population center. With the right ownership group, this park is not a distressed liability; it is a goldmine waiting to be polished and reintroduced to a hungry market.

2. Strategic Zoning as a Shield We urge the Federal Way City Council to use its legislative leverage to protect the community's long-term interests over short-term developer profits. The City must signal clearly and unequivocally that it will not approve rezoning requests that convert this land from Commercial/Recreational to Industrial/Warehousing use. If the land cannot be legally converted into a warehouse, it remains valuable only as a park, effectively forcing a sale to an operator rather than a developer. Furthermore, the City should offer tax abatements, infrastructure support, or streamlined permitting to any buyer willing to commit to a 10-year operating plan, thereby de-risking the purchase for new investors.

3. Modernization over Demolition The solution is not to close the park, but to fix it through a comprehensive "Revitalization Package" presented to potential investors. The reality is that the park’s recent struggles are due to a chronic lack of capital investment in new attractions, not a lack of public interest or demand. A buyer with the vision to add one or two modern "headline" rides would see an immediate, explosive return on investment from a community that is starving for local entertainment. We believe that with a modernized master plan, Wild Waves can return to its former glory as the jewel of the Pacific Northwest. We demand action to keep wild waves from permanently closing.

I have been going to Wild Waves my entire life, and the memories I have made there—from the thrill of the waterslides to the first drop of the roller coasters—are woven into the fabric of who I am. We cannot let this legacy end on our watch; we cannot sit idly by and let Federal Way become just another stretch of warehouses along the highway.

We petition Premier Parks, EPI Realty Holdings, and the Federal Way City Council to come to the table and negotiate a deal that saves this park. We demand a solution that prioritizes families, workers, and future generations over short-term real estate profits.

Sign this petition to demand action, save our summer jobs, and preserve Wild Waves for the future.