Editorial note: After this story was published, EverythingLubbock.com was able to speak by phone with the owner of the proposed water park, Robert Wilbur. As the project proceeds and develops, we will continue to pursue further details..
LUBBOCK, Texas — A new Facebook page started on Tuesday with claims of a new water park in West Lubbock, and by Wednesday it had more than 500 followers.
The page name is Aqua Cabana Water Park. The page claimed a 30-acre water park will open in 2025 “off the Levelland Highway.” EverythingLubbock.com was at first unable to find the official company name in state records or local DBA records. (A DBA is an assumed name or business name.) However, on Thursday, the owner, Robert M. Wilbur, called our newsroom.
Even before that time, EverythingLubbock.com was able to secure some details. For one, a Lubbock-based company called Delta Land Surveying confirmed that preliminary engineering was authorized for a water park.
Also, in communicating with the page administrator, the location will be near West 19th Street and the future home of Loop 88.
The page administrator revealed this is not related to Texas Water Rampage; it’s privately funded; it will employ a few hundred people seasonally and the plan is to bring in 300,000 to 500,000 visitors per season.
The water park will be 30 acres. Wilbur said it would start as 10 acres, then progress 10 acres at a time.
“This is a water park surrounded by a river walk,” the administrator said. “It’s [a] huge project, so we can’t just give out everything without our legal department clearing it.”
“And, of course, you won’t be able to find out info on DBA and such till we are ready to go fully public,” the administrator said.
In checking with City of Lubbock officials, no permits had been requested as of Wednesday morning for any brand-new water park. There had also been no economic development negotiations with anyone seeking to build a new water park.
Wilbur said he began meeting with officials Thursday morning.
At least one image on the Facebook page came from a water park in Tennessee. The Aqua Cabana page administrator did not confirm ties to any other water park.
This story was updated to reflect new details.
