| City/Town: • Oolagah |
| Location Class: • Amusement |
| Built: • 1980 | Abandoned: • 1984 |
| Status: • Abandoned |
| Photojournalist: • Johnny Fletcher • Darrell Powers |
Out of this massive project many state lakes were formed including lake Oologah. This increased tourism in the area, and the Ponderosa Water Park was built. It was open until 1984, when a 9-year-old girl died tragically when she was sucked into a pump propeller, and then into an 8-inch pipe. The park still stands today, just as it was left in 1984, although the larger building is rented for storage.
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I just went there to look at it and wanted some pictures and the woman living in the red house told me to leave it was her property and I never got to get any pictures, she was very rude and her dogs almost would have got me if it weren't for my dogs standing there! I thought it was a piece of history that you could go look at! I didn't think I was causing any harm! That is strange I wonder if she is the same owner and is that her property she said it was!
The original family who owned the park sold it and moved away years ago. I don't know anything about the family currently living down there but yeah, the park's on private property. ETA: The family who built and originally owned the park were some of the sweetest, friendliest people you could ever meet.
My parents own the property. It is now a rent house. Has been for several years.
Do you think your parents would grant people entry to see the site?
The images of the Ponderosa water park that are shared here on the page is so good. I liked the place very much and I will check this place out. I am so happy that you guys are sharing details of these awesome abandoned places. Jewish classifieds
0.o
It would be nice if you actually gave information as to whether it was haunted. That's the whole reason I went on this website and it is sadly disappointing.
It is haunted by the ghost of your fat mom
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I was there that day but had left before the accident. I knew the little girl that died because we rode the same bus to school in Oologah and I knew both the family of the little girl and the family that owned the water slide. The area is part of a very small community that didn't get it's first stoplight in town until the late 90's. It was the type of community where everyone knew everyone so when the accident happened it affected everyone.
We, as youngsters of that time, were extremely excited that the water slide was opened because we literally had no other access to anything like that. However, as much as we loved the water slide, even as children, knew it couldn't stay open in such a close knit community. Even all these years later, as I just happened to see this website, I can see it all over again.
I'm not going to discuss the details but I will simply say, as loved as the water slide was, it's best that it closed down after the accident and stayed closed down.
I was there that day, too, and remember it well. Such a tragic, awful event. I'll never forget her mother's screams. I'm sorry for the family, the community, and anyone else who was there on that horrible day.
I was also there that day, but like you I had left before the accident happened. My friends and I all loved to play around the area where they kept that pump. We would even get up on the little wall separating the pump from the pool and do flips off of it. I always shudder to think how easily that could have been one of us.
damn that needs a broom and some wax skate jam all day
What are you doing with a waxed-up broom stick? Perv
I was at the water slide that day, but left shortly before the girl was discovered missing.
What was the name of the little girl. I know she went to Collinsville. I have been searching for the story on her. But no luck.
She didn't go to Collinsville, she went to Oologah. I know because her family lived near ours and we rode the bus together. I won't release her name though. It's been a long time since the accident but it's still a very sensitive subject amongst family and those involved.
The Oklahoman newspaper dated June 16th, 1984 has the story of the 9 year olds accident. Her name was Gwila Langlinais she is buried in Collinsville, Ridgelawn Cemetery.
I dont know about you guys but I want some soup……BAD!! o.0
Weird. The pop machine has logos from at least the early 90's. That Pepsi logo on the handle was new in 1992.
IIRC some new people bought it in the 90s and made a brief attempt at re-opening it but it didn't work out.
There is one like this in Medicine Park
Crazy to see the old water slides compared to the new ones we see today. I hate to hear that a young girl had to die there.
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I bet that little girl is still there playing!
I know this site well. It was not built in the 50's or 60's. I don't remember the actual year, but it was no earlier than 1980 or so. The water slide was very popular, even though it's basically just over the hill from Oologah Lake.
The putt-putt golf course at the base of the hill never really got of the ground, and may have been open for only a few months when the drowning happened. The larger building nearby was actually a sort of arcade, if memory serves.
The small blue building with the open door was the lower floor of office/ticket window which is now gone.
I was coming here to say it was built in the early '80s. I remember when it opened. One of the most exciting days of my young life. 🙂
Thanx to those at Abandoned Ok for finding all this amazing info on the places I’ve explored. I never would have know the story of this location if it weren’t for Ya’ll!
You're quite welcome! Without your photos though, we would have never even known about these great locations!
I remember when I was younger (mid 90s) it was reopened for a time. My dad took me almost everyday that summer. I was sad when it was closed again.