Iconic New York Water Park Won’t Open This Season After Owner Suddenly Dies

An iconic Water Park in upstate New York won't be opening this Summer after the owner suddenly died.

Water Slide World in Lake George will stay closed for the season. Gary Koncikowski died suddenly May 24th at the age of 70 and his wife Dawn posted a message, saying she couldn't run the park on her own.

It is with great sadness that I have to share bad news with you. The creator, designer, builder, owner and operator of Water Slide World, for the past 39 seasons, Gary Koncikowski, has passed away. It was sudden and totally unexpected. After much consideration and analyzing all of the pros and cons to managing and operating the waterpark on my own, without my husband, partner and best friend of 39 years, I have decided that I cannot fill my sneakers and his.. as I am lacking some of the required certifications thatonly Gary held. As a result, I have decided Not to Open Water Slide World for the 2018 Summer Season. I will be back in 2019 all certified and readyto share another summer with you. I would like to thank you for your patronage over the past 39 years. Have a great summer. God Bless all of my summer friends and thank you.

Water Slide World was one of the first water slide parks built in the United States in 1979 and featured the first Wave Pool of New York State, added in 1984.

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