Waterworld California was the beloved name of the Bay Area’s largest water park in Concord, California, for roughly a decade before Six Flags rebranded it. If you grew up riding Cliffhanger or floating the lazy river in the 2000s and 2010s, you’re probably wondering what happened to the park, whether it’s still open, and what it’s called today.
The short version: the park never closed. It’s still running seasonally at the same Concord address, just under a new name and with an updated ride lineup. Below is the full history, the current ride roster, and everything you need to plan a visit today.
Quick Answer
Waterworld California was the operating name, roughly 2007 to 2018, of the water park at 1950 Waterworld Parkway in Concord, California. It opened in 1995 as Waterworld USA Concord, went through a brief run as Six Flags Waterworld Concord starting in 2005, then became Waterworld California under new ownership in 2007. Six Flags took operations back over in 2017 and renamed the park Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Concord in 2018 — the name it still operates under today, open seasonally from May through September.
From Waterworld USA to Waterworld California: The Full Timeline
The park’s roots go back to 1995, when Premier Parks opened it as Waterworld USA Concord, a sister park to Waterworld USA Sacramento. Premier Parks acquired Six Flags Theme Parks in 1998 and eventually took the Six Flags name company-wide, and in February 2005 the Concord park was rebranded Six Flags Waterworld Concord.
That branding was short-lived. In June 2006, Six Flags put the park up for sale along with seven other properties, and on January 11, 2007, PARC Management bought the group in a deal reported at around $312 million. Ownership of the real estate passed to CNL Lifestyle Properties, with PARC (and later Palace Entertainment) running day-to-day operations under the new Waterworld California brand, dropping the Six Flags name for the next decade.
The next shakeup came in late 2016, when CNL sold its recreation portfolio, including the Concord park, to EPR Properties, which still owns the land today. Premier Parks briefly resumed management in January 2017, then on April 27, 2017, Six Flags announced it was taking back full operational control. Six Flags formally retired the Waterworld California name on February 22, 2018, unveiling Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Concord as the park’s new identity, still in use today.
One more milestone worth knowing: 2020 was the first year since the park opened in 1995 that it did not operate a season at all, after Six Flags suspended operations park-wide in March 2020 and California’s stay-at-home orders forced cancellation of the entire summer. The park reopened the following year and has run every season since.
Signature Rides: Then and Now
During its run as Waterworld California, the park marketed more than 30 slides and attractions across about 26 acres, and several of those rides are still park favorites today. Breaker Beach, a roughly half-million-gallon wave pool, was and remains the social hub. Tornado sent riders down a six-story funnel with a 75-foot drop, and Break Point Plunge dropped riders through a near-vertical chute into a 270-foot enclosed flume with a full turn. Cliffhanger, the park’s side-by-side freefall body slides, was a signature thrill ride during the Waterworld California years but was permanently closed in 2019 due to structural issues and has not reopened.
The ride lineup has changed more since 2018. The Hurricane Slide Complex was removed in 2024, and the park’s current roster runs to roughly 19 slides spread across six themed areas rather than the 30-plus once advertised — that’s normal ride attrition and reinvestment, not a smaller park footprint. Today’s named attractions include Big Kahuna, Break Point Plunge, Breaker Beach, Caribbean Cove, Honolulu Halfpipe, the Kaanapali Kooler lazy river, Splashwater Island’s family play structure, Tornado, and the Typhoon Slide Complex.
Is Waterworld California Still Open? Visiting Today
Yes. The park never stopped operating under any of its names, aside from the canceled 2020 season. It’s currently open as Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Concord, owned by EPR Properties and operated by Six Flags Entertainment. Like its Waterworld California days, it runs a seasonal schedule from roughly May through September, with specific operating days and hours posted on the official Six Flags calendar since they shift throughout the season and around weather and holidays.
Ticket pricing is dynamic and sold through multiple channels, so the price you see depends on the date, how far in advance you buy, and whether you buy directly from Six Flags or through a discount reseller. Buying online in advance is consistently cheaper than paying at the gate, and Six Flags also sells season passes and memberships that include the park along with other Six Flags properties. For the current calendar and exact same-day pricing, check the park’s official tickets and hours pages before you go.
Location and Getting There
The park sits at 1950 Waterworld Parkway in Concord, California, in the East Bay, just off Interstate 680 at the Willow Pass Road exit. It’s roughly a 45-minute drive from downtown San Francisco or Oakland without traffic, making it a popular day-trip destination for Bay Area families throughout the summer.
Waterworld California water park FAQs
Where was Waterworld California located?
The park sat at 1950 Waterworld Parkway in Concord, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area, just off Interstate 680 at the Willow Pass Road exit — the same address the park occupies today.
What is Waterworld California called today?
Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Concord. Six Flags took over operations in 2017 and retired the Waterworld California name in February 2018.
Is Waterworld California still open?
Yes, at the same Concord site under the name Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Concord. It runs seasonally, roughly May through September, and has operated every year since 1995 except 2020, when the whole season was canceled due to COVID-19.
How many slides did Waterworld California have?
During its 2007–2018 run as Waterworld California, the park advertised more than 30 slides and attractions across about 26 acres. The current lineup as Hurricane Harbor Concord is smaller, roughly 19 slides across six themed areas, after the 2019 closure of Cliffhanger and the 2024 removal of the Hurricane Slide Complex.
What happened to Cliffhanger, the freefall slide?
Cliffhanger, the park’s side-by-side freefall body slides, was permanently closed in 2019 due to structural issues and has not been rebuilt or replaced.
Who owns Waterworld California / Hurricane Harbor Concord now?
EPR Properties owns the land, and Six Flags Entertainment operates the park under a management agreement that began in 2017.
Was Waterworld California always independent of Six Flags?
No. The park briefly operated as Six Flags Waterworld Concord starting in 2005, was sold off and became Waterworld California in 2007 under non-Six Flags ownership, and returned to Six Flags operation in 2017 before being renamed Hurricane Harbor Concord in 2018.
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