Waterworld California was the name Bay Area families knew this Concord water park by for roughly a decade, and if you’re searching for it today, the short answer is reassuring: the park never closed. It’s still running every summer, at the same address, just under a different name.
This guide covers the complete history of the Waterworld brand at this site, the ownership shakeups that led to each name change, which rides from the Waterworld California years are still standing (and which ones aren’t), and what to know if you want 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 roughly 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 by 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 several 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 didn’t 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 in 2021 and has run every season since.
The Park’s Darkest Chapter: The 1997 Banzai Pipeline Collapse
Before the Waterworld California name ever existed, the site had its most serious safety incident. On June 2, 1997, while it was still operating as Waterworld USA Concord, roughly a 20-foot section of the Banzai Pipeline slide gave way while a group of Napa High School seniors were riding it, sending several students falling more than 30 feet onto concrete below. One student, 18-year-old Quimby Ghilotti, died, and more than 30 others were injured. Lawsuits against the park and the school district settled for several million dollars combined, and the incident helped push California to require state inspections of amusement rides at parks outside Los Angeles County.
It’s worth knowing as part of the park’s full history, but it predates the Waterworld California branding by roughly a decade and has no bearing on how the park operates or is inspected today under Six Flags.
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 large 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 an 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.
Rides That Disappeared After the Waterworld California Era
Several attractions that anchored the park during its Waterworld California years didn’t survive the transition to Six Flags ownership. Diablo Falls, Dragon Tails, Lil’ Kahuna’s Waterworks, and Treasure Island were all removed in 2017, the same year Six Flags took back operational control, and were gradually replaced by newer areas like Caribbean Cove and Splashwater Island. Combined with Cliffhanger’s 2019 closure, a good chunk of what longtime visitors remember from the Waterworld California days is gone. The park’s biggest historic draws — Breaker Beach, the Kaanapali Kooler lazy river, and Tornado — have stayed in continuous operation since well before the 2018 name change.
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 park’s official 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. For the current calendar, tickets, and same-day pricing, check the official Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Concord site before you go.
Planning Your Visit: Hours, Tickets & Tips
Like most seasonal water parks, Hurricane Harbor Concord doesn’t run on a fixed daily schedule. Expect a rotating mix of weekend-only operation in the shoulder months of May and September and fuller weekly hours during peak summer, with the calendar shifting around weather, staffing, and special events. Rather than relying on a printed or third-party schedule, always check the park’s live operating calendar before you drive out, since dates and hours can change with little notice.
Ticket pricing follows the same dynamic model most Six Flags properties use: prices are lowest when bought online well in advance and climb closer to the visit date or at the gate. The park also sells season passes and memberships, often billed monthly, that include unlimited visits and sometimes discounts on food and parking — worth it if you plan more than a couple of visits in a season. For current hours, ticket prices, and parking details, the official Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Concord website is the most reliable source, since third-party listings are frequently out of date.
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 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 a seasonal schedule roughly May through September.
When did the park stop being called Waterworld California?
Six Flags formally retired the Waterworld California name on February 22, 2018, when it unveiled the park as Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Concord.
Is Waterworld California the same park as Waterworld USA?
Yes — it’s the same site and lineage. Waterworld USA Concord opened in 1995, became Six Flags Waterworld Concord in 2005, was renamed Waterworld California in 2007, and became Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Concord in 2018.
What rides from the Waterworld California era are gone today?
Cliffhanger, Diablo Falls, Dragon Tails, Lil’ Kahuna’s Waterworks, and Treasure Island have all been removed since Six Flags took back the park in 2017. Breaker Beach, the Kaanapali Kooler lazy river, Tornado, and Big Kahuna are still running.
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