Rapids Water Park's iconic water slide 'Old Yellar' going away. Park promises new 'thrill' ride

Eddie Ritz, Palm Beach Post

July 27, 2022 at 5:00 AM·3 min read

As the late, great Eddie Money once sang, "I want to go back and do it all over, but I can't go back I know."

If you love Rapids Water Park and were there at the beginning — or really even any time in its 43-year history — you can go back ... for a while.

The park's original, iconic attraction, the four bright-yellow slides affectionately known as "Old Yellar," is going away.

In place since the park's opening in 1979, these four fiberglass slides have provided millions of hours of fast, floaty, cooling fun to generations of parkgoers.

"I started as a lifeguard at Old Yellar," said Rapids Water Park general manager Bryan Megrath. "I've been with the park 40 years and have watched the park grow. We've had former staff who now bring their kids and grandkids to the park.

"It's been an amazing journey to see how much Rapids has grown and to be a part of so many fun memories. That also means that sometimes an old, well-loved attraction must close in order for a new one to open."

How much longer can you relive the past and shoot down Old Yellar?

Or bring your children or grandchildren to the park and let them experience something amazing from your own youth?

Summer guide: Best things to do in Palm Beach County and beyond

When is 'Old Yellar' water slide being taken down at Rapids Water Park?

Parkgoershave until Aug. 15, when the dismantling of the chutes will begin.

Although quite a lot of sadness has already been expressed via social media, and more tears undoubtedly will be shed when the actual removal starts, there is a great big silver lining behind that cloud.

A new slide will be constructed in its place that — though the details are being kept under wraps — promises to be the park's most thrilling ride yet.

At a reported cost of $5.5 million, the new park feature will likely be very impressive when it debuts in summer 2023.

Voted water park with most slides in Florida by HomeToGo

Starting off as a small water park designed to entertain guests at the Holiday Inn Campground next door, the park has grown from four to 35 acres and now features 42 attractions including slides, a wave pool, lazy river and more.

In addition to being South Florida's largest water park, Rapids Water Park has also been named the park in Florida with the most waterslides by vacation rental marketplace HomeToGo.

Whether it's Big Thunder or Black Thunder, Pirates Plunge or Brain Drain, Rapids Racer, Baby Blue, Big Red, Body Blasters, Raging Rapids, Riptide Raftin', Tubin' Tornadoes, Splash Hill or — at least for little while longer, Old Yellar, — if you have a need for speed, Rapids Water Park can make you go fast.

Celebrities who have visited Rapids Water Park

Through the years, the park has been visited by a plethora of celebrities, including actors Demi Moore, as well as Johnny Depp, Michael Madsen and Al Pacino when they filmed scenes for the 1997 movie "Donnie Brasco." Several of those actors can actually be seen flying down "Old Yellar" in this clip from the movie.

Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn, Miami Heat great Dwyane Wade and hopefully-soon-to-be-an-NFL-Hall-of-Famer Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas also have enjoyed activities at Rapids Water Park.