San Jose's CaliBunga Water Park Closes for Summer
San Jose's CaliBunga water park — the Bay Area site that has operated in various forms for more than 40 years — will not open this summer.
The City of San José announced the closure on June 11, 2026, confirming that the water park formerly known as Raging Waters would temporarily shut down as the city prepares a full reimagining of the site.
A 40-Year Landmark That Went Dark Before Summer
The park, located at 2333 South White Road within Lake Cunningham Regional Park, first opened in 1985 as Raging Waters — Northern California's largest water park at the time.
It operated for decades under that name before relaunching as CaliBunga under a short-term deal with California Dreamin' Entertainment in 2024, following Palace Entertainment's decision to exit its lease.
No seasonal workers had been hired for 2026, NBC Bay Area reported — which means the decision to skip this season was effectively made months before the public announcement.
The timing of the announcement, just ahead of peak summer, drew direct criticism from San Jose's own mayor.
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What the Mayor Said — and What He Didn't
Mayor Matt Mahan offered two statements on the closure.
The first was optimistic. "For more than 40 years, Lake Cunningham's water park has been where San José families go to beat the heat," Mahan said in the official city press release. "Despite a temporary closure, our commitment is to keep this park active now and build an aquatic destination worthy of the next generation."
The second was not. In separate remarks to KQED, Mahan said: "I'm incredibly disappointed that the water park won't be open this summer, and I share the frustration of every family that was counting on it to beat the heat. The time to have an operator in place was months ago — not during the hottest weeks of the year."
The city owns the property and contracts with an external operator.
The selected proposer for the redevelopment, Lakeside Partners, will continue developing plans during the closure, with a reopening targeted for coming summers.
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What Stays Open — and What Replaces the Slides
The city was careful to note that the closure does not affect the entire Lake Cunningham site.
The Action Sports Park will remain open throughout the summer.
A programme of community events is planned under the Agua Fiesta banner, including live concerts, Circus Bella performances, kids' maker events, skate and punk shows, and BMX movie nights, according to the official City of San José announcement.
The city also directed residents to the SJSWIM schedule for alternative public pool options during the park's closure.
The 23-acre site contains 14 rides and a 350,000-gallon wave pool, The Street reported, all of which will remain inactive this season.
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The Operator Question at the Heart of the Closure
The practical issue behind the closure is one of contracting, not funding.
The park has cycled through multiple operators in recent years — Palace Entertainment exited, California Dreamin' Entertainment stepped in for a short-term deal in 2024, and Lakeside Partners is now the selected proposer for the long-term redevelopment.
That transition window, during which no operator was fully in place and no seasonal staff was hired, is what produced the summer blackout.
Mahan's public remarks acknowledge that the city's own procurement timeline did not move fast enough to prevent the gap.
For East Side San José families who have relied on the park since 1985, this summer will be the first without it in a generation.
The redevelopment promises something larger and more modern. How long it takes to materialise remains the open question.
Key Takeaways
- CaliBunga water park — formerly Raging Waters — in San Jose will not open for summer 2026, the city announced June 11.
- The park, located at Lake Cunningham Regional Park, first opened in 1985 and covers 23 acres with 14 rides and a 350,000-gallon wave pool.
- The selected redevelopment partner, Lakeside Partners, is still finalising plans for a future modern reopening — no seasonal staff were hired for 2026.
- Mayor Matt Mahan publicly criticised the timeline, saying "the time to have an operator in place was months ago."
- The Action Sports Park will remain open, and a summer events programme — Agua Fiesta, concerts, BMX nights — will run at the site.
- The city has directed residents to the SJSWIM pool schedule for alternative aquatic options.
