| Previously known as Action Park (1978-1996, 2014-2016) | |
 | |
| Location | Vernon, New Jersey, United States |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 41°11′26″N 74°30′27″W / 41.19056°N 74.50750°W |
| Status | Operating |
| Opened | 1978 (as Action Park, first incarnation) 1998 (as Mountain Creek Waterpark, first incarnation) 2016 (as Mountain Creek Waterpark, second incarnation) 2014 (as Action Park, modern incarnation) |
| Closed | 1996 (as Action Park) 2013 (as Mountain Creek Waterpark, first incarnation) 2016 (as Action Park) |
| Owner | Mountain Creek |
| Operating season | June to September[1] |
| Website | mountaincreek |
Mountain Creek Waterpark is a water park located in Vernon, New Jersey, United States, on the grounds of the Mountain Creek ski resort. The park consists primarily of water-based attractions and opened in 1998.[2] Its initial life as Action Park, one of the first modern American water parks, was open from 1978 until 1996[3] and became infamous for its poor safety record. At least six people are known to have died as a result of mishaps on rides at the original park. Despite this, the park was very popular and attracted thrill-seekers from across the New York metropolitan area.
On February 9, 1998, Intrawest announced the purchase of the majority of the Vernon Valley/Great Gorge ski area, including the Action Park property.[4] After a massive overhaul, which included revamping rides and removing attractions deemed either outright unsafe or inappropriate relative to Intrawest's vision,[5] the water park was reopened as Mountain Creek Waterpark. In 2010, the Mountain Creek ski area and waterpark was sold[6] to a group led by Eugene Mulvihill, the former owner of Vernon Valley/Great Gorge and the owner of the adjacent Crystal Springs Resort. It was under the new ownership that the name of the water park was changed back to Action Park in 2014.[7] Two years later, the name was reverted to Mountain Creek Waterpark.
- ^ "Operating Hours & Schedule | Action Park, Vernon, NJ". Retrieved June 22, 2015.
- ^ "Action Park Waterpark, Vernon NJ". Mountain Creek. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved April 3, 2014.
- ^ Arthur Levine. "The Action is back at Mountain Creek". About.com. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
- ^ "IntraWest Adds Ninth Resort to Network," Press release announcing Intrawest's purchase of Vernon Valley - Great Gorge's ski resort, Action Park, and GAR-owned real estate, TheFreeLibrary.com.
- ^ "NEW WATER PARK AT VERNON VALLEY SCHEDULED TO OPEN JUNE 15," ActionPark.com (1998). Archived at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
- ^ Perone, Joseph (May 27, 2010). "Mountain Creek resort in N.J. sold to developer Gene Mulvihill". The Star-Ledger. Newark, NJ: Advance Publications. Retrieved September 12, 2010.
- ^ "The dangerous return of the world's most insane theme park". New York Post. June 28, 2014. Retrieved April 12, 2015.