Yes, this is the creepy abandoned water park and the creepy abandoned waterslide off of I 35. These are the ruins of a small waterpark slide that existed in Southeast Austin. This waterslide has been abandoned since the 80s. Austin Aqua Thrill Way/Fast Eddy’s Waterslide is something interesting to check out.
Fast Eddy’s was the waterslide and water park that replaced Austin Aqua Thrill Way in 1981. Austin Daily Texan reported and confirmed that Austin Aqua Thrill Way had undergone a change in management. A new management team was hired by owners Larry Wilkins and John Howard. Larry Wilkins served as manager until the early-to-mid 80s. (Ref: https://newspaperarchive.com/austin-daily-texan-jun-23-1980-p-29/)
Both Fast Eddy’s and Austin Aqua Thrill Way operated at the same location for a couple of years. Both businesses shared the same same location.
Austin American Statesman reported Aqua Thrill Way changed the name of the waterslide to Fast Eddy’s Waterslide in 1981. Rate to pay was $5 an hour. Austin American Statesman stated their location was “7901 IH 35”. Oddly enough the newspaper did not directly the specific direction on I 35 which the waterpark was located on. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/37971249/fast_eddys_water_slide/)
Residents and patrons reported that there were times the music was played so loud to where you could hear the noise over on South Congress Avenue. Many people reported getting huge pieces of chipped paint right up their toenail. This chipped paint was the blue paint from both water slides.
However this water slide would not be open for very long. Fast Eddy’s kept going under and changes in management. The changes in management made business very difficult. Its distant location made accessibility difficult for patrons to go to. The water park was located on the shoulder of I 35. This didn’t help business in the long run.
This water park was not free from any incidents or accidents.
An example of accident is back in 1981 when a young child died by flying off the water slide. This was because the curves and sides of the waterslides weren't high. The child was trying to jump one slide to get to another slide by jumping the curves. The waterslides were shut not too long afterwards.
Another example of a tragedy was some time in the early 80s when someone got sent flying into the air because the sides of the waterslides weren't high enough at the curves. Someone got too high in the air and broke several bones. This person had to be hauled off by several medical personnel into an ambulance. This incident shut the waterslide down temporarily.
What led to the closure was a drowning incident involving two children in 1983. Two children supposedly climbed into the drain line. One of them drowned and got killed. This led the water park to be tangled up in a lawsuit. Nobody would insure them after that. They shut down the waterslides because kids kept getting sucked and stuck in their drains at the bottom. Fast Eddy’s was shut down not long after that drowning incident. Fast Eddy’s sort of just faded away into obscurity.
In the long run the place never really recovered after the few lawsuits. Fast Eddy’s Waterslide was abandoned and no longer in use by 1985. Both waterslides were reported to be abandoned. One water slide was even removed. Utility lines to their pump house were cut off immediately. There was no running water for either side.
Bikers and skaters would use this waterslide for riding back in the day. You can go crazy fast on a skateboard when riding that slide. Skaters would often use this waterslide to skate down at a fast pace. It is not easy to skate on this creepy old abandoned water slide. Many riders got hit by pultruding tree branches on both sides. The waterslide is still bad ass though.
Some time between 2003 to 2005 is when Adult XXX Video Megaplex became the new tenant that took over where the church once was. The waterslides were reported as being still visible from the highway. Their pump house could still be seen on the highway. Adult XXX Video Megaplex had moved further down the road on I 35 in 2011. New Video II took over after Adult XXX Video Megaplex left sometime in 2012. Today the waterslide is abandoned.
Interestingly enough, the waterslides are still extant despite the way Austin is growing. One would think the property would have been developed into apartments or a big box store.
Fast Eddy’s was located at 7901 South IH 35, Austin, Texas, US 78744.
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