This news article will be covering the history behind Austin's most well known abandoned water slide and water park called Austin Aqua Thrill Way aka "Porno Ditch”. 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 is something interesting to check out.
Austin Aqua Thrill Way was part of a franchise-type business operated by the Aqua Thrill Way franchise which opened water slides along the East Coast of the United States during the 1970s. Eventually the franchise made its way to Texas in cities such as Galveston, Houston, Dallas, and Austin. (Ref: https://www.caller.com/story/news/special-reports/building-our-future/throwback/2017/09/27/throwback-thursday-aqua-thrillway-water-slide-kept-corpus-christi-kids-cool-late-70-s/709445001/)
The Aqua Thrill Way franchise was a hit in Corpus Christi. Their waterslides attracted many families and especially children. Children were their primary customers. So the Aqua Thrill Way decided to expand their franchise into Austin. (Ref: https://www.caller.com/story/news/special-reports/building-our-future/throwback/2017/09/27/throwback-thursday-aqua-thrillway-water-slide-kept-corpus-christi-kids-cool-late-70-s/709445001/)
Austin Aqua Thrill Way was constructed on land owned by Sterling A. Swift. He owned 6.229 acres of land off the shoulder of I 35. The land was located more than 2 blocks away from Boggy Creek. (Ref: Travis County Real Estate Records, Volume 3975, Page 2128)
Construction began in 1973. The yellow building was completed in 1973. However construction would stop because of the oil recession during the 1970s which greatly affected many Americans. Construction ceased in 1974 leaving most of the land undeveloped and underdeveloped. Sterling A. Swift allowed the building to remain on his property despite underdevelopment. The building was not yet open to the public. (Ref: Travis County Real Estate Records, Volume 11071, Page 993)
Sterling A Swift got Austin Aqua Thrill Way into a partnership with Tennessee based company called DUNAVANT ENTERPRISES in 1978. W. B. Dunavant and at least 3 other people would be in charge of the partnership. Sterling A. Swift allowed the franchise to lease the land from him. The water park did not actually own the land but were tenants instead. Austin Aqua Thrill Way was part of the Aqua Thrill Way Partnership. (Ref: Travis County Deeds, Volume 6225, Page 1495)
Construction would resume in 1978. Austin Aqua Thrill Way was one of the three water slides and water parks which opened in South Austin in the summer of 1978. The water park was also known as Austin Aqua Thrillway. Larry Wilkins was the first manager of Austin Aqua Thrill Way when the water park and arcade first opened. Admission was $2 per half hour. The water park catered to families and groups. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/37959292/south_austin_water_slides/)
Geography of the area was conducive to a ground level water slide. Both waterslides were 400 feet in length and 8 feet in height. It was the shortest but the fastest slide in Austin at that time. The hilly terrain proved to be a perfect location for a waterslide. Austin Aqua Thrill Way was reported to be Austin's first water slide. Austin had three water parks well within the city limits at one point.
Aqua Thrill Way was the eighth slide constructed by Aquatractions using concrete. John Howard said, "The people that designed our slide have done it before. This one's built pretty good." The water park consisted of 2 concrete waterslides which were considered to be super dangerous. Many people lost layers of skin riding that slide. The curve walls were not built high enough to prevent people from flying into the air. The waterslide was described as fast and narrow but fun. You rode down the waterslide using a foam mat. It was a double water slide. Aqua Thrill Way was partially owned by Aquatractions too. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20083354/austin_americanstatesman/)
Located at the bottom were 'holding ponds' which served as the landing area. A drain was located at the bottom of each of the 'holding ponds’. A sidewalk was located alongside the waterslide all the way to the top. The sidewalk took you a long way up the hill. It was very long walk up.
The yellow building on top of the hill was a two-story arcade with the ride-on Thunder Blade game . The arcade reportedly had a huge variety of pinball games. The arcade was less than a block north practically on the same property. The yellow building on top of the hill was also the main office where you paid your fare. They offered food service and snacks. However the waterslide was the whole attraction.
One of the most memorable yet tragic incidents that took place at the Austin Aqua Thrill Way was when an 11 year old girl collapsed and later died after riding down the water slide during the middle of August 1978. An 11 year old girl named Audrey Laurel of Laredo, Texas died after coasting down the Aqua Thrill Way. Apparently her death was unrelated to their giant toboggan-style ride. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/379017055/)
Things were looking bright for Austin Aqua Thrill Way. However tragedy struck when the water park got closed down in the first week of operation due to a lawsuit. A young woman got bad cuts on her body after riding their waterslide. The young woman sued Austin Aqua Thrill Way claiming that she was badly injured on the waterslide and the water park failed to provide safety. The lawsuit included Larry Wilkins, John Howard, Sterling A. Swift, and an unnamed woman. There is a high possibility the lawsuit was settled out of court. The exact outcome is unknown.
Sadly however the place never really recovered after the lawsuit. The waterslides were shut down but the arcade and food service remained in operation. However waterslides would open up a few days later. A lot have people claimed the place never recovered after the lawsuit. Despite the accident and lawsuit, Austin Aqua Thrill Way continued operating well into the early-to-mid 80s.
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/)
“The new management at Aqua Thrillway invites everyone out to join the fun. Private parties and fund raising projects are available upon request. Call or come by for information on renting Aqua Thrillway for your organization or private party. Also offering a "Sunset Special" from 5 to 8 p.m.: Slide 3 hours or the 1-hour rate of $3.50 Look in Daily Texan for Coupon Offer. AQUA THRILLWAY 282-3348 7901 S IH35 at South Congress”
Austin American Statesman reported Aqua Thrill Way changed the name of the waterslide to Fast Eddy’s 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 toenails. This chipped paint was the blue paint from both water slides. 
Sterling A. Swift got Austin Aqua Thrill Way into a partnership with DUNAVANT ENTERPRISES and South IH 35 LTD in 1982. DUNAVANT ENTERPRISES would cease their partnership with South IH 35 LTD later that year. South IH 35 LTD would take over the partnership Sterling A. Swift once had with DUNAVANT ENTERPRISES in 1983. (Ref: Travis County Deeds, Volume 8997, Page 841)
Of course Austin Aqua Thrill Way was not free of or immune from any tragic incidents. There were a series of tragic incidents and accidents that occurred at this water park. More than 3 deaths occurred. People reported having several injuries after riding both of their water slides. Several people received multiple bruises and scars riding both sides. Some reported having broken bones in several places of their body. This happened multiple times for some people.
One example of an accident happening at this water park is when a girl died in the splash pool at the bottom of one of the slides some time during the 80s. Scars were found on her knees, neck, torso, and elbows. Not too long afterwards the waterslide was shut down but only temporarily. The waterslide opened back up a couple of months later. This was one of many tragic events that occurred at Austin Aqua Thrill Way.
One other example 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.
Another 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. This was one of many accidents that occurred at Austin Aqua Thrill Way.
Another example of a tragedy happening is when one child broke their neck trying to jump the curve to get onto the other slide. The child was sent flying into the air breaking several bones in the process. Needless to say the waterslide was shut down again. This was during the early 80s. At that time, the waterslide was shut down for at least four months. The waterslide eventually opened back up in the summer. This was one of many tragic events that occurred at Austin Aqua Thrill Way during the 80s.
Now there are more than just 2 reasons as to why Austin Aqua Thrill Way closed down without warning thus fading away into obscurity. There are several factors as to why this water park shut down with location being one of them.
The rumor of erosion control being the reason Austin Aqua Thrill Way shut down is false. Austin Aqua Thrill Way was never open for very long as the water park 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.
What also led to the closure was a drowning incident involving two children in 1982. 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. Austin Aqua Thrill Way was shut down not long after that drowning incident. Austin Aqua Thrill Way and Fast Eddy’s sort of just faded away into obscurity.
In the long the place never really recovered after the few lawsuits against them during the 70s and 80s. Most of their lawsuits occurred during the 1980s. The water park had at least more than 4 lawsuits against them during their time of operation.
To sum it all up, Austin Aqua Thrill Way shut down due to the fact that the business kept going under, changes in management, location, lawsuits, and the new wave of water parks in Austin along with the surrounding area. For example the opening of Volente Beach Waterpark and Wet N Wild.
Austin Aqua Thrill Way was abandoned and no longer in use by 1985. Both waterslides were reported to be abandoned. Utility lines to their pump house were cut off immediately. There was no running water for either side. Sterling A Swift used the yellow two story for his publishing company called Aztec Publishing Company from 1985 to 1987. He hadn’t used the building for that purpose since 1976. Sterling A Swift had previously used the building for his publishing company called Aztec Publishing Company from 1970 to 1976. (Ref: Travis County Deeds, Doc. #93142486)
Austin Aqua Thrill Way reopened for a short period of time in the late 80s, possibly in 1987. The place was open during the fall season and spring without running water. You would slide down the waterslide on a burlap bag. This time Austin Aqua Thrill Way operated under the name of Aqua Spillway.
Construction of two gray rectangular buildings were constructed in early 1987. The roofs were constructed using silver and aluminum material. These two buildings had similar styled roofs you would see on troughs, trailers, mobile homes, and storage units. There is a slight possibility that these two buildings served as storage units for Fast Eddy’s and Austin Aqua Thrill Way. 
However Austin Aqua Thrill Way closed down again in 1988. This time permanently due to a lack of business and changes in management. Austin Aqua Thrill Way was home to a Methodist church in 1988. The church would operate at this location for a few years before relocating into a bigger space further down the road on I 35 in 1994.
It was in 1995 that Austin Aqua Thrill Way was abandoned yet again. The water park became an illegal dump for household trash. The ‘holding pond’ was full of tires and broken glass. The slides were already suffering from years of neglect. 
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 Austin Aqua Thrill Way is now home to an adult business called New Video II which is an adult video store. 
As of 2021, Jill Osborne of Engel Völkers Real Estate has put the Austin Aqua Thrill Way water park property up for sale at a price of $3,500,000 dollars. Frontage has been strip-annexed into the City of Austin as SF-2. The remainder of the tract lies outside the city limits and thus is not zoned. The property is currently for sale. (Ref: https://jillosborne.evrealestate.com/ListingDetails/7907-S-Interstate-35-Highway-Austin-TX-78744/4266551)
New XXX Video has been located there over 25 years and has a month to month lease with the Landlord. There is an agreement in place between Landlord and Tenant for Landlord to buy the existing business for $200,000.00 so that the vesting rights as a sexually oriented business remain in tact. Existing business on property has a month-to-month rent with landlord. (Ref: http://matexas.com/properties/7907-south-ih-35-austin-tx-78744)
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. Austin Aqua Thrill Way is something interesting to check out.
Austin Aqua Thrill Way is located at 7901 South IH 35, Austin, Texas, US 78744. The other address for Austin Aqua Thrill Way is 7907 South IH 35, Austin, Texas, US 78744.
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