This Bay Area Water Park Was Popular In The '80s – Now It's Closing Indefinitely

CaliBunga, a water park long known to generations of Bay Area residents as Raging Waters, will not open for the summer 2026 season. The City of San Jose announced the temporary closure in a June 2026 press release, citing the intention to redevelop and modernize the site. While the water park will be closed indefinitely, it isn't forever, and there are plans in place to reopen eventually. For now, locals may take this as an opportunity to beat the heat at some other fantastic, budget-friendly water parks across the country.

Found at Lake Cunningham Regional Park on the east side of San Jose, Raging Waters served as a popular cooling spot for families since its opening in the mid-1980s. In 2024, it was taken over and rebranded as CaliBunga and underwent significant repairs and upgrades. For decades, visitors enjoyed a wide range of attractions like a lazy river, wave pool, thrill slides, inner tube rides, interactive play structures, and dedicated spaces for younger kids. It was an accessible, fun-filled day trip for families around NorCal. Despite the efforts, the park faced ongoing challenges, and the city will use this closure period to focus on infrastructure needs.

Raging Waters and CaliBunga are no more. The City of San Jose is working with Lakeside Partners to create a new, state-of-the-art water park with expanded aquatic amenities for visitors of all ages. The goal is to build a facility that is worthy of future generations while revitalizing the Lake Cunningham area. While the water park itself is closed, much of Lake Cunningham Regional Park remains open, so it's still a great summer destination. You can still swim, kayak, play disc golf, or picnic lakeside, and the Action Sports Park (the largest skate park in California) is open year-round. The city is in the early stages of planning community events this summer to maintain the park's essence as a space for gathering, including a live concert series and movie nights. Residents can check the Lake Cunningham Regional Park website for the latest schedules and updates.

Lakeside Partners will lead the water park redevelopment efforts in conjunction with the city, but timelines are still being finalized. In the meantime, those seeking water-based recreation have options. For those keen on a true water park experience, South Bay Shores in San Jose is a great choice, as is Castaic Lake, LA County's inflatable aquapark. Alternatively, take a road trip to explore the best water parks across the United States, head to a public swimming pool, or see which local high schools offer open swim times through the summer.