DUNDEE, Mich. — The signs have stood the test of time. Visible from U.S. 23 in Dundee, Splash Universe has sat off the highway for many years. Despite facing challenges and closures, the indoor water park is seeking to enter a new era.
Although many families have fond memories of the indoor water park, it has faced challenges over the years. Eleven people were injured at the property when a tornado also ripped the roof off an adjoining hotel in June 2010. It reopened the following year. Then, Splash Universe shut down as the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in 2020.
Brothers Jacob and Joseph Garmo purchased the property and got to work, with plans to reopen in 2022.
"Anytime I've been in Monroe or Ann Arbor and I bring up anything with Splash Universe, everybody just gets extremely excited," Joseph Garmo said.
The pair reopened the hotel. The water park, however, needed significant repairs.
"They redid the underground water system. The roof got torn off so they had to redo the roof," aquatics manager Allen Longnecker said. "It's a lot of maintenance stuff. Most of this place has been replaced."
The owners announced they were hiring in March. They're looking for lifeguards, receptionists, cleaners and managers.
"We need certified lifeguards in order to open," Jacob told WTOL 11 in a text message.
Longnecker said the owners and staff are excited by the developments.
"I know they've put a lot of hard work and money into it so they're just as excited if not more," he said. "We're all really happy we're finally getting somewhere with it."
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There's still no final date to reopen, but the community continues to express interest. Longnecker said the phones are ringing non-stop, with people asking when the water park will be back in business.
"It's fluid. Will all the inspections and hiring, obviously that's another road bump we're trying to climb," Longnecker said.
But there is plenty of excitement. Splash Universe holds a special place in the northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan community and its staff.
"For me, personally, I worked here when I was 16, 17," Longnecker said. "For me to come back and see it open is amazing."
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Longnecker said when the park is ready for guests, they'll be impressed with the improvements to the Splash Universe people remember.
"We're working on it, we're trying to," Longnecker said. "We're putting a lot of work and it's better and more vibrant than it was back then."
According to Splash Universe's Instagram page, the waterpark plans to reopen sometime in spring 2024.
Until then, Longenecker said anyone interested in applying can walk in the front door and ask for an application. Interested applicants can also call 734-529-5100 for more information. A flyer with additional details is included below:
Editor's note: This story has been updated to include details about when the waterpark would reopen.
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