Wet Willie Water Slide

What if I told you that this seemingly ordinary spot was once home to Wet Willie’s Water Slide? This wasn’t just any water slide. Wet Willie’s Water Slide opened in the summer of 1978, one of three water parks that popped up in South Austin. Imagine the excitement of that summer, the thrill of speeding down those concrete slides. Wet Willie’s was a double water slide, designed and built right here on this hillside. People flocked from all over to experience the rush, to cool off from the Texas heat. But Wet Willie’s had a wild side. The concrete could get scalding hot under the summer sun, and there were whispers of its danger. Stories circulated about accidents, injuries, even tragic deaths. Wet Willie’s saw its share of close calls and daring feats. Riders would try to jump the curves, sometimes getting launched into the air. Unfortunately, these stunts sometimes ended in tragedy. By the early 1980s, after a series of incidents and a changing market, Wet Willie’s Water Slide closed its doors for good. The land was sold, and the slides were demolished. Today, St. David’s South Austin Medical Center stands where thrill-seekers once splashed and slid. It’s a stark contrast – a place of healing where a place of excitement once stood. But the memory of Wet Willie’s Water Slide lives on, a testament to Austin’s adventurous spirit and a reminder that even the most exhilarating rides eventually come to an end.