San José’s CaliBunga waterpark will sit out the summer season, with the city pausing operations at the Lake Cunningham attraction and locking the gates on its 23-acre spread. The park, which briefly roared back to life under the CaliBunga name after Raging Waters closed, is going quiet while San José works with a private partner to reimagine and expand the site, even as parts of the surrounding park stay active for community events.
According to a City of San José news release, the water park "formerly known as CaliBunga/Raging Waters" will temporarily close beginning this summer while the city’s selected proposer, Lakeside Partners, keeps drafting plans and improvements aimed at a future reopening. The release quotes Mayor Matt Mahan on the park’s decades-long run as a family staple and outlines a slate of community programs at Lake Cunningham during construction. Residents were pointed to the city’s Lake Cunningham facility page and the SJSWIM schedule for alternate places to cool off.
Why The Park Will Not Open This Year
The first word of the closure came from NBC Bay Area, which reported that the park will no longer operate under the CaliBunga name as San José looks for a longer-term operator. The site had reopened in 2024 under a short-term deal with California Dreamin’ Entertainment after Palace Entertainment stepped away from its lease, a comeback chronicled by the San Francisco Chronicle. The earlier Raging Waters' 2023 shutdown marked the end of the park’s original run. For now, city officials are not pinning down a specific season for when the water-park area might welcome guests again.
Community Events And What Stays Open
The water slides may be dry, but Lake Cunningham is not going into hibernation. The city says portions of the park, including the Action Sports Park, will remain open and could host events such as Agua Fiesta, live concerts, kids’ maker activities, skate and BMX shows, and summer swim programs while the water-park zone is fenced off, per the City of San José. Parks staff plan to coordinate swim options at nearby pools and will post event details to the Lake Cunningham facility page as they are finalized. City leaders are pitching the pause as a chance to rethink and expand aquatic amenities so they appeal to a broader mix of visitors.
What Visitors Should Do Now
If you were counting on a CaliBunga season pass to survive the heat, you will need a backup plan. Season-pass holders and ticket buyers are being told to check the park’s official site for the latest status; CaliBunga lists basic visitor information and the park address but did not show a new opening date when the city made its announcement. For city-run programming and pool schedules, residents can turn to San José’s parks and recreation pages, including the Lake Cunningham facility page and the SJSWIM schedule. Questions about tickets and potential refunds are being routed to the park operator or the city’s PRNS contact listed in the news release.
