Rock-A-Hoola: water park in stasis

Rock-A-HoolaBoing Boing posts about a run-down kiddie amusement park in Egypt and I was reminded about Rock-A-Hoola.

Rock-A-Hoola is (was?) a mostly closed-but-not-quite-totally-abandoned water park out in the Mojave Desert in Newberry Springs, CA. The park has been kicking around irregularly since at least the early-70s – I remember ads for Lake Dolores (as it was known back then) airing on KTLA in the cheap post-midnight airspace alongside Truckmaster School Of Trucking and Cal Worthington. Presumably the idea was for it to be a tourist/camping stopover on the road between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. I couldn’t imagine anyone being excited to to there – it’s too far for a day trip from LA and not much there to give you a reason to stay. I suppose there’s always the Vegas crowd, but it seem like they always REALLY want to get to Vegas.

Anyway, I snagged some photos of the place in October 2003. The main water slide part of the park was fenced off (and patrolled by dogs) but I got some pictures of the surrounding facilities. I still have to question the long-term viability of a water park in an area with little water and abundant evaporation, but that’s not stopping folks from dreaming.

Lake Dolores / Rock-A-Hoola on Wikipedia
Rock-A-Hoola in better days.

256 thoughts on “Rock-A-Hoola: water park in stasis”

  3. Wow!! I’m amazed at the interest for the good ol’ Lake “D”. I was one of the main lifeguards back in the day. I had a very cool time working for Bob and Dee. The Byers family has had a huge impact in my life as a result of those years I spent working there. They had a great work ethic and it influenced me for sure. Other than seeing Jody Sr. every once in a great while I have lost touch with the family over the years. I went to school with Joey and Jody and worked together as well. Great guys. I taught their Lifesaving class. Other than Larry, the primary Security supervisor, I frequent the property quite often, with permission. You want to talk about sadness man, when the orginal Lake Dolores closed that was sadness. You have no idea what it was like to work almost 24/7 at a place like that. There will never be a place as cool. With all of the great sit down slides, stand up slides, Tram (zip lines), trapeze,(swings), and high dives. We used to pull off some pretty cool tricks back in the day. We actually put on some great shows for our guests. No place like it. You could pull right up next to the water, picnic, BBQ, and have a great time. The only bummer at time was that booze was allowed. Excessive booze and water rides are not a good mix. Most folks were cool when you asked them to stand down. Some weren’t and we dealt with them. All in all a very good time. When Terry began talking to Bob and Dee after the 22 year run they had with the park it was a great feeling to know that new life would be breathed in. Terry had some phenomenal ideas, true vision. His groups current plans are huge and will be of tremendous benefit to a fledgling community. Have faith. Think of what many places on our current world map started out like. Vegas? Palm Springs? Takes a lot of planning and keen business savvy. Rough market right now. Heather your dad is way cool. I hope he is doing as well as can be expected. Tell him Hi from 46. He’ll know.

    Bummer news to report for you all. Last week some criminals broke in and caused close to $50,000 worth of damage. Made a giant mess, broke a bunch of glass and were quite disrespectful with some writings left behind. Without a doubt security was compromised. The sheriff has beefed up patrols in the area as a result. Not a good idea to visit right now. For those of you that were apart of the old school Lake “D”, keep those memories. You were able to take part in true “Americana”. Those were the days indeed. I hope I treated you with respect if we ever crossed paths. Customers were usually the best of the best. I dug you all to the max.

    Hey Rob, Larry was quick to tell me that your whole crew were very respectful and kind during your visit to the “Big Bopper” and the rest of the property. Good to hear. I don’t catch the show very often, but what I have seen is pretty funny. I do have the Rocka Hoola episode in Tivo.

    Peace and Good Times.

  4. thats good to hear.It was a lot of fun going down the rock a hoola slides and having a good time.

  5. hey i thought this might be of interst to some of you, the big bopper is now renamed the collosal canyon, and is at a waterpark in bc canada,
    kinda cool to know the ride is in use again,

  6. So many good times at the original Lake Dolores (Fun Spot of the Desert)! We used Lake “D” as a get away during the day as a break from camping at nearby Mule Canyon (behind Calico Ghost Town). I will always remember the stand up slides and hitting that damn tire at the end of the tram slide. Say Goodbye to Shangra La….There will never be another Lake “D”. Only glad I got to visit many times…..

  7. I drive past about four times a year on my way to Dumont Dunes, and Every time it brings back good memories! It would be nice if it was opened and operated as it was when it was Lake “D”. It’s too bad society is so sue happy, Lake “D” wouldn’t last very long now days!!! Talk about a workout, swimming to the shore,then climbing all those stairs for a 4 sec ride….but it was worth it!!!

  8. I never really knew the place existed. As someone stated above, I always thought it was part of my imagination as a kid cruising with my OG’s (old geezers) to Vegas. I always wanted to know the name of the place. Rob and Big did good. Dudes brought a lot of interest towards an American icon, that’s how I found out the name. After watching the episode i went online and read every single post on here. Though I’m sad that I’ll never get the chance to go there, I’ll have memories of it myself, from the memories everyone has shared here.

  9. Too bad !! Irresponsible people like Jimmy Mason should suck it up take responsibility and pay for his own mistakes. What’s wrong with our court system and judges,,, That they award money to idiots who create their own issues.

  11. Hey guys it’s been a long time s/n i last talked but im back so if you sill have Q i will be happy to tell you them about the park or the show

  12. Hi Heather, you might remember me, I work for SNSF and I helped set up family days parties at the park for BNSF. I am involved in a local museum in Barstow, http://www.route66museum.org, and wondered if you might give us copies of some of the pictures and if you have items that were sold there with the name on them to set up a display on the attraction. You can email me at hodkd@yahoo.com

  15. Now that Las Vegas, NV has no water park, this would be the closest water park to drive to. If it was open, yes I would use it frequently and spend several nights in the local area as a mini vacation. Believe me, it’s good to get out of Vegas, if you live there, especially if you have kids.

  16. I am dating the Grandson of John & Delores Byers. He has told me SOO many stories of when he was a kid and would go there. His Mom, Kim Byers(now has a different last name due to Marriage), was the daughter of John & Delores and her and her friends would go out there and party!!! John built that water park for his kids and grandkids, and by the name of it, his wife. We go out there every few weekends in the summer (actually going there this weekend)- they have a house, that is still family owned, about 10-15 miles past that on the 15 in a community around a lake. I never met my bf grandparents, unfortunately, but i heard that they were amazing people..and it shows thru my bf and his mom and the rest of the family. i know alot of people knew Kim and her Siblings- they are all doing fine and have their families.

  19. Hello Tish,

    So is Mark your BF? What is he doing these days? You should have him post on this site. How are Haley and Kim doing? I practically taught Mark and Haley to swim. Lots of time spent in the swing lake.

  20. Hello,

    I’m too always see that abandoned waterpark every time when going to Vegas from California. The can of coke always stands out from the rest of the park. I just came back from vacationing in Las Vegas with my mother today and just noticed that the park’s name was Rock A Hoola. I really want to see more image of this park. I search online almost every site, but none show up. I just want to see what it looks like inside. Any site that shows the picture of abandoned or in good shape of this park? Or any more sites with information??? Anybody knows please e-mail at molly_loves_imagine@yahoo.com. Thanks for the info. given too !

  21. Hey guys, I am the grandaughter of john and dolores byers that used to own the lake dolores. I would love to answer any questions.

  22. I have a question is the park ever going to come back to life or is it relly going to taken down for more houes. I would like to come back with my crew and skate on the slids for seson 4 if me and big black feel like it please tell me thanks!
    http://www.DC.com/rob dyrdek

  25. hay just wanted to offer any help I can to get a nother cable park up in the us. I ride at ski rixen in florida and am willing to help in any way I know the ins and outs of the cable. I have worked at my home cable for 14 years and am currently writing a business plan to try to find some investors to help build my own.

  26. How do you kown if rob is fake or not he nows a lot and is vary nice on this web site and has been asking about the park if he can come back you cant just say that it might relly be him un like you puting up is name for fun just so that people think that your him witch your not

  28. We still dont kown if we will come back with seson 4 we may or may not we dont kown but still if i was fake i would only respond on some days and i would not be telling people stuff about the park becaues i was the only one that got in with big black the show did not stop because we got tierd it is becaues black had a baby and he is a dad now so you can say i am fake or not thats ok that does not mean that i am fake.

  29. rob is a fake no joke i was over at a firends house and i saw him on this web site and he said that he was macking the hole thing up just to make people fell happy wich will not it was not funny at all so i would like to say sorry to every one this was a bad joke that went on to long he says he will stop seson 4 may come out i am just saying? 🙁 so rob was fake and the other robs WILL be fake just for a crul joke

  33. DUDE! FINALLY a place with people who KNOW about the original park! I’ve been looking forever! PLEASE HELP ME!!!

    I’m 28, and have memories or going to Lake Dolores when I was VERY young. My dad and his brothers used to do all kinds of crazy crap on the trapeze and stand up slides! They LOVED the place, and miss it dearly (damn California lawyers making all the fun places impossible to rebuild).

    I can’t seem to find ANY photos of the old place…does anyone here have some that they’re willing to share? Specifically, photos of the original slides, trapeze, zip line, or campground? And wasn’t there a ‘barrel’ in the lake somewhere that two people would stand on and try to knock each-other off?

    Again…vivid but distant memories.

    ANY pictures would be GREATLY appreciated!

    -Jerrod

  34. Rob is a fake because seaon 4 will not be out Rob will be in a new show called Fantasy Life and Big will be hosting his own show either on Showtime G4 or another channel. He will not be with MTV anymore.

  35. wow there’s more people into that ruined park than i thought. i live closeby & drive around that place when i go paintballing with my buds & actually pretty much all the flumes have been torn down. The staircases that once held the flumes and some buildings are all that stand now. pretty sad, but the place is just bones. those pics of the place with everything nicely maintained are nothing of how they look like right now.

  38. Where are the houses?? It’s been 10 months. economy in the shitter! People who want pics, it’s called google. I found pics immediately. Hey Rice, not sure how to post here but you could post pics somewhere else and leave a link for everyone to click and enjoy. The park hasn’t changed sice February. Sure, the slides are gone but everything looks the same. Where are the bulldozers? Where are the so called houses??

  39. Wow..I am 42 and can remember camping at Lake Delores in the mid to late 70’s. Back then it only had 3 sit down slides ( that i remember )1 stand up slide, a zip line , a trapeze, a log that you had to keep your balance on and knock your opponent off of. We camped there for one weekend and I swear it was the best weekend of my life. I can’t believe it’s gone now..I thought it was genius to have a waterpark in the middle of the desert. Who would have thought it? I have 1 pic from that weekend my dad took it of me coming off the slide on my raft on my belly skipping across the lake like a skipping stone..lol..the look on my face is pure bliss! I will never forget it as long as I live.. I have often wondered over the years what had happened…I called my dad and asked him if he remembered lake delores and he was like well of course…then a week later he sent this linc and I got to read all of your great posts..some actually made me cry. Good luck with whatever happens..Thank you heather and your families for memories I will treasure FOREVER! God Bless Ya’ll

  41. If I remember correctly, you were always seeing adds on TV ( in Orange County )about visiting Lake Dolores. That is where I first heard of the place. Myself and about 8 of my friends would go at least 6-10 a summer starting back in about 1978. Very fun place to go and they let you get pretty crazy there as long as you played by their rules. pretty simple rules at that.No bottled beeror for that matter, no glass containers.We brought keg beer all the time in our van and NEVER had any problems. The Beyer Family was some of the coolest people I had met.I can not even think to say anything bad about them. I spent several summer weekends there.I even remember one morning waking up after passing out on a sandhill of rather large ants.Thousands of them. Amazing without one bite, just another story to tell and laugh about. Sure is funny that it has been 30 years ago. I can even tell you that putting baby oil on the sit down slide rafts would increase the speed on your way down the slide, doing 360s’ down the stand up slides was only for the truely brave Lake Dolorians as we called ourselves. There was also hitting the tire while zooming down the tram.If you weren’t careful you might even hit the other side of the water. Dragging the rope was a B…. but worth it. They didn’t have water shoes back then so walking up the hill sides to get to the top to make the quick trip down was again always worth it. If anyone out there was going there around 1978 to 1983, you might just remember me and my friends making Billy Goat sounds while we walked up the hillside, that was us. And if anyone who reads this might not believe me, all I can say is ask Penny.With that, this should be proof enough.
    I think taht Lake Dolores influenced me to move to Lake Havasu. Been here now for 18 years now. I too am sorry for the closure. Alot of GREAT YOUTHFUL MEMORIES.
    STEVE

  42. Hey Steve !
    Remember trying to “sleep” on top of the covered picnic benches. Millions of stars, trucks streaming by on the highway and schrooms!!!

  43. Ed,
    Are we just getting too old too enjoy this kind of fun? Those were the days.Cruising my dads Chrysler Imperial out there, partying our asses off and making the ELECTRIC KOOLAIDE!!

  45. All of this has really made me emotional my son wrote about my grandpa and I lived there growing up. I remember all my family being together and know that my grandparents are in Heaven I really miss them and we are not doing anything as a family anymore. My father who built the lake out of their ranch is living with me right now and knows everything about it. He was a young boy when they moved out there and the little house on the hill is what all 7 of them lived in. He actually came up with the slides and him and his dad did all the work. It was amazing and I am proud to have lived there. Sorry to the owners after us that is so sad and my heart brakes for you because I know where your dads heart was. My dad dug the water to have the well and was telling me how they came up with the pulley to do this. I remember so many people who came there and from all over the world. I remember all the races and my brothers still have trophies from them. Thanks to all who have kept my grandfathers and fathers dream alive you will never know what this means to me for my grandfather was a hero in my life nichole Lowe

  46. Local Boy:

    No i am dating Justin who is Kim’s son… Meagan, the one who commented a few below me on 8/26 is John Byers granddaughter/Justin’s sister.

    Mark and Mark Jr. right? Mark Jr got married last year on the base in San Diego. Haley his sister etc.

    so you were friends with Mark Sr then. havent talked to him in a while.

  47. OH and ED:

    Thats what i heard.. lake Delores was a PARTY place!!!

    My bf’s mom and siblings would always be there having a blast!

  48. I am Nichole’s sister, oldest of 5. the big accident that happened with an employee did not happen while my grandparents owned the Lake. My grandparents retired and sold the lake, none of the kids wanted to take over Lake Delores. I moved to Montana and so I did not have the opportunity to take over where my grandparents left off. There are lots of stories to be told of this great party place.

  49. Also, If I can figure out a way to post pictures of the lake, I will. I have an arial picture and lots of family pictures at the lake. It’s great to read all the different things people have written. I miss the summers at my grandparents. There is more to the story of how Lake Dolores actually came about. My grandparents started out with a cattle ranch & alfalfa fields and a 1000 or more acres that they homesteaded. They owned where the freeway is now Hwy 15. They sold all but 300 + acres and started with a waterskiing & boat racing lake and a fishing lake. Each year my grandpa would add something to the lake. I remember when 2020 came out and interviewed my grandpa and they filmed me and my cousin Kelly walking up the standup slide hill and then the man doing the interviews went down the standup slide the same time I did on the slide next to him. I wish I could have seen that when it aired on TV or even be able to get a tape of it. I can’t believe people are still talking about Lake Dolores. The middle of the desert, middle of nowhere was the best place for the lake. My grandparents are gone but I am happy to see that their legend lives on, they were great people. We used to say it was such a big soap opera with all the stuff that went on there. Please continue to share your experiences at Lake Dolores.

  50. Penny –

    If I can be of any help here, if you have some pictures scanned I can put them on my Flickr account for everyone. Least I could do for indirectly starting all this.

    -Chris

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