The World Waterpark Association ( WWA ), which was started in 1982, is an international not-for-profit member-based trade association that serves waterparks , aquatic venues and spray parks. The WWA is focused on providing its 1200 members with the education and networking that they need to operate safely and effectively.
6-538: Founded in 1982, World Waterpark Association was inspired by the creativity and success of George Millay , the “Father of the Waterpark,” who designed the industry-changing SeaWorld and Wet 'n Wild amusement parks. The organization is currently led by Rick Root, who was named President in 2001. [1] The World Waterpark Association is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors consisting of 14 waterpark owners, operators, suppliers and developers. The term of each board position
12-544: Is 2 years. A Governance Committee comprises the chairman, vice chairman, treasurer and secretary. World Waterpark Association launched the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson in 2010. It is an annual, worldwide event that focuses on the importance of learning to swim and the need for drowning prevention education. On June 20, 2014, they broke the world record with 36,564 participants at multiple venues in 480 locations in 22 countries. World Waterpark Magazine
18-478: Is a trade journal for the global water park industry. It is published 10 times a year in both print and digital version. George Millay George Millay (July 4, 1929 – February 6, 2006) was an American businessman and founder of SeaWorld and Wet 'n Wild water parks . Millay was born July 4, 1929, at Mercy Hospital and grew up in Ocean Beach , San Francisco, and Hawaii. After serving three years in
24-782: The Navy, he enrolled at UCLA . He graduated in 1955 and worked as a stockbroker. In 1958, Millay and two partners who included David Tallichet , formed Speciality Restaurants Corporation, a destination-restaurant business. Their first location was a Polynesian -themed Reef in Long Beach . More than 100 restaurants across the U.S. followed, including the Proud Bird adjacent to Los Angeles International Airport , and 94th Aero Squadron near Van Nuys Airport . After selling SRC to Tallichet, Millay envisioned creating an underwater zoo. Joining with two fraternity brothers and their former fraternity adviser,
30-570: The group hoped to create an attraction to rival Marineland . SeaWorld opened in 1964 in San Diego, California. An orca named Shamu was added in 1965 and became one of its most successful attractions. Millay opened SeaWorld Ohio in 1970 and SeaWorld Orlando in 1973. He assisted in the development of Magic Mountain . In 1977, Millay developed the now-defunct Wet 'n Wild water park in Orlando, Florida . Founded in 1982, World Waterpark Association
36-478: Was inspired by Millay‘s creativity and success. Based in Overland Park, Kansas , World Waterpark Association is led by a volunteer board of directors, a Governance Committee, and a paid staff of directors and managers. Annually, WWA hosts a conference and Trade Show to educate members and to showcase waterpark products and services. The organization publishes the trade publication World Waterpark Magazine . By
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