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Spokane Valley City Council sign off on 5-year lease with Splash Down’s original owners

A rider bursts out of the dark tube section of Fastball, Splashdown Water Park’s high speed water slide July 18, 2008. Riders of the attraction described the six-story plunge as “creepy,” “awesome” and “super fun.” (Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)
By Amy Edelen amye@spokesman.com(509) 459-5581

Spokane Valley city officials unanimously approved a five-year lease with the original owners of Splash Down, who plan to reopen the water park this month.

Bill and Ruth Bleasner operated the water park from 1982 to 2005 under the corporation Splash Down Concessions Inc. on a city-owned section of Valley Mission Park.

The Bleasners sold the corporation to Geoff and Melissa Kellogg in 2005, who leased the property from the city and operated the water park through 2017.

Spokane Valley in 2009 extended a 10-year lease to the Kelloggs with a lease payment of $25,000 a year, but terminated it in May due to nonpayment.

City Council at its Tuesday meeting approved a new lease agreement with the Bleasners through Dec. 31, 2023, with an option for a second, five-year term. The lease payment to the city will be $15,000 per year.

The Bleasners launched Splash Down in 1983 after a family vacation to Kelowna, British Columbia, prompted the idea for a water park when they were a relatively new concept.

The city inherited the land containing Valley Mission Park from Spokane County when it incorporated in 2003 and adopted the county’s lease with Splash Down Concessions.

Attorney John Montgomery of Waldo, Schweda & Montgomery, who is representing the Bleasners, said the land was once the site of an old gravel pit until the couple built Splash Down – a state of the art facility at the time that was very popular with children and families.

Although Splash Down faced competition from Silverwood Theme Park and Spokane County, which also opened water parks over the years, the facility continued to thrive in Spokane Valley.

“They believe, and I believe as well, there’s significant benefit to the community, and as a desire to keep that, they’ve really poured their hearts into it particular in the last couple of months,” Montgomery said. “Mr. Bleasner in particular has been laboring almost every day at the facility trying to bring it up. And, hopefully, they will be successful in continuing the operation.”

Spokane Valley Councilman Arne Woodard said he’s OK with the $15,000 yearly lease amount because Splash Down is a family friendly amenity in the city.

Spokane Valley Councilman Ben Wick echoed that Splash Down is a community asset and is in favor of a five-year lease agreement.

“So, whether it’s five (years) or whatever term it may be, …we want this to be successful for both them and us as a facility,” he said.