Wet 'n Wild Orlando will close Dec. 2016

The pool party is coming to an end.

Wet 'n' Wild in Orlando announced Wednesday that it is closing in 2016. Founded in 1977, it is considered to be one of America's first major water parks.

Here's a post from Wet 'n' Wild's Facebook page: "After almost 40 years, Wet 'n' Wild Orlando will be permanently closing on December 31, 2016. Check out the Universal Orlando Resort blog for a thank you to our fans for all of the countless memories."

In its place Universal Orlando Resort, which owns the water park, will build Volcano Bay. It's set to open in 2017 as the "resort's third incredibly immersive park," according to a Universal Orlando news release. Volcano Bay is being constructed on 53 acres near the theme park's Cabana Bay Beach Resort.

"It will offer radically innovative, thrilling attractions, peaceful moments of relaxation and an inspired guest experience that will forever change the perception of water theme parks," the news release states. "It will be set in a highly themed, completely immersive environment inspired by postcard-perfect tropical islands. And it will be the kind of special place that only the Universal team — the same team that has changed the face of Universal Orlando Resort in recent years — can envision and create."

A rendering of Volcano Bay shows a towering volcano with a walkway, waterfall and slides. It will also include a lazy river and rapids ride.

Universal Orlando Resort also is home to Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade.

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Facebook feedback

•"Last time I went Wet 'n Wild, it was pretty tame in comparison to other water parks. I'm not surprised it's closing, but glad I have experienced it." — Nicholas Douglas Morgan

•"Love Wet 'n Wild. So sad it's closing many birthday parties there." — Cynthia Radcliffe

•"Our boys are just getting old enough to go, and they've been begging to ... and now it's closing." — Angela B Ivanovskiy

•"Aww I loved going there as a kid when I lived there." — Sharon Ellis Shaffer