Blue Bayou Water Park in Baton Rouge will reopen in May 2026 under new management and a new name — Soak'n Fun — it was announced Tuesday.
The water park off Interstate 10 didn't open this summer, and it was unclear what the future of the popular venue was, especially after its sister attraction, Dixie Landin' Theme Park was open for about a week.
The new management company is Leisure Sports and Recreation, based in Mandeville, which also owns and operates the Gulf Islands Waterpark in Gulfport, Mississippi. Gulf Islands is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.
"The Soak'n Fun family of waterparks is known for delivering clean and safe family fun," the news release said.
"We're thrilled to bring the Soak'n Fun experience to Baton Rouge," Glenn Haggerty, managing partner of Leisure Sports and Recreation, said in the announcement.
Like Blue Bayou, Gulf Islands is a regional attraction, also located off Interstate 10. It features a wave pool, water slides and what it bills as a "water roller coaster." Gulf Islands recently started courting Baton Rouge visitors after Blue Bayou announced it was not opening this year.
Leisure Sports and Recreation will be working this year in preparation for the new Soak'n Fun opening next year, it said. The company said further details will be announced later this year.
It will not be leasing or operating Dixie Landin', it said.
The theme park located next door to Blue Bayou reopened for the 2025 season, but closed about a week later. Sam Haynes Jr., CEO and owner of Blue Bayou and Dixie Landin', told WBRZ that Dixie Landin' has closed permanently.
The parks have operated on a limited basis since the COVID pandemic.
Dixie Landin' was closed from 2019 to 2024, while Blue Bayou closed after a shortened season in 2021 due to Hurricane Ida. In 2022, the water park was open for only a couple of weeks due to staffing issues.
In 2023, park officials said Blue Bayou was open while Dixie Landin' remained closed because the water park was more popular. They denied the widespread speculation that staffing issues were keeping both parks from operating fully.
Before COVID, the parks traditionally were open from mid-May to Labor Day weekend and featured concerts from pop, rock and country acts including Blake Shelton, Panic! at the Disco, Jason Aldean and Cheap Trick.
According to a lease filed Friday with the East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court’s Office, SFBB LLC of Mandeville will pay $50,000 a month in base rent for Blue Bayou. SFBB is made up of Haggerty, Paul Rees, a Mandeville tax attorney who serves as president and chief financial officer of Leisure Sports and Recreation, and Mark Moore, general manager of Gulf Islands Waterpark, according to a business filing with the Louisiana Secretary of State’s office.
The lease is set to expire at the end of 2027, but there are options to renew the lease for up to six five-year terms. SFBB also has the right of first refusal to buy Blue Bayou if the park ownership receives an offer for the land.
The agreement allows SFBB to bring in third parties to run restaurants, gift shops or retail in the park and to add new attractions, water slides and permanent structures to the park.
Along with Gulf Islands and Soak'n Fun, Leisure Sports and Recreation is developing Jubilee Park, a proposed $60 million attraction in Mobile, Alabama. Jubilee Park would include an indoor and outdoor water park, zip lines and sports fields. Plans are to open the park in phases between 2027 and 2029, according to The (Biloxi) Sun Herald.