Willow Springs Water Park
Willow Springs Water Park is currently owned by David and Lou Ann Ratliff. Willow Springs is the oldest water park in Little Rock and has an interesting history.
Willow Springs first opened for swimming in 1928. The park was used mainly by the servicemen from Camp Robinson which had just recently opened. At this time the lake and surrounding area were owned by the Jacobs family.
In 1953, Jimmy Wirtz bought the swimming pool and the skating rink portion of the property. Mr. Wirtz also owned the original Browning's Mexican Café, El Patio. Mr. Wirtz hired Mr. Dick Mills to manage the skating rink and the swimming pool. After the summer of 1959, Mr. Wirtz sold Willow Springs to Mr. Mills and his wife Jo Mills. The Ratliff family moved from downtown Little Rock to a new home across from Willow Springs in 1958.
Mr. Mills began making immediate changes to the park. In 1960 the Toboggan ride was put into operation. In the mid 1960's the docks were changed from wood to concrete. As a teenager, David helped Mr. Mills with this and other construction projects around the park. The present bathhouse area was constructed in 1966.
The decade of the 1980's were years involving management transition. The daily operation of the park was gradually turned over to the Mill's son, Marty Mills.
The water slide was opened in 1982. During the mid 1980's, David, along with his family and some close friends removed the skating rink, and the picnic area was developed. During the next few years there were some improvements made to the concession area and picnic areas.
Four picnic pavilions were added at the south end of the park in 2000. This addition made group outings more appealing.
The toboggan was removed in 2002 and the Kiddy Pool area was expanded.
Mr. David took over management of Willow Springs in 2004. Mr. David grew up across the street from Willow Springs and started working at the park in 1962 when he was twelve years of age. David continued to work at the park into his twenties, and assisted with the installation of the waterside and the automatic chlorination system. Being a close friend of the Mill's family, David had always dreamed of owning the park, but knew that Marty Mills would be the first choice as next owner.
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