DropZone Waterpark in Perris is closing for good after a decade

The company that runs Riverside County’s $24 million water park in Perris says DropZone will close permanently, but its farewell gives no last day and no reason.

DropZone Waterpark, the county-owned water park in Perris, Calif., is closing for good. The news came from StandGuard Aquatics, the company that has managed the park for Riverside County, in a farewell posted on DropZone’s website this month.

“DropZone Waterpark will be permanently closing,” the notice reads. StandGuard said it shares the news “with heavy hearts” after 10 years of running the park for the county.

What the farewell leaves out is just as notable. There’s no final date, no reason for the closure and no word on what Riverside County plans for the 12-acre site. The New York Post picked up the story Tuesday, Nov. 10, and called it a theme park. It’s a water park.

The notice thanks staff, guests and “the Riverside County community.” It signs off with a line made for a souvenir T-shirt: “The gates may be closing, but the memories will live on forever.”

Why is DropZone Waterpark closing?

Nobody has said. StandGuard’s announcement doesn’t give a reason, and Travel And Tour World, which also covered the closure Tuesday, noted that the operator offered no detailed explanation.

The wording matters, though. StandGuard frames the end of the park around its own 10 years “proudly managing” DropZone “for Riverside County.” The county owns the property, so the county decides what comes next. As of Tuesday night, we couldn’t find a county statement on the closure.

When is DropZone’s last day?

That’s unclear too. DropZone is a summer park, so the 2026 season is already over. The farewell doesn’t say whether the park will open at all in 2027 or if this summer was the end.

The park’s website still lists a ticket page and a phone number, 951-988-3950. If you’re holding a season pass or a party booking, that’s the place to ask about refunds. The farewell doesn’t mention either.

What was at DropZone Waterpark?

Riverside County built DropZone as a long-awaited recreation spot for the Perris and Menifee area, according to the City of Perris. Its formal name is the Perris-Menifee Valley Aquatic Center. It sits at 2165 Trumble Road, just east of Interstate 215.

The park opened May 24, 2014. The City of Perris puts the price tag at $24 million, while the Idyllwild Town Crier reported $25 million when it opened. Here’s what the city and the Town Crier listed:

• FlowRider: a surf-style wave simulator, billed at opening as double-sized

• Water slides: two large slides, plus mat racers at opening

• Jet Stream: a lazy river for inner tubes

• Competition pool: with timing, an electronic scoreboard and grandstands for swim meets

• Kids’ areas: Lil’ Jumpers and the shallow Meridian Springs

• Extras: beach volleyball, cabanas, banquet rooms and the Fill Station snack bar

In its early days, county staff ran the park. Aquatics International named DropZone to its Best of Aquatics list in 2015, when the park’s season pass sales rose more than 11% and cabana rentals jumped 44% over 2014. Swim lessons more than doubled.

That year’s big problem was awareness. Guests kept telling staff they never knew the park existed, the magazine reported.

What other Southern California parks are closing?

DropZone is the second Inland Empire park to call it quits this year. Fiesta Village Family Fun Park in Colton closed in July after more than 50 years, NBC Los Angeles reported. The park blamed rising costs, low attendance and competition from bigger parks.

Up north, Six Flags will close [California’s Great America for good on Labor Day 2027](https://news.piratesandprincesses.net/p/californias-great-america-will-close) after a run of more than 50 years. That one gets a long goodbye. DropZone, so far, doesn’t get a date at all.

We’ll update this if Riverside County or StandGuard shares a last day or plans for the site.

Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.

Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

Hat Tips:

• DropZone Waterpark (Nov. 2026), StandGuard Aquatics’ farewell announcement, operator and phone number

• New York Post (Nov. 10, 2026), first report of the closure

• Travel And Tour World (Nov. 10, 2026), the lack of an explanation from the operator

• City of Perris (2026), the park’s formal name, cost, opening date and attractions

• Idyllwild Town Crier (May 17, 2014), opening day, $25 million cost, location and original features

• Aquatics International (Nov. 2015), county operation, 2015 pass and cabana growth and awareness issue

• NBC Los Angeles (July 7, 2026), Fiesta Village’s closure

AI Disclosure: All articles are assigned, edited and reviewed by an experienced human editor before posting. Like most modern newsrooms, WebReef Media uses a variety of AI tools to help with accuracy and efficiency. Ways AI may be used in article creation include research, grammar, fact-checking and ideation, as well as occasional AI generated or enhanced thumbnails or graphics. No articles are generated or posted without human oversight or involvement.