Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

VIDOR — After a five year hiatus Smith Lake Water Park is set to reopen Memorial Day weekend with all renovations to the popular family fun spot.

Atasha Quebedeaux, who is the third generation to be part of Smith Lake, said the park closed with the pandemic for two years then the water level in the lake dropped causing an extension of the closure. Even though Smith Lake is a small watering hole it is still considered a water park and must adhere to strenuous regulations. 

“Rolling into the third year we have some water level issues,” Quebedeaux said. “The sand pit behind us hit the water table so the level would fluctuate.”

Finally, it stopped. When the levels were low she said the shallow water markers were exposed leaving no shallow section. As of now the water level has been at a good stage for more than six months.

But five years without usage took its toll on the structures at the park. 

“We’ve made repairs to pretty much every surface,” she said.

Visitors can go back to having fun on the trolly, high dive, low dive, floating dock, bath house, concessions and a sun hut rental area. No alcohol or glass bottles are allowed in the park but patrons can bring their own picnic, use the barbecue pits provided or bring their own. 

The opening is even more special for Quebedeaux as her son Christian, who left for the Marine Corps the year the lake closed, is returning home this year. Her son has been out of the Marines for a year but stayed in Virginia for his wife to graduate, she said.

Quebedeaux’s connection to Smith Lake goes back years, she said. The original owner Curtis Smith and her grandfather Bill Dean Quebedeaux were friends. She grew up going to Smith Lake as did her children. 

“We are glad to be back,” she said of reopening the park.  “It was nice to take a little break but we’re excited. We are hearing from people who are excited and we’re ready to bring something that is family  friendly and affordable.”

Smith Lake Water Park is located at 790 W. Tram Road, Vidor. They are open Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day, Thursday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The price to get in is $10 for ages three and up.