At the south end of town an abandoned shipwreck steels itself against the winter weather and awaits the day children return to revel in its water amusements. It was sleeting Wednesday morning, but the water park people were thinking summer - as in summer 2005 season passes.

Castaway Cove is setting the stakes high, hoping to sell 4,000 season passes this year. Last summer they sold 3,000 season passes. Business has been good so far - sales are up 31 percent from the same time last year. Of those sales, more than 40 percent are new pass holders, general manager Don Windham said.

"Our hopes are high this season," general partner Dr. Louis Wilson said.

"We had a short season last year," he said, referring to construction delays and inclement weather. "We were successful in many ways, but we didn't make a profit."

"This will be our first chance to get a full season in," Wilson said.

Castaway Cove has learned from its mistakes and is going to be better for them, Windham said. "We looked at our market and felt we were overpriced."

The park has also done away with its waiting list for season passes by removing the limit it set last year.

Castaway Cove is also making other changes - adding water features and making major improvements to the landscaping in and outside the park. Special birthday packages with story time will be offered and more concerts and shows will take place on the park's stage. The park will now have a wait staff to serve snacks to hungry swimmers.

"Our motto for this summer is going to be better run, better looking and more fun for 2005," Windham said.

The shipwreck-themed water park features water slides, a family play area, tidal wave pool, a "lazy river" tube floating stream, a lagoon pool and a volleyball court.

"I think the town really benefits from the water park," Wilson said. "There's nothing else in town that can provide this kind of entertainment."

Wichita Falls resident Ann Armanderez agreed. She purchased season passes this winter for her three children and plans to visit the park frequently next summer.

"It's the place to go on a hot Texas sunny afternoon," she said. "I think it's really well supervised. They have guards everywhere. It's small enough where you feel safe bringing them there and it's big enough for the kids to feel like they have a little freedom."

Castaway Cove is fun for Andie, 10, and Alex, 6, because they can play in the water and meet up with their friends.

Armaderez's youngest daughter, Millie, 3, is also big fan.

"The kiddie area is really neat," Armanderez said. "Millie really enjoys that."

Individual season passes can be purchased at a reduced rate until Jan. 31. Park-goers 42 inches and taller can attend the park all summer for $99.95 - passes for those shorter than 42 inches are $89.95. Prices increase Feb. 1 to $109.95 and $99.95, respectively. Day admission tickets are $17.95 for those 42 inches and taller, $15.95 for military and senior citizens and $14.95 for people 42 inches or shorter.

Castaway Cove plans to open May 21.

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Photo Caption: Mike Wilson checks for frozen valves in the valve station for the children's area of Castaway Cove Waterpark. Wilson is the maintenance manager for the park. Castaway Cove Waterpark is closed for the winter, although the office is open and selling season passes.

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Reprinted from the Wichita Falls Times Record News. Article by Erin Hively. Photo by Torin Halsey.