Adventure Landing owner Hank Woodburn has good news for customers who hoped the park would remain open and made tentative party reservations into 2023.
Woodburn said Dec. 20 he was able to negotiate one more season. The park is now set to close Sept. 30, 2023. It had been scheduled to close Dec. 31.
Adventure Landing is at 1944 Beach Blvd. in Jacksonville Beach.
The park property is planned for an apartment development by Trevato Development Group. Zoning changes approved Nov. 7 allow construction of the community, but the project will need additional design work that will delay construction.
This is yet another extension for Woodburn. The park originally was to close on Oct. 31, 2021.
Woodburn is offering 2023 season passes for sale at $99.99 through the remainder of the year. The price will increase until it reaches the maximum $129.
“We are excited and raring to go,” Woodburn said.
“Our employees are relieved and extremely happy.”
The park employs 65 people but that will more than quadruple to 285 when the water park is opened. Job applications are being accepted, he said.
“We are the largest youth employer in Duval County,” he said.
The Jacksonville Beach City Council approved the zoning changes after more than a year of deferrals. The delay was caused by public concerns about traffic and because much of the property is protected wetland.
The project comprises 53.8 acres but the plan is to develop 10.9 acres. Adventure Landing takes up 22.2 acres.
The developers reduced the number of apartments from 427 to 415, agreed to provide access to the marsh, allow for a “Welcome to Jacksonville Beach” sign on its property and made other concessions.
The project will now include 5,000 square feet of office and retail space. A restaurant or coffee shop is expected to take up 1,800 square feet of that commercial portion.
The new plan calls for 30 units or 7% of the apartments, to be set aside for those qualifying under state guidelines for affordable housing.
With the changes, the project will have to be redesigned and that process will take another year, said Nan Kavanaugh, senior public relations and communications manager at Wingard, who represents the developer.
“This is good business for both parties, and good news for the public.”
In November, Steve Diebenow of Driver, McAfee, Hawthorne & Diebenow, the law firm representing the developer, said construction was expected to start in early 2024 and be completed in 2025.