Clementon Park and Splash World
Amusement and water park in New Jersey, USA
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Clementon Park and Splash World is a combined amusement park and water park in Clementon, New Jersey. Historically known as Clementon Lake Park, it was established in 1907 by New Jersey assemblyman Theodore B. Gibbs and his sons, Edgar and Willard. The site developed during the era when trolley companies and local investors promoted recreational parks at the ends of streetcar lines, giving urban residents access to weekend entertainment. A trolley connection from Camden helped make the park a regional destination in its early years. The park is regarded as one of the oldest operating amusement parks in the world and is among the small number of surviving American trolley parks. Its attractions and entertainment offerings changed repeatedly over more than a century. During the 1920s, the property included a nickelodeon theater, a ballroom or dancing casino, a steam-powered carousel, the Jack Rabbit roller coaster, and a razzle-dazzle ride. The Jack Rabbit, installed in 1919, was promoted at the time as a major modern attraction. In later decades, the ballroom hosted dance marathons and other performances, helping the park remain viable during difficult economic periods including the Great Depression. Clementon experienced several notable ownership and operating transitions. The Gibbs family sold the park in 1977 to Abram Baker, who had interests in entertainment venues in Florida, New Jersey, and Maryland. His son Larry Baker later assumed operational responsibility. Adrenaline Family Entertainment acquired the property in 2007 and invested in renovations and new attractions. Among the additions during this period were the Laguna Kahuna interactive water-play area in 2008, Ring of Fire and Thunder Drop in 2010, and Torpedo Rush in 2011. On November 21, 2011, Clementon Lake Holdings, a subsidiary of Premier Parks, LLC, acquired the park through Premier Parks executives Gary Story and Kieran Burke. The water-park component expanded further with the introduction of Big Wave Bay, a large wave pool, for the 2012 season. For 2019, the park added a swinging ship, Tilt-A-Whirl, Scrambler, and Dragon Coaster, with Dragon Coaster relocated from the former Bowcraft Amusement Park in Scotch Plains, New Jersey. The 2019 season ended abruptly on September 8 when the park closed without warning. Events scheduled for later in the season were canceled, and tickets had reportedly already been sold for some future activities. The closure was followed by a dispute involving TD Bank and the park's owners over an unpaid loan reported at $4.5 million. A court order in January 2021 placed the property into receivership under Howard Samuels and Rally Capital Advisors. The park was subsequently offered at a public auction organized by Capital Recovery Group on behalf of Samuels. At the March 23, 2021 auction, the entire park was sold for $2,370,000. The buyer was identified as Gene Staples, an amusement-park investor and real-estate developer associated with IB Parks & Entertainment. Staples had previously been involved in reopening Indiana Beach in Indiana after its closure. Clementon reopened on June 25, 2021, under the Clementon Park and Splash World name. The water park was operating at reopening, while only a limited selection of amusement rides was initially available. The property therefore combines a long-running historical identity with a modern seasonal business model centered on admission-based rides, water attractions, family entertainment, and food and visitor services.
History
Clementon Park began in 1907 in Clementon, New Jersey, when Theodore B. Gibbs and his sons Edgar and Willard established a recreational park beside Clementon Lake. Gibbs was a prominent local figure who had served in several public positions and was connected with the Atlantic City Railroad. The park fit the trolley-park model of the early twentieth century: amusement venues were often developed at the ends of trolley routes to create weekend destinations and increase ridership. A trolley route from Camden helped connect Clementon with the surrounding urban region. During its first decades, Clementon developed from a lakeside recreational site into a broad entertainment complex. By the 1920s it had a movie theater, dancing casino, steam-powered carousel, Jack Rabbit roller coaster, and razzle-dazzle ride. The Jack Rabbit, installed in 1919 at a reported cost of $80,000, represented the park's effort to compete through recognizable mechanical attractions. The property also hosted large public gatherings. In 1931, a fire that began near a shooting-gallery cartridge supply damaged part of the park, including the shooting gallery and a pretzel ride. Firefighters from several nearby communities contained the incident. In 1936, the park received unusual publicity when boxer Al Ettore trained there before a heavyweight title bout with Joe Louis. A grandstand section collapsed while approximately 500 spectators watched the training, although the available account states that no one was seriously injured. In the 1930s through the 1950s, the ballroom became an important source of entertainment and revenue. Dance marathons, some associated with performers and celebrities including Red Skelton and Dick Clark, helped the park endure the economic pressure of the Great Depression and changing leisure habits. The Gibbs family's long association with the property ended in 1977, when Abram Baker acquired the park. Baker had operated or owned other entertainment businesses, including a Miami nightclub, Atlantic City's Fascination Parlour, and Maryland's Glen Echo Park during an earlier period. In 1979, his son Larry Baker took over day-to-day operation. The park continued to function as a traditional regional amusement venue while the industry increasingly shifted toward larger corporate operators and purpose-built theme parks. Adrenaline Family Entertainment purchased the park in 2007 and carried out a substantial renovation program. The water-park side was strengthened with Laguna Kahuna, an interactive play area introduced in 2008. Additional rides followed, including Ring of Fire and Thunder Drop in 2010 and Torpedo Rush in 2011. On November 21, 2011, Gary Story and Kieran Burke acquired the property through Clementon Lake Holdings, a subsidiary of Premier Parks, LLC. Under that ownership, the water offering expanded again with Big Wave Bay, a 23,000-square-foot wave pool, for the 2012 season. The park continued to add attractions before its abrupt 2019 closure. Four rides were introduced for the 2019 season: a swinging ship, Tilt-A-Whirl, Scrambler, and Dragon Coaster. Dragon Coaster had been relocated from Bowcraft Amusement Park in Scotch Plains after that park closed. On September 8, 2019, Clementon ceased operations without the normal end-of-season transition. Planned events were canceled, and the closure created disputes involving advance ticket sales and the park's financial obligations. The post-closure period was dominated by legal and financial proceedings. TD Bank sued the owners over missed payments on a loan reported as $4.5 million. On January 25, 2021, a court order appointed Howard Samuels and Rally Capital Advisors as receivers. Capital Recovery Group subsequently announced that the entire property would be auctioned on March 23, 2021. A local investment group reportedly explored raising funds to purchase and reopen the park, but the auction ultimately produced a sale for $2,370,000. The buyer was identified as Gene Staples, who operated through or alongside IB Parks & Entertainment and had been involved in the revival of Indiana Beach. Clementon Park and Splash World reopened on June 25, 2021. At the reopening, all water-park attractions were reported to be available, while only some amusement rides were operating. The reopening restored the site's role as a seasonal New Jersey leisure destination, although its post-reopening ownership, operating scale, and long-term development plans should be verified from current company or local-government sources.
- 2021
Auction and reopening
[1]The park was sold at auction and reopened on June 25 under the Clementon Park and Splash World identity.
- 2019
Final pre-closure ride expansion
[1]The park introduced four rides, including Dragon Coaster, before closing later that year.
- 2012
Big Wave Bay opens
[1]The water park added a large wave pool for the 2012 season.
- 2011
Premier Parks acquires the property
[1]Clementon Lake Holdings, a Premier Parks subsidiary, purchased the park.
- 2008
Laguna Kahuna opens
[1]The park added Laguna Kahuna, a large interactive water-play area.
- 2007
Adrenaline Family Entertainment acquires the park
[1]A new owner began a multi-year renovation and attraction-investment program.
- 1977
Gibbs family sells the park
[1]Abram Baker acquired Clementon Lake Park from the Gibbs family.
- 1931
Fire damages part of the park
[1]A fire involving the shooting-gallery ammunition supply damaged the shooting gallery and a pretzel ride.
- 1919
Jack Rabbit roller coaster added
[1]The park installed the Jack Rabbit, a major roller-coaster attraction for its era.
- 1907
Park founded
[1]Theodore B. Gibbs and his sons Edgar and Willard founded the park in Clementon, New Jersey.
Products and positioning
A regional, family-oriented amusement and water-park destination combining historic trolley-park heritage with seasonal rides, slides, pools, and attractions for children, families, and thrill-seeking visitors.
Amusement attractions
Amusement rides
The amusement side has historically included roller coasters, thrill rides, family rides, and children's attractions. Documented additions include Ring of Fire, Thunder Drop, a swinging ship, Tilt-A-Whirl, Scrambler, and Dragon Coaster. Ride availability has varied by season, particularly after the 2021 reopening.
Wave pool · 2012
Big Wave Bay
Big Wave Bay is a large wave pool added for the 2012 season. It expanded the park's water-based offering and reinforced the property's dual amusement-park and water-park business model.
Interactive water-play area · 2008
Laguna Kahuna
Laguna Kahuna is an interactive water-play attraction introduced during the park's renovation period under Adrenaline Family Entertainment. It is designed as a family-oriented water feature rather than a conventional dry amusement ride.
Water slide · 2011
Torpedo Rush
Torpedo Rush is a water attraction added in 2011 as part of the park's expansion of its water-park facilities.
Children's roller coaster · 2019
Dragon Coaster
Dragon Coaster was introduced for the 2019 season after being relocated from Bowcraft Amusement Park in Scotch Plains, New Jersey. It broadened the ride mix for younger visitors and families.
Controversies
2019
Abrupt closure and debt litigation
The park closed unexpectedly in September 2019, with scheduled events canceled and reported advance-ticket concerns. TD Bank subsequently filed a lawsuit over missed payments on a reported $4.5 million loan, and the property later entered court-ordered receivership.
Brand decisions
2021
Auction sale to Gene StaplesM&ABackground
Following receivership and a public sale process, the entire park was offered at auction.
Action taken
Gene Staples acquired the property for $2,370,000 through an investment associated with IB Parks & Entertainment.
Aftermath
The park resumed operations on June 25, 2021, with all water attractions and a limited set of amusement rides available initially.
Auction purchase price. $2,370,000 (March 23, 2021)
2019
Abrupt suspension of operationsStrategyBackground
The park faced financial pressure and later became subject to litigation concerning loan payments.
Action taken
Operations ended on September 8, 2019, and planned events were canceled.
Aftermath
The property entered receivership, was auctioned in 2021, and changed ownership before reopening.
Reported loan subject to litigation. (2019)
2011
Acquisition by Premier ParksM&ABackground
Clementon was acquired after a period of renovation and attraction investment under Adrenaline Family Entertainment.
Action taken
Gary Story and Kieran Burke purchased the park through Clementon Lake Holdings, a Premier Parks subsidiary.
Aftermath
The new ownership added Big Wave Bay for the 2012 season and continued developing the water-park component.
2008
Expansion of the water-park offeringProduct launchBackground
After Adrenaline Family Entertainment acquired the park, the owners pursued renovations and new attractions to strengthen its water-park proposition.
Action taken
The park introduced Laguna Kahuna, an interactive water-play area.
Aftermath
Further water attractions, including Torpedo Rush and Big Wave Bay, followed in subsequent seasons.
Recent events
- 2021
Court places Clementon Park into receivership[1]
Lawsuit · Regulation
A January 25 court order granted Howard Samuels and Rally Capital Advisors receivership of the property during the ownership and debt proceedings.
- 2021
Clementon Park is offered at public auction[1]
M&A · Other
Capital Recovery Group announced a public auction for March 23, 2021, on behalf of the receiver's client.
- 2021
IB Parks & Entertainment acquires Clementon Park[1]
M&A
The full property sold at auction for $2,370,000 and was later identified as having been purchased by Gene Staples.
- 2021
Clementon Park and Splash World reopens[1]
Other
The park returned to operations on June 25, 2021. Water attractions were available at reopening, while amusement-ride operations were initially limited.
- 2019
Clementon Park closes abruptly after the 2019 season[1]
Other
The park shut its gates on September 8, 2019, and canceled planned later-season events despite advance sales for some future activities.
Sources2 sources
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