CAPE CORAL, Fla. - Surrounded by water, a fire broke out at Sun Splash Family Waterpark in Cape Coral early Tuesday morning.
With a heat wave that's nearly one for the record books, it couldn't have happened at worse time.
Fire damage to several buildings has shut the park down. The slides and pools are fine, but the park's electrical and computer system is now off-line. The Calypso Cafe, the gift shop and guest services are all gone.
Fire officials say the fire was started by a golf cart inside.
Employees like 17 year old Zac Boyd are taking the news hard. "My friend texted me like, yeah, we got the day off. Sun Splash is burning down. I was like aww, God."
PHOTOS: Fire damage at Sun Splash Family Waterpark
The Adriondack Chocolatier, just down the street from the water park, sees a lot of families on their way to and from Sun Splash. "It's hard to have something close. It's one of the really popular spots in Cape Coral," says Leslie Depolis.
And neighbors say Sun Splash is too important for families to be shut down for long.
"A lot of kids they don't have pools and they want to go and have fun with their family. And, its just too bad," says Cape Coral resident Melissa Helle.
Hours after the fire that caused several hundred thousand dollars worth of damage, city crews were busy clearing away the rubble. They plan to keep the park in business.
They're going to bring in trailers for cooking as well as provide shelter for employees. "I'm hoping that by Monday we can be open and Id like to shoot for sooner than that if at all possible," says Steve Pohlman with the city.
Fortunately there are no injuries to report.
The park will close for the season at the end of September. They intend to have new structures in place next year, their 25th anniversary.
