Do You Remember Cascade Water and Amusement Park Next to Funtown in Saco, Maine?

Ever wish you could step back in time and relive the days when summers felt endless? Well, if you grew up near Saco, Maine, there's a good chance your endless summers as a kid included visits to Cascade Water and Amusement Park. Long before it became the mega-attraction known as Funtown Splashtown USA, this local gem was the go-to spot for water-soaked fun and thrilling rides.

I remember visiting Cascade every summer when I was a kid. It was one of the top things I looked forward to doing during the (what felt like) never-ending summer vacations from school. It’s pretty crazy to think it splashed onto the scene all the way back in 1982, thanks to Andre Dallaire, who transformed the old Marvel Drive-In into a giant waterpark. It’s pretty nostalgic to visit today, as certain slides and pools have remained the same.

I also remember the Thunder Bolt water slide (not to be confused with the ride over at Funtown). You had a plexiglass sled that you needed to haul up a couple flights of stairs. As an eight or nine-year-old kid, it felt like it weighed 100 lbs. The ride has since been altered into a similar slide called Amphrimite’s Challenge, which no longer requires young kids to perform what felt like manual labor at the time.

Now let’s fast forward to 1996, when Ken Cormier (the owner of Funtown USA) decided to kick things up a notch. He purchased Cascade and merged it with Funtown, creating the powerhouse of fun that he aptly named Funtown Splashtown USA. This brilliant combo meant that visitors could enjoy the best of both worlds.

Ken sadly passed away in 2013. He is pictured below with his widow, Violet, who is still actively involved with Funtown Splashtown USA.

Over the years, it has continued to grow, adding new attractions to keep the spirit of summer alive. You may remember the massive expansion in 2007, when the park introduced the Mammoth and Tornado slides.

Today, Funtown Splashtown USA stands as a nostalgic yet ever-evolving destination where kids of all ages (including big kids like me) create lasting memories. To me, it’s a place that will always bring me right back to my childhood.