Wet ‘n Wild Orlando to close next year

After nearly 40 years, Wet ‘n Wild Orlando will close its doors for the last time at the end of 2016.

Universal Orlando announced the planned closure of Wet ‘n Wild which will make way for the recently announced Volcano Bay water park project, which is due to open in 2017.

"Wet ‘n Wild Orlando has been a place where guests have created wonderful memories. As America’s first water park, Wet ‘n Wild has been the birthplace of numerous innovations that are now considered a common part of the water park experience," a Universal statement said.

The attraction was created by SeaWorld founder George Millay and opened in 1977.

It remained the nation’s top water park until the late 1990s when Walt Disney World Resort launched Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach.

Last year it attracted about 1.3 million visitors, making it the fourth most visited in the country after two Disney water parks and SeaWorld Orlando’s Aquatica.

According to Universal, the new Volcano Bay next generation water park will ‘completely redefine the water park experience’ with ‘radically-innovative attractions and peaceful moments of relaxation.’