If you are viewing on the ABC10 app, tap here for multimedia.
Manteca will soon break ground on a new multi-million dollar water park.
The Great Wolf Lodge is an indoor water park and hotel that has been in the works for years.
"This is huge for Manteca," Tim Ogden, the Manteca City Manager said.
The Great Wolf Lodge is now officially putting down roots in Manteca. They closed escrow on the city-owned property last week and will be breaking ground later this week.
"So, this is becoming a tourist destination here in the Central Valley," Ogden said.
The future home of the indoor water park will take up about 30 acres just west of the Manteca Costco, near Daniels Street and Airport Way. The indoor water park and hotel is expected to rake in about 500,000 tourists a year in addition to the 400,000 people the Big League Dreams sports complex already brings in, right across the street.
"This is great news for Manteca, not only for the sales tax and property tax, the transient occupancy tax, which is the hotel tax, but 500 jobs will also be created for our residents and others. So, it's a win, win-win for all categories," Ogden said.
Locals will tell you, it's about time.
"They need it. They had the water slides, it was great, they need the water park just for the locals, never mind anybody else," Donna Martinez, a nearby resident said.
But here's the catch: To use the water park, you have to book a room.
"Wouldn't be worth it for the locals," Martinez said.
It is easy for out-of-towners who will come from across the region, but frustrating for locals.
"We live here, so if we had to get a hotel room to get in the pool, it's like, we'll have to go in our own pool then because we don't want to stay overnight," she said.
To make room for the extra traffic expected from more visitors, the city has also committed to opening a $40 million McKinley Interchange off Highway 120. It's set to open at the same time as the park, in time for Spring Break in 2020.
Continue the conversation with Lena on Facebook.