Severe storm damage leaves Cape Splash park’s closed this weekend

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo.(KBSI)— Strong storms that rolled through the region left significant damage at Cape Splash family aquatic center, just days ahead of its anticipated Memorial Day weekend opening.

Aquatic Facility Supervisor Robert Shanahan said he was notified around 2:30 a.m. about the damage. Crews responded early Tuesday morning to begin assessing the situation.

“I got notified about 2:30 that we had sustained some storm damage,” Shanahan said. “So we got some crews in here early this morning to start assessing the damage.”

As of Tuesday, staff were still determining the extent of the damage and how long repairs might take. Originally slated to open Saturday, the water park’s status is now closed this weekend.

“Right now, we’re still assessing everything,” Shanahan said. “We anticipate wrapping up our evaluation today, and hopefully, we’ll have an update either later today or early tomorrow.”

Among the damage were toppled umbrellas, fallen tree branches, and uprooted light poles signs of what Shanahan called “substantial damage.” While it’s not yet confirmed if a tornado touched down, he noted the area was under a tornado warning at the time.

“We saw some signs of rotation,” Shanahan said. “It’s still unclear if it was a tornado or high winds, but thankfully it wasn’t worse.”

The damage was unexpected and left staff surprised.

“This is kind of a first for this area,” Shanahan said. “It was eye-opening walking in this morning. We’re making sure to document everything for insurance and then we’ll work on a plan to reopen as soon as possible.”

As the community awaits updates, Shanahan says that safety and thorough assessment are the current priorities.

Cape Splash officials are expected to release more information soon. Right now we know that the park will not open as expected on Satuarday. We will continue to provide updates as they become available.