The wait continues for Splash ’n’ Putt
Waterpark waiting to get provincial go-ahead before reopening
In a different year, Shane Gardiner and his wife, Angela, would be getting Splash ’n’ Putt ready for a new season.
There would be workers helping the popular waterpark and cabin resort ensure it will make its opening date in late June.
This isn’t a normal year, however, and the provincial lockdown brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic has the co-owners wondering what this darker version of summer 2020 is going to look like.
“We haven’t looked at or touched Splash ’n’ Putt,” said Shane Gardiner. “We haven’t done a thing because I don’t even know if we can open.”
A highway tourism destination located just outside Glovertown, Splash ’n’ Putt is a fully functioning waterpark. There are two swimming pools, a large waterslide, bumper boats, go-karts, bumper cars and mini-golf.
There is also a Mary Brown’s restaurant and convenience store on site. Adjacent to the waterpark, there are several cabins and a conference centre.
At its height, Splash ’n’ Putt employs more than 60 people.
Under the province’s return -to-normalcy plan, outdoor pools can operate with a limited number of people starting on June 8.
“They’re saying outdoor pools can open June 8 with restrictions, but what are the restrictions?” asked Gardiner. “How are we going to adhere to social distancing?”
He doesn’t know how many people he will be allowed to have in the park at any one time, or any cleaning regulations for his equipment.
Hoping to get answers to his questions, Gardiner has contacted the Department of Tourism and MHA Lloyd Parrott, and he has called the government’s Business Response Team.
However, he has yet to get an answer to those questions.
Saltwire Network emailed the department for comment, but it was not answered prior to deadline.
Given the uniqueness of the resort, Gardiner says his business might not get the go-ahead to open until the province reaches Alert Level 2 in early July.
Even then, the Gardiners might not be able to open their resort right away given the amount of time it takes to get things ready.
“It is frustrating not getting the answers we need,” said Gardiner. “We want to know if we can open or not.” Nicholas Mercer is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter covering Central Newfoundland for Saltwire Network.