Every year, water parks continue to attract numerous visitors, both Portuguese and foreigners, to the Algarve. The demand for slides and wave pools remains high, but in the southern region of the country there are also some parks that ended up ending. A particular water park has been ‘abandoned’ for over thirty years and is preparing to be ‘renewed’.
For more than three decades, the former Aqualine Water Park, located between height and Monte Gordo, in the leventy Algarve, remained closed and abandoned. Located next to the 125 National Road, close to the roundabout that gives access to the Via do Infante, this space was once a reference for many summer in the region.
First infrastructure of this type in the Algarve
Inaugurated in the late 1980s, Aqualine stood out as the first water park in the Algarve region. It has rapidly gained popularity thanks to its large slides and the various attractions dedicated to families during the summer.
The park has remained operational until the mid-1990s. Since then, several proposals have emerged to recover the space, but none has been materialized so far.
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According to it, the site will be converted in a rural tourism venture. The project foresees the creation of three small hotel units, scattered throughout the area where the old park operated.
The municipality revealed, in a statement, that initially a more ambitious plane was considered, the so -called Detail Plan of Alto da Cruz, which provided for greater constructive occupation. However, this hypothesis was eventually discarded.
Option for a more sustainable and discreet model
“We considered it would be more interesting, less intrusive and more aligned with the strategy defined for the territory, to avoid increasing the density of construction, as the plan provided for,” the House explained, highlighting the understanding achieved with the investor.
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Preservation of space and adaptation to structures
The three planned accommodation units will maintain the current land use configuration. In addition, the natural surroundings will be preserved, with the objective of reducing urban pressure on the coastline of the county.
The future rural tourism units will be distributed throughout the space, taking advantage of existing structures. “This will be a differentiating tourist offer, compatible with the low density of the territory,” added the municipality.
Closing after influential incident in the legislation
The closure of Aqualine will have occurred in a context marked by a tragic accident in Lisbon, in 1993. That year, two minors lost their lives in the restelo aquarparque, being trapped in conduct under 30 centimeters in diameter.
The accident led to the revision of safety -related legislation in water parks in Portugal. New legal rules that required significant changes in infrastructure were introduced.
Many parks have not been able to support the costs associated with new technical requirements. The aqualine was one of these cases, ending up not being able to adapt.
Investment bets on sustainable appreciation
With the new project, the Castro Marim Chamber intends to ensure the appreciation of the space, respecting the characteristics of the territory. The investment promises to revitalize the area, now focusing on sustainability and tourism linked to nature.
Despite being abandoned for over three decades, the old Aqualine remains alive in the memory of many who passed striking summers there. The future of space now points to a new phase, more integrated with the landscape and the local identity.
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