SEATTLE — As Wild Waves Theme Park kicks off its 50th and final season, a proposal has been submitted for a more than 1 million-square-foot industrial warehouse facility to go up on the 66-acre theme park site.
Back in December, park officials announced that the park’s 2026 operating season will be its last, forever closing to the public on Nov. 1, 2026.
Park owners said rising operating costs and years of financial losses since the pandemic forced the decision to close after this season.
“It’s tough that a part of the community and a place that brings the community together is closing,” Alex Lane of Federal Way said.
Plans for the property’s future had been limited until now.
Proposed project
The project, known as the Panattoni–Podium I-5 development, would be built on the site where Wild Waves Theme Park stands now. Approximately 66.18 acres are currently zoned as “Office Park 4,” according to project documents.
The site is bounded by South 369th Street to the south, Milton Road South to the west, and Enchanted Parkway to the north and east.
Plans call for a one-story, 1,034,818-square-foot warehouse building with associated office space.
A bird’s eye view of the Wild Waves property. (KOMO)
While no tenants have been identified, project documents state that similar facilities typically consist of about 98% warehouse space and 2% office space.
The structure would reach approximately 46 feet in height and be designed to accommodate up to three stories for future tenant flexibility.
The building would feature truck courts on both the east and west sides, with trailer storage areas opposite each court.
Three full-access driveways on Milton Road South would serve automobiles and semi-trucks.
Proposed parking, entrances pedestrian access
The site is designed to separate truck and passenger vehicle circulation where possible through dedicated truck bypass routes.
Residentially zoned properties are located across 19th Way South and South 369th Street. Project plans include landscaped screening buffers along the west, south and east sides of the property.
Existing mature evergreen trees and an 8-foot-tall wood fence along portions of the site would be retained and supplemented with additional landscaping.
Parking areas would be located on the north and south sides of the building near planned office entrances.
The project also includes pedestrian amenities such as raised sidewalks, plaza areas with benches, bicycle parking for up to 24 bikes, and four trash enclosures designed to serve potential future tenants.
According to project documents, the building would be constructed using tilt-up concrete panels with architectural features including recessed entrances, glazing, canopies, color variations and façade modulation intended to break up the appearance of long exterior walls.
The proposal was submitted by Haas Architects on behalf of the development team. Todd Schutz, industrial studio lead at the firm, signed the project narrative.
The gates to the popular theme park located at the intersection of Milton Road South and Enchanted Parkway in Federal Way opened in 1977 as Enchanted Village.
The adjacent water park was built in the 1980s. In 1997, now-former KOMO News anchor Dan Lewis showcased the park’s newest coaster.
By the early 2000s, the complex transitioned into Wild Waves Theme Park.
