Nestled near Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois, lies the remnants of a once-aspirational waterpark with a tongue-twisting name: Ebenezer Floppen Slopper’s Wonderful Water Slides. Before opening in 1980, the site functioned as a gravel pit and landfill known locally as “Mt Trashmore.” In the 1960s, it was capped and smoothed, but sat unused until entrepreneurs saw potential in its concrete-clad hill.
Rise and Fall of a Quirky Attraction
Transformed into a waterpark, the hill became home to slick concrete slides requiring riders to use foam mats—leading to inevitable “road rash,” yet unforgettable summer memories. Starting with two slides in 1980, the park expanded to include additional slides and a wading pool, even rebranding briefly as Doc River’s Roaring Rapids Water Park in the 1980s.
Despite its early popularity, the park abruptly closed in 1989. Rumors swirl about the closure: a tragic teenager accident, filtration system failures, and possible chemical contamination from the former landfill beneath—stories that remain unverified.
Nature’s Reclamation: Decay in Detail
Today, the slides are cracked and overgrown. Weeds burst through crevices, saplings sprout in the wading pool, and retaining walls sag under age’s toll. Concrete surfaces are weathered—some parts missing entirely. Though lights still stand at the hill’s summit and a billboard looms nearby, the park has fallen silent and forgotten.
Exploration and Urban Legend
The abandoned slides drew curiosity from urban explorers and local historians alike. Easily accessible, they remain a low-hassle destination for ghost-town adventurers. TikTok and YouTube explorers have filmed the desolation—and locals share stories:
“We were really excited when they built this… if you fell off, you would get road rash… but we still had an awesome time”.
Yet as weeds choke the structure and vandalism escalates, the site’s integrity deteriorates further.
A Lesson in Adaptive Reuse—or Wasted Opportunity?
Ebenezer Floppen Slopper’s story is one of adaptation: a landfill transformed into a waterpark. But it’s also a warning. The underlying landfill may have contributed to filtration issues or safety hazards. The park’s short lifespan highlights the risks of building without full consideration of subterranean conditions.
Forgotten, But Not Irrelevant
Although fewer locals remember the park, its legacy lives on in overgrown slide remnants and old anecdotes. It’s featured in lists of Illinois’s abandoned treasures . Its odd name ensures it remains occasionally mentioned, even as time turns it to weeds.
Visiting Today: What to Expect
- What’s left: derelict concrete slides squatting in foliage; a cracked wading pool; crumbling retaining walls.
- Access: Easy, though unofficial. Check property lines before exploring.
- Best time: Summer offers lush photos, but autumn and spring bring eerie ambiance.
- Safety tips: Bring sturdy shoes, watch for hidden holes or sharp concrete, and avoid exploring alone.
Could It Return?
As of now, there’s no redevelopment plan. The hill remains under private ownership, its future uncertain. With the land sitting unused for decades, anything from demolition to reinvention may lie ahead. Urban redevelopment initiatives in Illinois might someday consider this site, though currently it remains a relic.
Why This Park Matters
Ebenezer Floppen Slopper’s is testament to ingenuity—and the pitfalls of building atop nature’s debris. It’s local memory, alternative playground, and eco-parable rolled into one. For those who recall its wild mats-and-concrete summers, it still sparks nostalgia. For adventurers and history hunters, it offers mystery and haunting visuals.