Water-Zoo, Oklahoma's first indoor water park, opening Sept. 1 in Clinton

The 28,000-square-foot attraction has glass walls and a retractable roof that can be opened on warm days. Rides and attractions include a playground, 600-gallon tipping bucket, inside-out slides, bowl slide, “Lazy & Crazy River” and wave pool, the company said.

Water-Zoo will be open to the public and also available as a package deal with a stay in the adjacent Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites. An RV campground also is available.

The $10 million project is being built by local investor Walt Schumacher, who owns the Holiday Inn Express as well as a Hampton Inn and Montana Mike's Steakhouse across Interstate 40.

“We expect this will fill both hotels every weekend, and maybe all the time,” Schumacher said. It also will offer Clinton families more choices for entertainment, he said, since the water park will be open year round and feature rooms for birthday parties.

Hiring for the 70 or more workers needed for the Water-Zoo is under way. Job fairs are held each Thursday at the Holiday Inn Express, Schumacher said. Available positions include front of house manager, lifeguards, pool attendants, food service, housekeeping and cashiers.

Julie Menge, president of the Clinton Chamber of Commerce, said in addition to the jobs, the new water park is expected to increase tourism to the area.

“It's one of a kind in Oklahoma,” she said.

Clinton is about an hour-and-a-half west of Oklahoma City.