- January 26, 2025
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EAST COUNTY — Committee members had a question for Manatee Lost Lagoon Development:
“What if the project fails?”
Manatee Lost Lagoon President Lynn Mims replied: “We have not thought about that. We’re going to make it work. We all have successful businesses.”
If negotiations are successful and Manatee County commissioners approve the project, Lost Lagoon’s proposed 20-acre water park will offer a 20,000-square-foot wave pool, coaster slide, thrill rides and 2,667-foot-long lazy river.
Although it’s Mims’ first time building her own water park, she said her team’s experience will produce success.
1. MANATEE COUNTY GOVERNMENT
Manatee County owns Tom Bennett Park, and the Manatee County Commission will have final say on whether the proposed Lost Lagoon water park becomes a reality.
2. MANATEE LOST LAGOON
Role: Park owner
Watershed project: None. The limited liability company formed to design, construct and manage the proposed Lost Lagoon water park, but the company’s 13-member
executive team has more than 60 years’ cumulative experience in the aquatics, recreation and construction industries.
For Lost Lagoon President Lynn Mims, who is president of Mims Construction, the project will be a first, if approved.
“Although I’ve built water parks for some of the biggest names in destination entertainment, this is my first opportunity to oversee every aspect of the design, construction and daily operations,” Mims said. “My expertise is making sure all the parts of a machine run smoothly. That’s why I have hand-picked what I feel to be the best possible team for the Lost Lagoon project.
3. INNOVATIVE ATTRACTIONS MANAGEMENT
Role: Operations management
Watershed project: Contracted to provide park management for the 22-acre Myrtle Waves in Myrtle Beach, S.C., in April 2014, within 28 days of its opening day. It opened the park on time.
4. AUSTIN & LMCC SPECIALTY (MIMS CONSTR)
Role: Building and project management
Watershed project: Construction management for the J.W. Marriott Resort and Spa, in San Antonio, Texas, which features a conference center, two TPC golf courses, an aquatic play area and spa.
5. TANDEM COMMUNICATIONS GROUP
Role: Marketing and communications
Watershed project: Fresh Stop Mobile Farmers Market community initiative, which brings mobile farmers markets to more than a dozen neighborhoods in Central Florida each month.
6. OLIVIER, INC
Role: Project controls and accounting
Watershed project: The company administers and coordinates all contracts for the Houston Independent School District’s 2012 $1.89 billion bond program.
7. SKS
Role: Park design
Watershed project: Xanadu, a five-star resort near the Taurus Mountains, in Turkey. The project includes a hotel, villas, three swimming pools and an aqua park.
8. CARLSON STUDIOS ARCHITECT
Role: Architect
Watershed project: The Sarasota-based firm designed the Palma Sola Botanical Park.
9. PDS ENGINEERING
Role: Engineering consultant
Watershed project: Lead civil engineer and project manager for Dolphin Mall, in Miami, which has 1.4 million square feet of retail space.
10. CLOWARD H20
Role: Water feature developer
Watershed project: Atlantis Paradise Island Resort, one of the largest water-themed resort attractions in the world.
11. VALLEY CREST LANDSCAPING
Role: Landscaping
Watershed project: Landscaping for SeaWorld’s conversion of Knott’s Soak City into Aquatica San Diego.
12. B&I CONTRACTORS
Role: Construction
Watershed project: Projects include Jet Blue Park/Red Sox Stadium, Florida International University and the Pinellas Central Energy Plant.
13. MATERN PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING
Role: Engineering
Watershed project: Provided services forrestoration of the South Seas Island Resort Pools & Cabana, in Captiva.
“This is my first opportunity to oversee every aspect of the design, construction and daily operations. My expertise is making sure all the parts of a machine run smoothly. That’s why I have hand-picked what I feel to be the best possible team for the Lost Lagoon project.”
— Lynn Mimms, president of Manatee Lost Lagoon Development
The closest water park of comparable size to the proposed Manatee Lost Lagoon is the SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment-owned Adventure Island, in Tampa, approximately 60 miles away.
How does the 35-year-old park compare to what’s proposed for Manatee County?
638,000 — The approximate attendance at Adventure Island, in 2013
$44 — The current price of a single-day ticket, according to Adventure Island’s website, adventureisland.com.
30 acres — Adventure Island’s acreage
248,700 — The attendance Manatee Lost Lagoon Development says it can draw to the new Manatee County water park in
fiscal year 2017, its first year of operation if plans proceed.
$32.99 — The suggested price for general admission, according to its Manatee County proposal
20.5 acres — The water park’s proposed space at Manatee Lost Lagoon.
