The summer edition of North Little Rock Mayor Terry Hartwick’s quarterly publication, “North Little Rock Proud,” reports that the Arkansas-based Maly Group plans to begin construction in early July on its entertainment center at the former Wild River Country water park site on Crystal Hill Road off I-430.
In December, the North Little Rock Planning Commission granted a conditional use permit for an 89,000 square-foot recreational facility that will include an electric driving range, T-Time golf, HyperLanes basketball (where bowling lanes meet video games), a virtual arcade, restaurants, and specialty shops.
Hartwick’s quarterly publication states that 800,000 truckloads of dirt have been excavated from the site, and The Maly Group intends to preserve the Wild River Country waterslide tower, possibly keeping “Wild River Country” in the name.
Dr. James Thomas, co-owner of Maly Construction LLC, told Arkansas Business that construction should be completed by the end of 2024. The opening of the 55,000 square-foot Maly Entertainment Center in Conway (1040 Maly Loop) in summer 2023 will serve as a preview of the North Little Rock project, as reported by Arkansas Business. The Conway facility will feature HyperLanes basketball, an arcade, laser tag, axe throwing, a restaurant, and two bars.
For those still reminiscing about Wild River Country’s closure and missing the thrill of riding the Super Bowl slide, fishing for bucks in the wave pool, or relaxing in the Lazy River, you can check out this report from David Ramsey’s summer afternoon in the sun back in 2013.
Rhett Brinkley is a self-published writer and food editor for the Arkansas Oxfordian. He also covers sports and climate.
