ACTION 8 UPDATE: Montgomery Whitewater announces closure for season

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WAKA) – Montgomery Whitewater has announced that it has closed for the season, as some political leaders have asked questions about its funding.

Yesterday, the closure was announced on Facebook, Instagram and on its website and appears to involve all activities, not just those on the water. That would include the biking and walking trails, the ropes course, the ziplines and Eddy’s Restaurant.

The announcement says “Montgomery Whitewater is closed for the season. Additional information will be available on our website as updates are announced.”

Last month, Montgomery Whitewater had announced a Nature School that was to run on Saturdays through November 28. Ice skating is still listed on its website as an activity that will start in November. It was added in 2024. Other fall and winter activities had included game nights, the ropes course, music events and dining options.

Besides those activities, Montgomery Whitewater had been the site of this year’s World Canoe Races and has hosted swiftwater training exercises for emergency personnel. It is one of only three outdoor recreation complexes of its type in the U.S., with the others in North Carolina and Oklahoma.

As Action 8 News has reported, some Montgomery County Commissioners are expressing concern over the amount of funding being given to Montgomery Whitewater as they prepare the 2027 fiscal year budget.

At the last Montgomery County Commission meeting, three members said they have doubts about the $500,000 that has been included in this year’s budget to help fund the outdoor recreation complex. That number has not changed from last year’s budget, but in July of 2025, commissioners also approved $1 million to help cover operating expenses and existing bills.

Montgomery Whitewater is funded through a public-private partnership that has included the Montgomery County Commission, the City of Montgomery and the State of Alabama.

Bobby Jon Drinkard, the chairman of the board that oversees Montgomery Whitewater, told Action 8 News last week that he was thankful for the commission’s support in the past and he says the board is in the process of having an audit done to shine more light on its financial situation. He says that audit should be finished by the end of the year, but he told us that closing the park, even temporarily, shouldn’t be an option.

Earlier this year, Jason Wilson left as the park’s executive director after being on the job for nearly a year. At the time, Drinkard told Action 8 News that the board decided to make a change after reviewing overall operations, but stressed that Wilson didn’t do anything wrong.

The park also paused all water activities for a month due to maintenance in the spring.

Only about half of the 120-acre Montgomery Whitewater property has been developed. New attractions have been added, including a ropes course and zip line, and there are plans to build a hotel on the site in the future.  The attraction opened in July of 2023.

Montgomery County Commission Chairman Doug Singleton says the project was designed to be a catalyst for the city, and further announcements regarding Montgomery Whitewater could be made before the end of the year.

The five members of the county commission will vote on Montgomery County’s $183 million budget at their meeting Tuesday.

Stay with Action 8 News for updates.