ACTION 8 UPDATE: Montgomery Whitewater releases statement following sudden closure
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WAKA) – Montgomery Whitewater has released a statement following its sudden closure for the season as questions are raised about its financial situation.
Bobby Jon Drinkard, the chairman of the Montgomery County Community Cooperative District which oversees the 120-acre recreation complex, sent this statement to Action 8 News:
“Montgomery Whitewater has transitioned to its annual offseason operations to focus on yearly maintenance including continuous improvement throughout the park. During this time, it is a standard practice to scale down the number of employees needed to operate the park.”
Bobby Jon Drinkard – Submitted Photo
Action 8 News is working to find out how many people were laid off.
While water activities usually wind down for the winter, this closure appears to involve all activities and events, even those that were previously announced. Those events included a Nature School that was scheduled for Saturdays through November, a fall guide school for those who wished to be trained to be rafting guides and ice skating sessions that have been held in the past.
Action 8 News found the gates to Montgomery Whitewater closed today. The closure had been announced on its website and social media on Saturday.
As Action 8 News has reported, some Montgomery County commissioners have recently expressed 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.
The results of an audit of its finances are expected to be finalized later this year.
Gates to Montgomery Whitewater are closed, Monday, September 14, 2026 – Photo from WAKA Action 8 News
Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed spoke to Action 8 News about the financial questions and the future of Montgomery Whitewater:
“It’s not managed by the city,” Reed said. “It does not have our oversight. We’ve assisted in some of the investments, but overall, the county has been much more involved in it, and I believe that with the proper management as well as the proper vision-casting that Whitewater can be successful. It’s going to take time like everything else, and it’s also going to take an understanding that initiatives like that don’t survive on their own. They survive when there is a collaboration of development that goes with it, not only from leisure and recreational, but also hospitality as well.”
Kayakers at Montgomery Whitewater in 2023 – Photo from WAKA Action 8 News
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 cost to open the first phase of Montgomery Whitewater has been estimated to be around $90 million, far more than the $40 million to $50 million estimate when the project was first announced in 2019.
Artist rendering of Montgomery Whitewater when project was announced in 2019, which was to include a hotel and conference center – Image from Montgomery County Commission
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 tomorrow.
Stay with Action 8 News for updates.
