Bucky Dent water park in Hialeah shut down days after reopening over missing health permit

The Bucky Dent water park in Hialeah, Florida, reopened to the public on July 31, 2026 after a seven‑year closure for extensive renovations. Within a week, the Florida Department of Health ordered a temporary shutdown because the facility was operating without a valid state health permit, citing non‑compliance with Florida Statute 514 and Administrative Code 64E‑9.

An 80‑year‑old visitor experienced a medical emergency in the pool the day before the closure, but city officials said the incident was unrelated to the permit issue. Hialeah officials explained that the park had passed municipal inspections and that the missing permit resulted from a paperwork error. The city is working with the state health department to obtain the required authorization and plans to reopen the park once the permit is issued.