When you think about water parks, towering slides, lazy rivers, and wave pools probably come to mind. But what if a water park could offer something more? What if it could tell a story, immerse guests in another world, and deliver an experience similar to walking through a fully themed amusement park? That’s the kind of thinking that has helped define Chip Cleary’s remarkable career in the attractions industry.
After nearly five decades of developing attractions, operating major entertainment destinations, and helping shape the industry’s future, James “Chip” Cleary has been named to the IAAPA Hall of Fame Class of 2026. The longtime attractions executive and water park innovator will be honored alongside Bob Gurr, Jeff Ellis, and Miguel Quintana Pali during IAAPA LEGENDS: A Hall of Fame Celebratory Affair on November 16 at IAAPA Expo 2026 in Orlando.
From Adventureland to a Career in Attractions
Cleary’s career began in 1978 at Adventureland Amusement Park in Farmingdale, New York, where he worked his way through various positions before becoming vice president. His responsibilities eventually included overseeing the park’s rebuilding and operations, giving him valuable experience in nearly every aspect of running an amusement park.
Those early years helped establish his understanding of what makes an attraction successful. Beyond delivering thrills, parks needed to operate efficiently, provide quality guest experiences, and create environments that encouraged families to return. That philosophy would become especially important when Cleary turned his attention toward the rapidly growing water park industry.
Making a Splash on Long Island
One of Cleary’s earliest major accomplishments came with the creation of Splish Splash Water Park in Calverton, New York. Working with business partner Tony Gentile, Cleary helped develop the park, which officially opened in 1991 and quickly became a popular summer destination for families across Long Island.
Rather than simply assembling a collection of water slides, Cleary approached the project with the mindset of an amusement park operator. The surrounding environment, landscaping, guest circulation, and overall atmosphere were important parts of the experience. His vision helped demonstrate that a water park could be more than a place to cool off during the summer.
Cleary served as president of Splish Splash until 1999, when he and his partners sold the property to Palace Entertainment. He subsequently joined Palace’s executive team as vice president of its water park division, continuing to oversee the development and operation of aquatic attractions.
The park he helped create remains a recognizable name in the Northeast, welcoming generations of visitors more than three decades after its opening.
Leading Water Parks Across the Industry
Cleary’s career continued expanding as Palace Entertainment grew into one of North America’s major regional amusement and water park operators. When the company was acquired by Spain-based Parques Reunidos in 2007, Cleary took on additional responsibilities as a senior vice president overseeing its United States water park portfolio.
His experience went far beyond designing attractions. Managing multiple parks meant balancing everything from guest satisfaction and staffing to maintenance, operational efficiency, and long-term investment. Those responsibilities gave him a broad perspective on the attractions business, combining creative development with the practical challenges of operating successful entertainment destinations.
That experience would eventually help Cleary make an impact on the industry at an international level.
Helping IAAPA Grow Around the World
Alongside his work in park operations, Cleary became heavily involved with the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, better known as IAAPA. He served on numerous committees covering industry safety, government relations, membership, strategic planning, and trade shows before becoming Chairman of IAAPA’s Board of Directors in 2010.
In April 2011, Cleary took on an even larger role when he became IAAPA President and CEO, leading the international trade association during an important period of organizational development.
During his tenure, Cleary helped restructure IAAPA’s global sales operations, improve internal technology and business systems, and strengthen the association’s international trade show activities. His leadership supported IAAPA’s continued development as a global organization representing professionals from amusement parks, water parks, family entertainment centers, and other attractions.
Cleary stepped down at the end of 2012, but his connection to the attractions industry was far from over. In fact, one of the most ambitious projects of his career was still ahead.
Bringing the World of Rulantica to Life
Perhaps one of Cleary’s most recognizable contributions in recent years is his involvement with Rulantica, the massive water park destination developed by Europa-Park Resort in Rust, Germany.
After establishing a professional relationship and friendship with Europa-Park founder Roland Mack through IAAPA, Cleary joined the resort as a senior consultant in 2013. When the Mack family began developing plans for a second gate centered on aquatic attractions, Cleary’s experience made him an important part of the project.
But Rulantica wasn’t going to be an ordinary water park.
Instead of creating a conventional indoor facility filled with slides and pools, the development team envisioned an immersive destination inspired by Scandinavian mythology and Nordic storytelling. The result was an elaborate world featuring themed environments, detailed architecture, adventurous water attractions, and experiences designed to connect guests with the fictional island of Rulantica.
Cleary helped guide the project’s planning and development, emphasizing the importance of storytelling, guest flow, operational efficiency, and thoughtful design. Even practical spaces such as changing rooms became part of the themed environment, reinforcing the idea that the experience should begin long before guests reach their first water slide.
When Rulantica officially opened in November 2019, it introduced a new chapter for Europa-Park Resort, allowing guests to enjoy an extensive indoor water park experience throughout the year.
For Cleary, the project represented something he had advocated for throughout his career: treating water parks with the same creative ambition and attention to detail traditionally associated with major theme parks.
Honoring a Lifetime of Industry Leadership
Cleary’s contributions extend across nearly every corner of the attractions business, from designing and operating individual parks to helping guide one of the industry’s most influential international organizations.
His long-standing relationship with Europa-Park founder Roland Mack is another reflection of the respect he has earned throughout his career. As Mack expressed in a tribute to Cleary, few people have a passion for the leisure industry quite like his.
Now, Cleary will officially join the IAAPA Hall of Fame during IAAPA LEGENDS: A Hall of Fame Celebratory Affair, taking place Monday, November 16, from 6:30–10:30 p.m. at the IAAPA Theater in the South Building of Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center.
The ticketed celebration will recognize all four members of the 2026 Hall of Fame class while supporting the IAAPA Foundation through fundraising activities. The foundation helps provide scholarships and educational opportunities for future attractions industry professionals.
A Legacy That Goes Beyond the Water Slides
What makes Chip Cleary’s career particularly interesting is how his influence connects the creative and operational sides of the attractions industry. Whether developing Splish Splash, overseeing a portfolio of water parks, helping strengthen IAAPA, or contributing to Rulantica, his work has consistently focused on making attractions better for both guests and operators.
And it’s easy to see how that philosophy continues to influence modern water park development. Today’s most ambitious aquatic destinations increasingly feature immersive environments, detailed storytelling, elaborate landscaping, and resort-style experiences that go far beyond traditional slides and pools.
Cleary helped advance the idea that water parks deserve the same level of imagination, attention to detail, and innovation as any other major attraction.
As IAAPA Expo 2026 prepares to celebrate this year’s Hall of Fame inductees, Chip Cleary’s recognition serves as a fitting conclusion to a remarkable group of industry pioneers. From ride engineering and aquatic safety to cultural destinations and themed water parks, each inductee has helped shape a different part of the attractions world.
And in Cleary’s case, his legacy reminds us that sometimes the biggest innovations aren’t just about building a taller slide or a faster attraction. They’re about reimagining the entire experience around it.
For more information about the 2026 inductees, visit IAAPA’s official Hall of Fame announcement. You can also explore Splish Splash Water Park and Rulantica at Europa-Park to see two of the destinations connected to Cleary’s career.