CANDIA, N.H. — The owner of a New Hampshire water park who chained himself to a slide tower 17 days ago to try to prevent the park’s auction has ended his quest because of failing health and the lack of a financial savior.
Kevin Dumont climbed the slide at Liquid Planet on Nov. 9 in a bid to attract investors interested in saving the business.
He said Wednesday on Facebook there were no takers and that a doctor thinks he is developing pneumonia.
“Dear friends and supporters, it is with profound sadness that I must tell you that my attempts to find a partner in time to save the water park from auction has failed,” he wrote.
Dumont, a genial 46-year-old U.S. Army veteran with nine years of service, opened the park in 2008. Two wet summers kept crowds away and a series of financial problems immediately followed.
After years of financial struggles, the bank called his loan and was to auction off Liquid Planet on Wednesday. A GoFundMe page raised just $1,945 toward a $1 million goal, and interest from four potential investors didn’t lead to a rescue.
