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$2.5M Arrest Warrant Issued For Fort Rapids Owner Over Safety Violations

Franklin County’s ongoing struggle with the Fort Rapids Indoor Waterpark Resort took a dramatic turn this week as the Environmental Court issued an arrest warrant for Jeff Kern, the park’s owner. The decision marks a significant escalation in a protracted legal battle that has plagued the waterpark since its closure.

On Thursday, city attorney Zach Klein announced the arrest warrant following a June court hearing where Judge Stephanie Mingo found Kern in contempt of court. The ruling came after Kern failed to comply with orders to bring the waterpark up to safety codes. Despite being given a deadline of August 1 to submit a rehabilitation plan and proof of funding, Kern did not attend the recent court session, nor did he provide the required documentation.

The Franklin County court has set a bond amount of $2.5 million for Kern’s arrest.

A receivership hearing, which will address the future management of the property, is scheduled for October. This hearing will determine the next steps in addressing the waterpark’s ongoing issues and possibly finding a new group to take over the property.

fort rapids before abandonment
Fort Rapids prior to becoming derelict. Photo by jamiev_03 on Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 2.0 Generic License

City attorney Zach Klein emphasized the importance of addressing the property’s condition. “Letting this property fall into disrepair and walking away from the responsibility to fix this mess is not an option,” Klein said in a media release. “We’re committed to the future of this site, and we will continue to use every available tool to hold these owners accountable, bring the property up to code, and reignite this site’s economic potential.”

The Fort Rapids waterpark first opened in 2006 as part of the Holiday Inn East’s renovations.

As the city’s sole indoor water park, it initially drew attention but soon faced problems. By 2013, Columbus police closed the park due to a slew of issues, including fire-code violations, bug infestations, and improper food handling. Despite efforts to auction the property, it remained closed and continued to deteriorate.

ice at fort rapids
Fort Rapids experienced a frozen cascade when millions of gallons of water poured from the building back in January 2018. Photo by Chelsea Wiley.

Juzi Cui acquired the waterpark in 2017, but the problems persisted.

In 2021, the city declared the property a nuisance, and fines were imposed on the owners until code violations were addressed. Despite these measures, the park never reopened, and the property has remained a blight on the East Side.

Klein’s office is now focused on finding a solution that includes bringing in a group to manage the property, address the necessary repairs, and eventually prepare it for sale. The aim is to restore the property to a condition where it can once again contribute positively to the community.

As the situation unfolds, residents and city officials alike are hopeful that these latest legal actions will lead to a resolution and a new chapter for the once-promising Fort Rapids Indoor Waterpark Resort.