The growing Inspirational Baptist Church is planning a $20 million investment over several years on the former Surf Cincinnati property here.This week, the church, whose congregation has grown from about 300 to 1,500 over the last five years, completed a $925,000 purchase of the 14.2-acre Surf Cincinnati site from Hoeweler Realty Inc.
The outdoor water park, which featured a wave pool and a variety of slides, closed in 2002. The property on Sebring Drive overlooking Interstate 275 has been largely abandoned.
Bishop Victor Couzens, senior pastor for the independent Baptist church at 9208 Daly Road in Springfield Township, said the first phase of the project, expected to cost between $6 million and $8 million, includes a 1,500-seat worship center with a 300-seat chapel. The church also wants to build a 15,000-square-foot indoor sports complex with a roller-skating rink, and room for volleyball, soccer and other indoor sports.
Couzens said the church also plans to restore one of the swimming pools on the property, which, like the sports complex, would be open to the public.
“We want these facilities to be open to the community, so they can be part of revitalization of the area,” he said.
A second phase calls for building a $10 million hotel and conference center on part of the property.
I remember when I was a college student in Abilene, that I heard ACU had two swimming pools, one for males and one for females. Not sure if that was ever true, but this article made me think of that.