A longtime Jersey Shore boardwalk waterpark has permanently closed and the future of the property in a prime location could include a major redevelopment project, officials said.

The owner of Splash Zone in Wildwood recently told local news site Wildwood Video Archive that the waterpark would not reopen next season after 26 years in business.

Mayor Ernie Troiano told NJ Advance Media he has talked with Splash Zone owner Andy Weiner about turning the location at 3500 Boardwalk into a hotel.

“Andy is good people and his family’s been on the the boardwalk for over 100 years,” Troiano said. “He asked me what I thought. I said we are in dire need of hotel rooms.”

Weiner could not be reached for comment.

The location is directly across the boardwalk from one of the amusement piers run by

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