The news was too good to be true

Unfortunately, to turn an old saying on its head, it seems that news of the resurrection of a Columbia County water park was greatly exaggerated.

Like toddlers in a wading pool, we happily greeted the recent announcement that Great Waves of Atlanta had stepped in to rescue Krystal River Water Park from its demise. Skyrocketing liability insurance costs kept the popular attraction from opening this year.

Great Waves, with deeper pockets than current Krystal River owner Kenneth Edwards, planned to carry a higher deductible that would cut insurance costs, keeping overhead low enough that kids wouldnt have to hock their Nintendo machines to pay admission.

Alas, the news was too good to be true. Would-be buyer George Raike, who owns Great Waves, walked away from the deal when a padlocked gate kept him and an inspector from checking out the property. Edwards, for his part, says hed still like to sell the place to Great Waves, but says he padlocked the gate because of - here it is again - liability worries.

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It all sounds pretty flaky, but the result is the waterslides and pools are dry, and silence reigns where squeals of children once ruled.

So whereas we hailed the news of the parks sale just a few weeks ago, we now lament its continued closure.

At least this year theres plenty of water in Clarks Hill Lake.