b'from IH-35 by motorists traveling between San Antonio and Austin. The park wasEven the most bitter Jeff Henry critic cannot legitimately question his achieve-an instant hit and it brought a never before seen level of economic activity to Newments in the waterpark industry, over a 40-year career that has taken his innova-Braunfels. Before long, tubing on the Comal exploded in popularity; an outlet shop- tions into virtually every waterpark, and almost every large-scale water ride on the ping mall was under construction; the German village of Gruene became a touristface of the earth. Sadly, however, Henrys rush to deliver Verrckt to a hungry audi-hot spot, and; Schlitterbahn more than tripled in size, adding a giant wave pool,ence of reality TV producers, and the tragic events of August 7, 2016, may render his new slides, a lazy river, and hotel and cabin accommodations on dozens of newlyultimate legacy to one of disgrace marred by a thirst for self-aggrandizement, and acquired acres. disregard for human life, including that of an innocent 10-year-old.All the while, Henry & Sons Construction and Jeff in particular were earning aG erman for insane, a name that befit an attraction so extremely reputation as the most innovative, imaginative, and successful water ride inventors in the world. Rival Wet-n-Wild owner George Millay, an industry stalwart whose old- Verrcktschool, hard-nosed style was the antithesis of Jeff Henrys self-described country-boy hippie demeanor, had hired Henry to implement foam landing surfaces in his parks in an effort to reduce guest injuries and complaints. As Schlitterbahn grew infrightening, so extremely thrilling and so extremely dangerous, notoriety and popularity, its innovative new rides and slides became desired prop- that the producers of a show like Travel Channels Xtreme Wa-erty for waterpark competitors and non-competitors alike. Through the 1990s, asterparks series could not invent a more thrilling plot line: the Jeff Henry grew his portfolio of patents to over 60, his rides and Transportainmentworlds top water ride guru frantically at work to top his own systems appeared in parks throughout the United States and around the world. Be- world record for the tallest and fastest water slide on earth. fore Verrckt, the worlds tallest water ride was located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,Alas, Verrckt was born.and it was designed and built by Jeff Henry. Atlantis Dubai is considered one of theIn the fall of 2012, with Travel Channel producers and a cam-worlds most luxurious and beautifully designed ocean front resorts, and its water- era crew along to chronicle it all, Jeff Henry and his design partner, John Schooley, park, Aquaventure, also designed and built by Henry, is enjoyed by elite jet settersled the Henry & Sons team into a history-making project that was set for completion and their children. in seven short months, in time for the 2013 summer season at Schlitterbahn Kansas Without a doubt, Jeff Henry is considered the Steve Jobs of the waterpark world. City. According to internal email quoted in the March 2018 indictment handed down While Henrys down-home, blue collar hero style and demeanor are the oppo- by a grand jury in Wyandotte County, Kansas, Jeff Henry wrote to his design team:site of the black-on-black turtleneck effect, so too was his warm openness to park guests and their kids. Almost always engaging and hospitable, Henry was known toWe all need to circle on this. I must communicate reality to all. Time is of the essence. act directly on the advice and complaints of guests he encountered at his parks, fix-ing this or changing that if his patrons were not fully pleased. While in work mode,No time to die. J, and, I have to micro manage this. NOW. This is a designed product Henry carried a large sketch book that housed ideas, plans and schedules and wherefor TV, absolutely cannot be anything else. Speed is 100% required. A floor a day. his thoughts would manifest into action. He kept an ongoing note of how many daysTough schedule. J Jeff Henry, December 14, 2012he expected to have left on this earth, as a constant reminder of how little time he had left to accomplish his increasingly lofty aspirations. The law enforcement investigation into the Verrckt design process revealed In one sitting, he showed this writer and his son, over a rapid fire 45-minutethat none of the standard industry practices were followed. It would be expected glass of iced tea, CAD drawings for the next (after Verrckt) worlds tallest waterthat before one endeavors to launch rafts occupied by live humans off a 17-story ride, this time to be built personally for the Sultan of Dubai, who hired him to buildperch, that is 168 feet, 7 incheshigher than Niagara Falls and the Statue of Lib-Aquaventure. In the same conversation, more of a presentation really, Henry drew asertythat one would make great effort to ensure the physical viability and safety of he explained his plan for an offshore, floating casino complex in the Gulf of Mexico,the ride. That process would include both structural and dynamic engineering mod-to be fabricated out of 90 retired drilling platforms that he was already collectingels from which the final structure would be designed and constructed. Such studies at a boat yard up the Texas coast. More than driven to prove his talent and techni- reveal how far the envelope can be pushed in pursuit of the desired experience, and cal acumen, Henrys aspirations were inspired by his desire to make his mark as anespecially what risk to human life is embedded within any given design concept.entertainer and to leave a legacy that would be celebrated long after those days heAccording to the indictment, Henry brought in a third party to produce the counted ran out. structural engineering for the ride, but dynamic engineering (the physics a rider will Left to Right: Original Schlitterbahn that opened in 1979 in New Braunfels; Schlitterbahns first Lazy River feature; Aquaventure Waterpark, built by Jeff Henry at Atlantis Dubai luxury resort.82 THE C AL BEND MAGAGAZINEZINEFEAEarlTy Summer 2018URED: The Stories that Mattered TheCo talBend.c36 THE COOASASTTAL BEND MA TheCoasastalBend.comom'