Sandcastle Waterpark’s new general manager Damian Dondero, left, looks over the park from the boardwalk with exiting general manager Scott MacKay Wednesday afternoon. (Cindy Shegan Keeley)A longtime general manager at Sandcastle Waterpark is riding his last wave at the West Homestead facility to continue a family business, and a North Carolina man has been selected to take his place.
Scott MacKay, formerly of Forest Hills and now a South Hills resident, has spent the last 20 years making Sandcastle Waterpark what it is today.
MacKay started his aquatic career as a lifeguard at Forest Hills Pool, worked in maintenance there, and worked for Kennywood Entertainment LLC as an operations manager during Sandcastle's construction in 1988 and its opening in July 1989. It opened later than projected because of flooding.
"When (Sandcastle) first (was) built, we were sort of modeled after Kennywood (with) the operating schedule and so forth," he said. "What we found over time was you couldn't operate the water park the same way as you operated the amusement park. When the sun went down, it was too cold to swim so we had to try to find other things to extend the operating time we were here."
Under his watch, the water park added Club Wet, which is now known as Sandbar. Dunkin' the water-breathing dragon was named Sandcastle's mascot. And Stacks, a snack bar with air conditioning, Wi-Fi, a made-to-order sandwich station, and more were added.
MacKay said Sandcastle has had a tremendous impact on his life, and he has been able to build friendships with various team members through the years, some of whom started out in the earlier years and have come back with their families.
"We're just starting to see the history that we've been a part of and the memories," he said, "and I think that's going to be what I remember the most when I leave this job."
By MICHAEL DIVITTORIODaily News Staff Writer
