A man who suffered severe leg injuries at a Birch Bay waterslide in August 2023 has reached a $4 million settlement, resolving a lawsuit filed in Whatcom County Superior Court. The settlement was finalized on August 4, 2026. All three defendants agreed to contribute to the fund, and the injured man's family says they are glad to have the matter resolved.
What Happened in August 2023
First responders were dispatched to Birch Bay Waterslides, located at 4874 Birch Bay-Lynden Road, just before 1 p.m. on Friday, August 25, 2023, following a report of a traumatic injury. An adult male had suffered serious leg injuries while going down one of the slides. Witnesses at the scene said an equipment failure caused the incident. The water park was immediately shut down for the remainder of the 2023 season.
The man subsequently filed a lawsuit in 2024 against three defendants: Birch Bay Jun Yu Waterslides LLC, which operates the facility; Safe Slide Restoration, a slide maintenance company; and Kingworks Consulting Engineers, PLLC, an engineering firm. The lawsuit alleged that their combined negligence led to the equipment failure that injured him.
Attorney Michael Driggs of The Advocates, who represented the injured man, confirmed the settlement terms. "Larry and his family are very happy to have the case resolved," Driggs said in a statement. "This settlement will help provide for Larry's future needs and allow the family to move forward."
The Water Park's Troubled Recent History
Birch Bay Waterslides has had a complicated path since the 2023 incident. The park, which originally opened in 1982 and has been a fixture of summer recreation along the Birch Bay shoreline for more than four decades, reopened for the 2025 season after inspections by health department officials and engineering experts cleared it to operate.
For the 2026 season, the park's website initially announced plans to reopen. But during the spring, messaging shifted, and the 2026 season was quietly canceled. Around the same time, the property appeared on the real estate market. Current listing information shows the waterslide property at 4874 Birch Bay-Lynden Road is listed for sale at $6 million, with an offer reportedly pending feasibility review.
The combination of the canceled season and the active listing raises questions about the long-term future of one of Whatcom County's most recognizable family recreation destinations. Whether the property sells, changes ownership, or eventually reopens under new management remains to be seen, but the closure of the 2026 season means families who grew up visiting the park may not see it operate again in its current form.
What Comes Next for the Settlement
Under the terms of the settlement, all three defendants, Birch Bay Jun Yu Waterslides LLC, Safe Slide Restoration, and Kingworks Consulting Engineers, will contribute to the $4 million fund. The division of responsibility between the three parties was not disclosed publicly.
Settlement funds in personal injury cases of this type are typically structured to cover medical costs, long-term care needs, lost income, and pain and suffering. Given the severity of the injuries described in the original incident report, the settlement likely accounts for ongoing rehabilitation and care expenses over many years.
The Whatcom County Superior Court case is now resolved, though the court's official closure of the case may take additional administrative time. For families or individuals with questions about similar personal injury situations at recreational facilities, the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office and state health regulators handle reports of unsafe conditions at public recreational sites. Washington State's water park safety regulations are administered through the Washington State Department of Health, which inspects facilities and investigates injury incidents.
The settlement closes the legal chapter on an incident that shook one of Birch Bay's most visited summer attractions. Whether the land and infrastructure eventually find a new owner and a new purpose will be one of the stories to watch along the Birch Bay shoreline in the months ahead. For context on other recent developments in the Birch Bay area, earlier coverage of waterfront and transit changes in Whatcom County provides useful background.
