05:30 PM CST on Friday, March 10, 2006

By Carolyn Campbell / 11 News

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Crews are working overtime to try and open Galveston's newest tourist attraction in time for Spring Break.

schlitterbahn

Workers are scrambling to get the park ready to greet visitors.

The Schlitterbahn Water Park hopes to makes its first big splash on the island this weekend.

Friday you could hear the sounds of progress under pressure.

At the center of the organized chaos is waterpark guru and Schlitterbahn co-owner Jeff Henry.

"So we're accomplishing stuff virtually every minute of every day and it's going very, very, very well," said Henry.

Now, you have to know Henry to know that's what he always says. But the park has already missed its publicly announced opening date at least three times.

"I'm always late and I'm always overbudget, now what's the controversy?" asked Henry. "Everybody knew that going in. I've never opened one on time yet."

And Henry admits, he's probably one of the park's biggest setbacks.

"We keep adding more on to it, we keep making it bigger, we keep adding more effects, we keep making it prettier and better," said Henry. "When we open, we open. And when we open, we'll be ready. And it'll be good and it'll be great."

The park will have several one-of-a-kind features like the convertible roof that covers an entire section.

"Convertibility means we are able to open and close it in eight minutes so if it's raining outside and it's summertime -- we're staying open," said Henry. "Only water park ever been able to stay open in the winter or summer or during the rain."

Another unique feature is what's called the transportainment river system. You never have to get out of the water to get from one part of the park to another.

Some call Henry a genius. Henry says he's just a hard worker doing what he loves.

"I would rather do this than anything else," said Henry. "I rather this than go dancing, than go to a movie. I'd rather do this than go fishing. This, to me, is fun."

There's still a lot to be done to get that much-needed city permit but 400 people are working around the clock to make that happen.

"Probably gonna be the nicest waterpark ever built right here," promises Henry.

And you'd probably want to bet on that before you bet on an opening date.