New slide to carry the Thunder Slide’s legacy into the future at Village Square Leisure Centre

Generations of Calgarians have climbed the tower, braved the cold walk to the top and raced through the twists and turns of the Thunder Slide. Now, after more than 30 years of memories, a new slide will carry that legacy into the future at Village Square Leisure Centre.

Today, we’re unveiling the design for the Thunder Slide’s replacement, giving Calgarians a first look at one of the facility’s most anticipated new features.

The new slide will replace the Thunder Slide, which served Calgarians from 1994 to 2026, when it had reached the end of its service life. As part of the Village Square Leisure Centre repairs and upgrades project, the replacement slide has been designed to deliver a new generation of thrills while building on the experience Calgarians know and love.

Unlike the current open-air corkscrew design, the new slide will be fully enclosed, helping protect it from Calgary’s weather and supporting more reliable operation throughout the year. The ride will feature a dynamic path, taking riders through a series of changing twists and turns before reaching the runout below. The design also incorporates translucent sections that create changing colours and light effects throughout the experience.

A vibrant gradient colour scheme featuring reds, pinks, purples, oranges and yellows will make the slide a striking new addition to the Village Square Leisure Centre pool area.

“We’ve heard from countless Calgarians about what the Thunder Slide has meant to them over the years,” said Mayor Jeromy Farkas. “The incredible turnout for the slide’s final weekend showed just how much people care about places like this and that recreation facilities create memories that last a lifetime. Replacing the Thunder Slide means future generations will have the chance to create memories of their own and enjoy this beloved recreation experience for decades to come.”

The replacement slide forms part of The City’s broader work to renew aging recreation infrastructure and respond to increasing demand for recreation opportunities across Calgary. Through GamePLAN, The City’s public recreation strategy, Calgary is taking a long-term approach to investing in existing community facilities where it makes sense and planning new recreation spaces for a growing city.

Work is underway on repairs and upgrades at Village Square Leisure Centre, with the facility and new slide expected to reopen near the end of 2027. Updates can be found at calgary.ca/VillageSquareRepairs

Quick facts

– The Thunder Slide opened in 1994 and has served generations of Calgarians.
– The existing slide and support structure were more than 30 years old and reached the point where replacement was a more practical long-term solution than continued repairs.
– The new slide will be fully enclosed to improve reliability and help protect it from Calgary’s weather.
– Village Square Leisure Centre is expected to reopen by the end of 2027.

Courtesy: The City of Calgary Newsroom