Minas Plevrakis was only a young boy when the idea of a water park on Crete was first conceived by his father and uncle. Now, at 30, he's responsible for every aspect of the giant 50,000 square-metres Water City complex in Anopoli.

"It was around 1986 when my family started planning the first water park on Crete," Minas said. "They travelled to other countries that had parks and checked them out, making notes of the best features of each. Then they researched the entire concept, looked into the latest developments, and made further studies."

During that period, another water park, this one in Hersonissos, rushed to open its doors ahead of Water City.

"We didn't care, we were taking our time to make sure everything was done right," he said. "We knew when we were ready we'd have the best water park on Crete, one equal to or better than those of the European capitals."

When Water City opened to the public in 1996, with 23 attractions, it was considered large for its time. One of the attractions was the wave pool, a 4,500 square-metres swimming pool that creates its own waves.

"We have the only wave pool on Crete, and there is only one other in Thessaloniki," Minas told us. "And the power it takes to make the waves is the same as an air bus on take off."

Today, the Anopoli water park, after several major renovations, has 34 attractions, ranging from the extreme to the calm. They include a children's pool and five children's slides; the Multi Race and Tarzan's Game. Then, for the more adventurous, there are attractions like the Turbo Cyclone, the biggest in Europe.

When the park was originally planned, it was scheduled to be built in the centre of Kokkini Hani.

"But, as the plans kept expanding, everyone involved realized the area was much too small for what they wanted to do," Minas said. "So, they moved it up the mountain to Anopoli where they had enough room, about 80,000 square metres in total, which included a big parking area, which is needed for the tour coaches, as well as the private cars."

In addition to the water rides, the park features a self-service restaurant/grill house with a full menu, from steaks to sandwiches, plus fast food items, and a separate snack/pizza bar.

"We know people come here for the water fun, and want to get back to it as soon as possible," Minas said, "so we provide quick food service. But, we still pride ourselves with top quality food and expert preparation. Of course, people can bring their own food, and we provide the picnic area at no extra charge."

One of the "attractions" that the casual visitor doesn't get to see is the pump station which draws thousands of litres of water daily from the park's own three wells.

"Our filtering system is going 24-hours a day, and all the pools, rivers and rides are constantly being replenished with fresh lightly chlorinated water," he explained. "Between the splashing and the evaporation from the sun, we are refilling constantly. And, it is checked regularly to maintain the health and environmental standards set by ISO."

While Water City is providing fun for thousands of visitors each year, the management takes its health and safety responsibilities very seriously.

"In high season, we have 42 life guards on duty," Minas explained. "There's one at the start and at the finish of each ride. Also, we have a fully-equipped first aid station with a doctor on duty at all times."

As the man responsible for the park's daily operation since 2002, Minas puts in a 16-hour day everyday for eight months a year. But his hard work has paid off. While all other tourism in the area is reportedly down by at least 20 percent, and some businesses are claiming a decrease of up to 60 percent in sales, Water City's attendance is down only about 10 percent from last season.

"For this season, I see that as something positive," he said. "It makes me proud that, in these hard times, people appreciate it when they get value for their money."

And, what about next season?

"It will be even better," he answered. "I'll let you in on a little secret. We've purchased three new rides which we'll install over the winter. I can't tell you what they are, except that they're totally new and gravity-defying. I can't wait to try them myself!"