Smokestacks loomed over the vibrant Caribbean Sea. The refinery on the sunny coast of St. Croix was once the largest in the western hemisphere, supplying heat and gas to the gulf coast and eastern seaboard.

In May of 2021, locals complained of sickness. An oily mist swept across the island, tainting the tropical air.

The crumbling facility was assessed by the EPA and determined to be at risk of exploding. Ecological restoration would push into the billions. Naturally, the site was abandoned.

As the clouds drifted, I sat gazing at a broken key skyline. A vision bubbled to the surface. Children laughing, smoke billowing, oil flowing.

America’s first oil-themed waterpark was born.