How a Texas Town's Amusement Park Conquered the World

A Legacy of Thrills and Memories

For over 18 years, ZDT's Amusement Park has been a cherished destination for families and thrill-seekers in Seguin, Texas. However, the park is set to close its doors permanently on August 17, 2025. The Donhauser family, who have owned and operated the park since its opening in 2007, shared the news in a heartfelt press release. "We hope you will come out for one last visit to relive those memories and create new ones," the statement read. "If you have never been before, we invite you to come and be a part of ZDT's story."

The Beginning of an Adventure

ZDT's Amusement Park first opened its doors at 301 W. Kingsbury St. in Seguin, Texas. Initially, it featured just five indoor attractions within a single building. Danny Donhauser, the owner, had big dreams. He grew up in New Braunfels and moved to Seguin at the age of 16. His vision was inspired by the success of Schlitterbahn, and he wanted to bring something exciting to his hometown. "Let's do something for Seguin," he told his wife, Sarah, in 2002. "My dream was always to put a roller coaster in."

The name ZDT stands for the three children of the park’s owners: Zac, Danielle, and Tiffany. This reflects the family values that have guided the park since its inception.

Growth and Expansion

In the years following its opening, ZDT's continued to grow. A go-kart track was added a year after the initial launch, and by 2009, five more attractions had been introduced. In 2010, the Mad Raft Water Coaster became the park’s first waterpark feature. By 2014, the park had expanded to 12 attractions, both indoors and outdoors. Today, visitors can enjoy rides like the Dizzy Toucan, the Parachute Drop, the Jungle Playland, a flight simulator, bungee trampoline, rock wall, arcade, and the Viper and Viper's Tail, two waterpark features.

But it wasn't until 2015 that ZDT's would unveil what would become its most iconic attraction.

The Switchback: A Unique Ride

The Switchback, a wooden shuttle rollercoaster, was the crown jewel of ZDT's Amusement Park. The idea for this unique ride had been in the works for several years. Danny Donhauser, the park's owner, conceived the concept in 2013 but it didn’t open until 2015. The ride features an 87-degree incline and takes passengers 60 feet into the air. What makes it special is that it’s a wooden shuttle rollercoaster with a metal track on top of the wooden frame. The cars resemble a locomotive, paying homage to America’s first rollercoaster, the Switchback Railway, and the grounds’ past as an agricultural and grocery center.

The track is 1,110 feet long, but the ride doubles its length by moving backward. It took 10 months and $3.5 million to complete. International thrill-seekers from places like Great Britain and Argentina traveled to ZDT's just to experience the Switchback. Andy Hine, chairman of the Roller Coaster Club of Great Britain, spoke about the ride. “It was a fun and unique ride and everyone enjoyed it—very strange going backward on a wooden roller coaster,” Hine said. “This was the first time we have visited ZDT's—most people in the UK will have never heard of it. So it was fantastic to be able to go there and everyone had a great time.”

A Moment in the Spotlight

In 2023, ZDT's Amusement Park made an appearance on HBO's Love and Death, which follows the true crime story of Candy Montgomery. The park was featured in a scene that highlighted its unique charm. Sarah Donhauser, manager of human relations for the park, shared her excitement about the filming. “It was really exciting for them to be here and have such big stars come to film here,” she said. “We loved getting to see the episode and see everything come together.”

The cast filmed at the park for five days in 2021. Elizabeth Olsen, who played Montgomery in the series, mentioned in an interview on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert that she had to overcome her fear of coasters to shoot the scene on the Switchback and could only handle one take.

A Farewell to an Era

ZDT's Amusement Park announced that it will close its doors for good on August 17, 2025. The Donhauser family expressed their gratitude to visitors for 18 years of "smiles, thrills, and unforgettable memories." Sarah Donhauser, manager of human relations, said in a press release, “We are proud of the positive impact we have made in our family-friendly park, from delivering happy memories to providing a fun place to work and attracting tourists to Seguin.” She also thanked all of the guests and team members for their support and contributions.

As the park prepares for its final chapter, fans and visitors are encouraged to make the most of their last visits and cherish the memories created over the years.