DETROIT – The beloved Giant Slide on Belle Isle will reopen later than anticipated this summer.
It was initially planned to reopen Memorial Day Weekend, but the Michigan Department of Natural Resources said they need more time to put the finishing touches on the slide.
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While most of the work is complete, officials said a few manufacturing delays have slowed down the final preparations needed for reopening. Once the team can install a new curtain and canopy, the slide will undergo one more inspection before being ready for riders.
“It’s nice to have something people are drawn to. The best part about the slide is that it brings you to the center of the island,” said Tom Bissett, with the DNR. “When you get there, you ride down the slide, that’s about 30 seconds of your life, right? But then it gives you an opportunity to discover some of the other things at Belle Isle.”
No official reopening date has been set for the slide, but updates will be provided as soon as they are available.
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About the Giant Belle Isle Slide
The 40-foot-tall icon has been a popular summer attraction for decades. It originally opened in 1967 and has since left its mark on Detroit culturally and also on several people physically.
After taking a few years off due to COVID, the slide returned with a bang in 2022 and quickly went viral and gained international attention.
On Aug. 17, 2022, the slide was shut down four hours after it opened because riders were going too fast and catching too much air on the way down.
An inspection that year led to a long list of safety changes, including staff training, slide testing, maintenance logs and more.
A lawsuit was filed in 2023 by a woman who claimed the slide injured her children.
The slide reopened in 2024 with new safety improvements, including a new landing pad.
More information on the Giant Slide and other attractions on Belle Isle can be found on the DNR’s website.