The Buccaneer Bay Water Park at Buccaneer State Park reopened on Thursday in Hancock County.

The park was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the $21 million project took almost eight years to reach completion.

“We are so excited about it,” said Lisa Cowand,president of the Hancock County Board of Supervisors on Monday. “This is one of the most heavily visited parks in Mississippi and it’s self-sustaining.”

“It’s great to have it back,” Buccaneer Bay Director Stu Rayburn said on Saturday, “and everything is looking good.”

“I used to bring my family here 20 years ago,” Cowand said. “It’s just another draw to our area.”

Buccaneer Bay Water Park includes the Wave Pool, two water slides and a kiddy pool. It also has a new deck and concession stand, The Sea Dog Galley.

Abbie Lirette, 12, of Chauvin, La., and her family were enjoying the water slides at Buccaneer Bay Water Park on Saturday and said they “came to try out the water park and are also camping.”

“We really like it,” Lirette said.

Buccaneer Bay Water Park will be open daily from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. and starting on August 10, the park will operate on weekends only until September 2.

Admission is based on height and general admission for guests taller than four feet is $17 between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. The twilight price is $9.50. Guests under four feet have a general admission of $12 and a twilight admission of $8.

Season passes are available for individual sale and for families of four.

The water park is an extension of Buccaneer State Park that has 276  RV campsites, tent campsites and pavilions and rest room pavilions.

“The Gulf view with the beaches and Buccaneer Park, it’s just the perfect setting,” Cowand said.