JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. – The regional theme park company Adventure Landing, which owns a water park in Jacksonville Beach, has been fined by the U.S. Department of Labor for violating child labor laws.
An investigation by the department’s Wage and Hour Division discovered that Adventure Landing employed 14-and 15-year-olds to work past 7 p.m. during the week and past 9 p.m. on Fridays between the day after Labor Day (Sept. 4) and May 31, which is outside the limitations set by federal law.
Adventure Landing‘s Jacksonville Beach location also allowed teenagers to work as attendants on “elevated water slides” without certification, the investigation found.
“Employing children to work excessively can jeopardize their well-being and education,” said Wage and Hour Division District Director Vilma Bell. “Employers must understand and comply with federal child labor laws to ensure young workers’ safety.”
This marks the second time Adventure Landing has been found guilty of committing child labor violations. In 2018, the company’s location in Pineville, North Carolina, was fined nearly $7,000 in penalties for similar violations.
The Jacksonville Beach location was ordered to pay $151,606 in penalties and sign a compliance agreement to prevent future violations, which includes taking the following steps:
- Review and enhance training on child labor regulations for all employees, including translating content, and making those training materials easily reviewable by the department’s investigators.
- Ensure managers report known child labor violations.
- Provide a report that outlines steps to come into compliance.
The U.S. Department of Labor said in 2023, it assessed more than $8 million in child-labor-related penalties to employers, a number that was 83% higher than it was in 2022.
When asked for comment, Adventure Landing issued this statement to News4JAX:
“Adventure Landing is devoted to creating opportunities for families to enjoy themselves as well as providing our youth with opportunities for employment from which they learn valuable life skills that will serve them well. The Department of Labor conducted an audit which we fully cooperated with. We have taken prompt measures to make our compliance program even more robust and any opportunities for improvement have been addressed and resolved. We remain committed to our youth and creating the opportunities that are critical to keeping them on the right path.”
Adventure Landing in Jacksonville Beach will be celebrating its 30th anniversary next year. The business almost closed over a year ago. Jacksonville Beach City Council had voted to turn the site into apartments but was able to reach an agreement with the landlord. Adventure Landing says it is exploring other locations to rebuild in the future. For now, the water park remains a popular destination for Floridians.
