Waterpark Near Me

On a hot summer day, nothing beats a few hours of slipping and sliding around at a local waterpark. Whether you’re just looking to float down the lazy river or get on some high octane slides, there’s something for everyone at these modern day waterparks.

Are you interested in finding a Waterpark near you? Simply browse waterpark near me on the map below and find a list of waterparks located within a short proximity to your current location. Need a bit more info on waterparks and waterpark safety? Read on for interesting facts, trivia, and more on this summer pastime. You might just take away a newfound respect for waterparks!

Waterpark Near Me – Find it on the Map

Waterpark Near Me – Waterpark Trivia

True or false: Disney waterparks close for a few months each year.

If you’re planning a Disney vacation or simply hoping to find a Disney water park while searching waterpark near me, there are a few things you’ll have to keep in mind. For starters, during the off season (mid-november to December, late January and early February), each water park closes for around a total of three months in order to complete maintenance projects and refurbish the water park areas. This is how Disney manages to keep its water parks in pristine shape year after year despite millions of visitors on an annual basis. Now keep in mind that Disney will always keep at least one water park open at a time, just know that you might not be able to hit all of the parks if you’re visiting in the off season. When planning your trip, find out which park will be open during your vacation dates. For example, Blizzard Beach is typically closed from October through January. Typhoon Lagoon typically shuts down from January until early March. Though you’ll never be left high and dry at a Disney water park you may not be able to make all of your waterpark dreams come true unless you visit during the summer months. This is when every water park is fully operational and ready for guests to have a little fun!

There are many kinds of waterparks to explore and love!

When did waterparks first become popular?

One thing you might not know while searching waterpark near me is when exactly these wet and wild parks first gained popularity in the United States. According to park historians, water parks have grown exponentially in popularity since their introduction in the late 1940s and early 1950s. AT this point in time, the United States has the largest and most concentrated water park market in the whole world, with dozens of new parks opening each year. Unlike early waterparks which were typically outdoor only affairs and didn’t do much to include the older generations, modern waterparks are beginning to emerge from spas and are more closely resembling mountain resorts. This makes the waterpark (an indoor affair) a destination for all four seasons. This not only enhances the destinations appeal, but makes it something that can be fun for the whole family and not just the kiddos.

Waterpark Near Me – Waterpark Facts

The First Indoor Water Park

The first ever indoor water park was built in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada all the way back in 1985 at the West Edmonton Mall. This was part of the $1.2 billion dollar phase III expansion. Known as the World Waterpark, this wild water haven boasted over 217,800 square feet in total size. It also included one of the world’s largest indoor wave pools, waterslides of varying degrees of steepness and danger, beloved tube rides, bungee jumping, and hot tubs. Of course, this has nothing on Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, also known as the waterpark capital of the world. With five indoor waterparks, it is home to America’s largest indoor and outdoor water parks, such as Noah’s Ark Water Park. Indoor water parks in Wisconsin Dells first debuted in 1994 after the renowned Polynesian resort hotel built the first indoor water park in the US. The success proved fortuitous as it extended the tourist season and turned water park resorts into all out vacation destinations. This lead to tremendous growth in the industry that has yet to slow down. Now companies like Great Wolf Lodge and Kalahari REsorts are getting in on the action, opening new locations in old ski towns such as the Pocono Mountains. Nowadays when you search waterpark near me, you’ll likely find more indoor waterpark options than outdoor waterparks, depending on if you live in the north or in the south.

Water Play Areas

Water parks aren’t all steep slides and lazy rivers, many of them now offer water play areas. Water play areas are similar to water parks, as they include urban beaches, splash pads, and smaller collections of waterslides. They are often independent of big resort chains and are much smaller in overall size. Because of the cut in size, you can also score a great deal on tickets. Tickets to a water play area typically cost less than half of those for an indoor park such as Kalahari. Another unique water park feature is ice skating. Though this is a fairly recent trend, many resorts and waterparks in more northern areas have taken to offering ice skating as another form of recreation. As you search waterpark near me, consider what kind of park you’d most like to visit.