Travel Channel

March 2, 2018

8 of the Most Incredible Indoor Water Parks

By Erin Gifford

Timber Ridge Lodge & Water Park

Just two hours north of Chicago, Moose Mountain Falls at Timber Ridge Lodge & Water Park in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin is the place to go for 50,000 square feet of pools, slides, tubes and a lazy river. A new slide, Avalanche Falls, engages all the senses thanks to colored lights and energetic playlists that let riders rock out to their favorite tunes as they slide. When you’re ready to dry off, head to Crazy Coyotes Arcade for dozens of arcade games or enjoy daily activities, like family movies and arts and crafts.

Kalahari Resorts and Conventions’ Pocono Mountains

At 220,000 square feet, Kalahari Resorts and Conventions’ Pocono Mountains location in Pennsylvania is the largest indoor water park in the country thanks to an expansion last year that doubled its size. Whatever your thrill level, there’s a ride for you, from the extra-long lazy river to spiraling and speeding water slides, like Kenya Korkscrew and Screaming Hyena. The water park expansion added an area just for toddlers, a wave pool, and a 21+ grotto swim-up bar, as well as eight new water slides.

Massanutten Resort

After a morning of snow tubing or skiing at Massanutten Resort in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, you’ll be ready to escape the cold at this mountain resort’s indoor water park. Grab a tube and zoom down eight water slides or position yourself under the giant bucket and get ready for a huge splash at Massanutten Meltdown. At The Pipeline, learn to surf or bodyboard thanks to the FlowRider that moves 50,000 gallons of water each minute to create ocean-like waves. The Frog Pond offers a safe water play area for babies and toddlers.

Wilderness Resort

Wilderness Resort in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, the self-proclaimed “Water Park Capital of the World,” may not be able to claim the largest indoor water park in the country, but it is the largest water park resort. The resort’s four indoor water parks make up over 250,000 square feet of wet and wild fun, and that doesn’t even include the four outdoor water parks at Wilderness Resort. Inside, ride the waves at the country’s largest indoor wave pool at Wild WaterDome or try the Midwest’s only slideboarding ride at Klondike Kavern.

Epic Waters Indoor Water Park

The brand new Epic Waters Indoor Water Park in Grand Prairie, Texas boasts 80,000 square feet of splash-worthy fun thanks to 11 water slides, like the Texas Twist and Yellowjacket Drop, as well as Lasso Loop, the tallest indoor Aqualoop ride in the country. A lazy river, mat racer slides and a water playground with geysers, sprinklers and a 300-gallon tipping bucket add to the fun. As a bonus, the water park has a retractable roof so you can enjoy the sunshine from inside the park on especially nice days.

Boyne Mountain Resort

You’ll find the largest indoor water park in Michigan, Avalanche Bay, at Boyne Mountain Resort in Boyne Falls. This 88,000 square foot water park features a children’s pool, a lazy river, hot tubs and six water slides, including The Big Couloir, which claims one of the steepest drops of any water slide. Grab a friend and a double tube to get flushed at the Vertigo Cannonbowl Slide or shoot hoops in the activity pool at Blizzard Bay. Stay alert for the horn to signal that the Splasherhorn is ready to dump 800 gallons of water.

WaTiki Waterpark Resort

WaTiki Indoor Water Park Resort in Rapid City, South Dakota is home to four hotels, including Fairfield Inn & Suites and Residence Inn. It’s also a perfect home base to explore the area. See the sights, like Mount Rushmore and Badlands National Park, in the morning, then splash around at the 30,000 square foot indoor water park in the afternoon. WaTiki is the largest indoor water park in the Dakotas and features an activity pool, a lazy river, a hot tub and multiple water slides.

CoCo Key Water Resort

At CoCo Key Water Resort in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, you’ll love splashing and playing across this 55,000 square foot indoor water park. Plan for plenty of twists and turns on water slides, like Sharks Slam and Barracuda Blast. Meantime, Parrot’s Perch is a watery oasis for small children thanks to pint-sized slides, water cannons, and a 300-gallon tipping bucket. Book a water resort package so you can splash all you want, then play video games at the Key Quest Arcade and retire to your hotel room just steps away.

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