School is out and temperatures are soaring. Summer must be here. In Texas this means a scramble to find places to cool off that the whole family can enjoy.
From the grand offerings of water-themed parks to cozier splash pads and swimming pools, we have compiled a list of summer destinations close to home. Options to chill out this summer are not confined to the mega water attractions. Sprinkled around the Metroplex are splash pads and swimming pools that families can enjoy without much of the expense.
Right in the heart of Tarrant County is the 17-acre municipal water park NRH2O. This park in North Richland Hills offers 23 attractions including its 1,100-foot-long slide, the Green Extreme. It was one of the first municipal water parks when it opened in 1995.
Hurricane Harbor in Arlington is a giant paean to wet and wild summer fun. It is 50 acres of wet attractions, including water slides such as the popular Black Hole, the blue and yellow funnel called the Tornado and the 60-foot slide Geronimo.
A quick 20-minute drive to White Settlement and families can enjoy the wet offerings at Splash Dayz Waterpark, including multiple water slides, a large kid-friendly pool area, a wave pool and a lazy river.
If your preference leans more indoors, then Epic Waters in Grand Prairie is your spot. This 80,000-square-foot indoor park has a retractable roof to let the sunlight and summer breezes in and inclement weather out. This venue guarantees “weatherproof fun” for everyone.
NRH2O: Add this suburban summer splash spot to escape the Texas heat
Location: 9001 26 Blvd., North Richland Hills
Season: May through September
June hours: Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Fridays, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sundays and June 10, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
July hours: Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Fridays, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sundays and July 15, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Fourth of July: 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
August hours: Aug. 1-5, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Aug. 6-7, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; only weekends after Aug. 7
September hours: Weekends only, Sept. 10-24, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Monday-Thursday daily pass: $22.99; under 4 feet, $18.99
Friday-Sunday, holiday pass: $27.99; under 4 feet, $20.99
Season pass: From $79.99 for non-residents of North Richland Hills; from $59.99 for residents
Most notable attraction: Green Extreme
Located off Grapevine Highway is a 17-acre municipal water park named after its city: NRH2O. The park opened in 1995 and is one of the first municipal water parks in the nation. Since it first opened, NRH2O has expanded to offer more than its initial three body slides, river and wading pool. Today the park has around 23 attractions, including its 1,100-foot-long slide the Green Extreme.
Other park features include the 660-foot Endless River, an interactive water playground Frogstein’s Splashatory, and the 225,000-gallon wave pool called NRH2Ocean. Visit the white sands of Beachside Bay, an attraction with a sand volleyball court and 5,300-square-foot pool.
This family water park has summertime activities for the whole family, including younger guests. The Tadpole Swimming Hole has three small water slides, balancing nets and lily pads all meant for kids under 4 feet.
Park visitors can take a break from the heat by eating at the picnic area or reserving a Luxury Lounger near the Splashatory.
NRH2O offers free parking.
Waterslides and attractions: There are about 23 attractions for the whole family to enjoy.
Single rider slides: A 98-foot-long Champagne Bowl slide called Riggamaroll, the 352-foot open slide Blue Sky, the 280-foot enclosed slide Thunder and Sidewinder, a 330-foot slide with a trap that sends riders speeding 26 feet per second.
Tube rides: Green Extreme, Double Dipper, Purplepalooza, Viper
NRH2Ocean: A 225,000-gallon wave pool that goes on for 10 minutes and off
Endless River: Also known as the lazy river, the Endless River gives park guests a break from walking with a tube ride down an easy current.
Kid options: Frogstein’s Splashatory for guests under 250 pounds and Tadpole Swimming Hole for those 4 feet and under.
Food policy: Outside food and drinks are permitted in the park. All bags and coolers are checked at the front entrance. Guests are discouraged from bringing glass containers, sharp knives, alcohol and restaurant and fast food into the park. NRH2O also has food and beverage vendors inside the park.
Events planned: Movie nights July 1, 15 and 19. Drone show July 9. Fireworks show July 23.
Hurricane Harbor: This watery gem in Arlington will help you chill out for the summer
Location: 1800 E. Lamar Blvd., Arlington
Season: Memorial Day through Labor Day
June and July hours: Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Friday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Fourth of July: 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
August hours: Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., only weekends after Aug. 14
Driving down I-30 in Arlington, it’s hard to miss some of Hurricane Harbor’s tallest water slides including the fan-favorite Black Hole, the blue and yellow funnel called the Tornado and the 60-foot slide Geronimo.
When it first opened in 1983, the park was called Wet n’ Wild, said Brad Malone, the marketing and communications manager for Six Flags Over Texas and Hurricane Harbor.
Today, Hurricane Harbor is owned and operated by Six Flags Theme Parks, which bought Wet n’ Wild in 1995. The Hurricane Harbor and Six Flags Over Texas parks in Arlington flank the highway offering both wet and dry summer fun.
The park consists of 50 acres of rides, slides and a 1 million-gallon wave pool called Surf Lagoon.
Malone said holidays tend to be the busiest times of year for Hurricane Harbor.
Waterslides and attractions: There are over 40 slides and attractions, from areas for children to thrill slides.
Fastest slides: Geronimo and Der Suka are two of the fastest slides at Hurricane Harbor. Both have a minimum rider height of 4 feet.
Surf Lagoon: This million-gallon wave pool offers wave tossers and little ripples for all to enjoy.
Lazy River: This 3.5-foot, slow-moving water trail is one of Hurricane Harbor’s more popular attractions. Kick back on a raft and let the 3 mph current take you through a tour of the park sights.
Children’s choices: Splashwater Beach has about 40 interactive water features for little ones including dumping buckets, spraying hoses and drenching water curtains.
Food policy: No outside food, drinks or coolers. Food available in the park include hamburgers, soft drinks and ice cream.
Best days to visit: Monday-Wednesday are ideal days to beat the crowds.
Splash Dayz: Slide on down to White Settlement for a wet and wild time
Location: 405 N. Las Vegas Trail, White Settlement
Season: Memorial Day through Labor Day
June and July hours: Tuesday-Sunday 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
Fourth of July hours: 11 a.m.-8p.m.
August hours: Aug. 1-6, Tuesday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; starting Aug. 7, open Saturdays, 11 a.m.-8 p.m., and Sundays, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Admission: $19.95 for under 48 inches, over 65 years old or with military ID; $21.95 for anyone else over 48 inches.
Season pass: $49.95 for White Settlement residents or with military ID; $59.95 for non-residents.
Most popular attraction: Kiddiez Splash Pool, multi-color tube slides
White Settlement is a 20-minute drive for Fort Worth residents looking for summer fun at Splash Dayz Waterpark. The park has tube slides galore and the Atomic Wedgiez, which drops you feet-first down a water pipe that may leave some, as the park says, “wedgied.”
Splash Dayz has been open in White Settlement since 2016, park manager Braden Dill said.
The facility was built in 2014 as a Hawaiian Falls Waterpark park before the City of White Settlement bought the property two years later. The park held its grand re-opening in 2016 and has been Splash Dayz ever since, Dill said.
The park consists of multiple water slides, a large kid-friendly pool area, a wave pool and a lazy river.
Dill said the opening Memorial Day weekend was the highest headcount the park has ever had. He expects this summer to be a busy one, with the next few months projected to be a scorcher.
Waterslides and attractions: The park is known for its slides, whether that be solo down a pipe or racing against other riders on mats.
Lazy river: A lap around the lazy river at Splash Dayz lasts around five minutes and offers patrons a relaxing float.
Children’s choices: The Kiddiez Splash Pool area offers a small body of water along with two interactive playgrounds, complete with a large water bucket that can come pouring down. There is also a kid-friendly splash pad that shoots water from the ground.
Twilight passes: Splash Dayz offers a reduced ticket from 4 to 8 p.m. Anyone that comes to the park after 4 can pay $16.95 for a twilight ticket instead of full price.
Fireworks show: Around the Fourth of July, Splash Dayz attendees can sit back at the park and enjoy a firework show. The park is located near Veteran’s Park in White Settlement where the annual fireworks show takes place.
Food policy: Food and drinks can be brought inside the park, but it’ll cost you. There is a cooler fee of $20 a day or $60 for a cooler season pass. The only food that isn’t allowed in the park is birthday cakes and branded food from outside restaurants. The park also has its own food and drink stands.
Best days to visit: Tuesday-Thursday are typically less crowded than weekends.
Epic Waters: Grand Prairie water fun all under one roof
Location: 2970 Epic Place, Grand Prairie
Season: Open year-round
June hours: 10 a.m.-9 p.m. daily; closed June 15-16
July hours: 10 a.m.-9 p.m. daily
Fourth of July: 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
August hours: 10 a.m.-9 p.m. daily until Aug. 13, then Sundays, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Mondays, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays; Thursdays, 4-8 p.m.; Fridays, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; and Saturdays, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
Monday and Thursday tickets: Under 4 feet non-resident, $39; over 4 feet non-resident, $44; under 4 feet Grand Prairie resident, $22; over 4 feet Grand Prairie resident, $27
Tuesday and Wednesday tickets: Under 4 feet non-resident, $29; over 4 feet non-resident, $34; under 4 feet Grand Prairie resident, $17; over 4 feet Grand Prairie resident, $22
Friday and Sunday tickets: Under 4 feet non-resident, $44; over 4 feet non-resident, $49; under 4 feet Grand Prairie resident, $27; over 4 feet Grand Prairie resident, $32
Saturday ticket: Under 4 feet non-resident, $54; over 4 feet non-resident, $59; under 4 feet Grand Prairie resident, $29; over 4 feet Grand Prairie resident, $34
Passes: Annual, $199 for Grand Prairie residents or $239 for non-residents; May 1-Sept. 5, $79 for Grand Prairie residents or $99 for non-residents
Deals: 3 and younger are free. First-responders, health care workers, teachers and military personnel get a 15% discount. Adults 50 and older get $2 off tickets.
Most notable attraction: Lasso Loop
This 80,000-square-foot indoor waterpark has been offering “weatherproof” fun for Dallas-Fort Worth families since 2018. If you visit on a sunny summer day, the retractable roof is opened so you can enjoy the breeze and sun. On bad weather days, the roof is closed so you can still enjoy the water regardless of what’s happening outside.
“The fact that we can provide weatherproof fun all year round is something that makes us a huge destination for families,” says spokesperson Kier Rouse-Perry. “Because whenever you think of January or February you don’t think about a waterpark, and most parks around DFW, most of them are seasonal.”
Learn how to surf like a pro on the FlowRider surf simulator, or conquer an 80-foot slide tower that encompasses nine waterslides. Along with epic attractions, families can enjoy a 4,000-square-foot arcade, a full bar for adults, and a cafe.
Epic Waters hosts millions of visitors every year. During the summer, 3,000 to 5,000 people visit each day. Programming during the summer will include three circus acts a day at noon, 3 and 6 p.m.
But the fun doesn’t end at summer. From Oct. 6 to 9, Epic Waters will be hosting Flowapalooza, a championship where flow riders from around the world will compete for a cash prize. Guests can enjoy live entertainment and carnival rides during the festival.
Attractions: Epic Waters boasts 15 attractions, including nine slides, three pools, a lazy river, a surf simulator and an arcade.
Slides: The Lasso Loop is the nation’s tallest indoor AquaLoop. You get into a capsule at the top of the slide and the operator hits a button that drops you into a loop motion. Another popular attraction is the Yellowjacket Drop, which is a two-person slide that will send you high up onto a wall, giving you a sense of zero gravity.
Pools: The Wavepool, a 10,000-square-foot outdoor pool, is open through Labor Day. The Swimming Hole is an indoor pool for swimming, lounging or dunking a few shots into basketball hoops.
Lazy river: Float down the Rio Grand Lazy River, the longest indoor lazy river in Texas that surges with waves every 10 minutes. Kids can take pictures and interact with mermaids at the river.
Children’s choices: The Rascal’s Round Up is an aquatic fort full of slides, geysers, sprinklers and a 300-gallon tipping bucket for toddlers and small children.
Food policy: Epic Waters does not allow outside food, drinks or coolers. Dietary restrictions, food allergies and baby formula are exceptions but must be identified and labeled with the date of entry by an employee at the admissions desk. No glass in the water park, including for baby formula and baby food. The only exception is sealed water bottles.
Best days to beat crowds: Visit earlier in the week, Monday through Thursday. If you’re visiting Friday to Sunday, arrive as soon as the park opens to enjoy the park before the rush.
Events: Twilight Swim after 5 p.m. Monday to Thursday is $20 per person. Family Fun Fridays starting at 4 p.m. is $159 for a family of four and includes admission, pizza and drinks and arcade cards.
The Howlin’ Tornado at Great Wolf Lodge Waterpark in Grapevine is a six-story funnel of fun.
Great Wolf Lodge Indoor Water Park
This park is open all year to walk-ins and Lodge guests. Lodge guests can access the water park starting at 1 p.m., with check-in at 4 p.m. Day and season passes are available for the general public to purchase. This park offers more than a dozen water attractions. It has a four-story water fort treehouse for children to explore, a relaxing lazy river to float on and a six-story slide for the more adventurous water warriors.
Park pass: $50 for a full day and $40 for a half day (3-8 p.m.) Children under 2 are free.
The Keiki Kove at Hawaiian Falls Waterpark in Mansfield. Hawaiian Falls Waterpark
Hawaiian Falls Water Park
Hawaiian Falls Mansfield is 14 acres of water fun. Its website rates each attraction with a Shaka Meter for pulse-pounding intensity. This park has something for everyone — from a relatively tame Keiki Kove to the stomach-dropping Torpedo.
Location: 490 Heritage Parkway S., Mansfield
Season: May to September
June hours: Sunday-Thursday, 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m.
July hours: Sunday-Thursday, 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; Friday-Saturday 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m.
Fourth of July: July 3-4, 10:30 a.m.-8p.m.
August hours: Sunday-Thursday, 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m.; Aug. 15-16, 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Park is closed Aug. 17-18, 22-25 and 29-31.
September hours: Sept. 3-5, 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sept. 10-11, 17-18 and 24, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sept. 25, 1-4 p.m.
Tickets:Go to website. Big Kahuna $30.99, Lil Kahuna $20.99.
Pirates’ Cove waterpark in Burleson has something for everyone, including 11 water slides, two waterfalls, a lazy river and four activity pools.
Pirates’ Cove Water Park
This pirate-themed park in Burleson is a 20-mile drive south of Fort Worth. Its many offerings include 11 slides, two waterfalls, a lazy river and four activity pools. Children 12 and younger must be accompanied by an adult. Guests must be at least 42 inches tall to ride the tallest slides.
Location: 2461 S. Burleson Blvd., Burleson
Season: May-August
Daily hours: Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.,
Weekends and holidays: 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
Daily tickets: $26.99; under 42 inches and seniors, $20.99. Children under 2 are free.
Weekend and holiday tickets: $28.99; under 42 inches and seniors, $22.99. Children under 2 are free.
Family and group rates: Family four-pack, $87.96 (daily) and $95.96 (weekends and holidays); five-pack $114.95 (daily) and $124.95 (weekends and holidays). For 20 or more, call 817-386-8000 or email info@piratescovefunzone.com.
Season pass: $109, or $400 for a family four-pack. A season pass comes with a Pirate Band for use in the park for purchases and to help identify lost children.
This story was originally published June 10, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
