10 Fabulous Indoor Water Parks

Meeting CoCo at CoCo Key Water Resort

The kids are back in school and our family trips to pools, water parks and spraygrounds may be over, at least for a little while. Fortunately, amazing indoor water parks are available around just about every corner. Of course, Great Wolf Lodge is known for fantastic indoor water parks and thrilling water slides, but here are 10 more worth checking out once the weather cools down.

Avalanche Bay (Boyne Falls, MI): At this 88,000 square foot mega-park, you’ll find many, many water attractions to keep you and the kids busy all day. Surf or body board on the Rip Zone, race down one of five water slides, climb a wall to reach the summit as water spills down you or splish splash with the little ones in the zero-entry Kitz Pool.

Bridges Bay Water Resort (Arnolds Park, IA): Ease your way down the lazy river or sail the high seas on the pirate ship. Beware the 500-galllon dump bucket, unless of course you want to get really wet. Sports fans will like the triple-hoop basketball area, and of course the water slides are a must-do for the whole family.

Caribbean Cove (Indianapolis, IN): If you’re looking for a full day at the water park, this is the place, with multiple water slides, a lazy river and a 700-gallon tipping water bucket. If you want to take a break from slides, try the Octopus Bay sports activity pool, or hop out of the water altogether and play some games at Crazy CoCo’s Arcade.

Parrots Perch at CoCo Key Water Resort

CoCo Key Water Resort (Mt. Laurel, NJ): We had a chance to splash and play at this huge, indoor water park earlier this month and had an amazing time. I’m a big lazy river fan, so that was perfect for me, and my daughter and I must have gone down the enclosed Shark Slam water slide at least 20 times. Parrot’s Perch is also fabulous for kids. It’s an aquatic jungle gym with slides, water cannons and a huge bucket that dumps water on all those below every few minutes.

Fort Rapids Indoor Waterpark Resort (Columbus, OH): For little ones, head to the Kiddie Korral to play on two small slides and various interactive play structures. Or, enjoy a lazy ride around Cowboy Creek in your own innertube. For those looking for even more water park fun, there are four exciting water slides, including Shoot Out Racer where you can slide down on your stomach and exit face first!

Kalahari Resort

Kalahari Resorts (Wisconsin Dells, WI & Sandusky, OH): With over 125,000 square feet of indoor water park fun, this place is huge. Test your surfing skills on the FlowRider ride, or brave the Sahara Sidewinders or Screaming Hyena water slides. The Victoria Falls family raft ride is ideal for anyone in your crew, and of course, Tiko’s Watering Hole is perfect for little ones.

Splash Lagoon Water Park (Erie, PA): This huge indoor water park features Wild Waters Indoor Wave Pool, the largest indoor wave pool on the east coast. Plus, you’ll find the five-story Tiki Tree House, the Maui Wowie water slide, Monkey Shines Island for little ones, and so much more. This place is huge. You may need to stay an entire weekend just to explore all the water slides and activities.

Water Park of America (Bloomington, MN): Climb 136 steps to the Eagles Nest on the 10thfloor and you’ll find yourself perched atop the tallest indoor water park in the United States. If that’s too many stairs, you’ll also find more water slides, including a more relaxing Eagles Nest Family Ride, which seats three to four people. The St. Croix Winding River is perfect for those just looking to relax.

WaTiki Water Park

WaTiki Water Park (Rapid City, SD): This exciting waterpark adjoins the La Quinta Inn & Suites as well as the Fairfield Inn & Suites, so it could be easy to make it a water park weekend. Enjoy six huge water slides, a lazy river and a 300-gallon dump bucket. Adults looking to ease sore muscles after a morning of going down water slide after water slide will love the hot tub right next to the slides.

Wilderness at the Smokies (Sevierville, TN): There’s so much to do here at this 66,000 square foot indoor water park. Spray and soak anyone in your way at Washout Mountain, surf ocean-like waves on the Smokies Surf Rider attraction, ride the waves in the Great Wave wave pool or go on a family raft ride you’ll never forget at Runaway Canyon.

Are you a big fan of water parks? What’s your favorite one to visit, either indoor or outdoor? Let me know in the comments below.

Photo Credits: careertechvolunteer (Kalahari Resort), Gordon Vasquez (WaTiki Water Park)