The first waterpark in the U.S. might have opened in the
1970s, but it wasn't until 1994 that the Polynesian
Resort Hotel and Suites in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, opened the first
indoor waterpark in the nation. These days, many resorts across the U.S. offer
indoor waterparks, allowing guests to engage in water-based activities
year-round. Keep reading to see our favorite resorts with indoor waterparks
that everyone in the family will love.?
OKANA Resort & Indoor Waterpark?
The Chickasaw Nation opened OKANA Resort & Indoor Waterpark in
early 2025 in Oklahoma City, making it the newest resort with an indoor
waterpark in the country. The name OKANA comes from the Chickasaw words
"oka C meaning water C and inkana C meaning friend. The name makes
sense, considering that their 100,000-square-foot indoor waterpark is the
perfect place to experience water fun with friends. Not only does it have a
surf simulator, but there's also a lazy river, an adults-only hot tub, and 15
slides. With a comfortable temperature of 82 degrees, families will have a
blast in the multi-level interactive water play structure called Splash Falls
or on the Wild Rapids waterslide. ?
You dont have to stay at the resort to access OKANAs
indoor waterpark, which offers day passes. However, if you book a stay, you'll
enjoy brand-new modern rooms, 13 food and beverage options, an arcade with an
escape room, a spa, and more. By the summer of 2025, the resorts outdoor
waterpark will open with slides, a zipline, and an inflatable obstacle course.?
Wilderness at the Smokies?
When you head to the Smoky Mountains for an outdoor
adventure, stop at Tennessees
largest indoor waterpark, the Wild WaterDome. Its located in the Wilderness at the Smokies
Waterpark Resort, a rustic-style resort with lodges and cabins, multiple
dining options, an Adventure Forest Park, and a 3-D adventure ride game. Their
Rustic Lodge is connected to the indoor waterpark, which doubled in size thanks
to an expansion completed in December 2023. The Kaleidoscope Kaverns Lazy
River, an immersive tunnel with kaleidoscope lighting and sounds, will
mesmerize you. Not to mention, your adrenaline will be pumping on the new
three-story Ridge Runner. Its the first slide in the world that features Reverse
AquaLucent, or colorful patterns and special effects. Adults can suntan thanks to
the indoor waterparks see-through roof, relax in an indoor-outdoor hot spa, or
join their kids for a 55-foot plummet on the Storm Chaser Thrill Ride.
Great Wolf Lodges
Great Wolf Lodge has
over 20 resorts with indoor waterparks, earning them the moniker of North
Americas largest family of indoor waterpark resorts." Great Wolf Lodges
exist in California, Texas, Kansas City, Scottsdale, Colorado Springs, Naples,
Chicago, Cincinnati, and more.?
When you stay at a Great
Wolf Lodge, you have unlimited access to their 84-degree indoor waterparks,
plus other activities like Story Time, Yoga Trails, and Arts & Crafts. Not
all Great Wolf Lodge indoor waterparks provide day passes. Some require that
you stay on-site to experience the waterpark.?
All Great Wolf Lodges have themed lodge rooms and similar amenities
C like restaurants, shopping, and entertainment. However, there may be some
slight differences in the indoor waterparks. For instance, the Niagara Falls resorts
indoor waterpark is 100,000 square feet, which is larger than the 80,000-square-foot
indoor waterpark in the Great Wolf Lodge in Scottsdale. However, most of the
Great Wolf Lodges feature a Fort Mackenzie water playground, surf simulators,
lazy rivers, and various water slides.?
Great Wolf Lodge. (Photo Credit: Great Wolf Lodge Media)
Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park Resort
The Mt. Olympus
Water & Theme Park Resort opens its indoor waterpark from mid-September
to mid-May, ensuring guests can enjoy some water fun during the chilly months
in Wisconsin.
Stay in one of their Roman-themed rooms and get free access to the resorts
indoor and outdoor waterparks and amusement parks. Big tip: book a room in
Hotel Rome for direct access to the indoor waterpark.
What can you expect at their indoor waterpark? You and your
loved ones can relax on the River Styx lazy river and swim in multiple pools
(some that are heated). There is a small childrens play area and, of course,
waterslides C including Medusa's Slidewheel, the first rotating waterslide in
the nation.?
Zehnders Splash Village Hotel &
Waterpark
Zehnders
Splash Village Hotel & Waterpark has a 50,000-square-foot indoor
waterpark called Splash Village. It features 4-story tube sliders, a six-story
family raft ride, and water activities for kids and people of all ages. Did we
mention their Super Loop Speed Slide is a four-story drop in 6.9 seconds? The indoor
waterparks roof retracts in the summer, bringing the outdoors inside for all
to enjoy. ?
When you book a room in the hotel, you'll experience other
forms of fun, like an arcade and free movie nights every evening in the lobby.
Plus, there are two restaurants on-site where you can refuel before diving back
into the waterpark.?
Jay Peak Resort
After a full day skiing and snowboarding on the slopes of Vermont,
why not keep the thrills going with a visit to Jay Peak Resorts indoor waterpark?
Called the Pump House, this indoor waterpark is open throughout the winter.
Visitors can enjoy a lazy river with rapids, a play area with canons and
buckets, four slides, and a deep pool with a basketball area and climbing wall.
If you want to keep your snowboarding skills sharp, try the Double Barrel
Flowrider.?
Day passes and season passes to the waterpark are available,
or you can book a room package with access to the waterpark. Jay Peak Resort has
multiple lodging options within walking distance to the Pump House, but if you
want to be as close as possible, book a room in Hotel Jay.
Massanutten Resort
Massanutten Resort
is an adventure resort in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Set on 6,000 acres
of mountain, the resort provides a full entertainment calendar, skiing, an
adventure park, two golf courses, a spa, an outdoor waterpark, and an indoor
waterpark. The Massanutten Resort indoor waterpark is heated to 84 degrees so
families can comfortably hang ten on a surf simulator, race down body slides,
soak in hot tubs, and play in a water fortress. You don't have to leave the
indoor waterpark to grab a bite, as there are two dining options. Whether
skiing in the winter or golfing in the summer, the Massanutten Waterpark is a
great place to spend an afternoon or a whole day!?
Be sure to book lodging in the Valley section of the resort for
the shortest walk to the indoor waterpark.
OKANA Resort & Indoor Waterpark. (Photo Credit: OKANA Resort & Indoor Waterpark Media)
Kartrite Resort & Indoor Waterpark
New Yorks Catskills region is beautiful
and full of outdoor adventure, which is why many families book a stay in one of
the 324 junior, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom suites at Kartrite Resort. The second reason they
stay at Kartirte? To visit the indoor waterpark.?
The Kartrite Resort & Indoor Waterpark is
New Yorks biggest indoor waterpark, boasting the worlds largest texlon
transparent roof and an 84-degree temperature all year long. Race down slides
with siblings, boogie board on a simulated wave, or hop on an inflatable raft
and ride down a slide with the whole family. When youre not at the indoor
waterpark, you can check out Kartrite Resort's other offerings, from archery to
paintball, hiking trails, indoor obstacle courses, and great restaurants.?
Kalahari Resorts
Kalahari Resorts
is a collection of four African-themed resorts with indoor waterparks. Located
in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin; Round Rock, Texas; Sandusky, Ohio; and the
Poconos Mountains, Pennsylvania, each resort offers a different indoor
waterpark experience. At the Poconos Mountains location, you can ride a slide
with a VR headset. The Round Rock location has a Grotto Swim Up bar for adults
and a funnel slide called the Barreling Baboon. In Sandusky, you can try the brand-new
Dawn Breaker slide. By 2026, the Wisconsin location will go from 125,000 square
feet to 200,000 square feet, thanks to a significant expansion project. Guests
will be able to enjoy three more slides and a retractable roof.?
If you think indoor waterparks are all that the Kalahari
Resorts have to offer, youd be wrong. Theyve got everything from spas to
arcades, bowling, golf, dining options, outdoor waterparks, and more. Dont
forget to add their newest location in Spotsylvania, Virginia, to your calendar
when it opens in 2026.?
Silver
Mountain Resort
In the winter, Silver Mountain Resort offers skiing, tubing,
and snowshoeing, and in the summer C a bike park, golfing, hiking, and gondola
rides. The one amenity thats year-round? Their indoor waterpark has a lazy
river, flowrider, slides, a basketball area, an obstacle course, warm pools,
play areas, and a surfside bar.
Many resorts offer day passes to their indoor waterpark, but
that's not exactly the case at Silver Mountain
Resort. The Idaho waterpark is included with a stay at the Morning Star
Lodge, making it an excellent amenity for guests. Unfortunately, the resort
only sells a handful of individual tickets per day (or large group bookings of
15 or more people), so staying there is in your best interest.?
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