Just want to be warm? Indoor Water Parks in New England are where it’s at.
Indoor Water Parks in New England
If you’re willing to pay cold hard cash to be transported to a balmy 84 degrees (albeit indoors) during a New England winter, this article may be for you.
Your desire to be warm, however, must trump any issues you may have with things like extremely high levels of chlorine and tons of wet people everywhere. For me, I’ll take these for tropical humidity in the cold weather any day.
Solution? Indoor water parks. They’re close, they’re fun and they’re warm.
Note: Almost all of the indoor water parks discussed below offer discounts and special package deals on sites like Groupon, TripAdvisor, etc. or on their own websites. Be sure to Google special deals before booking and you could score some sweet savings.
Kahuna Laguna Water Park, No Conway NH
Oh how we’ve missed you! We’re thrilled to have Kahuna Laguna open again for when our family visits No. Conway! This is the largest indoor water park in New Hampshire and it’s a whole thing!
Zoom through one of four high-speed tubes before splashing into the landing pool below. Body surf in the swirling wave pool. Square off against your friends in an exciting game of water basketball. And while you enjoy the water cannons and play tower in Bamboo Bay, watch out for the 175-gallon tipping bucket! Don’t forget to check out Keeko’s tree house while your smallest kahunas enjoy their time through the gurgling springs and lemon drop swings in the little kahuna play area.
The Tiki Tide Café is ready with a snack or lunch when you need a break. And, the Aloha Arcade is the place for the latest arcade games.
Dive into an adventure with the entire family at Kahuna Laguna, northern New England’s first indoor water park at the Red Jacket Mountain View Resort in North Conway, New Hampshire. Grab your family and friends and go enjoy this 40,000 square feet of water park fun! For more info, visit kahunalaguna.com.
Great Wolf Lodge, Fitchburg MA
Great Wolf Lodge is 68K square feet of aquatic fun including water slides (for singles and groups), lazy river, children’s splash pool, water fort tree house, wave pool and more.
There are also a ton of non-water related activities including an indoor ropes course, bowling alley, mini-golf, lazer tag, MagiQuest (an interactive scavenger hunt which is an extra expense but I highly recommend splurging on it) and so much more. You will *not* get bored here, ever.
GWL has now started selling day passes. Prices for overnight start at about $199 per night for four people. Visit greatwolf.com for more information.
Waterpark of New England (formerly CoCo Key), Danvers MA
Waterparks of New England is a great day-trip option. Although they have an onsite hotel, you are not required to stay overnight to access the water park. The park has an adventure river, water-filled jungle gym, zero-depth entry pool and play area, indoor/outdoor spa, several water slides and an activity pool (think water basketball, obstacle course).
I like this place because they put in a lot of cheesy tropical décor, but it makes me forget there’s snow outside so I’ll take it. Do bring your own towels (not offered); don’t bring your own food or drink (not allowed and they have some onsite options).
Check the website for prices, they can vary. Right now, the waterpark is only open on the weekends. Tickets can be booked in advance (recommended). For more info, visit Waterpark of New England.
Jay Peak Pump House, Jay Peak VT
As part of the Jay Peak Resort, this park offers several slides, lazy river, kids play area, indoor/outdoor hot tub, double-barrel “flowrider” (a cross between skateboarding, surfing and snowboarding on water).
At over 3 hours from the seacoast, this one’s definitely a road trip but I’ve even seen some combo ski/splash specials for Jay Peak Resort that would be worth it if you wanted to ski, as well. However, day passes are available if you choose to stay elsewhere. For more info, visit jaypeakresort.com.
Fins Up! Water Park at Margaritaville Resort (formerly Cape Codder Resort), Hyannis MA
At Fins Up! Water Park, adventure-seekers will discover a tropical oasis that promises endless aquatic adventures for the whole family. As a guest at our vibrant destination, you’ll revel in the convenience of having this wonderland right at your fingertips. Adrenaline fans can test their mettle on the water slides, twisting and turning their way through thrilling drops and heart-racing turns. For those seeking a more leisurely pace, the lazy river beckons, inviting you to float along its gentle current and bask in the warm atmosphere.
We haven’t visited since it was Cape Codder but we do love us some Jimmy so we’ll be headed to this new Margaritaville very very soon!
For more info, visit margaritavilleresorts.com.
Notable Hotels with Water Slides!
Hampton Inn, North Conway NH
The hotel features a 5000 square foot indoor water park, this is in lieu of a traditional pool. Two large slides, a kiddie area with two small slides, Fernando the Frog and the watering mushroom. Must be at least 42″ tall and be able to swim unassisted. We stayed here a few times over the past few year, the kids love it especially when they were younger.
For more info, visit hilton.com/en/hotels/nocnhhx-hampton-suites-north-conway
Steele Hill Resorts, Sanbornton, NH
This family friendly resort offers a large pool complex with two outdoor and two indoor pools, hot tubs, and saunas. The indoor pool, inside a huge glassed-in atrium with waterslides and fountains for splashing in with littles. We had a wonderful time getting snowed in here at Steele Hill Resorts for a final snowstorm of the season. When you’re done sliding and splashing around in the indoor pool be sure to head out to go sledding (if there’s snow) on the big hill!
For more info, visit steelehillresorts.com
If you need to find me, I’ll be the one in the lounge chair with my eyes closed pretending it’s summer. I don’t even care if it’s manufactured.
Looking for something different? More Indoor Water Attractions are:
Surf’s Up NH
Surf’s Up is the largest Indoor Surfing facility in North America. A 32’ Surfstream which has become the most sought after indoor wave to ride. SurfStream is the world’s first standing wave machine offering up to seven different wave types for all skill levels to enjoy. Riders use real surfboards with fins on a thick cushion of water that creates an endless wave. Surf’s up enables all ages and experience levels to learn, practice and improve skills that are directly transferable to surfing in the ocean.
Fishpipe NH
Fishpipe is the world’s first rotating barrel ride. Fishpipe NH is a new and unique water ride where you slide farther than the world’s longest water-slide. While riding you will stay in the bottom of the barrel and it rotates around you! Solo riders can try to run inside, slide, or even try surfing on their feet. With two riders inside they slip and slide together, frontwards, backwards, or sideways.
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