Furman Aquatic Center — Attraction in Ames

We go here all the time and each time it get's better. Most of the staff is really friendly and still get's their jobs done. They have a kid area which is shallow and the deepest it gets is like 3 ft. There is a yellow family slide where 2 kids at a time (any kids under 12 I think), can go down. They also have two slides that you can go down in with a single tube, or a double tube that two people can go down in after you get our of those slides you can go again or go into the lazy river. The "lazy river" is where you can get in either a single, double, or another double tube in that is for parents and little kids. They have a huge red slide that you either have to be 13 to go down or get your swimming band. There is a huge area of more deep water that goes from probably about 3 or 4 ft to 12-16 ft, which you DO NOT need a band for. They have places where you can swim laps also in that area that you also don't need a band to swim in. They also have a diving board and a platform you can jump off of into the water which you DO need a band for. For the swimming test you have to swim into the middle of about 5 ft lap thing, and then you have to tread water for 30 seconds and swim back. The Lifeguards supervise you. Some of the lifeguards are pretty strict with your test and others aren't at all. Before you take the test you give them all your information such as a phone number they could call if you needed help, and your full name. There is a snack place where there are treats and candy, but also pizza and nachos. There is a huge steep hill where people dry off and you can see most of the pool from. We love this aquatic center and highly...

As you will read from most other reviewers, "it's a great pool with a lazy river and a few slides."

More elaborately however it has a splash pool with a small water playground in its center. There is an enormous bucket that fills and spills every 2 minutes. The splash pool has 3 slides in it. A small one that is shaped as a beaver, kids slide down its tail. (ages 4 and under). Also a red swirling slide attached to the play set. (Ages 7 and under) and a larger slide at the edge of the pool manned by 2 lifeguards with a height restriction.

The large pool always has a section for laps, a shallow with basketball hoops which gradually gets deeper. The deep-end is roped off and restricted to divers (3 diving 'boards' a spring board & 2 stationary. One higher than the other) and a drop slide, slide ends about 5 feet above the water, literally dropping you into the pool.

The lazy river allows double or single tubes, again with a height resteiction, children too short have an option to ride in a special yellow double tube which has one hole closed at the bottom so the child can't fall through. The river has a small set of fountains and a large waterfall. Two tube slides end in a small area of water attached to the lazy river so you can opt to get out after sliding or go right into the lazy river. The two slides are height restricted, one is open and the other is closed. The aquatic center really is an excellent place to spend the afternoon! Personally I love the lazy river and laying out in the warm sun, while my fiancée loves the big pool! There really is something for...

Would have loved the place but the lifeguards were nitpicky. I get that they have rules. That said, I saw them deny a mom with 3 very small girls into the lazy river because they wouldn't allow her to put them all on one tube, and there has to be an adult on each tube, so she couldn't use 2 tubes either. Meanwhile I tried entering the lazy river on the steps, around her, and got yelled at for that. So the line behind her backed waaay up.🙄 Also they wouldn't allow me, an adult, to go down the very large " youth" slide, with my kid. Even though there were larger minors than myself going down. Why is there an age limit on that slide??? Then, my son and friends, who have passed the deep end test at many pools, was not allowed to go down the drop-off slide until they took a swim test.The lifeguard did not pass 2 of them. I watched them all do the test and they did just fine. The lifeguard however, asked where my son had swim lessons and rolled his eyes when I said I taught him how to swim. I didn't tell him that I was a lifeguard myself. Also my nephew who had swim lessons in a different town was denied. Are they trained that only the locals can swim?? Ridiculous. I have no reason to go back. There's better...