Palmetto Falls Water Park — Attraction in Columbia

I am a traveler in the healthcare industry. My husband is on medical leave. He found this place while I was at work and purchased season memberships in mid June. We had NO idea that the pool/park was closing on July 30. I was only able to go about 4x due to my work sked plus trying to work that around the days the pool was open.

We had a FANTASTIC time here. The water quality was always pristine even with the amount of people who went swimming here. The pool was very staffed with friendly lifeguards and everyone there including the Sandbar employees were great. We had a lot of fun here.

There was plenty of lounge chairs spread out over the property plus some large shaded areas but you needed to get here early. The restrooms were immaculate plus they had lockers (bring your own lock) if you wanted to lock your items up. This wasn’t really necessary, however, as the clientele was family oriented and friendly. We felt safe the entire time.

It’s very sad that this beautiful place closes on July 30. It seems like a huge waste of resources to open this large facility on Memorial Day only to close it 2 months later. We’re really sad about this. I get that the lifeguards go back to school but why not keep it open on the weekends at least? There are no water parks or decent pools to go to around Columbia. I wish we could use the Legion Pool with season passes (even if we paid more) just to be in a “safe” and friendly environment.

We would definitely purchase another season membership here next year but I do not think my contract will last all that time. We just wanted to thank the entire staff at Palmetto Falls for being so kind and on top of things. We had an amazing experience there and are very sad yesterday was your last day. Oh….I can’t forget they have “doggie day” next week where you can bring your dogs to swim. I’d be there in a heartbeat but healthcare is 24/7 and I have to work unfortunately. It should be...

First and probably last time ever going to this wanna be water park. First off the entire design of the park is horrible. The pool is a island in the middle and you can't go from the pool to the lazy river. You have to get out walk across a hot wooden dock to get there or to the slides. I was told by a lifeguard that I couldn't throw my daughter in the air in the pool because it's rough housing. My daughter went to the bigger slides and they let her go down the straight green slide but said she was not tall enough for the green spiral slide. Then later she came back for the same straight green slide and was told she was not tall enough for that one either. Even though she had already been down it twice. Got the cops called on me because I crossed the lazy river to get over to my daughter after she was told she couldn't go down the slides. Yes I was pissed that now she was being told she couldn't do what she's already done and no i was not about to get out the pool and walk across that hot dock to get to my daughter. The manager said that the lifeguard who let her go didn't do their job and she couldn't do anything unless I could tell her which lifeguard it was. So now I have to do the manager's job too smh. My daughter told me which lifeguard it was. When the cops showed up we pointed the lifeguard out. The cops even knew I didn't do anything wrong which is why I was told I could stay and enjoy my day. They're so worried about my daughter going down the slides but have multiple holes in the pool, where the tile is completely gone and my daughter was using the loose pieces of tile as diving rocks. That's more of a danger than the slide. Anyone could cut themselves on the bottom of that pool. All that after $51 for me and 2 kids to get into the park. Place is ghetto. Play ground is roped off, no splash pad, even some of the showers didn't work/roped off. Save your money and find...

It seems to be near impossible to bring our children to the water park here. I wanted to bring my son and his friends, but was told that there is a 3 day advance notice that needs to be given as well as background checks, and these can take up to weeks to be finalized. The children in Columbia have nothing to do at all during the summer unless their parents are rich and can afford those high end summer camps. It would be nice, and it will also bring in revenue, if this park would allow civilians to come here without the hassle. It will probably help reduce crimes being committed by kids that just sit at home all day while their parents are working during the summer. I understand that they want to be safe, but there are other measures that they can take to ensure everyone's safety and fun. It's hard to plan a day at the water park 3 days out and waiting weeks on background check to be finalized especially when traveling with your children, their friends, and then...