Spent this past Sunday the 25th there with our grandchildren and a great day was had by all. It's not a huge water park but it's well laid out and for the most part the young people that work there are pleasant and professional. Yes, some of them were overly strict in the areas they were watching, but keep in mind that they're kids and kids probably making $10 an hour. I had a couple of comments from the lifeguards about lifting up my feet when I as going down the Lazy River, but i just smiled and said okay, okay. We were told by our friends that it can be crazy there on super hot days but if you get there a little before they open at 10 am to get a good parking space and stake out some good seating, you're golden. ~There is a big picnic area where you can go out and eat lunch with your family if you don't want to spend big bucks eating inside. There is a basketball court out there and the families out there were having lots of fun. ~There are private cabanas for rent for the day, about $55 but if you have a big bunch of folks who need and want shade, this might be a good way to go. ~Otherwise, there are PLENTY of umbrellas, chairs and tables, lounge chairs etc to use IF you get there early enough. ~The bathrooms were fairly clean and the food we did purchase there was okay. ~No food is allowed inside although we did bring water bottles and snacks for the toddler but weren't obvious about taking them out. ~There are free life jackets about for babies and toddlers scattered about in different areas. ~If you cannot find a place to put your stuff down, look down around the not so populated areas, over the bridge at the lazy river etc. There are many, many places to catch some shade if you need it. ~Bring sunscreen, a hat and even a sun shirt if you need it. The rules say no street shorts allowed but I wore my black shorts with a bathing suit top and had no problem....as were many people and...
Read moreI grew up in mid Missouri and spent much of my childhood at Big Surf. While in the area this summer, I thought it would be fun to stop in and see what it’s like with the new name, theme, and ownership. Unfortunately, I don’t think this place has ended up in the most capable hands.
On the upside, the new theming looks nice and the new slide (Patriot’s Plunge) is a great addition. Then, there’s the more questionable changes. The park now charges for parking. While common across the industry, it seems a little out of place at a park of this size. While entering, there’s multiple signs warning that attractions may be closed due to staff shortages. We lucked out on our visit, but looking at other reviews, it seems to be a common issue. The most baffling miss is the shortage of tubes. The attractions that require them only seem to have a small handful available, and many look quite old and were under-inflated. It makes getting on some of the slides a challenge, as there’s no organized way to hand off tubes to new riders.
The park looks nice and seems cared for. It’s just disappointing that basic tasks like hiring lifeguards and ordering supplies seem to be a challenge. Hopefully it’s just first season growing pains and the new owners will figure things out with time. Overall, it’s a passable experience, but definitely felt like a downgrade from...
Read moreI’m a big fan of water parks and what they have to offer. Usually, water parks offer a place to relax and get wet and be a child again. This water park made me feel ripped off and gloomy. There were not that many rides to go on, and even then some of them provided more worry than fun. Example of this is the long concrete water tube that workers keep pushing you down, if someone isn’t paying attention, someone’s leg or ankle could smack against the concrete side wall. Another issue we experienced were the umbrella shades, multiple umbrellas were just ripping and blowing away with small gusts of wind. Our umbrella tore and it became a nuisance to be under so we had to be under the sun with no shade. The sand volleyball court was underwhelming as the sand was filled with gravel and rocks, the net wasn’t up, and the length for the net was too short to put up anyways. There was also a ladder out there but didn’t provide any assistance since the net was too short to reach the pole. The ping pong table was just a concrete table and its net was torn. The smoking area was just stairs up from the main chair and hangout area. The food was expensive and luke warm, mainly overpriced and took a long time. The plus side to this place was the length of the lazy river and the toilet bowl styled water ride. I couldn’t really find much more...
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