Surf 'n Slide Water Park — Attraction in Moses Lake

This place is NOT a place for families or children under 10 years old. My 6 year old son was unable to go on any of the slides since he was 47" rather than 48" tall, despite the fact that he is able to swim on his own. Not to mention the water at the bottom of the slides is only 3 feet deep. Even if he couldn't swim, there would be no problem because the water is so shallow. I'm going to compare them to Slidewaters at Lake Chelan since we had a season pass there last year, and it's the closest competition to Surf N' Slide in Moses Lake. By comparison, the slides are much bigger and more advanced at Lake Chelan, and the water at the bottom is well over my son's head, yet he goes down their slides without a problem. Why did Surf N' Slide even charge money for my son if he can't even go down the slides at a WATER SLIDE PARK?

My other huge issue is the obnoxious and unnecessary rules, which are enforced by rude teenagers on a power trip. We attempted to use the "Lazy River" at Surf N' Slide, but were immediately met with a rude rebuke from a teenager when we put our 2 children on tubes and attempted to walk next to them. We were unable to walk next to our children while they floated, we had to be inside our own tubes. In Lake Chelan you can body float, walk, swim or float on a tube. No problems at all, everyone has a good and relaxing time. Not at the Moses Lake park. My wife and I tracked down some tubes and floated around several times, and I didn't make a single lap around without hearing a whiny teenage lifeguard screeching at park guests for things like lifting their tubes slightly out of the water, and attempting to enter the lazy river the same way you enter every pool in America, over the side. You were only allowed to enter or exit with the stairs. Oh, and the lazy river at the Chelan park is bigger and nicer, and without annoying lifeguards.

I also took my 4 year old daughter (who was wearing a life vest) into the general swimming area and was letting her jump into the air off my hands. We were nowhere near the edge or near other swimmers. At the most she would go a foot or 2 out of the water, not like I was sending her into orbit...and of course it was against the rules. I a inquired with the lifeguard as to why it wasn't allowed and the 16 year old girl replied "I just don't want her to get hurt". Well thanks for your concern, but I'm the parent so I'll take care of that. I understand reasonable rules, but these things are just ridiculous and unnecessary. Rather than feeling like a fun, family water slide park it felt more like a youth corps correctional camp for troubled youth.

I could go on longer but this is already turning into a book so I'll end with a short direct comparison between Slidewaters at Lake Chelan and Surf N Slide in Moses Lake.

Chelan: 13 much larger and better slides, including tube slides Moses Lake: 3 very small, sad excuses for slides, no tube slides

Chelan: Much larger and nicer lazy river with freedom to do whatever you like (within reason) Moses Lake: A small lazy river that's unusable unless you follow their very narrow guidelines

Chelan: huge hot tub Moses Lake: no hot tub

And the biggest of all...

Chelan: Even having a season pass there, I don't ever remember being corrected by one of the lifeguards there

Moses Lake: We visited for ONE DAY and my wife and I were yelled at and corrected at least 6 different times, for things that shouldn't even be rules.

Plus our kids couldn't even use most of the park's attractions. We live in the middle between Chelan and Moses Lake, so we wanted to scout Moses Lake to see if we should get a season pass there rather than Chelan. Not only will we not be getting a season pass, we won't be going back to Surf N'Slide at all. Chelan has way better slides and much more variety. If you have 15 year old kids that you want to let loose, Moses Lake is probably fine. If you have a young family, go to Chelan, even if you have to...

I spent time here while visiting my MIL. For the entrance fees I expected much more (81$ for 2 adults and 4 kids). This place has almost everything our hometown community pool does. If you're here for the pool only you might be disappointed. If you're looking to have a party and plan on spending a large chunk of your day here in the very open spaces, enjoying the shade at the very many tables, and enjoying the pool, slides, "surfing" then yes its probably worth it. My mother-in-law and I absolutely enjoyed the slides. There was hardly a wait because we were the only adults using the double slides. We spent time in the lazy river riding on tubes. That was just okay mostly because the water was dingy, it was crowded and the water current was painfully slow so young adolescents are barreling past trying to get past everyone. The set up to get off and on the tubes is ridiculous when you have smaller children. I didn't try the concessions because we brought our own food. The restrooms and showers are not clean, actually pretty gross. Doesn't look like those areas have regular maintenance. The park should charge a lesser entrance fee and have additional add ons for items like surfing and the lazy river. Its a good concept for a water park, just poorly executed. I like that it was spacious so we never felt it was too crowded. The floors outside were very slippery and the water was absolutely freezing. I kid you not. If I was here again I'd find...

My grandson is very small. He is an excellent swimmer that is ready to join the swim team. We have waited until after summer for the swim team. He did the swim test with NO problems. We took him to the diving board where, they of course asked us/him Life guard- “ have you taken the swim test?” Grandson and us both reply - “yes” Lifeguard- “ did you pass?” Us- “yes” as we pointed across the pool to the other side where he sat and watched. Life guard -“are you sure he really passed?” Us- unhappily “yes he did” Lifeguard looks at him and says “ if your nervous I don’t want you up here”

Obviously, not sure what to do, he climbed down.. upset. After that, he didn’t want to swim and kept looking at the lifeguards as if he was scared to swim. He is 5. An excellent swimmer because he has Perthes disease and swimming is about the only activity he can do that doesn’t hurt him. Swimming is all he does.

Super let down and disappointed at how someone can be so negative. I understand they have to be sure for safety reasons. However, 2 grown adults and the child all say he took the test and he swims fine… should not be questioned on if we are all lying. Discouraged about so much in life, he keeps a good attitude. This was a big knock...