Southside Family Aquatic Facility — Local services in Spokane

We visited the Southside Family Aquatic Facility on a Saturday afternoon and unfortunately had a disappointing experience due to a rigid and unyielding ticket policy.

Our group was split into two parties: the first half (two adults and two children) arrived around 2:30 PM and were able to purchase tickets and enter without issue. The second half of our group (one adult and two young children) arrived shortly after at 3:00 PM, unaware that tickets had sold out for the day. Since none of us had purchased tickets in advance, they were denied entry despite arriving only 30 minutes later.

What made the situation particularly upsetting was that several families were visibly leaving the facility as we spoke with staff. We asked if it would be possible for our friends to take the spots of those who had exited, but were told this was not allowed under any circumstances. Even when a kind stranger inside the park offered to give up their spots for our group, the staff refused to make any accommodations. The policy was presented as inflexible, with no room for compassion or situational discretion—despite two very disappointed young children crying at the gate.

To make matters worse, an employee (likely a teenage staff member) seated behind the front counter repeatedly told the front desk attendant "no" each time she asked if an exception could be made, leaving her to be the bearer of bad news without offering any personal engagement or empathy.

We understand the need for rules and capacity limits, especially for safety. However, it seems entirely reasonable to re-evaluate a system that prevents entry even when space clearly becomes available. A little flexibility or humanity—particularly when dealing with families and small children—would...

I Went Today And We Had To Leave The Water THREE TIMES The First Two Times Some Hit There Head But Wernt ingured They Weren't Even Crying But The Police Were Called And They Immediately Left And The Last Time Someone Used The Restroom In The Pool And It Would Take Till After Closing To Clean Up So They Gave Us Free Tickets To Come Back The Food Is Good But A Little Pricy For Bigger Familys I Don't Like How You Can't Bring In Outside Food Or Drink Forcing You To Buy From The Snack Bar There Is A New Slide Rule Were You Have To Be 48" Inches To Ride Endless Your With An Adult So We Had To Take Turns Taking Our Kids On Individually While The Other Parent Watched The Rest The Lazy River Was Great But Crowded And On Thursday's They Have One Dollar...

The only reason I gave us one star is because I couldn't do O stars. We're on a limited budget the first day I took my children to swim classes the instructor for my older daughter told her she couldn't swim which was not correct because she has passed a swim test at camp. I gave her the benefit of the doubt then that same instructor yells at my 8 yr old son for hitting people with a Poole noodle that they gave him. And put him in timeout, when I was sitting right there, could have easily talked to me but instead yelled at my kid, and no other child. Then they cancelled the last swim lesson everyone else gets refunded but all my kids wanted to do like the other kids was to go down the slide. Do not recommend. Bad...