Outdoor and Indoor Places to Get Wet and Have Fun

It certainly can get mighty toasty and humid in North Carolina. The state’s water parks are great places to find some relief from the heat, as well as have some fun. However, it can also get a bit frosty at certain times of the year. Even in the summer, the weather does not always cooperate for a day out at a water park. Therefore, a day in at a water park: That’s something that folks in North Carolina can enjoy year-round at indoor water parks, regardless of the weather.

Let’s examine the state’s outdoor and indoor water parks, listed alphabetically.

Carolina Harbor at Carowinds in Charlotte

Located adjacent to the major theme park, Carowinds, Carolina Harbor is one of the state’s largest outdoor water parks. It underwent a significant expansion and name change in 2016, previously known as Boomerang Bay.

Highlighted attractions include Blackbeard’s Revenge, offering near-vertical drop slides with launch capsules, and Seaside Splashworks, a massive interactive water play structure featuring a tipping water bucket. Additional features comprise two wave pools, enclosed tube slides, a lazy river that allows passengers to float past the Carolina state line, a family raft ride, a halfpipe ride, and a bowl slide. Entrance to the water park is included with admission to the Carowinds theme park.

Fantasy Lake Water Park in Hope Mills

A relatively small outdoor water park, Fantasy Lake features slides that deposit riders into its lake. Attractions include enclosed tube slides, mat slides, “Tarzan” swings, and drop slides that end in midair, allowing riders to freefall into the water. For younger children, the park offers Fantasy Land with pint-sized slides and activities.

Among its unusual features, Fantasy Lake includes a jump tower, see-saws in the lake, trapeze, and monkey bar rings over the water. Visitors can rent paddle boards and kayaks. Water volleyball and water basketball are also available, while dry activities include shuffleboard, ping pong, and cornhole.

Great Wolf Lodge Concord in Concord

Part of a chain of indoor water park resorts, the Great Wolf Lodge in Concord offers weatherproof fun. Attractions are exclusively available to registered guests of the hotel. The park includes a funnel ride, a family raft ride, mat-racing slides, and a large interactive water play structure.

Moreover, dry activities include MagiQuest, an interactive adventure, the Howly Wood XD Theater, a 3-D motion simulator experience, bowling, an arcade with redemption games, mini-golf, and a ropes course. Additionally, the resort offers a spa, fitness center, and restaurants.

Jungle Rapids in Wilmington

Jungle Rapids serves as a family entertainment center with a small, outdoor water park. Featured amenities include a wave pool, lazy river, children’s activity area, half-pipe slide, body slides, and tube slides. Furthermore, guests can enjoy dry activities such as go-karts, mini-golf, laser tag, a climbing wall, and an arcade.

Lions Water Adventure in Kinston

This small municipal outdoor park includes water slides, a lazy river, and a kiddie area. Notably, it also offers a lap pool and a therapeutic pool for relaxation.

Ray’s Splash Planet in Charlotte

Ray’s Splash Planet is a compact, municipal indoor water park. Attractions encompass water slides, a lazy river, zero-entry pool, and an interactive water play station. Additionally, the park provides lap swimming, swimming lessons, and various programs.

Sun Crest Water Park in Taylorsville

Sun Crest is a small outdoor water park featuring water slides, a rope swing, amenities for young children, and designated areas for swimming and picnicking.

West Water Park in Kinston

This small outdoor park offers water slides, a trapeze swing pool, an activity pool, a large swimming pool, and beach volleyball for added fun.

Wet’n Wild Emerald Pointe in Greensboro

Wet’n Wild is a major outdoor water park packed with numerous slides and rides. Key attractions include Dragon’s Den, a themed bowl ride, Dr. Von Dark’s Tunnel of Terror, a themed funnel ride, Daredevil Drop, a towering 76-foot speed slide, and Twin Twisters, enclosed body slides. For younger adventurers, the park features play areas such as Happy Harbor, Leisure Lagoon, and Shipwreck Cove. At the park’s center lies Thunder Bay, a vast wave pool, offering loads of excitement.