- Waterparks are popular for family vacations in Ohio.boy in waterpark image by PETER LAKOMY from Fotolia.com
Great Wolf Lodge, a large North American operator of indoor waterparks, runs two parks in Ohio, one in Sandusky and another in Mason. Waterparks, it seems, must cluster together in similar areas. Quite a few other waterparks, each with its own theme or claim to fame, operate near both Ohio locations. - Boomerang Bay waterpark is part of the larger Kings Island attraction in Mason, Ohio. Open from mid May to early September, this outdoor waterpark has an Australian theme, its rides featuring Australian names. The Awesome Aussie Twister is made of two, fully-enclosed, translucent tube slides that twist around each other. The Coolangatta Racer is a 54-foot-high water challenge that pits four racers together on competing water slides.
The park has a variety of enclosed and open water slides as well as a large, heated wave pool and a family water fortress.
Kings Island
Kings Island Dr
Mason, OH 45040
513-754-5700
visitkingsisland.com - Another Mason attraction, The Beach is a tropical-themed water adventure park with all sorts of water slides and a water coaster. The park has a large, heated wave pool, inner tube rapids and several speed slides suitable for everyone from thrill seekers to more gentle paddlers. The Beach's wild water ride, The Cliff, is a speed slide that whooshes the rider through a five story drop in three seconds.
Operating from late May to mid September, the park opens at 10 a.m. daily. Closing hours vary with the date and are listed on the park website.
The Beach Waterpark
2590 Waterpark Drive
Mason, OH 45040
513-398-7946
thebeachwaterpark.com - The Kalahari Resort in Sandusky, one of several in this group, features two waterparks. Its indoor waterpark is the largest of its kind in America and is open year round. The indoor park is open days and evenings, year round, with a 12,000 square foot wavepool, an uphill water roller coaster and a variety of slides water races and tubes.
The Kalahari's outdoor park is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, weather permitting. It has activity pools, hot tubs, a dry play area, sun decks and a range of beach games.
Both parks are open to day guests as well as those using the resorts hotel accommodations.
Kalahari Resort in Sandusky
7000 Kalahari Drive
Sandusky, OH 44870
877-525-2427
kalahariresorts.com - This indoor waterpark and resort in Sandusky has a tropical Caribbean theme. Inside a 5-story structure with a vaulted wooden ceiling, the park features a natural looking setting of palm trees, wooden huts, inland lagoons and water adventures. The attached, 237-room resort has family rooms that can sleep up to six people, as well as a day spa, fitness center, arcade and children's activity area. A nearby marina, shopping area and several restaurants make this a year-round, full-service, family resort. Day passes for the waterpark are available to non-resident guests.
Castaway Bay
2001 Cleveland Road
Sandusky, OH 44870
419-627-2106
castawaybay.com
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