Floating on an inner tube in a lazy river. Thrilling to a wild ride down a twisting, turning slide. Riding a wave into shore. What says "summer" more than water on a hot, sticky day?
Fortunately, central Illinoisans don't have to go all the way to oceans, lakes or rivers for relief. Area water parks are perfect for cooling off and filling our thrill-seeking buckets.
George Knight, vice president of Knight's Action Park in Springfield, says water parks offer something for all ages so they make the perfect destination for families. "There are so many things to do, and people love the water. The kids like the fast and long slides. Older people enjoy the wave pool and lazy river," he explains.
Others agree. Melody Dossett, administrative manager of Raging Rivers in Grafton, says while the water slides are popular, "everyone loves the wave pool and lazy river."
Here is where you can find fun and cool off with just a little driving.
Knight's Action Park, Springfield
The family-run facility grew out of one on South Grand Avenue and moved to its current spot along I-72 south of town in 1976. Knight says the mini-golf course, batting cages, driving range and go-cart track predated the water park, which started in 1983. The company bought nearby outdoor movie screens 12 to 15 years ago and continues to expand.
"We are always upgrading the grounds," he says. He hopes construction on a surf machine, likely the only one downstate, will be done by the end of August. The machine will be in a new pool with continual waves to be ridden while standing on a surfboard.
Knight's employs 240 seasonal workers and draws 110,000 visitors a year to the whole park. The wave pool may be the most popular spot but the nearly one-fourth-mile lazy river also draws a crowd. Among the eight water slides, the Devil Ray may invoke the most adrenaline. "It makes you feel like you are going to get shot out over the interstate," Knight says.
The water park runs 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily starting Memorial Day weekend. Once schools start to open around Aug. 17, the water park is open only on weekends through Labor Day.
Prices run from $39.95 for people 48 inches or taller, $31.95 for children under 48 inches and seniors, to free for children 2 and under. Season passes, after 3 p.m. pricing and daily specials are available.
For more information, go to www.knightsactionpark.com.
Raging Rivers Water Park, Grafton
The park sits on seven acres along the Mississippi River and offers nine attractions, including slides, a wave pool, lazy river, runaway raft ride and "swirl" pools. Dossett says the most popular is the Mississippi Monster slide, installed last year. It has twists, turns and capsules that rock back and forth. The force then washes riders out in the end.
Opened in 1990, Raging Rivers draws 75,000 visitors a year and sells 3,500-5,000 annual passes. It is open seven days a week until Aug. 13, when it opens on weekends only. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays.
Dossett says the busiest times are weekends, especially when it is hot. Mondays and Tuesdays are slower. The park has a capacity of 3,000 but has never reached that.
Children 2 and under are free, children under 42 inches and seniors are $26.99 and those in between are $36.99 daily. Military discounts are available at the gate. Family fun nights from 6 to 9 p.m. are July 14 and 28 and Aug. 4. A hypnotist will perform July 28 on the park's stage.
For more information, go to www.ragingrivers.com.
Splash Cove, Decatur
Among the newest construction in Decatur is Splash Cove, which had its opening delayed by COVID until 2021. The water park is in Nelson Park near Lake Decatur on land previously hosting a golf course. Clay Gerhard, executive director of the Decatur Park District, says the 18-holf course was underperforming and a community pool in Fairview Park was aging.
"We turned that golf course land into a treasure for Decatur," he says. Nearby are the Overlook Adventure Park with ziplines, a ropes course, mini-golf and playground and the Devon Lakeshore Amphitheater, which hosts outdoor concerts, entertainers and movies.
Splash Cove features four water slides, three pools and a lazy river with two speeds. The seven-lane competition pool is popular with two diving boards, a rock wall and a zipline that dumps users into the water. "That is geared toward the older kids," Gerhard says.
The zero-depth-entry leisure pool with play structures and a wading pool are hits with families and younger children. He says Splash Cove may be the only place in the United States with a stand-up water slide, designed in Switzerland. Other water slides allow three people to slide down together or see videos of various locations projected on the inside walls of a tube.
The park is open every day from noon to 6:30 p.m. until Labor Day and draws 100,000 people in a season. Admission is free for 3 and under, $11 for those 4-12 and $13 for anyone over 13. Visitors 16 and up must show a valid ID and those 15 and under must be with a parent or guardian over 18.
For more information, go to www.splashcove.org.
Sholem Aquatic Center, Champaign
Champaign's main contribution to water fun is in Centennial Park and has a lap pool, lazy river, tube slides, a zero-depth-entry pool with spray features and kiddie pool with its own slide.
Sholem is open until Aug. 13 from noon to 6:30 p.m. weekdays and 1:30-7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Children 3 and under are free with those older paying $9-$13.50. Discounts are available after 4 p.m., all day Friday and for veterans, active military personnel and first responders.
For more information, go to www.champaignparks.com.
Fairview and Anderson aquatic centers, Normal
Normal claims its Fairview Family Aquatic Center is "one of the best aquatic facilities in central Illinois," according to its website. Located at 801 N. Main St., Fairview has four pool areas, five slides, spray toy area and a zero-depth-entry pool.
The center is open 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily through Labor Day weekend. Children 2 and under are free, those 3-15 are $8, adults are $9 and seniors are $6.50. Admission is $5 after 5 p.m.
The Anderson Aquatic Center, at 100 S. Maple St., also has water slides, a zero-depth-entry pool, a kiddie pool and a regulation pool with diving board. The center is open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Children 2 and under are free, those 3-15 are $6, adults are $7 and seniors are $4.50.
For more information on either center, go to www.normalil.gov.
Mary Bohlen, a Springfield travel writer, can't remember a time she wasn't enjoying the water, although she may have retired her water-sliding days.
