By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
Who says that your swimsuit should stay packed away until summer? You can break it out for wet and wild good times without even leaving New York. Check out the state’s selection of indoor water parks.
The newest addition to the state’s indoor water parks opened this year, The Kartrite Resort & Indoor Waterpark (www.thekartrite.com, Monticello). The Kartrite is also the state’s largest indoor water park. Its 11 water attractions include a tranquil lazy river, children’s splash area and twisting, turning slides, all in a balmy 84-degree solarium. Optionally, guests can rent a curtained cabana stocked with snacks and outfitted with seating, TV and a mini fridge. Guests staying at the resort and outside visitors with day passes may use the facility. The resort also offers Chill, its on-site, full-service spa with services for children and adults and a game room, climbing wall, laser tag, and mini bowling alley.
At Greek Peak Mountain Resort (https://greekpeak.net, Cortland), mermaids (and mermen) will find plenty of splashing fun among Cascades Indoor Waterpark’s water features, including slides, tube rides, wave pool, hot tub, pool and two children’s play areas; however, landlubbers can also enjoy the getaway with the arcade, Bearfoot Den Activities Center (a craft, movie and game area for children), nine-hole disc golf course, kick sleds, Outdoor Adventure Center’s Aerial Challenge Courses and zip line tours (open through mid-December), skiing and tubing. The resort also offers Waterfalls Spa, which features natural products.
Six Flags Great Escape Lodge (www.sixflagsgreatescapelodge.com, Lake George) isn’t just about summer fun, sun and roller coasters. The resort’s indoor waterpark offers multi-level waterslides, lazy river ride, and a raft ride the family can enjoy together. Learn to surf at the wave pool or splash with the children in the kids’ play area. Rental of a private cabana includes a sitting area, TV, safe, bottled water and mini fridge. For an optional upgrade, cabanas include souvenir towels and meals. The resort also has a sizable arcade room and Tranquility Spa or, for those under age 16, Cupcakes Kids Spa adjacent to Tranquility.
Rocking Horse Ranch’s Big Splash Indoor Waterpark (www.rockinghorseranch.com, Highland) is for guests only; however, its 250-foot flume, water challenge course, and children’s play area provide lots of water fun for young families. The facility also offers plenty of other things to do, such as ice skating, snow tubing, horseback riding, horse-drawn sleigh rides, indoor play area, arcade, live shows, staffed daycare (through age 5) and day spa (with additional kids’ treatments available for ages 6-16).
Palm Island Water Park (www.palmislandindoorwaterpark.com, Batavia) provides a smaller park for families not yet ready to tackle a huge facility or unsure if their young children will enjoy a water park. Still, the hotel’s two 24-foot slides, waterfalls, pool basketball and jungle-themed children’s play area offer a good deal of fun for the 12-and-younger crowd with a nearby hot tub for Mom and Dad’s relaxation. Water park guests do not have to stay at the hotel and those not getting in the water can obtain a free “dry” pass on certain days.
Check the website for any of these parks before heading out. You may find package deals and coupons. Ensure you understand any restrictions, such as children’s size required for rides or a no-outside-food policy. You may need to bring your own towels. Some outdoor activities at these resorts are weather-dependent. Facilities may need to temporarily close their water features for maintenance, so call ahead to make sure they’re open.