7 suburban waterparks where you can get wet - and go wild
With the arrival of Memorial Day weekend, suburban residents will have a wide variety of choices both near and far to indulge in the wet, wild fun of outdoor water parks.
Here are seven likely to cater to just about every water lovers' taste.
1. Raging Waves Waterpark
Attractions at the largest water park in Illinois include new Wild Wallabies slides, the Three Sisters triple-tube slide, quarter-mile Kookaburra Kreek Lazy River, Brock's Giant Sandbox, PJ's Plummet high-thrill speed slide, Tasmanian Twisters enclosed body slide, Platypus Plunge two-seater speed tube slide, Quokka-Nut Island kiddie area and more.
Raging waves is at 4000 N. Bridge St., Yorkville. It is scheduled to open this weekend. Admission for people taller than 4 feet is $32.99; $19.99 for children under 4 feet and seniors. Prices are reduced after 3 p.m. on weekdays. Standard parking is free; the preferred rate is $10. Individual lockers cost $10, family lockers $15 and tube rentals (not required to ride the slides) are $5. Season passes cost $129.99 per person. ragingwaves.com or (630) 882-6575.
2. Hurricane Harbor
Attractions include the jumbo-sized raft ride, Buccaneer Bay kid zone, Dive Bomber featuring a five-story free fall to the next level, tube slides, a half-million-gallon wave pool, inner tube courses, interactive pool, Paradise Plunge and Riptide towers, Mega Wedgie five-story near-vertical drop, surfing simulator and more.
Hurricane Harbor is at Six Flags Great America, 1 Great America Parkway in Gurnee. It is scheduled to open this weekend. Admission to the water park is free with a Six Flags season pass and $10 more than the price of a one-day ticket. Single-day admission to Six Flags Great America costs $74.99 for adults and $54.99 for children under 4 feet tall. Free for children 2 and younger. Parking costs $26 per visit. Online discounts available. The standard price of season passes is $249.99 per person and include free parking. sixflags.com/greatamerica/plan-your-visit/water-park-information.
3. Rainbow Falls Waterpark
Attractions include the Barracuda Bowl vortex pool, Calypso Twist waterslides, two picnic areas, kiddie area, three-story fun house, current-driven Reptile River, zero-depth leisure pool, Pelican Plunge waterslide, Iguana Island play area and Hide-Away Cafe.
Rainbow Falls is at 200 Rev. Morrison Blvd., Elk Grove Village. It is scheduled to open this weekend. General admission is $10 for residents, $16 for others. Resident seniors 65 and older pay $6, while others pay $10. Free for kids younger than 2. Season passes cost $150 for residents, $215 for others, with discounts for seniors as well as family packages. elkgroveparks.org/Rainbow_Falls/ or (847) 228-2860.
4. Itasca Waterpark
Attractions include four swimming pools, vortex pool, sprayers, waterslide, drop slide, high and low dives.
It's at 100 N. Catalpa, Itasca. It is scheduled to open this weekend. Weekend admission costs $10. Weekday mornings are $4, afternoons $6 and evenings $4. Free for children younger than. Season passes for Itasca Park District residents cost $185 per family, $100 per child or adult and $70 per senior. Season passes for Medinah Park District residents cost $195 per family, $105 per child or adult and $75 per senior. Season passes for others cost $225 per family, $125 per child or adult and $95 per senior. All season passes increase by $10 in June. itascaparkdistrict.com/176/waterpark or (630) 773-1213.
5. Bensenville Water Park & Splash Pad
Attractions include 155-foot waterslide, 2,527-square-foot spray park, 12½-foot dive well, two drop slides, diving board, concession area, wet and dry sand areas, shade structures and sun deck.
The water park is at 1100 W. Wood St., Bensenville. It is scheduled to open this weekend. Daily fees are $9 for residents 18-54 and $12 for others; $6 for resident children 3-7 and seniors 55 and older while others pay $8. Children 2 and younger admitted free. Half-price after 5 p.m. Season passes for residents cost $120 for individuals 3 to 54 years old, with discounts for seniors and family packages available. (630) 766-SWIM or bensenvilleparkdistrict.org/pdcms/bensenville-water-park-2.
6. Joliet Splash Station
Attractions include Miner's Mountain six-person slide, Tumbleweed Pass sandy play area, 250,000-gallon zero-depth pool, tube slides, 850-foot-long Raging Rapids Ravine, Rattler and Hot Shot enclosed body slides and the Dining Car Cafe.
It's at 2780 Channahon Road, Joliet. Opens Friday, June 1. Daily admission for residents is $10 for adults and $8 for children under 4 feet tall and seniors. Admission for others is $15 for adults and $12 for children and seniors. Children 2 and younger admitted free. There is a reduced twilight rate for the final three hours of every day. Season passes for residents cost $60 for the head of household, $50 for a second family member and $20 for all additional family members. Season passes for others are $85 for the head of household, $85 for a second family member and $30 for each additional family member. jolietsplashstation.com/ste/. (815) 741-7275.
7. Magic Waters Waterpark
Attractions include the two dark tunnels of The Abyss, 75-foot-drop Double Dare Drop slides, Paradise Pipeline tube ride, Screaming Lizard waterslide, 1,200-foot-long Splash Magic River, Tiki Island interactive water complex, Tropical Twisters waterslides, 707,000-gallon Tsunami Bay wave pool, Typhoon Terror highflying four-person tube ride and Little Lagoon Kids area.
It's at 7820 Cherryvale North Blvd., Cherry Valley. It is scheduled to open this weekend. Weekend/holiday admission is $21 for residents and $26 for others. Weekday admission is $15 for residents and $21 for others. Admission for all children 2 and younger costs $5. New season passes cost $80 for residents and $95 for others. Renewals cost $75 for residents and $90 for others. For tots 2 and younger, the passes are $15 for residents and $20 for others. The cost of most passes goes up after May 31. magicwaterswaterpark.com. (815) 966-2442.