Ditch the New York cold with these family-friendly indoor water parks
A water park in East Rutherford, New Jersey, is closed after a decorative plane fell into the swimming pool full of park goers. The American Dream Mall DreamWorks Water Park closed indefinitely on Monday after a large prop helicopter fell from the ceiling around 3:00 pm.
According to local news station ABC7-NY, four people sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Reports state one of the injured individuals was taken to a local hospital for treatment, and medical professionals treated the others at the scene.
One of the water park’s patrons shared a video of the frantic scene after the plane fell into the occupied pool.
Reports state the water park was evacuated and closed after the incident.
No reports have been made on what caused the suspended prop to fall. The DreamWorks company released a statement claiming they have begun a “thorough investigation into this incident to ensure the park meets all safety regulations as required.”
“The safety of our guests is our highest priority,” they added.
The water park tweeted an update letting the public know it would be closed through Wednesday at least.
DreamWorks Water Park is located about 13 miles west of New York City and one of the most popular indoor water parks in the area. It is one of the biggest indoor water parks in North America. The park has a 1,500,000-gallon wave pool, a lazy river, multiple hot tubs and surf simulator. Although it was one of the favorites in the area, here are some other waterparks families can attend while they are closed.
BIG SPLASH INDOOR WATER PARK AT ROCKING HORSE RANCH RESORT
Located two hours north of Manhattan, Big Splash Indoor Water Park has the kid-centric Fort Geyser Aqua Station, a splash area with water slides, fountains, sprayers, geysers, and a big dumping bucket. In the large swimming pool, there is a ropes course that will test their balance. The pools always stay a toasty 85 degrees. The remaining areas of the resort provide the best of upstate New York with skiing, tubing, and other seasonal outdoor activities.
SIX FLAGS GREAT ESCAPE, THE BEST INDOOR WATERPARK IN NEW YORK
Six Flags Great Escape has been voted one of the best amusement parks in NY and its water park is just as fun. Centered in Queensbury, NY it offers guests free admission to its indoor water park, White Water Bay. This 32,000-square-foot balmy oasis is full of water slides and attractions, making it one of the best indoor water parks in New York.
It’s always 82 degrees, so you can visit year-round and enjoy the wet and wild amusements. Take a ride on the family raft with a 41-foot drop, challenge your friends on one of the racer slides, and try your luck at indoor surfing or boogie boarding.
CASCADES INDOOR WATERPARK, A GREAT INDOOR WATER PARK NEAR NYC
The 41,000-square-foot water park has enough attractions to keep everyone happy. There are over 500 feet of twisting and turning water slides and a large pool where you can swim or play water basketball. The wave pool contains 67,000 gallons of water and a 13-foot waterfall, making it a big hit with families. It’s always 84 degrees inside the park, but next door you’ll find the Northwoods pool and hot springs, which are heated and open year-round
KARTRITE RESORT, A FUN INDOOR WATER PARK IN A NEW YORK RESORT
The Kartrite Resort has the biggest indoor water park in New York, so if you’re going to the Catskills, you must check it out. This indoor water park in Monticello, New York is inside a conservatory with lush gardens and palm trees. It’s always 84 degrees, so you can enjoy a tropical getaway even in the dead of winter. The water park has rides and attractions for all thrill levels, so it’s perfect for a family outing. Zip down the side-by-side racer slides, go surfing indoors on the crashing sheet waves, or pile onto a large raft and glide down the family slide. The Nor-Easter water slide is a stomach-churning, zero-gravity ride for adventure-seekers.
GREAT WOLF LODGE, THE BEST INDOOR WATER PARK IN ONTARIO’S NIAGARA FALLS
This indoor water park is near Buffalo, New York, and admission is included with your stay at the hotel. You’ll also get complimentary life vests and towels. The central attraction here is the four-story treehouse fort, which has all kinds of aquatic activities, including children’s slides and a dump bucket. If you have smaller kids, let them splash around at Chipmunk Cove. This indoor water park is always 84 degrees, even during the cold Canadian winters. During the summer, check out the outdoor area with kiddie slides, a large pool, and water basketball. The indoor and outdoor whirlpool spas are open year-round for those who want a relaxing hot tub soak.
Martie Bowser is a journalist and public relations professional in Charlotte, NC. She enjoys amplifying the voices of POC and women that fill a void within their community. Her bylines include “person of interest” interviews, small business highlights, pop culture commentary, entertainment features, and everything Beyonce.
This story was originally published February 21, 2023 at 3:26 PM.