Pennsylvania Hotels with Indoor Waterparks
When it comes to sheer numbers of indoor water parks, Pennsylvania doesn’t quite stack up to northern heavyweights like Wisconsin and Minnesota. It only has three options, two of which are clustered in the Poconos. Fortunately, two of those three options are among the best parks in the country, and the third isn’t too shabby either. If you’re just looking for the best indoor water park experience, there’s no doubt – you can find it in Pennsylvania.
Like most indoor water parks, these facilities are part of resorts that include other attractions. Staying at one of these resorts isn’t cheap when compared to the cost of renting a hotel room. But when you consider the fact that they’re all-inclusive (well, much-inclusive) vacation spots, the price starts to look a lot better. Some of the indoor water parks allow general admission as well, in which case you don’t have to rent a room at the resort to use them.
Splash Lagoon (Erie, PA)
At 80,000 square feet, Splash Lagoon is the largest indoor water park in the state, just edging out Great Wolf Lodge. Located in the tourist magnet of Erie, this Polynesian-themed indoor water park draws in visitors year-round with an assortment of rides and slides that rival many outdoor water parks. It’s got a lazy river, centrifugal funnels, large play fort with tipping bucket, and loads of slides. The water park is part of a complex that includes three different hotels – so take your pick if you want to stay onsite. Admission is open to the public as well, so you also have the option of just dropping by for the day during your stay in Erie.
Erie, Pennsylvania is the 6th snowiest place in the United States, and in our book, that makes it a perfect spot for a world-class indoor water park. Fortunately, Splash Lagoon fills the bill with its enormous size and Polynesian-themed attractions. For both residents and visitors, it offers a break from the chill of winter or a fun place to stay during the summer months when there’s a lot going on in the area.
Accommodations
Splash Lagoon is connected to three different hotels, giving you plenty of different options for rates and accommodations. Here are the three different options to look into if you want the best year-round access to the water park:
- Holiday Inn
- Residence Inn
- Comfort Inn
These aren’t the only options, however. There are loads of other hotels just a short drive from the park. To find the best deal, shop around and find a package that includes Splash Lagoon passes.
Slides and Rides
Splash Lagoon is about 80,000 square feet, making it the largest indoor water park on the East Coast. But it’s not just the size of the water park that draws visitors, but the style. The Polynesian theme adds flavor to the different rides, which have colorful names like Maui Wowie and Monkey Shines Island. Overall, Splash Lagoon has all the “normal” stuff you expect from an indoor water park – just bigger, and with a few twists. Here are some of the main attractions:
- Large Funnel Slide (Hurricane Hole)
- Numerous Tube and Body Slides
- Multiple Children’s Areas
- Lazy River (Including Waterfall)
- Activity Pool
Splash Lagoon also provides opportunities for adults to relax. There’s a large hot tub called the Lava Pool, and an adults-only section named Paradise Cove (21 and older).
Great Wolf Lodge (Scotrun, PA)
Great Wolf Lodge is a name that’s familiar to a lot of water park aficionados. It has locations from Texas to Ontario, all of which feature large indoor water parks. The one in the Pocono Mountains is only slightly smaller than Splash Lagoon, and features some water attractions you can’t find anywhere else (outside of other Great Wolf Lodge resorts, that is). This is more of a single-stop vacation destination, as the resort offers all sorts of amusements in addition to the water park – many of them aimed at young kids and teenagers. You don’t really need to go outside to have a lot of fun here, but since you’re in the Poconos, you’ll probably want to.
H20ooohh! Indoor Water Park (Lake Harmony, PA)
Another option in the Poconos is the H20ooohh! Indoor Water Park in Lake Harmony. Like the Great Wolf Lodge water park, it’s part of a larger resort that offers lots of other things to do. Split Rock Resort is a huge hotel featuring golf, a movie theater, and dining options. The indoor water park is mid-sized but has some premium attractions such as a surfing simulator. If you live in the area or just don’t want to stay at the resort, you also have the option to purchase a day pass.
…
In addition, if you live in the Philadelphia area, there are a couple more options close by in New Jersey. However, if you’re just looking for the best indoor water park you can find, you’ll be hard-pressed to do better than the options available in-state. The indoor water parks in Pennsylvania are pretty amazing.