If you’re looking for a fun and exciting family vacation destination, look no further than Splash Lagoon Water Park in Erie, PA! As an indoor water park, it’s an awesome place to escape the cold and rainy weather and enjoy a tropical paradise all year-round. With over 80,000 square feet of water attractions, there’s something for everyone.
I recently visited Splash Lagoon with my family and was really impressed by this water park. It doesn’t have the same all around experience as a Great Wolf Lodge and it’s smaller than a Kalahari water park, but Splash Lagoon is a cheaper alternative while still being fully loaded with fun activities to keep the kids excited for hours.
This park was originally built in 2003 but has been updated multiple times since then. It has been ranked as one of the best water parks in the country multiple times and over 300,000 people come to the park each year. That’s really impressive to me for a park of this size in a smaller market like Erie, PA.
From the giant wave pool to the lazy river to the thrilling water slides, there’s no shortage of fun to be had at the water park. And for the little ones, there’s a children’s activity treehouse and family whirlpools where they can splash and play to their heart’s content. Plus, with a variety of dining options available on-site, you can refuel and recharge without ever having to leave the park!
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The Attractions of Splash Lagoon in Erie, PA
If you’re looking for a fun-filled water park getaway, then Splash Lagoon Water Park Resort in Erie, PA is a great option.
The Water Park
With nine water slides, including two bowl slides, a lazy river, a family whirlpool and an enormous indoor wave pool, Splash Lagoon has something for everyone. The wave pool is one of the largest indoor wave pools in the Eastern United States and with it being located next to a wall of windows, it’s a great place to spend some time in the cold winter months.
If you’re looking for some higher intensity slides, you’ve got a few options:
First off, Hurricane Hole is a body slide which is a fully enclosed until the end where you swirl around a bowl until you drop out of the bottom into a landing pool. This slide can be found at other water parks, including the Kalahari Resort in Sandusky, OH only a couple hours away, but this slide is always pretty popular.
The most popular slide at the park is the Cyclone, which is similar to Hurricane Hole except this slide is a tube slide and you exit the bowl down a slide instead of dropping out of the bottom.
One of the other popular slides is Big Kahuna, which is a two person tube slide (although you can go solo if you prefer) that will take you on some tight turns and gets pretty fast.
Splash Lagoon recently upgraded some parts of the water park which had made things even better. The centrepiece to the water park is the Tree House in the middle of the water park. It has splash buckets, water sprayers, and a giant tipping coconut at the top. Just be sure you’re ready to get wet as I don’t think you’ll escape this tree house dry!
For the littlest kids, there is the Froggy Splash Pad and Monkey Shines Island which will allow smaller children the freedom to play and explore in the shallow water. Monkey Shines Island features miniature tipping buckets and slides.
Speaking of miniature slides, you’ll also find Riptide Racers which is a kid-sized slide with four lanes. This lets the younger kids race their friends on the slide and is sure to get their competitive juices going!
Splash Lagoon also features a FlowRider surf machine which is always popular. You can find these at water parks across the country and whenever I see them, they always have a line up. This is a premium feature for any water park and is further proof that Splash Lagoon is among the best pound for pound water parks around. Just in case you are wondering, it’s included with your water park admission. There is no additional charge!
Tree Tops Ropes Course
For those who love adventure, the Tree Tops Ropes Course is a must-try. It’s a challenging obstacle course that includes rope bridges, tight ropes, and other obstacles. The course is located high above the water park, and it offers stunning views of the park and the surrounding area.
NOTE: The Ropes Course is currently closed, so check the Splash Lagoon website for updates to see when it will open up again.
Treasure Island Arcade
If you’re looking for some indoor fun, the arcade at Splash Lagoon is the perfect place to be. With over 100 games, including classic arcade games and modern favorites, you’ll have hours of entertainment. You can win tickets to redeem for prizes, or just have fun playing with friends and family.
I’ve seen a lot of arcades attached to water parks and this has to be one of the biggest I’ve seen (aside from the ones at Kalahari Resorts which are just on another planet). It’s over 6,500 square feet and has over 100 games. When I was there, the arcade never got too busy and because it’s so large it never felt too crowded either.
Surf Shop
Next to the entrance, be sure to check out the Surf Shop. You’ll find a variety of souvenirs, including t-shirts, hats, and other items to commemorate your visit to Splash Lagoon. You can also get access to a locker for the day by purchasing it at the Surf Shop.
Dining Options at Splash Lagoon
When it comes to dining, Splash Lagoon has a couple of options to choose from. The Laguna Grill is a great spot for a quick bite, and they offer a variety of options, including pizza, burgers, and salads. It’s conveniently located on the lower level inside the water park.
If you’re in the mood for something sit down, then the Quaker Steak & Lube is a great option as it’s attached to the water park. They are known for their wings and have a huge selection of sauces. This location is also unique because it’s the only one that has bowling lanes!
Planning Your Visit to Splash Lagoon in Erie, PA
Day Passes
If you’re planning a visit to Splash Lagoon Water Park in Erie, PA, you’ll want to purchase your tickets in advance as they will sell out on more popular days. You can purchase tickets online on the Splash Lagoon website.
You can also purchase tickets at the water park when you first arrive, but there is a chance they will charge you a premium for buying at the park like some other parks sometimes do. For this reason, I always buy my tickets in advance.
Prices for day passes vary based on a number of factors. First, it costs more for guests over 42”. It’s usually a $10 premium for those over 42” versus those guests who are under 42”. It also depends on the day of the week and the overall demand for each day. For example, you can get weekday tickets for $25-$35 per person while some Saturday’s can get up to $60+ per person.
You can also save by booking well in advance. Last minute prices jump up even more for busy days.
Splash Lagoon also has many promotions and discounts. These include military discounts, mommy and me rates and some really appealing mid-week summer rates. For example, Carload Tuesdays which will give you access for up to six people for $149.
Hours and Directions
Splash Lagoon is open year-round, but hours vary depending on the season. Be sure to check the park’s website for the most up-to-date hours of operation.
The park is open seven days a week during peak seasons like spring break, Christmas and in the summer. The rest of the year, it will typically close mid-week on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
During the summer, the water park is typically open from 11AM to 9PM. During off peak times, the water park has shorter hours with Sundays closing at 8PM and Friday’s only opening at noon.
Accommodations at Splash Lagoon in Erie, PA
If you’re planning a trip to Splash Lagoon Water Park in Erie, PA, there are plenty of hotels in the area. However, your best bet is going to be one of the three hotels which are attached to the water park. The three attached hotels are: Holiday Inn Express and Suites, Hawthorn Inn and Suites, and Comfort Inn.
Of the three hotel options that are attached to the water park, Comfort Inn is likely to be your cheapest option with Holiday Inn Express and Hawthorn Suites being more expensive. All three hotels offer packages which include access to the water park.
Splash Lagoon is owned by a local Erie, PA company called Scott Enterprises. This company owns a bunch of hotels in the Erie area. That means even hotels which aren’t attached to the water park can still include water park passes. This includes the Courtyard Marriott and Country Inn and Suites.
You can learn more about the accommodations options on the Splash Lagoon website.
Conclusion
Splash Lagoon in Erie, PA is well-maintained, clean and the staff are generally friendly and helpful. The wide variety of attractions is impressive for its size as it has something for everyone, from the little ones to the thrill-seekers.
Overall, I was surprised by the quality of Splash Lagoon considering it’s in a smaller market and not part of a larger entertainment group. I still prefer Great Wolf Lodge (although there isn’t one in Erie, PA so it’s not really a fair comparison) because Great Wolf Lodge has more non-water park activities like Magiquest, story time, kids yoga etc. However, if you’re mostly concerned with spending time at a water park, Splash Lagoon is a fantastic option.
Want to see more of the park? I always enjoy Canobie Coaster on YouTube. You can see his tour of the park here:
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much is Splash Lagoon Per Person?
Splash Lagoon uses variable pricing so it depends on a few different factors. In general, it ranges between $25 to $70 per person. The low end of that range is for midweek days and for guests under 42 inches. There is usually a $10 premium for guests over 42 inches. Prices typically go up closer to the date, so you can usually save some money by booking well in advance. This will also avoid the day being sold out as they do have a limited number of passes available each day.
Is Splash Lagoon Open All Year?
Yes! Splash Lagoon is an indoor water park so it can remain open all year. However, keep in mind that they are often closed on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. They will open for peak seasons like holidays and the summer. Your best bet is to check the calendar on the Splash Lagoon website.
What Hotels Are Connected to Splash Lagoon?
Splash Lagoon has three hotels that are attached to the water park. These hotels are all internally connected, so you can wear your swimsuit down without having to walk outside. The three hotels are the Holiday Inn Express and Suites, Hawthorn Inn and Suites and Comfort Inn.
Does Splash Lagoon Have a Military Discount?
Yes! Splash Lagoon has a Hero Discount. This applies for all active and retired military as well as fire, emergency, medical service personnel (doctors, nurses etc.) and correctional officers. These Heroes are eligible to save 25% when showing their valid ID, but it only applies to the Hero, not everyone in their party.
If you enjoyed this, please check out my other water park reviews and guides.