When the Texas sun is beating down on you, escape the heat and cool off at one of the water parks near North Richland Hills. With slides and attractions geared toward thrill seekers and kids alike, there’s something for every member of the family. Several water parks are within 25 miles of the city, providing a quick, wet escape on a hot summer’s day.
For the Thrill of It
- NRH2O Family Water Park in North Richland Hills has eight large waterslides, including the world’s first Viper, a high-thrill, multi-rider slide with high banking turns and a 20-foot drop into a giant tube. Several enclosed slides zip riders through near darkness before plummeting into the water, while a four-lane slide allows you to race your friends to the end. The park’s 660-foot-long Endless River provides a relaxing float under misters, and kids can play on a five-level interactive water playground complete with small slides and a 317-gallon beaker that tips over and spills water onto guests.
Wet and Wild Fun
- About 15 miles southeast of North Richland Hills, Six Flags Hurricane Harbor in Arlington invites family to join in wet fun. The Black Hole shoots guests through darkness down two 500-foot tentacle tubes, and the Mega Wedgie sends riders flying down the sides at 23 miles per hour. The whole family can grab toboggans and ride down the 45-foot Bonzai Boggans before skidding across the water, or jump on an inner tube and slide through six pools on the Raging Rapids. A surf lagoon allows you to hang 10 on waves up to 4-feet tall, and kids can play in a water tree house with small slides and water cannons.
- Indoor Adventures
- Great Wolf Grapevine is an indoor water park in Grapevine, about 17 miles northeast of North Richland Hills. Little ones can splash away in Fort Mackenzie, an interactive water playground with spray features, swinging cargo nets and treetop slides, or enjoy a game of water basketball in the activity pool. For thrill seekers, the Howlin’ Tornado drops guests into a six-story funnel where you can swirl 30 feet up the sides before splashing into a pool, and Coyote Cannon drops riders 40 feet into a cannon bowl. Cabanas are available for rent and include a table, chairs, television, playing cards and a stocked mini fridge.
Cool Off in a Cabana
- Just less than 25 miles north of North Richland Hills, Hawaiian Falls in Roanoke has a three-lane slide. Feel the adrenaline while free-falling down a 65-foot slide. Both enclosed tube slides and open body slides twist and turn before dropping riders into the water, and a water playground has interactive features for kids to stage water battles. Private cabanas are available for rent and include wait service, drinks, chaise lounges, chairs and a locker.
