Splash into Fun: The Six Best Waterparks in West Virginia (2025 Guide)

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia’s natural beauty is world-famous, but when summer heat hits, the state’s waterparks become top destinations for families and thrill-seekers looking to cool off with some splashing fun.

Whether you want a giant inflatable obstacle course or a classic wave pool, the Mountain State offers some truly memorable aquatic escapes.

Here’s our guide to the six best waterparks in West Virginia, complete with direct links so you can plan your perfect day of waterpark adventures.

1. ACE Adventure Water Park

Location: Oak Hill / Why it’s Top-Ranked: ACE Adventure Water Park is a unique, five-acre spring-fed lake featuring over 50 giant inflatable obstacles, twin 40-foot “Wet Willie” water slides, tower zip-lines into the lake, volleyball courts, trampolines, and a sandy beach with pizza and refreshments. It offers a perfect mix of challenge and fun for kids, teens, and adults alike.

Ticket Information: Full-day passes are approximately $33 for adults, and half-day passes start at $23. Season passes are available. Hours: Open daily from Memorial Day through early September, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. / Official Website: ACE Adventure Water Park

2. Water Ways Waterpark

Location: Julian / Top Features: Water Ways offers a relaxed atmosphere with five water slides, a lazy river, and “Kiddy Island,” a play area with small slides, swings, and a water umbrella designed for younger kids.

Water Ways is ideal for families with small children seeking a gentler waterpark experience. Additional amenities include picnic areas, walking trails, and a gift shop. More Info: Water Ways Waterpark

3. Wildwater Express Waterslide

Location: Hinton / What Makes It Stand Out: Featuring a thrilling 267-foot waterslide, pool, kiddie pool, and basketball and volleyball courts, Wildwater Express is a great spot for active families and friends looking for excitement beyond just the pool.

Seasonal operation—check local schedules before planning your trip. More Info: Wildwater Express

4. Harpers Ferry Waterpark

Location: Near Harpers Ferry / Why Visit: Harpers Ferry Waterpark is a floating inflatable park set in a beautiful private quarry, featuring slides, trampolines, monkey bars, and climbing walls on the water.

Best suited for children aged five and older, this water park provides a unique and energetic experience for families and groups. Sessions require booking, and life jackets are mandatory. There are no lifeguards on staff. Official Website: Harpers Ferry Waterpark

5. Camden Park & Splash Zone

Location: Huntington / Why It’s Unique: Camden Park is West Virginia’s only amusement park with an integrated water section called Splash Zone, which includes pools and splash pads for kids.

Combined with classic amusement rides, mini-golf, and seasonal events, it’s an all-around family entertainment destination. Splash Zone is highly rated on TripAdvisor and offers aquatic fun for all ages. More Info: Camden Park

6. Waves of Fun Waterpark

Location: Hurricane / Why it Belongs in the Mix: Waves of Fun is the only outdoor waterpark in West Virginia, featuring a 500,000-gallon wave pool capable of producing up to 3-foot waves. The park also boasts two water slides and a tube ride, providing excitement for all ages.

Managed by Putnam County Parks & Recreation, it offers affordable admission (approximately $6–$ 8) and free entry for children under five years old. Open from early June through Labor Day, generally Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday, 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Official Website: Waves of Fun

The Six Best Waterparks in West Virginia (2025)

Why visit West Virginia’s Waterparks?

West Virginia’s waterparks are more than just places to swim and slide—they are full-day entertainment hubs that often include dining, outdoor games, and group-friendly amenities. Whether you’re from the Mountain State or visiting for the first time, these waterparks offer safe, supervised environments where families can bond and kids can burn off energy during the hot summer months.

Planning Your West Virginia Waterpark Visit: Tips & Tricks

• Book tickets early: Popular water parks, such as ACE Adventure and Harper's Ferry, can sell out on weekends and holidays.
• Check hours and seasonal dates: Most parks open around Memorial Day weekend and close after Labor Day, but hours and weekday schedules vary.
• Bring sunscreen and water shoes, as many parks have rocky or slippery surfaces.
• Consider age and thrill level: Some parks are best suited for young kids, while others cater more to teens and adults.
• Look for season passes and group discounts, which are great for families planning multiple visits or larger parties.

Riding the Wave: The economic impact and potential of waterparks in West Virginia

As West Virginia’s tourism sector enters a new era of growth, small attractions, such as local outdoor water parks, are poised to ride the wave of economic opportunity. Here's how waterparks contribute today and hold untapped promise as the Mountain State becomes a trending summer destination.

Tourism on the Rise: Booming Visitor Spending

First, a macro snapshot: tourism in West Virginia generated an estimated $6.3 billion in visitor spending in 2023, up from $5.3 billion in 2022, marking continued growth following the post-pandemic recovery. Among that total, recreation, including water parks, accounted for $1.5 billion, a full 24% of visitor expenditures. These figures illustrate the scale of West Virginia’s appeal and show the broader economic base that waterpark operators plug into.

The tourism industry now supports nearly 60,000 jobs statewide, one out of every 15 positions, and contributes more than $2.1 billion in personal income. As smaller attractions—such as regional waterparks—draw visitors, they stimulate local spending on food, lodging, rentals, and retail.

Local contributions of water parks

Although detailed state‐level figures on waterpark visitor numbers are scarce, many of West Virginia’s largest aquatic attractions—such as ACE Adventure Water Park in the New River Gorge, Camden Park’s Splash Zone in Huntington, Harpers Ferry Waterpark, Water Ways near Julian, Wildwater Express in Hinton, and Waves of Fun in Putnam County—serve as regional magnets for day‑trippers and multi‑day visitors. These players have a direct economic impact in multiple ways:

• Ticket and concession revenues fund local payrolls and operations.
• Ancillary spending at adjacent mom-and-pop businesses such as restaurants, gas stations, and convenience stores increases the per-visitor local economic impact.
• Seasonal employment surge, from lifeguards to food staff, provides critical jobs, especially for high school and college students.
• Tax revenues generated (sales, lodging, recreation taxes) flow into county and state budgets, helping fund public services.

For every dollar spent at a water park, local vendors and employees receive wages, which are then reinvested in the community, amplifying its local economic impact. The combined effect of waterparks and other recreational destinations, such as state parks (which together generated over $520 million in statewide economic activity in FY 23 and supported more than 5,250 jobs), is substantial.

Growth Potential: Summer Tourism Destinations

West Virginia is increasingly recognized as an outdoor tourism hub, thanks in large part to the elevation of the New River Gorge to national park status in 2020. That change has sparked interest in rafting, climbing, and hiking, all of which converge to support growth in complementary attractions, such as water parks.

If waterparks position themselves as regional anchors through expanded attractions, improved lodging partnerships, or combined adventure‑stay packages, they could leverage rising visitor traffic all summer long. Seasonal lodging, campsites, local restaurants, and guided tours all benefit when guests plan multi‑day itineraries.

Moreover, national waterpark studies show well-run outdoor waterparks can yield operating profit margins of 50% or more—outperforming conventional amusement parks in profitability metrics—even though absolute revenues may be smaller

Key Opportunities & Challenges

Opportunities:

• Expand marketing partnerships with tourism boards in regions like New River Gorge, Eastern Panhandle, and Appalachian outdoor hubs.
• Package tickets with lodging providers or campsites. Offer multi‑park visitors’ passes or regional water recreation festivals to draw larger crowds.
• Develop off‑peak adult or group programs (e.g., corporate picnics, youth groups, early evening specials).

Challenges:

• Weather sensitivity: Outdoor parks must operate with limited seasonal windows, typically Memorial Day to Labor Day. Inclement weather during peak weeks can sharply reduce revenue.
• Labor constraints: Recruiting seasonal employees remains a statewide issue across parks, restaurants, and lodging sectors alike.
• Infrastructure strain: Growth around key draw areas (e.g. New River Gorge/Fayetteville) has pushed up housing costs and impacted roads, parking, and utilities.

Economic Outlook & Forecast

If West Virginia tourism continues its upward momentum, reaching $6.3 billion in visitor spending by 2023, even modest growth in waterpark attendance could translate into millions of dollars in incremental economic activity annually. Every additional 50,000 visitors through park gates might generate $2–3 million in local business spending and hundreds of seasonal jobs.

With tourism employment projected to reach 21,000 openings per year through 2030—many in recreation and hospitality—well-integrated seasonal attractions, such as waterparks, have strong potential to absorb and train the future workforce.

Although West Virginia’s waterparks remain modest in scale compared to major resort counterparts, their economic and strategic potential is clear. They contribute directly to tourism, provide seasonal job opportunities, and support surrounding businesses. As West Virginia builds on its reputation as a top-tier destination for outdoor recreation in summer, waterparks—especially when strategically aligned with lodging, outdoor adventure, and regional tourism boards—could become significant catalysts for local revitalization and economic diversification.

Together, the growth of the tourism industry (projected to reach $9 billion in impact by 2023) and broader community investments in parks and visitor infrastructure establish a strong foundation for West Virginia’s aquatic attractions to thrive and contribute even more in the coming years.