Deep River Waterpark enters its 31st season with thrilling attractions, special events, and affordable family fun

As summer temperatures heat up across Northwest Indiana, Deep River Waterpark is once again providing families and visitors with a place to cool off, relax and create lasting memories. Now, celebrating its 31st season, the destination that prides itself on being “simply splash-tastic” continues to build on a legacy that has made it one of the Region’s premier summer attractions since opening in 1995.

While last year marked the park’s milestone 30th anniversary celebration, Deep River Waterpark is carrying that momentum into another exciting season filled with popular attractions, community partnerships, special events, and new amenities designed to enhance the guest experience.

“The 30th anniversary was a big celebration last year. Most waterparks don’t make it 30 or more years, but Deep River Waterpark has flourished as the second largest publicly-owned waterpark in the country,” said Nicole Drexler, general manager of Deep River Waterpark. “The main attraction is the rides, but we do so many different events at the waterpark, and all of our special event nights that we’re doing this year are held after hours.”

Whether visitors are looking for high-speed thrills, family-friendly fun, or a relaxing float through the park, Deep River Waterpark offers something for every age group.

Among the most popular attractions is the Rip Tide Wavepool, where guests can enjoy the waves throughout the day. The attraction has remained a favorite among visitors for years and continues to be one of the park’s signature experiences.

For those seeking more excitement, the Storm Complex features the park’s original trio of tube slides and is one of the most recognizable attractions at Deep River Waterpark. Guests can also challenge friends and family members on the Kraken Mat Racer, a six-lane racing slide that allows riders to compete side-by-side to the finish line.

The Double Dueling Cannonbowl delivers another adrenaline-filled experience, as riders spin in their tubes around giant bowl-shaped slides before splashing into the water below. Other attractions include the Whitewater Run Tube Slide, Pipeline Express & Slidewinder Body Slides, and the Dragon Speed Slides, the latter of which is the tallest attraction at Deep River Waterpark.

Visitors looking to slow things down can float along Mid-America’s Great River Ride, which is one of the park’s two lazy rivers that winds through the facility. On the opposite side of the park, guests can enjoy the Bayou River Ride, offering another relaxing way to spend the day between trips down the slides.

Families with younger children also have plenty of opportunities for fun. Mayor Byrdovich’s Courthouse acts as a giant water jungle gym with climbing nets, sprinklers, tipping water buckets, two body slides, and a frog slide. Paddles PlayZone provides interactive water features and splash activities designed specifically for younger guests, while Water Wars allows families and friends to engage in friendly competition by launching water balloons at one another.

More than three decades after opening its gates, the combination of thrilling slides, interactive play areas, and relaxing attractions continues to make Deep River Waterpark a summer destination for both Northwest Indiana residents and visitors from outside the Region.

In addition to its attractions, the park has developed a robust lineup of special events for this summer season.

We have three events open to the public in the evenings this summer, including one that is an adult-only night. The other two are celebrations for families at the start and end of summer,” said Chris Nawracaj, park superintendent. “There are also some fundraising events that are open to the public, such as the Make a Splash for SWAT to support the Northwest Regional SWAT Team, and our Splash for a Cause to support the Hobart Family YMCA.”

Beyond those special events, Deep River Waterpark continues to strengthen its connection to the local community through weekly partnerships and promotions.

On Wednesdays, Deep River Waterpark partners with the Humane Society of Hobart to assist in its efforts finding forever homes for animals. On Thursdays, the waterpark teams up with the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana to keep local food shelves stocked while also providing savings opportunities for guests.

The park also offers several discounts throughout the season. Seniors splash for free on Fridays, while all military veterans and active-duty service members receive 25% off regular admission during normal operating hours.

Another aspect that continues to set Deep River Waterpark apart is its commitment to affordability. The park has chosen not to increase admission prices from last season, helping families continue to enjoy a full day of entertainment without additional financial strain.

At the same time, park officials have continued investing in improvements designed to enhance guest comfort and convenience.

“This year, we put in hammocks all around the park for people to relax in,” Nawracaj said. “We also added a new birthday party area because the deluxe birthday party is something that we’re really pushing this year. That area is located between the Paddles PlayZone and the Bayou River Ride.”

The new birthday party area provides families on the Deluxe Birthday Package, with another option for celebrating special occasions while remaining close to some of the park’s most popular attractions for children.

Deep River Waterpark also continues to focus heavily on guest services, safety, and group experiences.

“Every day, we are operating attractions, training our staff to be accommodating, and we have certified lifeguards who are ready to assist as needed,” Drexler said. “We also have a strong group sales program that saves groups of 20 or more money. The group sales program has strong participation within the local area for companies, schools, youth groups, reunions and birthdays.”

When guests are ready to take a break from the water, they can visit several dining locations located throughout the park. Surf Side Cafe offers menu items including burgers, nachos, corn dogs and beverages. Chompy’s Pizza and Riverside Grill provide additional options, ranging from pizza and breadsticks to fresh-off-the-grill favorites.

Guests can also stop by Flavor Point for mini donuts, large donuts, shakes, cotton candy and specialty drinks. Fan favorites such as funnel cakes and funnel cake sundaes continue to be among the most popular treats available throughout the season. Before leaving the park, visitors are encouraged to enjoy some Dippin’ Dots, which has been a longstanding, premier ice cream spot at Deep River Waterpark.

As Deep River Waterpark enters year 31, the combination of attractions, special events, community involvement, and affordable family entertainment continues to make it a summertime tradition for generations of Northwest Indiana families.

For more information about Deep River Waterpark, including admission prices, operating hours, special events and group packages, visit deepriverwaterpark.com.