Splish Splash Water Park - Calverton, New York - award-winning water park and tourist attraction

Opened in 1991, Splish Splash Water Park has been ranked as one of the best water parks in the country, according to the Travel Channel. The park covers over 30 acres and features dozens of rides that the whole family can enjoy. With more visitors every year, the park has also announced plans for adding a number of new rides and other attractions, so this park will continue to grow over the next decade.

One of the newest rides at the park, opened in 2009, is Dr. Von Dark's Tunnel of Terror, This attraction is one of only two like it in the country. Guests ride inner tubes through a pitch-black tunnel, which has a 40-foot drop, a number of hairpin turns, and other surprises that guests can see coming. Other tube and raft slides at the park include Alien Invasion, Abyss, Dragon's Den, Hollywood Stunt Rider, and Splash Landing. There are also body slides at the park, such as Cliff Diver, Max Trax, Barrier Reef, and Shotgun Falls, as well as two river rides - Lazy River and Mammoth River.

The park also has a number of attractions that are less adventurous, but still perfect for cooling off. Soak City has a number of geysers and bubbling pools to get guests wet. There's also the Surf City Wave Pool. Guests under 48 inches tall must where a lifejacket in the pool for safety reasons.

There are a number of Splish Splash Water Park rides and attractions especially for kids. The Elephant Slide, which has a small slide and wading pool is popular for all ages of children. There are also kid-sized versions of a number of the park's body slides, as well as interactive water areas and the Octopus Pool. Most of the children's attractions have maximum height limitations, unless the adult is accompanying his or her child.

Along with water rides and attractions, the park has a daily bird show called Close Encounters of the Bird Kind. Hosted by professional trainer Weldon Middlebrooks, this show features four different parrots, all of which are competing to be the new parrot for Pirate Weldon. Throughout the park, there are also cabanas, poolside observation chairs, and places to eat.

The park also provides changing rooms and lockers for guests. While visiting the park, bathing suit attire must be worn, and t-shirts, pants, shoes, and masks are not permitted on most rides. For children and guests who are weak swimmers, the park has Coast Guard approved life jackets available for a fully refundable deposit or photo ID, and to help keep the park glass-free, they have plastic baby bottles available to replace glass bottles visitors may need for feeding.

Splish Splash Water Park is open annually from late May to early September, weather permitting. During July and August, they're open daily from 9:30 AM until at least 6:00 PM. General admissions costs $35.99 for adults and $26.99 for children and senior citizens, with discount prices for guests who come to the park within three hours of closing. To learn more, visitors can call the park at 631-727-3600.