DENVER – The Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of summer across the United States, and while thousands of people will head to the mountains, others will head to the water park to cool off.
So which water parks can you go to in the Denver metro area and beyond? Well, for starters at least three water parks are known to all Coloradans - and they’re all right here in the Front Range.
Elitch Gardens’ Island Kingdom Water Park, located inside Elitch Gardens in downtown Denver, will open its doors to kids and adults alike this Saturday at 10:30 a.m. The water park will remain open until Labor Day this year. You can get in for free with a theme park admission.
While no new water slide is debuting this year, Elitch Gardens officials said you’ll at least have tons of more shade to protect you from the deadly rays of the sun when things start to heat up in July.
As a side note, a new show production called “Smoke and Mirrors” is also coming on Memorial Day at the Trocadero Theater.
Admission for a one-day pass is $59.99, but if you buy it online the prices drops to $39.99 Learn more about getting a season pass here.
Top attraction: Mega Wedgie (Epic) – a 62-foot speed slide.
Water World in Federal Heights, which boasts 37 attractions across 67 acres of land – making it one of the nation’s largest water theme parks – opens to the public this Saturday starting at 10 a.m.
General admission to Water World is (for those heights 48 inches and above) $41.99 plus tax; $36.99 plus tax for children heights 40 inches to 47 inches; $10.99 plus tax for people 60-years-old and over; and free for kids under 40 inches in height.
The water park has $20 one-day online passes available until June 14.
It’s currently competing to be among the 10 Best Outdoor Water Parks in the U.S. If you’d like to vote, you must do so before 10 a.m. on June 11.
Top attraction: Purgatoire River – a water slide where you can ride your own raft down the twists and turns of River Country.
Littleton's Pirates Cove Water Park is also opening its doors to younglings and the not-so-young this Saturday at 10 a.m.
Getting into Pirates Cove is cheap. General admission is $15 for adults (ages 18-54); $8 for Englewood children and seniors (ages 2-17/55+); and $14 for children and seniors who are not residents of the City of Englewood.
Top attraction: There is no single “high thrill” attraction at Pirates Cove, as the water park is mainly geared toward its tea cup human visitors.
Other water parks opening across Colorado on Memorial Day weekend
The Cherry Creek Reservoir is open for swimming from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Group picnicking areas in the reservoir, which can accommodate up to 250 people, are also opening on Memorial Day.
The Swim Beach at the Aurora Reservoir is open starting this Saturday through September 30. That area is also available for picnics, sunbathing and general recreational activities. Grilling, however, is not allowed on the beach.
The swimming area at the Boulder Reservoir will open on Memorial Day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, with some exceptions. For more information head over to the City of Boulder website.
And lastly, the Splash at Fossil Trace in Golden will open for the season this Saturday at 10 a.m.
Metro area weather will want to make you reach for the nearest pool
Highs in Denver are expected to be in the 90s for Saturday – 15 degrees above normal. But come Sunday and Monday, we could be seeing a chance of thunderstorms for the afternoon and evening hours, so keep an umbrella handy.