Epic Waters opens

Epic Waters, Grand Prairie, Texas’ new $88 million indoor waterpark facility, has opened its doors to the public, as guests from all over Dallas-Fort Worth poured in to experience the one-of-a-kind facility.

The waterpark, which spans 80,000-plus square feet (7,432+ sq m) and stands as the largest indoor waterpark under a single custom curved retractable roof by Open Aire, entices guests who visit the waterpark with nine waterslides from Whitewater West, three of which are ‘first of their kind’ in the United States. These include the Lasso Loop, which is the nation’s tallest indoor AquaLoop slide. Also featured is the Yellow Jacket Drop, titled as the first slide of its kind, a fusion inner tube slide. There is also the Aquanaut, the first double-rider inner tube slide of its kind. Guests will also discover a surf machine, activity pool, and one of the longest lazy rivers in Texas. There is also concessions, a 4,000 square foot (372 sq m) arcade, full-service bar, party rooms, and more. And thanks to the retractable roof, guests can experience all of this year-round. If the weather is weather is warm and sunny, the roof will open. If it’s rainy, chilly or anything else, the tall, glass-paneled walls and retractable roof will ensure it is always a warm and beautiful 85º F (29º C) inside.

Epic Waters anchors Grand Prairie’s ‘EpicCentral,’ which will also feature the 120,000-plus square foot (11,148+ sq) (mega recreation  and lifestyle facility “The Epic,” when it opens in just a few months, as well as PlayGrand Adventures, an all-inclusive playground set to open late this year that will invite children and adults of all capabilities to come together and play.

The city of Grand Prairie went to the taxpayers with a plan to develop the 200,000-plus square feet (18,581+ sq m) of recreation space, and asked them to approve an additional sales tax to fund the project. After seeing the success of Grand Prairie’s similarly funded project, The Summit, a state-of-the-art facility opened in 2010 that is designed specifically for active adults ages 50 and older, the citizens of Grand Prairie approved the new amenities.

The efforts of the city, the developers, and the citizens culminated in Grand Prairie’s Parks, Arts, and Recreation Department being honoured with the National Recreation and Parks Association’s coveted Gold Medal Award in 2017.