www.campjellystone.com
As I was finishing up my last post on Jellystone Park with tons of pictures of all the fun things we had done, I realized I was running out of room for the best thing that I had saved for last. So, instead of adding to an already too-long post, I decided to start a new one, specifically featuring the waterpark at Jellystone park. And here it is! (If you missed the original post on the park, you can check it out by clicking HERE.)
I like to think of the waterpark in 4 sections and this is the one in which we spent the most time. Not only are there these two fun slides, but also 2 straight slides on the backside and a huge dumping bucket up top that pours down to the beach-entry area. With only 18 inches of water, it was easy for my kiddos to splash down one slide and then high-step it through the water, back up the stairs, and down another slide. At one point during the afternoon there was a short line at the top of the stairs, but nothing too long. Never did we feel crowded which I can only say must be due to so many other activities being offered throughout the park that not everyone is in the pool at the same time.
Gotta love it when they are getting along and having a great time together.
The next section of the waterpark is the pool pictured below. It's nothing spectacular but offers some deeper water and a basketball net. We didn't spend much time in here as it was over my 4 yr old's head, but plenty of others were enjoying it. Around both of these pools there are numerous lounge chairs and a handful of large umbrellas which create a good amount of shade. We never had trouble finding a seat to dump our stuff before we hit the pool.
The newest addition to the waterpark is the lazy river and toddler area. This section literally opened just days before we arrived and we were so excited to test it out. Although it was relaxing, I have to say it is the laziest of all lazy rivers. I'm not sure if it is suppose to be that way or if the jets to create a current hadn't been activated or what. But there were times I was wishing I had a paddle. And it was the only time I've ever been happy to see teenagers being rowdy in the pool as they created a small wave pool that pushed us along a wee bit faster. On the upside of things, there were plenty of tubes to choose from and my preschooler was relieved that there were a few double tubes with one side having a netting on the bottom so she wouldn't fall through.
Grandma enjoying the lazy river in her "funny" swimsuit, as she calls it.
I'm just glad she's protecting herself from a chance at getting cancer a 4th time.
Toddler area surrounded by the lazy river.
Check out all those toddlers having the time of their lives at the toddler area!!! Yeah, I don't see them either and unfortunately that's because this area really isn't very toddler friendly. My 4 yr old is a pretty cautious little kiddo and I felt so bad when I talked her into trying out the orange slide and then she came shooting out the end, flying over the cushioned landing pad, and sliding down a slick mat that basically acted as a slip and slide on concrete. She was not happy with me. Eventually I coaxed her into trying the yellow slide where I could hold her hands and she loved that, but I thought my arms were going to be ripped out of socket while trying to keep her from sliding off into the lazy river (only a slight exaggeration but you get the picture). Anyhow, this area definitely needs some improvement, but certainly has potential to be a lot of fun.
And now...*drum roll please*...our favorite part of the watermark. Check out these bad boys behind us!
My kid was being a turd and wouldn't smile for the camera.
There are two really fun rides; first, the yellow and blue slide is the Pine Tree Plunge and second, the red and green 4-man tube slide is the Serpent Water Slide.
We tried the Pine Tree Plunge first. Or, I should say, I tried the Plunge first. Everyone else was too chicken, but I knew my 7 yr old was going to love it. So I put my big girl bikini bottoms on and squealed my head off all the way to the bottom to prove how fun it was.
I wasn't totally crazy about mangling my pedicure since I forgot to bend my knees and instead dragged my toes all the way down, but I did go a few more times and really had a good time. As for my 2nd grader, I pretty much had to push her off the top (don't worry, she was saying No but I knew she really meant Yes) and then we couldn't get her off this thing for the next 2 days.
Here she is racing Grandpa to the bottom.
This is one of those rides that is loved by all ages. We saw kids as young as 4 (as long as they are 42 inches tall) giggling their way down this slide, as well as grown men totally loving it as they lifted their mat after coming off the second hump in order to catch some serious air. It was pretty cool!
The Serpent was a slightly more mild ride, but still full of great family fun. There was virtually no wait for this ride...but I'm pretty sure I know why...
...there's only one way up...
...with this tube on your back.
Carrying this 4-person tube up 5 long flights of stairs nearly put Grandpa into cardiac arrest.
And if you think he looks tired, you should have seen me and my mom trying to carry this bad boy. We were so pathetic that the lifeguard actually ran down 2 flights of stairs, stating that we looked like we needed a little help, and then single-handedly muscled it up the rest of the stairs for us. Moral of the story...bring some muscles with you for this ride and then expect to thank them immensely 'cause it's quite a trek (or look completely helpless and pathetic and hope some fine gentleman gives you some help, but don't count on it).
And then...
...enjoy the ride!
And that sums up the waterpark at Jellystone.
But, there is one more water-filled fun activity to share with you. And that's the Wet-n-Wild Hey Wagon. A few days a week, a tractor-drawn wagon arrives outside the activity center to take guests on a ride just as the name implies...Wet-n-Wild! Guests are encouraged to load up their favorite, high-capacity water gun and join them for a ride around the property. Campers that remain at their campsites are also encouraged to participate by hooking up their garden hoses to a water source and then taking aim at the wagon riders. Craziness ensues from there.
Armed and ready.
Soaked from head to toe after the ride.
The water fun even continued once we got back to our site.
My kiddo had a blast on the Wet-nWild ride. She was ready to reload and go again! Grandpa, on the other hand, had his fill of fun and was ready to hit the sack for a nap.
After two days of water-logged fun at Jellystone my kids were begging to return even before we pulled Molly the Motorhome out of the park. With a location in such close proximity to our home and such affordable prices, we are sure to be back real soon.
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What is your favorite, most affordable vacation?
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