FTC Disclaimer: Wild River Country invited my son and me to spend the day splashing around with our friends. I am receiving compensation for this post, but all thoughts are my own.
I don’t know what the weather is like in your part of the world, but here in Arkansas, summertime is super hot.
I’m talking “100 degrees in the shade” hot, lol! As someone who moved back here from the East Coast (and who has never been a fan of heat), Arkansas summers are pretty darn miserable.
Literally every “I hate summer” meme can apply to yours truly, lol!
I don’t spend all winter praying for summer.
I don’t look forward to summer vacation like the rest of the world seems to.
But do you know what I DO look forward to?
Wild River Country!
I don’t have very many everyday memories of my childhood, but one thing I do remember was when our big family would load up in a caravan of cars and drive to Wild River Country for the day. And if you had your birthday party at Wild River Country, you were practically everyone’s BFF.
Between the popular Wave Pool, the kiddie area, the “Lazy River,” and the water slides, there was something for everyone to enjoy, regardless of your age. They even have a gift shop for people who love to grab souvenirs.
Going to Wild River Country was something that all of us looked forward to doing.
Now that I’m a parent, I get to experience Wild River Country on another level.
We started going a year or two ago and let me tell you – Christian LOVES it! He is a most definite water child, even though he can’t swim yet, lol!
Now, I admit, going to such a big water park with a non-swimming child as a single parent can be daunting. Honestly, ANY family outing where you’re around a lot of people can be stressful, lol.
But the thing I love about Wild River Country is the safety precautions they take to make sure everyone enjoys their day.
First of all, they have so many lifeguards on duty. 60 of them! They are stationed all throughout the water park and you can tell that they are focused on keeping an eye out for people who need their help.
They also have other staff members walking around the park helping people with various things. One of the staff members was very helpful when I found a little boy walking around lost. I’d just confirmed that he had become separated from his family when she walked up asking if we needed help. She was able to take him to the front office to help him reconnect with his family.
Another thing I appreciated was the fact that Wild River Country has an area where you can pick out life vests for the entire family.
I’m a strong swimmer, so I didn’t need one. But, as I mentioned, Christian does not know how to swim yet, so I made sure to grab one for him before we headed to the Wave Pool.
I’m a strong swimmer, so I didn’t need one. But, as I mentioned, Christian does not know how to swim yet, so I made sure to grab one for him before we headed to the Wave Pool.
The park is so big (fun fact: at over 20 acres, it’s actually the biggest water park in Arkansas!) that you could spend hours there and still not get your fill. My son, however, prefers hanging out in the Wave Pool and I’m a fan of the Lazy River, so that’s where we spent our time.
We also grabbed some food with our friends. After a while, you work up an appetite, lol! They have all the food that kids (and adults) love. I’m talking pizza, burgers and fries, chicken strips, hot dogs, ice cream, and more! You can enjoy your meal in the food court area or you can do what we did and eat at the private cabanas. They are conveniently located right between the Wave Pool and the Lazy River, so as soon as you’ve finished eating and relaxing, you can jump back into the water.
Some of the other perks of renting a private cabana are that you have your own locked storage bench to keep your purse and other belongings safe while you swim, chairs and tables for lounging, shade from the sun, water bottles in case you get thirsty, AND a cabana host/hostess to help you if you need them. And for a little extra, you get 4 combo meals delivered right to you (so you don’t have to travel across the park to the food court OR wait in line)! They also have a Cabana Party option that would be really cool for small birthday parties. If my son’s birthday were a bit earlier in the year, I’d DEFINITELY take advantage of that.
Next time, we’re going to hit up some of the water rides for sure! Personally, my favorite is the Cyclone. And I can’t wait for Christian to get into the Ole Swimming Hole activities. It reminds me of the things we used to do at summer camp back in the good ole days, lol. I also can’t wait for the chance to bring my nieces out there and hang out in the Tad Pool (how cute is that name by the way?!)
Never been to Wild River Country or haven’t been in a while? Come on out! There’s still time to squeeze in a visit. If you’re a money-saving mama (or dad), you’ll be thrilled to know that they have Manic Monday and Two for Tuesday coming up in August where you can save big on admission. However, you can also come by in the afternoon (after 3) to hang out for a few hours at a lower cost. Plus, kids 2 and under get in for FREE. I just love how their admission prices are so affordable.
Next year, be sure to grab a season pass so that you can get the most out of your summer! Your tickets are more than paid for after the third visit. And, let’s be honest, who wouldn’t love to spend the entire summer splashing around? Spend your summer, from Memorial Day to Labor Day cooling off, relaxing, and getting in some FUN exercise. Maybe we’ll see you there!
For those of you who HAVE been to Wild River Country, what’s your favorite thing to do? For those who haven’t, what would you look forward to the most? Let me know in the comments below!
