Now’s the time to make one last splash at some of South Florida’s water parks before they hang up the floaties for the fall and winter seasons.
The grand finale at Palm Beach County’s two water parks includes a tradition that literally lets the attractions go to the dogs for one day only in October.
Whether they’re closing, scaling back hours or staying open, here’s what you need to know before you head out for a day of fun in the sun at attractions in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties.
PALM BEACH COUNTY
CALYPSO BAY & COCONUT COVE
The county’s Parks & Recreation Department runs two water parks that have already closed for the season:
Calypso Bay at Seminole Palms Park, 151 Lamstein Lane, Royal Palm Beach
Coconut Cove at Burt Aaronson South County Regional Park, 20130 Regional Park Drive, Boca Raton
But there’s one opportunity left to enjoy the pools and water playgrounds with man’s best friend. You can suit up with your pup to attend Waggin’ at the Waterpark on Saturday, Oct. 4. Dogs of all sizes can jump into the water, swim around with their owners and meet other canine companions. Cost is $11 per dog and free for their owners (two dogs maximum per adult).
Registration opens at 9 a.m. and will reopen 30 minutes before each session, if spots are available. Owners are required to sign a waiver. There will be three, 50-minute sessions based on the size of the dog:
10-10:50 a.m. and noon-12:50 p.m. for 45 pounds and up
11-11:50 a.m. for less than 45 pounds
Dogs must have proof of current rabies, DHLP and Bordetella vaccinations on site in order to enter the waterpark, and they have to wear a collar and license in the pool area.
Information: Visit pbcsplash.com to download the registration form.
The Lazy River at Rapids Water Park in West Palm Beach was popular with guests this spring. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
RAPIDS WATER PARK
6566 N. Military Trail, Riviera Beach
The Rapids has been the go-to water park in the county since it opened with four yellow slides on a hill in 1979. Now, more than four decades later, visitors can experience over 40 slides and attractions, including the dueling water coaster Mega Mayhem, spread across 35 acres.
The park’s 2025 season is now open weekends only through Nov. 30, and includes some school days off such as Sept. 23, Oct. 2, Oct. 17, Nov. 11 and Thanksgiving week break (closed on Thanksgiving Day).
“With the park now being cashless, we highly encourage you to pre-purchase your parking, tickets and items online before visiting the park so you can go straight to the fun,” Russell said.
He also has two other tips: “Everyone always goes to the first slide tower, so go over to the Splash Island side first. Bring sunscreen and wear aqua socks or sandals.”
Activities: There’s a 25,000-square-foot wave pool, 1/4-mile Lazy River, FlowRider surf simulator, kids’ structure with tipping bucket, body slides, downhill mat racer, tube slides and four raft rides. Mega Mayhem dueling water coaster has three blast zones and four giant bowls.
Admission: $38.99 online; $64.99 at gate
How to save: Gold ($89.99) and Platinum ($109.99) season passes each include unlimited visits, free parking all season, discounted friend tickets, bring-a-friend free ticket and in-park discounts. Platinum comes with additional perks.
Information: rapidswaterpark.com
A wakeboarder takes a maiden run during the grand opening of Shark Wake Park 561 at Okeeheelee Park in West Palm Beach in 2019. (Lee Hershfield/Contributor)
SHARK WAKE PARK
Okeeheelee Park, 1440 Eshleman Trail, West Palm Beach
Greg Norman Jr., son of World Golf Hall of Famer Greg Norman, founded the first Shark Wake Park in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, in 2016. The second park opened in 2019 at Okeeheelee Park for everyone to enjoy cable water sports — no experience necessary.
Activities: A Cable Park offers wakeboarding, kneeboarding, water skiing, wake skating and foil boarding, as well as a floating Obstacle Island with giant slides, climbing towers and jump-off points.
Requirements: Must be able to swim. For Obstacle Island, participants must be at least 6 years old and 45 inches tall. For Cable Park and combo options, participants must be at least 10 years old. A cable safety lesson is mandatory for children younger than 10 who are visiting for the first time.
Admission: Obstacle Island costs $35 for one session, $45 for two sessions and $15 for additional ones. Cable Park costs $45 for two hours and $20 each additional hour (rental gear included), or $65 for four-hour access to both.
How to save: family specials, BOGOs, and early bird, twilight and sunset daily deals at sharkwakepark.com/561/pricing
Information: sharkwakepark.com/561
Visitors to Paradise Cove at C.B. Smith Park in Pembroke Pines wait their turn to slide down the water slides on a hot summer day. (Taimy Alvarez/South Florida Sun Sentinel file)
BROWARD COUNTY
CASTAWAY ISLAND, PARADISE COVE & SPLASH ADVENTURE
The county’s Parks and Recreation Department is operating three of its four water parks for everyone to enjoy. (FYI: Tropical Splash at Central Broward Park & Broward County Stadium in Lauderhill is closed for the year.)
The water parks’ season runs weekends only through Sunday, Sept. 28. All three are free for children younger than 1.
Visit broward.org/parks for information about each facility listed below.
Castaway Island at T.Y. (Topeekeegee Yugnee) Park
3300 N. Park Road, Hollywood
Activities: A Caribbean-themed swimming lagoon, two wading pools and interactive water play features such as slides, water cannons, rain curtains, palm trees, hose sprays and buckets that continuously spill water
Admission: $10 all day, $6 after 3 p.m.
How to save: Silver and Gold season passes available for individuals and families
Paradise Cove
C.B. Smith Park, 900 N. Flamingo Road, Pembroke Pines
Activities: A Paradise Pipeline has four, five-story-tall waterslides; there’s also Sharky’s Lagoon and Parrot’s Point (water playgrounds), Crazy Creek (410-foot-long tube ride)
Admission: $15 all-day, $10 after 3 p.m.
How to save: A Gold season pass is available for individuals and families
Splash Adventure
Quiet Waters Park, 401 S. Powerline Road, Deerfield Beach
Activities: Interactive children’s water playground has slides, tunnels, turn valves, wheels and levers, plus there are water curtains and a large water-dumping bucket that fills and empties at regular intervals.
Admission: $6 daily, $4.40 after 3 p.m.
How to save: Bronze, Silver and Gold season passes available
A camp counselor launches himself on the Aqua Challenge inflatable course at Tigertail Lake Recreational Center in Dania Beach during a previous summer camp. (John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel file)
AQUA CHALLENGE
Tigertail Lake Recreational Center, 580 Gulf Stream Way, Dania Beach
Broward College’s Aqua Challenge, which features an inflatable obstacle course and playground on a lake, has “so much going on for summer 2025, it’s hard to keep up,” said Jose Sierra, the center’s coordinator.
“The Aqua Challenge water park expands every year, and we have three new pieces going out … plus we’re redesigning the whole layout,” he said.
They are planning to install a bridge piece that can be climbed up, over and under, an obstacle course addition with vertical bumpers to weave between, and a universal hub that has a shady pavilion for participants to hang out, rest and enjoy the day, he said.
“We’re doing it bit by bit so we don’t actually ever close the whole Aqua Challenge, and the transition should be fairly seamless,” Sierra said.
Also in the works this season: summer camps, a reduced-price lifeguard training program and additional party packages.
“We’ve even extended our operating hours (for summer only, starting June 3) until 6 p.m. to take advantage of that beautiful Florida sunshine,” Sierra said.
Admission: $25 per one-hour session
Requirements: All participants must know how to swim, be at least 7 years old and 48 inches tall. Children between 42 and 48 inches must be accompanied by an adult. A life jacket provided by the facility must be worn and fitted by a staff member.
Information: tigertaillake.com/aquachallenge
CALYPSO COVE
6200 Royal Palm Blvd., Margate
The city’s Caribbean-themed aquatic facility is now open weekends only from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Sunday, Sept. 28. Entry is free for guests younger than age 2.
Activities: The Caribbean-themed aquatic facility features three pools, including a plunge pool, a zero-depth pool with water-spraying animals, palm trees with tipping coconuts and a play structure, and a six-lane lap pool.
Admission: $12 for guests age 5 and older; $5 for age 2 to 4
How to save: There are discounted rates for Margate residents ($6 for guests age 5 and older; $2 for age 2 to 4)
Information: margatefl.com/528/Calypso-Cove
Kids enjoy Boca Raton’s Coconut Cove, Palm Beach County’s southernmost water park, during a previous summer. (Jennifer Lett/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY
TIDAL COVE
JW Marriott Turnberry Resort & Spa, 19999 W. Country Club Drive, Aventura
If you’re looking for thrill rides, Tidal Cove has six of them: the free-falling Aqua Drop, steep-dropping Boomerango, the Constrictor with high-banking turns, uphill water slide Master Blaster, the spiraling Whizzard and wave-riding FlowRider Triple.
“New to the park this year is our limited-time Seasonal Passport of Fun, providing amazing value and discounts all summer long,” said Jeffrey Mikus, the resort’s director of recreation. “In addition, we’ve added more celebration space for social gatherings in the Sky Loft, which overlooks the park and golf course and can accommodate up to 50 people.”
Activities: There are seven water slides, a FlowRider Triple, Kids Cove, Lazy River, Laguna Pool and Oasis Adults Pool.
Admission: A resort day membership ranges in cost from $25 to $500; free for children age 3 and younger
Information/tickets: tidalcovemiami.com
