Looking for a fun place to cool off and relax this summer? If you love water parks like our kids do, you’ll enjoy Wet’n Wild Emerald Pointe, just 90-minutes drive from Raleigh in Greensboro, North Carolina.
When I think of summers growing up in Australia, I remember going to our own Wet N Wild water park in Queensland, and having loads of fun with family and friends.
Even though we’ve lived in Raleigh for 10 years now, we only just visited this Wet ‘n Wild in Greensboro for the first time last week. We only heard of it after googling, “water parks near Raleigh” a few weeks okay. How did we not know?
As you know, summer’s in Raleigh are intense, so we’re lucky we have such a fun way to cool off so close to the Triangle!
It definitely won’t be our last time visiting Wet’n Wild in Greensboro as our kids, and us big kids, thoroughly enjoyed it. The girls are even talking of hosting birthday celebrations with friends there.
Known as Carolinas’ Favorite Waterpark, you can get wet and go wild on over 40 rides and attractions including a wave pool, tube rides, drop slides, a lazee river, a rapids ride and activity pools – there’s something here for ALL ages and thrill levels, from the mild to the wild, for the toddlers to the seniors!
If you’re a daredevil and like big thrills, you can take on the Daredevil Drop and Bombs Away. For those that like it a bit more tame, you can kick back on a tube on the Lazee River or hangout at the Thunder Bay wave pool. And for the water babies, there’s leisure lagoons and splash areas.
Rated in the top 10 water parks across the U.S., Emerald Pointe Wet ‘n Wild sprawls across 40 acres and offers a day of family fun in the sun!
Below are some of our favorite water slides and the highlights from this Wet’n Wild to get wet and create memorable family moments!
The Edge
Located near the entrance and our cabana, this was the first slide we rode. The Edge is basically a huge half-pipe raft ride, similar to a skate ramp. It sends you down one side and up the other, going back and forth before coming to a stop at the bottom of the slide. Who wants to go backwards off the first drop?
Bombs Away
This one gets the heart pumping and is more mental than anything! You step into an enclosed capsule and wait, heart beating fast, for the floor to suddenly drop out from beneath your feet sending you plunging down one of two slides: a six-story 70-degree drop where you can speeds of up to 26 feet per second, or a twisty 266-foot-long closed tube.
Thunder Bay Wave Pool
Wet’n Wild Emerald Pointe’s centerpiece attraction is their gigantic two million gallon wave pool that creates 84-foot wide waves to ride on or splash in. It’s a fun place to have a swim if you typically like the beach, but without the sand and rip tides, and the waves are gentle.
Daredevil Drop
This is the highest ride in the water park, an extreme body slide and high thrill ride that drops you 76 feet down a steep water chute with the sensation of free falling, then glides to a slippery smooth landing in shallow water. You might get water up your nose on this one, but Caroline and Kalyra enjoyed it! They say the free fall was awesome!
Twin Twisters
I won’t give it away too much, but if you feel the need for speed, ride the Twin Twisters! These identical, completely enclosed black water chutes have over 350 feet of twists and turns in total darkness for plenty of thrills, and speed. Caroline and Kalyra said this was way more intense than the Daredevil Drop, but the surprise thrill was worth it!
Double Barrel Blast
This one was deceiving, as in how quick you slide and the force you launch into the water. You are shot out like a cannonball.
Hot tip: keep your arms crisscrossed across your chest as you zip down and shoot out four feet above the water into the pool below – if you open your arms out wide it puts a lot of force on your shoulders!
Dr. Von Dark’s Tunnel of Terror
Dark water slides are always fun as you don’t know what turns are coming up next! On this slide you’ll experience a breathtaking 40-ft. drop and complete a pair of hi-speed 360° spins. And do it all against a backdrop of total darkness and visual effects!
Happy Harbor & Splash Island
Got small kids? They’ll enjoy Happy Harbor, a play area just for small children that includes two pools of water fun where the maximum depth is 9 inches and includes the Silly Submarine and Ollie the Octopus.
The shady cabanas in this area are very popular and book out quickly.
Raging Rapids
If you love tubing in natural rivers with rapids, this one’s for you! We rode this attraction several times as it simulates that experience and exhilaration of white water rafting and tubing. Grab a tube and slide down the 450-foot long man made river. Then do it again, and again like our Savannah did!
Dragon’s Den
This is Wet’n Wild Emerald Pointe’s answer for those on a quest for maximum thrills face-to-face. Catapult through mysterious darkness and then plummet into the mist-shrouded abyss of the dragon…only to vanish from sight!
NOTE:
- There are minimum height requirements for most water slides.
- There are no height requirements for the Wave Pool, Leisure Lagoon or Shipwreck Cove. However, children Under 48” must wear a life jacket and be accompanied by an adult in the Wavepool and Shipwreck Cove. Free life jackets are available at the Wave pool and the Shipwreck Cove at no charge.
- With adult supervision children under 45” tall may ride Lazee River.
- Children 42” to 45” tall may ride Runaway Raft Ride if accompanied by an adult.
See the full list of attractions and height requirements here.
Watch our 1-minute Instagram video from Wet ‘n Wild here.
Private Cabanas
To make your day more relaxing, comfortable and practical consider renting a private cabana. Cabanas can be the best way to experience Wet ‘n Wild Emerald Pointe as they offer reserved seats, a private shaded area, a meeting place, and a complimentary safe to store valuables.
We had a Bayside Cabana (next to the wave pool) that came with a table and 4 chairs, 4 lounges and a nice view.
Starting from $100, it may seem steep but rental includes 8 guests (2 additional guests can be added for $10.00 each – maximum of 10 guests), so consider splitting the cost with another family or friends, and a cabana comes with a waiter/waitress that brings you food and beverages and avoids having to wait in lines.
NOTE: Online cabana reservations must be made no later than 24 hours in advance of your visit and check-in is required by 1 PM to avoid cancellation. And cabana rental does not include park admission. See all cabana options and prices here.
Quick Facts
Tickets to Wet ‘n Wild
Single day admission ticket prices vary slightly by date and season. At time of publishing (July 2022) prices range from $49.99 to $54.99.
NOTE: They currently have a special. Buy one ticket and get a second for 50% off. Tickets valid for one day between July 5 and July 31 during the 2022 season.
Children 2 years and under are FREE.
A Season Pass can be the best way to experience Wet ‘n Wild Emerald Pointe if you live within driving distance and visit at least twice per year. There are various season pass options from gold to platinum to silver to bronze with each pass offering different perks!
As we were lining up to check into our cabana, a local lady told us the Gold pass is the BEST value. So if you’re a water park lover, and think you’ll visit here several times over those hot summer months, this may be for you!
See all tickets here.
Hours at Wet ‘n Wild
Park Hours are typically from 10am to 6pm but hours are subject to change without notice, and they had to close 90-minutes early when we were there due to an afternoon thunderstorm!
See the full calendar of opening hours for your date here.
Parking
Single-day parking is $20. Save $2 when you pay online. And an all-season pass is $49.99
Food
You cannot bring your own food or drink into the park (except water bottles. ) Food is your standard fair/theme park food. If you have dietary issues, you can bring your own food, but you have to speak to the manager when you arrive. I’m gluten intolerant and had a chicken ranch salad from the park. But options are very limited.
There are plenty of places to fill up your water bottles. You can also purchase an “all you can drink” pass for the fountain drinks. And they have souvenir cups that we saw many people carrying around with them.
Directions
- Address: 3910 South Holden Road, Greensboro, NC 27406. See Google maps for directions from your starting point.
- Website: EmeraldPointe.com
Got more questions? Check out their FAQ page.
HOT TIP:
Arrive at opening time (10am) and ride the slides that require tubes first before the lines get too long. And if you can, avoid weekends and popular public holidays!
And when it’s a HOT day like in the 90’s the concrete can radiate the heat and be hot on the feet. Wear appropriate footwear e.g. waterproof sandals or flip flops, and of course don’t forget a hat and sunglasses as it gets glary too!
At the bottom of each ride, will be a place where you can store your shoes so they are waiting for you once you’re done and you don’t have to burn your feet!
In Summary
Whilst Wet N Wild Emerald Pointe is not as big and modern as our kids favorite water park, Volcano Bay in Orlando, if you live in the Raleigh area like us or within an easy drive of Greensboro, it’s certainly a lot easier and cheaper to visit than going all the way to Orlando.
It’s definitely a fun place to cool off, get some sun and create family memories and we love that it’s now our local North Carolina water park and we look forward to returning for even more thrills!
