The Best Indoor Texas Waterparks to Chase Away the Winter Blues

While most of the waterparks on this list control the temperature throughout the year by being enclosed/indoors, at JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa, they lean on the often-warm winter temps in Texas, as well as heated pool systems. Don’t mind a little chill in the air as you float along a lazy river? Then this is the waterpark for you. Water features at the 9-acre park include the River Bluff Water Experience with a lazy river and pool, tube and body slides, sandy beach pool, children’s outdoor pool, play area, hot tub, and the adult’s only infinity-edge overlook pool. While not enjoying the water features, this gorgeous resort features plenty of golf and spa options, as well as plenty of Texas-style dining.

The Woodlands Resort is home to the Forest Oasis, which recently opened year-round by warming their pool and double-helix slides to 85 degrees when the temperatures dip (they also offer s’mores by the pool to help guests warm-up). The waterpark, lazy river, and hot tubs are open for a pretty impressive 13 hours, while the adult-only pool is open just shy of that. Other waterpark features include a double-helix slide and Puffy’s Sprayground for the kiddos.

To add to the experience of staying at the resort, guests have the option of ground-floor walk-out rooms that give easy access to the waterpark and lazy river (as well as a walking trail and golf course).

Holiday Inn Club Vacation Villages is an all-villa resort in East Texas offering affordable options for families with their two-bedroom villas that range from 726 to 1,257 square feet. The Waterpark at the Villages is the resort’s on-site indoor waterpark that features body slides, a lazy river, a children’s playscape, and a wave pool. In addition to the waterpark, the resort is situated on Lake Palestine and offers marina rentals, including kayaks, motorboats, paddleboats, and more. When the family isn’t in the water, the resort boasts a mini-golf course, arcade, and movie theater.

The newest waterpark on the list, The Cove at the Lakefront, opened in early 2021 and has quickly become a favorite amongst residents and visitors (they even offer resident and non-resident rates to keep it affordable for those who live nearby). This waterpark features a retractable roof, making it great for any time of the year. It includes a lazy river, a large pool and lap pool, a surf pool, and even cliff jumping and rock wall climbing. There’s a snack bar with yummy treats, but they also have the added bonus of allowing guests to bring in their own food and drink, making it a great option for parties (just leave the glass bottles at home).

Epic Waters boasts that it’s the largest indoor waterpark in North Texas, offering a huge variety of thrilling slides for big kids and adults. The Lasso Loop (body slide with 360-degree loop) is a unique thriller, and the E-racers course makes for some epic speed challenges, and the FlowRider wave machine gives riders the chance to try out boogie boarding and surfing. For the littles and more low-key kids, there’s the large swimming pool, lazy river, and the aquatic fort at Rascal’s Roundup. Epic Waters is also host to a large outdoor wave pool (seasonal only) if you make it back around during the summer.

Probably the most unique entry on this list, Dallas King Spa is both a Korean-inspired spa and a kids’ waterpark. Jjim-Jil-Bang spas are popular across Korea because they emphasize relaxation and de-stressing as a family event rather than a solo endeavor. In one section, the kids will be delighted to find slides, a lazy river, small pools, dump buckets, and a few other features. It’s not a huge waterpark, but it will undoubtedly do the job to keep kids engaged while mom or dad gets a spa treatment. On the adult’s side, there’s a spa, themed public soaking rooms, cocktail & wine bar, massage rooms, and the featured attraction: a bade pool with massaging jets. Children are allowed in most areas as long as an adult accompanies them.  The kids’ waterpark will reopen in May 2022; check the website for the latest updates.

If you’re looking for a great place for the little ones, Splash Shack is your best bet. This micro-indoor water park centers around an interactive play structure that stands 30 feet tall. It includes dump buckets, slides, and a splash pad in an indoor space that’s kept at a balmy 82 degrees year-round.

Though not a traditional waterpark, the Apex Centre, owned by McKinney Parks & Recreation, offers some great indoor water fun with one of the most unique ways to get fit in the water in the entire country. Their Hydro Ninja Cross water obstacle course is the first in Texas and only the third in the nation like it. Their indoor leisure pool offers a few highlights, including a river channel, a water play structure, and an open flume slide. There’s also an outdoor kiddie pool open during the summer. The Hydro Ninja Cross is currently closed for repairs, so make sure to check the website ahead of your trip for the latest updates.