When people think of Southern California water parks, Six Flags Hurricane Harbor or Raging Waters usually come to mind first. But tucked into a quiet corner of La Mirada, sits a lesser-known alternative that locals have been quietly enjoying for years: Splash! La Mirada.
🏴☠️ A pirate-themed water park
Splash! La Mirada opened in 2008 as an 18-acre aquatics complex. Its centerpiece is a pirate-themed water park called Buccaneer Bay, built with elaborate theming and interactive water features that make it feel more like a small theme park than a typical public pool.
Inside Buccaneer Bay, guests will find three two-story water slides, including a body slide, a speed slide, and a tube slide, all housed in a central slide tower. A 500-foot lazy river winds through the park, complete with spray and rainfall features along the way. Younger kids have their own dedicated space too, with a zero-depth entry pool featuring a pirate-head tipping bucket, plus two separate splash pad zones built specifically for toddlers and small children.
Here’s what makes Splash! genuinely unusual: admission is priced by height, not age. Guests measuring 48 inches or taller pay the standard adult rate, while anyone shorter than that, regardless of actual age, qualifies for the discounted rate.
🏊 More than just a water park
Beyond Buccaneer Bay, Splash! also operates a full competition aquatics side, featuring a 50-meter Olympic-sized pool, a 25-yard heated teaching pool, and a warm-water spa. Year-round, the facility hosts swim lessons, water polo, synchronized swimming, and diving programs.
- 📍 Location: 13806 La Mirada Blvd, La Mirada, CA 90638
- 💵 Admission: Priced by height (48″ and taller vs. under 48″)
- 🅿️ Parking: Free
- 🏊 Features: Lazy river, water slides, splash pads, Olympic-sized competition pool
- 🎟️ Season passes: Available for frequent visitors
