With rides for tiny tots as well as adult adrenaline junkies, Raging Waters is the top spot in LA for family fun. The park’s rides, restaurants and amenities cover 50 acres. The park has been around for over 40 years and has earned a reputation as a ‘Top 10 Waterpark’. It’s a great place to celebrate special occasions with friends and family.
Background on Raging Waters
Dotted with trees and creeks, Raging Waters looks more like a park than a theme park. It was privately developed at a cost of about $4 million. For the first 33 years, this park was known as Raging Waters San Dimas. Here’s a quick peek into the park’s development.
- 1983: The park opens
- 1995: The park introduces the Splash Island Adventure family play area, bungee jumps and a bungee jump stunt show.
- 1996: The park introduces the Volcano FantaSea.
- 2001: The park replaces the El Nino and Tree Top rides with Neptune’s Fury.
- 2015: The park opens the first water coaster—the Aqua Rocket water coaster.
- 2016: The park is renamed Raging Waters Los Angeles.
- 2020: A new ride—Bombs Away is added to the park attractions list.
Where Is Raging Waters, and How Do You Get There?
Raging Waters is located at 111 Raging Waters Drive in San Dimas. The main entrance is off Via Verde.
It is about a 30-minute drive from the downtown area of Los Angeles. Many people rent a car for the drive. General and preferred paid parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Trams will then take you to the park entrance. Guests with a Disabled Person Parking license plate/ placard can park in the preferred parking zone at the same price as general parking.
Public transportation is available but is not very practical.
What To Expect When You Visit Raging Waters?
Raging Waters opens to the public between May and September, with hours ranging from 10 am to 5/6/7 pm and 11 am to 6 pm. As you might assume, weekends see the highest footfall. Plan your visit on a weekday in May or June if you want to beat the crowds. Even then, it is advisable to get there before the park opens. Booking tickets online can save you from the long queues. Visiting the park in a large group can make you eligible for discounted tickets.
Once you’re inside, claim a chair to keep your stuff or rent out a locker for the day. If you’re in a group, getting lost is a real possibility, so designate a meeting spot. The park is designed to be accessible to all except for a few rides.
What Else Can You Do When You Visit?
Raging Waters Los Angeles has 50+ slides and rides. While the little ones splash about in Kid’s Kingdom and Splash Island, attractions for adults range from the Amazon adventure Lazy River to the 15-story High Extreme and 60 ft Bombs Away dual-drop slide. There’s also the Aqua Rocket—California’s only water coaster and Dr. Von Dark’s Tunnel of Terror.
You’ll find lounge chairs scattered throughout the park. Or, you could book a shaded cabana for the day. The park stores have a wide range of water park essentials and souvenirs. And, when it comes to food, there’s plenty to choose from. You can grab a bite at one of the park’s restaurants or stop by a food cart. Remember that the park is cashless, so carry a debit/credit card.
FAQs
What form of payment does Raging Waters accept?
The park is cashless. You can pay for admission, food and souvenirs by debit/credit card. The park also has cash-to-card conversion kiosks.
Can you bring your food?
Outside food and beverages other than water and sports drinks are not permitted.
Are lifejackets available?
Free life jackets are available to all guests.
When the Mercury starts rising, it almost seems everyone heads to Raging Waters. You can easily spend an entire day at this park with a wide range of rides for all ages. Some rides may have height and weight specifications, while others, like the Wave Cove and Lily Pads, are open to all.
You’ll probably spend the day in your swimsuit, occasionally drying out between rides. So, make sure you’re carrying sunscreen and flip-flops. When it’s time to head back, slip into one of the park’s shower and changing rooms to get into something dry.
Whether you’re going with friends or your family, you’ll come back not just with a tan line but with memories to last a lifetime.