Planned Atlantic City Water Park Promises Year-Round Jersey Shore Fun

Sun, surf, slides, and splashes are on the horizon when Atlantic City welcomes ISLAND Waterpark in 2023.
Sun, surf, slides, and splashes are on the horizon when Atlantic City welcomes ISLAND Waterpark in 2023.
1/27/22 - By Sonia Gonzalez

Atlantic City, most commonly associated with casinos, may not be the first place that comes to mind for kid-friendly fun. We see the seaside town differently and, apparently, so does the Philly-based developer behind the plan to add to Atlantic City’s family appeal with a brand new, fun-for-all-ages, year-round water park, dubbed ISLAND Waterpark. Read on for details on this exciting project, which is sure to land on our list of the best things to do with kids in Atlantic City. And don’t forget to check out our Jersey Shore Family Guide for more family-fun options up and down the region.

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ISLAND Water park is set to bring family-friendly fun to Atlantic City
ISLAND Waterpark is set to open on Atlantic City's boardwalk in time for summer 2023 fun.

Few outings scream family-fun the way a water park does. The water slides! The lazy river! The splash pads! Soon New Jerseyans, visitors, and tourists alike will be able to add a huge, new water park to their list of things to do in Atlantic City. The project, developed by Bart Blatstein of Tower Investments, Inc., promises to be quite spectacular. Plans include the requisite lazy river, water rides and slides, pools, and more, plus lounge areas, a party room, food and beverage spots, and retail space. There are even plans for an adults-only space that serves alcoholic beverages and offers additional amenities like manicures and foot massages—all of which we imagine will be greatly appreciated by many a parent after a day of thrill rides and rivers that may feel a little less lazy with tots in tow.

The 103,000-square-foot water park is estimated to cost a cool $100 million to construct and will be erected adjacent to the developer’s Showboat Atlantic City hotel along the boardwalk. Showboat already boasts its non-gaming, family-friendly approach to AC entertainment: Rather than a casino, Showboat’s main attraction is a 100,000-square-foot arcade and sports bar. ISLAND Waterpark is designed to further diversify its entertainment options.

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Year-Round ISLAND Water park Heads to the Jersey Shore
Whether you want to float a lazy river, take a serene dip in a pool, or hit the wild slides, ISLAND Waterpark promises fun for the whole family.

One exciting highlight of the project, given the four-season climate, is the glass-paneled retractable roof designed to make ISLAND Waterpark a year-round destination. Indoor water parks are great for keeping winter blues at bay, and with the nearest option to Atlantic City at least an hour away, ISLAND Waterpark will offer a one-of-a-kind experience for locals. Imagine slipping, sliding, and splashing while watching the snowfall right on the Jersey Shore. Not a bad choice for staycation fun.

RELATED: Splash and Slide at Indoor Water Parks Near New Jersey for Families

ISLAND Water park offers a warm-weather escape no matter the season
ISLAND Waterpark promises summer fun all year round once it's completed on Atlantic City's boardwalk.

Ready to book your trip? We don’t blame you; however, you’ll have to wait a bit. Work on the water park broke ground earlier this month with Blatstein and local officials, including Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small, in attendance. With work just getting started, ISLAND Waterpark’s grand opening is set for Memorial Day weekend 2023, so mark your calendars—next summer will be here before you know it!

Renderings courtesy of WeStar Productions 

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