Waterparks are the centerpiece in many people’s summer vacation plans. They allow people to cool off on hot summer days and also provide families with a much-needed distraction. They provide fun, thrills, and laughs that few people can resist, and fortunately, just about every state in the U.S. has at least one of these waterparks for people to enjoy. Anyone who actually needs an excuse to pack up their family and head out to one of these watery centers of fun can do so by observing National Waterpark Day. This holiday falls on July 28th and encourages everyone to either visit a local waterpark or one of the large mega-waterparks located around the world.

The History of National Waterpark Day

National Waterpark Day was invented by Kalahari Resorts & Conventions. This organization opened one of the largest indoor waterparks in the U.S. at Wisconsin Dells in 2000, another one in Ohio in 2005, and then one at the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania in 2015. This holiday was created in 2005 and has been observed ever since.

Cool Facts About Waterparks

Everyone looking for some cool facts about waterparks is going to enjoy this section of this holiday article. That’s because we’ve gathered together a lot of different facts about waterparks that we think most everyone reading this is going to enjoy.

Water Rides Are More Dangerous Than Roller Coasters

According to data collected by the NJ Dept. of Community Affairs in 2014, waterslides are more dangerous than roller coasters, and people are almost twice as likely to get injured on them. Of the total of all injuries reported for both roller coasters and water rides, water rides accounted for approximately 40% of the injuries.

Wisconsin Dells Is The Waterpark Capital of the World

Many people consider Wisconsin Dells to be the waterpark capital of the world. That’s because they have a large indoor waterpark resort in the U.S. called Kalahari Waterpark, and they have another waterpark called Noah’s Ark. When Kalahari Resorts opened, it was the largest indoor waterpark in the U.S., but that’s no longer the case.

The First Indoor Waterpark Was Built in the ’80s

Although indoor waterparks are very common nowadays, there was a point in time when they were pretty novel. The first indoor waterpark in the world was built in Edmonton, Canada, in 1985. This waterpark is called World Waterpark and it’s housed inside West Edmonton Mall. It’s a contender for being one of the biggest indoor waterparks in the world. It covers an area of 225,000 square feet.

Observing National Waterpark Day

National Waterpark Day can be observed simply by visiting one of the many waterparks around the U.S. and around the world. Some of the best waterparks in the world include Siam Park in Tenerife, Spain; Aquatica in Orlando, Florida; and Aquaventure Waterpark in Dubai, UAE. Other parks include Tropical Islands in Krausnick, Germany; Beach Park in Fortaleza, Brazil; and Area 47 in Innsbruck, Austria. While you’re visiting one of these fine waterparks on this holiday, be sure to use the hashtag #NationalWaterparkDay on your social media accounts to spread the word about your favorite ones.