Deep Water Dive at Kentucky Kingdom: Height & Stats
Deep Water Dive is the slide that made Kentucky Kingdom’s 2014 comeback impossible to ignore: a 121-foot ProSlide drop body slide where the floor quite literally disappears from under you. It ranks #19 on our list of the tallest water slides in the world.
Part of the Hurricane Bay water park inside Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville, Deep Water Dive opened when the shuttered park roared back to life in May 2014 — and it gave the reopening a headline act taller than anything the old Six Flags era ever built there.
Key Stats
| Height | 121 ft (36.9 m) drop |
| Opened | 2014 |
| Type | Free-fall drop body slide with trapdoor launch |
| Park | Kentucky Kingdom (Hurricane Bay), Louisville, Kentucky |
| Manufacturer | ProSlide Technology |
The Trapdoor Moment
Riders climb the tower of the Speed Slide Complex and step into a launch chamber. A countdown, then the trapdoor beneath your feet swings away and you free-fall into a near-vertical chute, riding out 121 feet of drop before the run-out flattens you back to normal life. ProSlide Technology, the Canadian firm behind many of the world’s biggest drop slides, built it as part of the park’s reopening slate.
Part of a $44 Million Comeback
Kentucky Kingdom opened in 1987, went through bankruptcy, boom years under Six Flags branding, and a 2009 closure that left the fairgrounds park silent for five seasons. Businessman Ed Hart — who had rescued the park once before in 1990 — led the 2014 revival, with Hurricane Bay’s expansion as a centerpiece. Deep Water Dive arrived alongside a new wave lagoon and family attractions, and the Lexington Herald-Leader’s coverage of the grand reopening led with the 121-foot drop. Since 2021 the park has been operated by Herschend, the family company behind Dollywood.
How It Compares
At 121 feet, Deep Water Dive edges out Disney’s famous Summit Plummet (120 ft) and stood among the tallest body slides in the Western Hemisphere when it opened. Today it sits just outside the top 15 worldwide — the record has moved to Qatar’s 250-foot Meryal towers — but it remains one of the tallest trapdoor slides in the United States. See the full ranking of the tallest water slides in the world.
FAQ
How tall is Deep Water Dive?
Deep Water Dive features a 121-foot (36.9 m) drop, making it one of the tallest body slides in the United States. It opened with Kentucky Kingdom’s reopening in May 2014.
Does Deep Water Dive have a trapdoor?
Yes. Riders stand in a launch chamber and the floor drops away beneath them, sending them into a near-vertical free-fall chute built by ProSlide Technology.
Is Deep Water Dive included with Kentucky Kingdom admission?
Yes. Hurricane Bay water park, where the slide stands, is included with Kentucky Kingdom admission — one ticket covers both the ride park and the water park.
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