Emerald Pointe Water Park, known today as Wet ‘n Wild Emerald Pointe, has been a fixture of Greensboro, North Carolina since it first opened in 1984 following a preview run in September 1983. Spanning roughly 40 acres just south of downtown, it packs in more than 40 rides and attractions across five pools, making it one of the longest-running water parks in the Southeast.
Whether you’re trying to figure out what time the park opens, how much a ticket actually costs, where to park, or which slides are worth the wait, this guide covers the practical details alongside the park’s four-decade history of name changes and new ownership.
Quick Answer
Wet ‘n Wild Emerald Pointe is a 40-acre water park at 3910 South Holden Road in Greensboro, NC, open seasonally from mid-May through Labor Day weekend, typically 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with some extended weekend hours. Single-day tickets bought online in advance generally run in the $60s for adults, parking runs roughly $20, and the park offers Bronze, Silver, Elite, and Platinum season passes. For exact dates, current prices, and daily hours, check the official Wet ‘n Wild Emerald Pointe website before you go, since both change throughout the season.
Rides, Slides & Attractions
Emerald Pointe’s lineup spans roughly 15 water slides plus five pools and multiple kids’ zones. Thrill-seekers gravitate toward Bombs Away, a launch-capsule slide that debuted in 2022 and lets riders choose between a vertical free fall or an enclosed looping drop, and Daredevil Drop, a tall body slide that’s one of the steepest free-fall drops in the region. Other favorites include Dragon’s Den, a giant open tube ride; Riptide Racer, a four-lane mat racing slide; Dr. Von Dark’s Tunnel of Terror, an enclosed dark tube slide; and The Edge, a half-pipe slide for tubes.
For a slower pace, the centerpiece Thunder Bay Wave Pool (opened 1986) remains one of the largest wave pools in the country, generating rolling swells guests ride out on rafts or by hand. The Lazee River loops around the park for a lazy-river float, while Shipwreck Cove and Leisure Lagoon offer calmer pool space. Families with young kids have two dedicated areas, Happy Harbor and Splash Island, plus the smaller Soak Zone, all with scaled-down slides and interactive water features. A printable park map with the full attraction list is available on the official park map page.
Hours & Operating Season
Emerald Pointe is a seasonal park, generally operating from mid-May through Labor Day weekend in September, with reduced hours on shoulder-season weekdays and select weekend hours extended into the evening for special events. Typical operating hours run around 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the peak summer weeks, but the schedule shifts week to week and is subject to weather closures for lightning or storms.
Because hours vary by day and season, don’t rely on a fixed schedule you find elsewhere. Always check the current day’s hours on the official Wet ‘n Wild Emerald Pointe site before heading out, especially in May, early June, and September when hours are shorter.
Tickets, Prices & Season Passes
Single-day admission is sold both online in advance and at the gate, with online pricing typically running noticeably cheaper than walk-up gate prices — recent online day tickets have priced in the $60s for adults, with discounts for buying ahead and for weekday visits. Children age 2 and under get in free, and group rates are available with an advance reservation.
For repeat visitors, the park sells tiered season passes — Bronze (weekday-only, blackout dates on major holidays), Silver (unlimited visits, no blackout dates), Elite (adds VIP parking and cabana perks), and Platinum (adds free friend tickets, a refillable souvenir cup, and discounts on food and retail). Exact pricing and promotions change throughout the year, so compare current pass tiers directly on the official season pass page.
Parking at Emerald Pointe
Parking is paid separately from admission at a standard rate that has recently run around $20 per vehicle plus tax, with a pricier VIP parking option closer to the entrance. Buses have a dedicated free drop-off area. Higher season pass tiers (Elite and Platinum) include complimentary standard or VIP parking as a perk, and pre-purchasing parking online ahead of a visit can speed up entry on busy days.
What to Bring: Bag & Cooler Policy
Emerald Pointe does not allow outside coolers, ice chests, glass containers, or alcohol, and the park is fully cashless, so bring a card or set up mobile payment before you arrive. Each guest may bring one bag (up to about 15″x15″x15″) through security screening at the gate.
There is a narrow exception for food: guests may bring one individually packaged snack and one bottled water per person, and a small soft-sided cooler (up to about 12″x12″x12″) is allowed if it’s carrying those permitted individual snacks and water rather than a family-style meal. Guests with medical or allergy needs beyond that can request additional accommodations at guest relations before entering. Paid locker and cooler-storage rentals are available near the entrance for anything you’d rather not carry around the park, and same-day re-entry is allowed with a hand stamp (parking fees are not refunded on re-entry).
A Brief History: From Aqua Gardens to Wet ‘n Wild
Few water parks have worn as many names as this one. It opened in 1984 (after a September 1983 preview) as Aqua Gardens, briefly operated as Water Country USA in the mid-1980s, and was rebranded Emerald Pointe in 1986 after a local ownership group took over. In 1999, Ogden Corporation acquired the property along with the Wet ‘n Wild brand, giving the park the combined Wet ‘n Wild Emerald Pointe identity it still carries today.
Ownership kept shifting in the 2020s: Herschend Family Entertainment and later Lucky Strike Entertainment took the reins, with Lucky Strike becoming the current owner as of July 2025. Through every name and ownership change, the Greensboro location has stayed put, giving the region a summer staple for more than four decades.
Emerald Pointe Water Park FAQs
When did Emerald Pointe Water Park open?
The park opened in 1984 after a preview run in September 1983, originally under the name Aqua Gardens.
How big is Emerald Pointe Water Park?
The park covers about 40 acres in Greensboro, North Carolina, and features more than 40 rides and attractions across five pools.
Is Emerald Pointe still called that today?
The park now operates as Wet ‘n Wild Emerald Pointe, a name adopted in 1999 when Ogden Corp acquired the property and merged it with the Wet ‘n Wild brand.
What are Emerald Pointe’s hours?
The park is seasonal, generally open from mid-May through Labor Day weekend, with typical hours around 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and shorter hours in the shoulder months. Hours vary by day, so check the official Wet ‘n Wild Emerald Pointe site for the current day’s schedule before visiting.
How much are tickets to Emerald Pointe?
Single-day online tickets have recently priced in the $60s for adults, with gate prices running higher and children 2 and under admitted free. Season passes are also available in Bronze, Silver, Elite, and Platinum tiers with different access levels and perks.
How much does parking cost at Emerald Pointe?
Standard parking has recently run around $20 per vehicle plus tax, with a VIP option available closer to the entrance. Elite and Platinum season pass holders get complimentary parking included.
Can I bring a cooler or food into Emerald Pointe?
Full-size coolers, glass containers, and outside meals aren’t allowed, and the park is cashless. A small soft-sided cooler with one individual snack and one bottled water per person is permitted, along with accommodations for documented medical or allergy needs arranged at guest relations.
What are the most popular rides at Emerald Pointe?
Bombs Away (a launch-capsule free-fall and looping slide added in 2022), Daredevil Drop, Dragon’s Den, Riptide Racer, and the Thunder Bay Wave Pool are among the park’s signature attractions, alongside the Lazee River and dedicated kids’ areas like Happy Harbor and Splash Island.
Who owns Emerald Pointe Water Park now?
Lucky Strike Entertainment has owned the park since July 2025, following earlier ownership by Herschend Family Entertainment and, before that, Ogden Corporation/Palace Entertainment.
Where is Emerald Pointe Water Park located?
The park is located at 3910 South Holden Road, Greensboro, North Carolina 27406.
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