Enchanted Forest Water Safari is a water and amusement park in Old Forge, New York, tucked into the Adirondack Mountains. It opened on July 7, 1956 as The Enchanted Forest of the Adirondacks, a storybook-themed attraction built on 35 acres of reclaimed swampland, and was reborn as a water park in 1988 when dozens of slides were added.
Today it spans about 60 acres and bills itself as New York’s largest water theme park, with more than 50 rides and attractions, including over 32 heated outdoor water rides alongside its original storybook and amusement-ride elements. This guide covers everything you need to plan a visit, from hours and ticket types to the full rundown of slides and rides.
Quick Answer
Enchanted Forest Water Safari operates seasonally, typically from early June through Labor Day weekend, with daily hours that vary by month and single-day tickets or season passes sold through the park’s official site. Parking is free, general admission covers all rides including the 32+ heated water slides, and the park retains classic amusement-park elements like a vintage carousel from its 1956 storybook-park roots.
Planning Your Visit: Hours, Tickets & Parking
The park runs a seasonal schedule, generally opening in early June and closing after Labor Day in early September, with July and August as the fully open core of the season. Daily hours shift throughout the season, running shorter (roughly midday to late afternoon) at the edges of the season and longer into early evening during peak summer weeks. Because hours change month to month and can shift without notice, check the official park hours page before you go.
Single-day general admission is sold by age tier (adults, children roughly ages 3-11, and free entry for kids 2 and under) and includes every ride and attraction in the park, water rides included. The park also sells season passes that, under current ownership, grant unlimited visits not just to Water Safari but across the operator’s full network of Enchanted Parks properties. Both ticket types are purchased through the official tickets and passes page, which carries current-year pricing.
Parking is free for all guests. Food policy changed after the 2024 ownership transition: coolers are generally reserved for season pass holders and groups renting a pavilion, while day-ticket guests can still bring their own food and drinks but are asked to keep them in the car, with designated picnic areas in the parking lot for eating outside the gates. Guests with specific dietary needs should confirm current exceptions with guest services before arrival, since the policy has continued to be refined since the changeover.
The Ride Experience
Water Safari’s slide lineup includes the long Amazon family raft ride at about 1,100 feet, plus the roughly 500-foot Cascade Falls and Black River tube slides. Other named water rides include Bombay Blasters (enclosed body slides), Curse of the Silverback (a double-tube ride with a drop and bowl), Raging Rapids (single-tube), Rondaxe Run (double-tube), and The Shadow (a pair of enclosed speed slides). The Tidal Wave Pool, a quarter-acre wave pool, produces waves up to four feet tall and anchors the park’s central water zone.
The park has also kept much of its original amusement-park character: a vintage carousel and other classic rides, kiddie attractions sized for younger children, midway games, and a family circus show. That mix of dry-side, storybook-era amusement rides alongside modern water attractions is what sets Water Safari apart from newer, water-only parks, and it’s part of why the park works well for multi-generational groups or families with both toddlers and older kids.
History and Ownership
The park was founded in 1956 and purchased by the Noonan family in 1977, who oversaw its 1988 transformation into a water park under the Water Safari name. In March 2024, the Noonan family sold the park to Innovative Attractions Management (IAM), a Florida-based company founded by James Harhi. IAM operates the park through Enchanted Parks, its dedicated theme-park operating company, which runs a network of parks and handles Water Safari’s day-to-day operations, including the season pass and food policy changes introduced since the sale.
The underlying real estate is owned by EPR Properties, a real estate investment trust that leases the property to the Enchanted Parks/IAM operation. EPR is the property owner, while Enchanted Parks/IAM is the operator, not the owner.
Enchanted Forest Water Safari FAQs
When is Enchanted Forest Water Safari open for the season?
The park operates seasonally, typically from early June through Labor Day weekend in early September, with July and August as the fully open core of the season. Exact opening and closing dates shift year to year, so check the official hours page before planning a trip.
What are the park’s daily hours?
Daily hours vary by month, generally running shorter at the start and end of the season and longer during peak summer weeks. Hours are subject to change without notice, so confirm the current schedule on the official site before you go.
How much do tickets cost, and is there a season pass?
Tickets are sold by age tier for single-day general admission, which covers every ride and attraction including all water slides, with free entry for young children. A season pass is also available and, under current ownership, covers unlimited visits across the operator’s full network of parks rather than just Water Safari. Current prices are listed on the official tickets page.
Is parking free at Enchanted Forest Water Safari?
Yes, parking is free for all guests.
Can I bring my own food or a cooler into the park?
Since the 2024 ownership change, coolers are generally limited to season pass holders and pavilion-rental groups. Day-ticket guests can still bring food and drinks but are typically asked to leave them in the car, with picnic areas available in the parking lot for eating before or after entering the park.
Is Enchanted Forest Water Safari the largest water park in New York?
Yes, it markets itself as New York’s largest water theme park, spanning about 60 acres with more than 50 rides and attractions, including over 32 heated water rides.
Is the park good for young kids and toddlers?
Yes. Alongside its water slides, the park has kept kiddie attractions, a vintage carousel, and other classic amusement-park rides sized for younger children, a legacy of its 1956 origins as a storybook-themed park, which makes it workable for families with both toddlers and older kids.
Who owns and operates Enchanted Forest Water Safari today?
The park’s real estate is owned by EPR Properties, a real estate investment trust. Day-to-day operations are handled by Enchanted Parks, the theme-park operating arm of Innovative Attractions Management (IAM), which acquired the park from the Noonan family in March 2024.
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