Noah’s Ark Waterpark in Lake Delton, Wisconsin — at the heart of the Wisconsin Dells resort corridor — has carried the title of America’s Largest Outdoor Waterpark since 1987, when the opening of The Wave gave the park enough scale to claim that distinction. Spreading across 70 acres, the park features more than 50 water slides and attractions, two wave pools, two lazy rivers, and a wide range of family attractions that have made it a summertime institution across the Midwest.
From the near-vertical loops of Scorpion’s Tail to the quarter-mile run of the Black Anaconda water coaster, Noah’s Ark combines record-seeking hardware with classic family-friendly fun. Newsweek named it Best Outdoor Waterpark in its 2024 Reader’s Choice Awards, a recognition built on more than four decades of continuous operation and near-annual additions. This guide covers everything you need to plan a visit — hours, tickets, parking, what to bring, and which rides are worth the wait.
Quick Answer
Noah’s Ark Waterpark is open seasonally, generally from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, with daily hours that typically start around 10 a.m. and end anywhere from 5 to 8 p.m. depending on the date. For 2026, one-day admission starts at $39.99 per person and season passes start at $69.99, general parking is a flat per-vehicle fee collected at the gate, and children under 36 inches get in free. Prices, hours, and ride availability change by date and season, so always confirm on the official Noah’s Ark Waterpark website before you go.
Planning Your Visit: Hours, Tickets & Parking
Noah’s Ark operates on a seasonal schedule rather than year-round — it opens for the summer around Memorial Day weekend and runs daily through Labor Day, with hours that shift by date (busier midsummer days tend to run longer, into the evening, while shoulder-season days close earlier). Because the schedule changes week to week, the park publishes a live operating calendar rather than a fixed hours block — check it for your specific visit date rather than relying on a general rule.
Ticket pricing works in tiers: a general admission single-day ticket, a discounted rate for younger kids and older adults, and a season pass for repeat visitors, plus occasional bundle deals that pair admission with a meal. For 2026, one-day admission starts at $39.99 per person when bought online in advance, with season passes starting at $69.99 — but these figures move by date, promotion, and season, so treat them as a starting-price range rather than a quote. Buy through the official tickets page for the current live price on your travel dates.
Parking is a separate cost from admission. General parking has recently run around $25 per vehicle whether purchased online or at the gate, while a preferred lot closer to the entrance (near Tadpole Bay) runs a few dollars more and is first-come, first-served, purchasable only at the gate. There is no free parking option at the park itself.
What to Bring, Bag Policy & Lockers
Noah’s Ark does not provide towels, so pack your own along with swimsuits, dry clothes, sandals or water shoes, sunscreen, a waterproof phone pouch, and a bag for wet items. Outside food and drink are generally not allowed past the gate — bags are checked on entry — though empty or full water bottles are permitted, and refill stations are available inside the park.
Since you can’t bring valuables onto the slides, locker rentals are available in standard, large, and jumbo sizes, using a keyless passcode rather than a physical key. Guests who want a home base for the day can also rent a private cabana, with options ranging from small two-person shaded spots to larger group cabanas that often include a phone charging station and small fridge. Free lounge chairs are available throughout the park on a first-come, first-served basis if you’d rather skip the rental.
Rides by Age, Thrill Level & Height Requirement
With more than 50 slides and attractions spread across 70 acres, Noah’s Ark is organized into zones that roughly sort by intensity. Most of the marquee thrill slides — including the tallest speed and loop slides — carry a minimum height requirement around 48 inches, and some also set minimum and maximum weight limits for rider safety. A handful of attractions, like the Time Warp bowl ride, set a lower threshold (around 42 inches), and several family raft rides and body-slide areas, including Congo Bongo, have no height requirement at all, making them a reliable option for younger or shorter riders.
Ticketing mirrors this: children under about 36 inches tall are admitted free, and kids between 36 and 48 inches typically qualify for a discounted rate, reflecting the fact that most of the park’s biggest slides are off-limits to them anyway. In both wave pools, kids under 48 inches are required to wear a life vest, which the park supplies at no charge. Tadpole Bay Kiddie Kingdom, a dedicated play area scaled to smaller children, gives the youngest visitors a space with no height gate to worry about at all.
Signature Thrill Rides
Scorpion’s Tail, which opened in 2010, made history as America’s first near-vertical looping body slide — a genuine novelty in North American waterpark design. Riders drop ten stories and carry enough speed to complete a full loop before splashing out at the bottom.
Black Anaconda, added in 2005, stretches over a quarter mile and combines uphill water-jet blasts with steep enclosed descents, ranking it among the longest water coasters in the country.
Raja, debuting in June 2018, is claimed to be the world’s largest King Cobra-style slide. Starting six stories up, riders on side-by-side racing tubes cover more than 335 feet of twisting track at speeds up to 32 mph before a dramatic final plunge into a cobra-themed pool feature.
Time Warp (2006) adds another superlative — a giant bowl ride the park has long billed as the world’s largest of its kind — giving Noah’s Ark an unusually high density of record-seeking attractions for a single outdoor venue.
Park History and Family Offerings
Noah’s Ark opened in 1979 under the name Noah’s Incredible Adventure, expanding steadily through the 1980s as wave pools, lazy rivers, and new slide complexes were added. The Wave, a Wavetek wave pool that opened in 1987 as the largest wave pool in the Midwest, was the addition that allowed the park to claim the title of America’s Largest Waterpark. Point of No Return, a near-vertical ten-story speed slide, arrived in 2001; Quadzilla’s four braided racing lanes debuted in 2012.
Tadpole Bay Kiddie Kingdom (2008) gives the youngest visitors a dedicated play area scaled to their height and confidence level, making the park genuinely all-ages. A fire destroyed the original landmark ark structure in 2012, but the park rebuilt and continued to invest in new attractions. In March 2025, Herschend — the family entertainment company behind Dollywood — agreed to acquire Noah’s Ark along with several other Palace Entertainment properties, including Kennywood and Adventureland; the company has said it plans continuity for guests rather than immediate changes.
The park operates seasonally from late May through early September, drawing visitors from across the Midwest to Wisconsin Dells — a small city that has built an identity as the self-proclaimed Waterpark Capital of the World.
Tips for a Smooth Visit
Arrive close to opening if you want short lines on the marquee slides — Black Anaconda, Scorpion’s Tail, and Raja draw the longest waits by midday, especially on weekends and holiday weeks. Weekdays outside of the July 4th and early-August peak are noticeably quieter than weekends. Because hours vary by date and the park sometimes closes earlier on shoulder-season days, check the live hours calendar the same week you plan to visit rather than assuming a fixed closing time, and bring a refillable water bottle since the Wisconsin summer sun and standing in line can add up quickly.
Noah’s Ark Waterpark FAQs
What are Noah’s Ark Waterpark’s hours?
The park runs seasonally, generally from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, with daily hours that typically start around 10 a.m. and end between 5 and 8 p.m. depending on the date. Hours vary by day, so check the official operating calendar before your visit.
How much are tickets to Noah’s Ark Waterpark?
For 2026, one-day admission starts at $39.99 per person when purchased online, and season passes start at $69.99. Prices shift by date and promotion, so buy through the official ticket page for the current rate.
Is parking included with admission?
No. Parking is a separate flat per-vehicle fee, with a standard lot at around $25 and a preferred lot closer to the entrance for a few dollars more, available only at the gate on a first-come, first-served basis.
What are the height requirements for the rides?
Most of the major thrill slides require a minimum height of about 48 inches, with a few, like Time Warp, set lower at around 42 inches. Several family raft rides and body-slide areas have no height requirement, and kids under 48 inches must wear a life vest (provided free) in the wave pools.
Where is Noah’s Ark Waterpark located?
Noah’s Ark sits in Lake Delton, Wisconsin, within the Wisconsin Dells resort area — roughly two hours north of Chicago and about 45 minutes north of Madison.
When did Noah’s Ark become America’s largest waterpark?
The park opened in 1979 as Noah’s Incredible Adventure, but it became America’s Largest Waterpark in 1987 when The Wave — at the time the largest wave pool in the Midwest — opened, pushing the park’s total footprint and capacity past all competitors. It has held the title ever since.
What are the most thrilling rides at Noah’s Ark?
Scorpion’s Tail (2010) is billed as America’s first near-vertical looping body slide. Raja (2018) is claimed to be the world’s largest King Cobra-style slide, running more than 335 feet at up to 32 mph. Black Anaconda (2005) is one of the longest water coasters in the nation at over a quarter mile.
Does Noah’s Ark provide towels or lockers?
Towels are not provided, so bring your own. Lockers are available to rent in standard, large, and jumbo sizes with a keyless passcode, and private cabanas can be rented for a home base with shade and, on larger options, a phone charger and small fridge.
Is Noah’s Ark Waterpark worth visiting?
For families and thrill-seekers, yes — its combination of scale (70 acres, 50-plus slides and attractions), record-chasing rides like Scorpion’s Tail and Raja, and dedicated young-kid areas like Tadpole Bay make it one of the most complete waterpark day trips in the Midwest, especially when paired with a Wisconsin Dells overnight stay.
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