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 about 47 water slides, 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.
Stats at a Glance
- Opened: 1979
- Location: Lake Delton, Wisconsin
- Size: 70 acres
- Water Slides: About 47
- Wave Pools: 2 — The Wave (1987) and Big Kahuna (1989)
- Lazy Rivers: 2 — Endless River (1985) and Adventure River (1989)
- Current Owner: Herschend (acquired 2025)
- Claim: America’s Largest Outdoor Waterpark (since 1987)
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. Herschend, one of the largest family entertainment companies in the United States, acquired Noah’s Ark in early 2025. The park operates seasonally from May through 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.
Explore more: Best Water Parks.
Noah’s Ark Waterpark FAQs
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.
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Photo by Steven Van Elk on Unsplash.