Soak City is the 20-acre water park tucked into the back of Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia, and it’s one of the most overlooked reasons to visit the park — admission is included with a regular Kings Dominion ticket, so there’s no separate water park fee to plan around.
It first opened in 1992 as Hurricane Reef, was rebuilt and renamed WaterWorks in 1999, and took on its current Soak City branding after a major 2015 expansion. Now owned and operated by Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, Soak City has grown from a modest slide complex into a full-scale water park split across a Northside and Southside, with a wave pool, a quarter-mile lazy river, three total pools, a dedicated children’s area, and a cluster of high-speed body and tube slides.
Quick Answer
Yes — Soak City is included with any standard Kings Dominion park ticket or season pass at no extra charge. It’s open seasonally, generally from May through September, with hours that shift with the Kings Dominion operating calendar rather than running as a separate schedule.
History and Name Changes
Soak City’s story tracks the broader evolution of Kings Dominion itself. It began in 1992 as Hurricane Reef, a modest collection of body and tube slides on what’s now called the Northside. A 1999 renovation rebranded the area as WaterWorks and added the Southside expansion, refreshing many of the original attractions and eventually bringing the park to three total pools.
The Soak City name, shared with other water parks across the Six Flags portfolio, was adopted in 2015 alongside the park’s biggest expansion to date. Since then, Kings Dominion has kept investing in the water park, removing older attractions like the Tornado slide in 2018 and adding the Coconut Shores family zone in 2021. Today it operates as a seasonal companion to the main amusement park rather than a standalone destination.
Every Slide and Attraction at Soak City
The park’s signature slide cluster arrived with the 2015 Hurricane Heights expansion, which added Aqua Blast, Paradise Plunge, and Thunder Falls. Aqua Blast is an enclosed tube slide, roughly 450 feet long, that sends riders through a series of tight spiral loops. Paradise Plunge is a AquaLaunch-style capsule slide from WhiteWater West with three separate drops that send riders through horizontal loops and S-curves. Thunder Falls rounds out the trio with steep drops on twin tube slides.
Older attractions remain part of the lineup too. Pipeline Peak, dating to 2000, is a set of four enclosed slides: Night Slider and Power Plunge are body slides launched from a 77-foot platform, while Rip Slide and Turbo Twister are inner-tube slides starting from a 45-foot platform. Zoom Flume, added in 2007 alongside the wave pool, is a gentler four-person circular raft slide that’s a good middle step between the family area and the high-speed cluster.
For younger kids, Splash Island offers scaled-down slides and interactive play features, and the 2021 Coconut Shores expansion added Lighthouse Landing, a multi-level aqua play structure, plus the shallow Sand Dune Lagoon wave area for toddlers and non-swimmers.
Wave Pool and Lazy River
Tidal Wave Bay, the park’s wave pool, holds about 450,000 gallons and has been running since 2007, generating rolling waves on a timed cycle throughout the day. The Lazy Rider is a quarter-mile lazy river that loops through the Southside, complete with waterfalls and geysers along the way — it’s been part of Soak City since the original 1992 layout and remains one of the most popular spots to cool off between slides.
Planning Your Visit: Hours, Tickets, and Parking
Soak City doesn’t sell its own ticket — access is bundled into every standard Kings Dominion single-day ticket, season pass, and most multi-park pass tiers, so if you’re already headed into the amusement park, you’re covered for the water park too. There’s no separate gate or admission booth; you enter through Kings Dominion’s main gate and walk back to the water park area.
Hours generally follow the main park’s operating calendar rather than running on their own schedule, and the water park side typically opens a bit later in the morning than the rides. The season runs roughly May through early September, with hours varying by day of the week and time of year, so it’s worth checking before you go rather than assuming a fixed opening time.
Parking is shared with the main Kings Dominion lot, priced per vehicle and payable at the gate or in advance online; preferred and close-in parking options typically cost more than standard parking. Because pricing, exact hours, and calendar dates change from season to season, the official Six Flags Kings Dominion Soak City page is the best source to confirm current hours, ticket prices, and parking rates before you head out.
What to Bring: Lockers, Cabanas, and Life Jackets
Backpacks and bags are allowed inside Soak City, but you’ll need to rent a locker if you want to bring them onto the slides or into the wave pool area, since loose items aren’t permitted on most rides. Lockers are available first-come, first-served in a few sizes near the main gate and restroom areas, and can be rented for the full day.
Life jackets are free to use and are required for young children under a set height (48 inches at last check), with plenty on hand near the pools and lazy river. Guests who want a home base for the day can reserve a cabana in advance, with options ranging from smaller shaded spots to larger packages that include seating, water service, and space for a group.
Soak City at Kings Dominion FAQs
Is Soak City included with Kings Dominion admission?
Yes. Access to Soak City is included with any standard Kings Dominion single-day ticket or season pass at no extra charge — there’s no separate water park ticket to buy.
What are the hours for Soak City?
Soak City follows the Kings Dominion operating calendar and is open seasonally, roughly May through early September. Exact daily hours vary by season and day of the week, so check the official park calendar before visiting.
When did Soak City open?
The water park originally opened in 1992 as Hurricane Reef, was renamed WaterWorks in 1999 after an expansion, and became Soak City in 2015 following the park’s largest expansion to date.
What are the main slides at Soak City?
Highlights include Aqua Blast, Paradise Plunge, and Thunder Falls from the 2015 Hurricane Heights expansion, the four-slide Pipeline Peak complex from 2000, and the family-friendly Zoom Flume raft slide added in 2007.
Do I need to pay for parking to visit Soak City?
Parking is shared with the main Kings Dominion lot and is priced per vehicle, with standard and preferred options. It isn’t included with admission, so budget for it separately.
Are life jackets available at Soak City?
Yes, life jackets are provided free of charge throughout the park and are required for young children under a set height, typically around 48 inches.
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