Water Country USA is a water park located in York County, Virginia, just outside Williamsburg. Opened on June 20, 1984, it bills itself as “Virginia’s Largest Family Water Park” and is owned by United Parks & Resorts, the same company behind neighboring Busch Gardens Williamsburg. The two parks share a parking pass, letting guests use a single-day ticket to visit both.
The park is themed around a retro 1950s and 1960s surf culture aesthetic, and it packs 17 water attractions into its grounds, ranging from a water coaster to multiple lazy rivers and a large wave pool. Its mix of thrill slides, family raft rides, and dedicated kids’ areas has made it a staple summer destination in the Mid-Atlantic since it opened.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: York County, Virginia (near Williamsburg)
- Opened: June 20, 1984
- Owner: United Parks & Resorts
- Water Rides: 17 attractions
- Wave Pool: Surfer’s Bay — about 23,000 sq ft, 8 ft max depth
- Notable Ride: Cutback Water Coaster (opened 2019)
- Operating Season: May through September
The Ride Experience
Water Country USA’s lineup spans a wide range of thrill levels. The Cutback Water Coaster, which opened in 2019, sends riders through five uphill “FlyingSaucer” sections along a course of more than 850 feet. Vanish Point, added in 2011, is a 75-foot-tall quadruple-speed slide complex, while Riptide Race, which debuted in 2023, is a 520-foot dueling slide rising 54 feet. Aquazoid Amped is an 863-foot enclosed raft slide that received an LED lighting refresh in 2022.
For a slower pace, guests can float along the 1,500-foot Hubba Hubba Highway or the 736-foot Rambling River lazy rivers, or gather with a group at Surfer’s Bay, the park’s signature wave pool, which is advertised as the largest in Virginia at roughly 23,000 square feet.
Family and Kids’ Areas
Younger visitors have several dedicated zones, including Cow-A-Bunga, an area with three smaller slides, and the Lil’ Surfers Splash Pad for toddlers. High Tide Harbor, a multi-level interactive play structure with over 100 elements, replaced the park’s former H2O UFO structure in 2025, giving families an updated central gathering spot near the kids’ attractions.
Explore more: Explore more water parks.
Water Country USA FAQs
When did Water Country USA open?
The park opened on June 20, 1984, in York County, Virginia, near Williamsburg.
Who owns Water Country USA?
It is owned by United Parks & Resorts, which also owns nearby Busch Gardens Williamsburg.
How many rides does Water Country USA have?
The park currently operates 17 water attractions, including slides, lazy rivers, a water coaster, and a wave pool.
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Photo: Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA / CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.