White Water Bay first opened its gates on May 23, 1981, in Oklahoma City, and the water park has been a summer fixture there ever since, even though it now runs under a different name and different owners.
If you’re trying to plan an actual visit, the two questions that matter most are what time the gates open and what time they close, since a water park’s daily hours shift more than almost any other detail on its calendar. Here’s what the park is called today, when it’s open for the season, and how its daily open and close times typically work.
Quick Answer: What Time Does White Water Bay Open and Close?
The park most people still call White Water Bay now operates as Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Oklahoma City. Gates typically open at 11:00 AM once the park is running for the day. Closing time is not fixed: recent posted calendars show the park closing around 6:00 PM on weekdays and around 7:00 PM on weekends and peak summer dates, though this shifts by season and can run later on special event nights.
Because Six Flags adjusts both opening days and daily hours throughout the year, always confirm the exact times for your visit date on the official Hurricane Harbor Oklahoma City park hours page before you head out.
The Original Opening: May 23, 1981
White Water Bay’s story began under a different name. It opened as “White Water” on May 23, 1981, making it one of the older water parks in the Oklahoma City area. It operated under that original name for a decade before its first rebrand.
In 1991, Premier Parks acquired the property and renamed it White Water Bay, the identity most Oklahoma City locals grew up with. The park kept that name for nearly 30 years, until Six Flags rebranded it again in 2020.
When the Park Opens Each Year: The Seasonal Pattern
Like most outdoor water parks in a climate with cold winters, Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Oklahoma City doesn’t run year-round. It opens for the season in May and closes for the year sometime in September, roughly a four-month operating window built around warm-weather months.
Within that window, the schedule usually follows a familiar shape: weekends-only operation in the first few weeks of the season (May), a stretch of daily operation through the peak of summer (June through early August), and a return to weekends-only as school starts back up in late August and September. Because these dates are set and adjusted each year, the park’s official calendar is the only source that stays accurate season to season.
Daily Opening and Closing Times: What to Expect
Beyond the seasonal calendar, daily hours are the detail that trips people up. On days the park is open, it generally opens its gates at 11:00 AM. Closing time is where it varies most: weekday visits tend to wrap up earlier, often around 6:00 PM, while weekends and the busiest stretches of peak summer commonly run until 7:00 PM to accommodate bigger crowds and longer daylight.
A handful of nights each summer extend even later for ticketed evening events, so a specific date can close well past the park’s typical hours. None of these times are locked in from one year to the next, so if you’re building a day around a specific opening or closing time, check the current calendar for that exact date rather than relying on a general rule.
The Ride Experience
During its years as White Water Bay, the park built a reputation on a growing lineup of slides and pools suited to families and thrill-seekers alike. Signature attractions that debuted in that era included Big Kahuna, a 542-foot family tube ride that opened in 1995, and the Bermuda Triangle flume rides that send riders through enclosed drops from seven stories up at speeds near 35 mph.
Later additions like Mega Wedgie, a 277-foot speed slide built in 2005 with a 64-foot free-fall plunge, and the wide Typhoon Twister tubing bowl kept the park’s slide count climbing to today’s 14 water slides spread across the property, alongside three pools: a Wave Pool, an Activity Pool, and a Kids Pool.
From White Water Bay to Hurricane Harbor
The park’s identity shifted twice over its history: from the original White Water name in 1981, to White Water Bay after Premier Parks purchased it in 1991, and finally to Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Oklahoma City in 2020. Despite the branding changes, the park has operated continuously on the same Oklahoma City site for more than four decades.
Ownership also evolved alongside the name, with EPR Properties holding the property since 2017 while Six Flags Entertainment Corporation runs day-to-day operations, continuing the water park’s long run as one of Oklahoma’s most visited seasonal attractions.
Planning Your Visit
Tickets are sold in a few standard tiers common to Six Flags properties: single-day tickets bought online in advance (usually cheaper than at the gate), season passes for repeat visits across the year, and membership plans billed monthly that can include perks like parking or add-on access to sister parks such as Frontier City. Pricing and current promotions change often, so treat any number you see elsewhere as a starting point rather than the final word.
Parking is available on-site for a separate fee, and gate policies on outside food, coolers, and bags are set by the park and can change season to season. For accurate, up-to-date hours, ticket prices, and visit policies, use the official Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Oklahoma City website as your canonical source before you go.
White Water Bay opening date and hours FAQs
What time does White Water Bay (Hurricane Harbor OKC) close?
Closing time varies by day. Recent posted calendars show the park typically closing around 6:00 PM on weekdays and around 7:00 PM on weekends and peak summer dates, with occasional later closes for special evening events. Confirm the exact time for your visit date on the official park hours page.
What time does White Water Bay (Hurricane Harbor OKC) open?
On operating days, gates typically open at 11:00 AM. This is consistent across most of the season, but always double-check the official calendar for your specific date, since special events or weather can shift it.
When does White Water Bay open for the season?
The park first opened on May 23, 1981 under the name White Water, before being renamed White Water Bay in 1991. Today, operating as Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Oklahoma City, it opens for the season each year in May and runs through September, with exact dates set annually on the park’s official calendar.
Is White Water Bay still open?
The park is still open, but it now operates under the name Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Oklahoma City, a rebrand that took effect in 2020.
Does the park keep the same hours every day of the week?
No. Hours are shorter on weekdays and longer on weekends and peak summer dates, and the park may be closed entirely on some weekdays during the shoulder weeks of May and September. Check the official park hours page before visiting.
How many water slides does the park have?
The park features 14 water slides along with three pools: a Wave Pool, an Activity Pool, and a Kids Pool.
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