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Sun Splash opens this weekend

3 min read

Afternoon temperatures reaching into the mid-80s and Spring Break looming, Sun Splash Family Waterpark has been gearing up to open the season this weekend.

The 14-acre park, a Cape Coral Parks & Recreation facility, will observe its regular operating hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays through the end of March. The exception is the week of Spring Break, March 27-April 6, when the park will be open every day. It then reverts back to weekends only until June 6 when it resumes daily operation through Sept. 20.

Early Bird season passes are now available for purchase through April 12 at the park office and range from $54 to $64 for Cape residents and $69 to $79 for non-residents. That’s a savings of $20 per pass over the regular season pass price, which is $74-$84 for residents or $89-$99 non-residents, and goes into affect after April 12.

Season pass holders enjoy unlimited admission during regular operating hours, including After Hour events, Family Fun Nights, reduced parking fees and discounts on food and merchandise.

“I’m excited about the new season,” said manager Sandra Greiner. “We’ve been busy repainting all the pools. There’s new technology for everything these days so we sanded, filled cracks, primed and painted hoping to get four years from it instead of two years.”

Daily admission rates remain the same as last year. For residents it’s $14.95 for adults, $12.95 for seniors and children age 12 and under. Non-resident admission is $17.95 for adults, $15.95 for seniors and children 12 and under.

“We don’t have any new attractions this year because the city didn’t give us any money for it,” said Greiner. “I’m hoping to open a new tot spot next year. What we have has been in place since 1991 and it’s time we did something different. We need to tear it out and start from scratch at a cost of about $500,000.”

What is new this year, though, is some different packages for birthday parties and reunions, she said. The park also will offer different themes to its After Hours and Family Fun Night events and is bringing back the party tent rental service.

“We listened to the patrons on what they wanted so now the packages are more inclusive instead of individual,” said Greiner.

Located at 400 Santa Barbara Blvd., Southwest Florida’s largest water park offers a variety of 13 different slides, open and closed flumes, pools and lazy river tube ride, plus ecological boardwalk and volleyball court. Guest lockers, changing rooms, restrooms and showers, gift shop and concessions are available as well.

“We just got back all the surveys on adding alcohol on the premises,” said Greiner. “I don’t know the results yet, we haven’t counted the surveys yet.”

Sun Splash attracts between 120,000 and 140,000 visitors each season. Greiner said the park topped out last season at 120,000. The had more than 140,000 visitors a couple of years ago.

“A lot of it is based on the weather,” Greiner said. “A lot of times if we have good weather for Spring Break that kind of sets the tone for the entire season.”

For complete details on specialty admission rates, group rates, park rules, operating dates and hours, or jobs visit the park’s website at www.SunSplashWaterpark.com.