Set on 6000 acres in the Shenandoah Valley, the award-winning Massanutten Resort hosts a multitude of family-friendly attractions. Among them, families always love the resort’s impressive water park.
Just over an hour from the heart of Charlottesville, Massanutten has been named amount the top ten water parks in the United States. It offers both indoor and outdoor water play spaces with activities for all ages.
At a Glance: Massanutten Water Park
- Massanutten Resort in the Shenandoah Valley is known for it’s nationally-ranked indoor/outdoor water park.
- The outdoor water park is open during the summer, and the heated indoor water park is open year-round.
- Massanutten Water Park includes thrilling slides for older visitors, splash pads for non-swimmers, and some adults-only areas.
- Massanutten Resort also has many family-friendly activities, such as an arcade, social events, climbing, skiing, snow tubing, horseback riding, golf, and more.
- Visitors at can come for a day or book lodging at the resort for a longer visit.
Massanutten Outdoor Water Park
From Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend, visitors can cool off from the summer heat at the outdoor water park. Family-favorite areas and features include:
- White Caps, a relaxing beach-style experience for wading, with three-foot-high waves and relaxing hot springs
- Body slides and tube slides, including extreme speeds on Mass Mayhem, Peak Plunge, and Valley Vortex
- Splash-a-Nutten’s splash pad and activity pool featuring a floating crosswalk, games, and slides for non-swimmers
Need to lounge between dips? Massanutten rents cabanas that provide shelter from the sun for two to eight people. Visitors can pick up snacks or meals from the two available eateries, too. The menus include hamburgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, salads, sodas, and adult beverages.
Massanutten Indoor Water Park
Meanwhile, Massanutten’s indoor water park is open year-round with water kept at a comfortable 84°F. Popular indoor activities include:
- Massanutten Meltdown playhouse and climbing structure, with water cannons, slide, and zero-depth splash areas
- Blue Ridge Rapids current river, featuring spray features and water falls
- Frog Pond splash area for non-swimmers, including shallow wading pool, sprinklers, swings, and slides
- Shenandoah Hot Springs hot tub, including an adults-only section
Outside of swimming or soaking in the sun, visitors to both water parks can explore three stories of shops or pop into Diamond Jim’s Arcade. Filled with over 70 games, there’s sure to be something everyone in the family will enjoy.
Traveling with older kids? On Thursdays from late June to early August, Diamond Jim’s hosts a teen night featuring snacks, a DJ, and unlimited free play on many games.
Where to Stay When Visiting Massanutten Resort with Kids
While you can visit for the day, Massanutten offers numerous lodging options. Visitors can stay in the Valley and on the Mountain. The resort offers multiple packages for lodging that often include discounts for longer stays.
Not sure where to stay? Pick your location depending on what you plan to do.
The Valley is closer to…
- Golf course
- Spa
- Parks
- Pools
- River
The Mountain is closer to…
- Water parks
- Ski & Adventure Park
- Golf course
- General store
- Massanutten Fitness & Rec Club
Family Activities at Massanutten Resort
In addition to the water parks, there’s no shortage of family fun to be had any time of the year.
In the winter, you can take to the slopes for skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing. Plus, strap on some ice skates at the rink. During the rest of the year, visitors can enjoy biking, hiking, golfing, horseback riding, or climbing and rappelling.
Or, if you want to spend some time relaxing, sign up for one of the spa’s many services. And, there are a dozen different eateries to explore. These host daytime and evening events, such as Wine Wednesdays, grilling classes, escape rooms, and a kids’ night.
Whether you’re visiting primarily for the water park or taking a much-needed extended vacation, Massanutten Resort is a favorite destination for Virginia families. To plan your visit, check the seasonal dates and times that the water parks are open and find more information on the Massanutten website.
Looking for other family fun adventures? Stay local with favorite playgrounds in Charlottesville or check out the best theme parks and water parks in Virginia. Or, visit some of the top historical spots near Central Virginia.
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is an award-winning freelance writer published in numerous print and digital publications. When she’s not crafting creative content, Jennifer can be found exploring new spots, indulging in some quality time with a new novel or magazine, or streaming shows about food, drinks, and travel.