Ray’s Splash Planet

215 N. Sycamore St., Charlotte
704/432-4729
www.charmeck.org [1]

HOURS: Sept.–May Mon.–Fri. 9 a.m.–8 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.–7 p.m., Sun. 1–7 p.m.; June–Aug. Mon.–Fri. 9 a.m.–9 p.m.,
Sat. 9 a.m.–7 p.m., Sun. 1–7 p.m.

COST: $11 adults, $8 seniors (62+), $6 children under 17; discounts available for Mecklenburg County residents

It’s hard to find space for a giant water park within Charlotte [2]’s city limits, so Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation partnered with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools to build Ray’s Splash Planet on the campus of Irwin Avenue Open Elementary School.

It opened in 2002 as North Carolina’s first indoor water park with a three-story waterslide, lazy river, quick-current pool called The Vortex, a water playground with multiple pools, and two lap lanes for swimming, water basketball, or water volleyball.

In addition to the 117,000-gallon water park, Ray’s Splash Planet has a playground, basketball court, horseshoe pits, a fitness center, and concessions.