Ray's Splash Planet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ray's Splash Planet |
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Overflowing With Fun and Fitness
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| Slogan | Recreate All Year! |
| Location | Charlotte, North Carolina, United States |
| Coordinates | 35°14′17.1″N 80°51′4.67″W / 35.238083°N 80.8512972°W |
| Owner | Mecklenburg County |
| Opened | October 15, 2002 |
| Operating season | All Year Long |
| Status | {{{status}}} |
| Water slides | 4 water slides |
| Website | Official website: http://www.rayssplashplanet.com |
Ray's Splash Planet, often called Ray's, is a super fun indoor water park in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States. It's supported by Mecklenburg County. The Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation department runs this awesome place.
Ray's Splash Planet is one of the biggest indoor water parks in the Carolinas. It's also the largest water park in Charlotte! It has over 29,000 square feet of space. Imagine 117,000 gallons of water, kept warm at 87 degrees Fahrenheit! The water is always clean and safe. They use chlorine, special filters, and even an ultraviolet germicidal irradiation system to keep it sparkling.
You'll find many cool attractions here. There's the Blue Comet, a three-story slide shaped like a figure-8. Other family-friendly spots include the Orbiter, Saturation Station, and the Vortex. You can also check out Meteor Showers, Moon Beach, and the Sea of Tranquility. The park also has a fitness center and a gym. These are shared with the Irwin Academic Center, a school in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools system.
The first floor of Ray's Splash Planet has the pool area. You'll also find locker rooms and rooms for birthday parties. There's even a place to grab snacks! On the second floor, you'll find the fitness center. It has a special room for aerobics and dance. The indoor gym is also on this floor. Ray's Splash Planet is located on North Sycamore Street. It's close to Johnson & Wales University and just off Interstate 77 in North Carolina. You can find it in the Third Ward part of Uptown Charlotte.
This amazing water park opened on October 15, 2002. It was a team effort between Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Some other fun places nearby are Carowinds in Charlotte, Great Wolf Lodge in Concord, North Carolina, and Wet 'n Wild Emerald Pointe in Greensboro, North Carolina.
How Ray's Splash Planet Started
In 1994, people started talking about a cool idea. They wanted to turn the Irwin Avenue Elementary School into a new fun center. A big plan was approved in 1995. This plan allowed for major updates to the gym. The gym opened to the public in 1998 as the Irwin Avenue Recreation Center.
The plan also included designing one of the first indoor water parks in the Southeast United States. There was perfect land for the water park right on the Irwin Elementary campus. It was next to a natural creek. This creek is part of the Mecklenburg County greenway system. It connects to neighborhoods all around.
The architect company Clark/Nexsen designed the water park. They focused on how water moves. They even included ideas from the nearby natural creek in their design. The project cost about $7.5 million. Construction officially began in March 2001.
Ray's Splash Planet is physically connected to the Irwin Academic Center. They share the gym space. The water park officially opened its doors on October 15, 2002. Since then, Ray's Splash Planet has won many awards! It's been praised by the Charlotte Observer newspaper, Creative Loafing, and Charlotte Parent magazines. It's a favorite spot for local families.
Awesome Rides and Attractions
Get ready for a splash! Ray's Splash Planet has many exciting rides and areas for all ages. Here's what you can explore:
| Name | What It Is |
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| The Blue Comet | This is a thrilling three-story slide! It's shaped like a double figure-8. You need to be at least 48 inches tall to ride this one. |
| The Orbiter | A relaxing lazy river that gently circles around the Blue Comet slide. It's perfect for a calm float. |
| Saturation Station | This area is packed with fun! It has four different slides. You'll also find interactive water games and big tumble buckets that dump water! |
| The Vortex | A pool with a fast current. It pushes swimmers around in a circle, making for a fun, swirling experience. |
| Moon Beach | A special play area just for younger kids. It has a shallow pool with a gentle, gradual entry, just like a real beach. |
| Sea of Tranquility | This area is great for swimming and games. It has two lanes for lap swimming. You can also play water basketball or water volleyball here. |
