News Summary
Water Country USA in Williamsburg, Virginia, will open its doors for the 2025 season on May 10. The park will unveil ‘High Tide Harbor’, a new water play structure featuring over 100 interactive water elements and slides for children. The park will operate on weekends initially, with full-time operations starting on May 23. In addition to the attraction, Water Country USA has partnered with local organizations to promote water safety through education and free swim lessons for children in the area.
Williamsburg, Virginia – Water Country USA is set to open for its 2025 season on May 10, introducing a new attraction called High Tide Harbor, a multi-level water play structure designed for families. This exciting new ride includes over 100 interactive water elements such as cannons, sprayers, and tipping fountains, along with four slides specifically made for young children.
Initially, the park will operate on weekends only, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., on May 10-11 and May 17-18. Following this limited schedule, full-time operations will commence on May 23 and will continue until the end of the season on September 21. Visitors can purchase tickets and find more information at the park’s official website.
In a significant initiative to promote water safety, Water Country USA has partnered with the YMCA of the Virginia Peninsulas and Busch Gardens Williamsburg. This collaboration aims to enhance drowning prevention education within the community. A focus of the partnership is on the YMCA’s Second Grade Learn to Swim program, which offers free water safety lessons to second graders across 11 school systems in the Virginia Peninsulas. Children participating in this program will receive a complimentary single-day ticket to one of the two parks.
Throughout the season, water safety tips will be prominently displayed within Water Country USA to ensure families are aware of safety protocols. These efforts come in the wake of recent drowning incidents in Chesapeake, underscoring the pressing need for water safety education and awareness in the region.
In addition to the new ride and safety initiatives, families visiting the park will encounter signs featuring messages that stress the importance of attentiveness and supervision around water. The YMCA also provides swim lessons and classes for children as young as 6 months old, aiming to foster water competency from an early age. Key educational themes include teaching children to ask for permission before entering water and staying supervised at all times.
A special emphasis is placed on safety equipment such as life jackets and rescue tools like noodles for those who may not be strong swimmers. This comprehensive approach to water safety aligns with the park’s broader commitment to community well-being.
The establishment of this partnership reflects the importance both organizations place on ensuring families have access to vital water safety education. With the debut of High Tide Harbor and the enhanced focus on drowning prevention, Water Country USA is poised to offer an exhilarating yet safe experience for visitors of all ages this summer.
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Additional Resources
- WY Daily: Water Country USA Opens Saturday for 2025 Season
- Wikipedia: Water Country
- Williamsburg Families: Water Country USA Event
- Google Search: Water Country USA 2025
- WY Daily: YMCA Drowning Prevention Partnership
- Google Scholar: Water Safety Programs
- 13 News Now: YMCA Water Safety Initiative
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Water Safety
- MoCo Show: Water Park Information
- Google News: Water Country USA New Rides
