A collage of backyard waterpark ideas.

Welcome to our gallery of stunning water parks!

What is the best family activity on a hot summer day? A trip to the water park! There is nothing quite like splashing around in wave pools and taking a ride down a waterslide. Water parks are the kind of place where kids can spend all day, playing in the water until their hands prune.

On a sweltering summer day the water park can be quite the popular destination. If you are not fond of the crowds, the water park may be more of a misadventure than a first thought.

So what are your other options? One option that can give you some of the fun of a park without the crowds is to build your own small version of a water park in your backyard. With a nice little water park in your very own backyard you can access refreshing playtime any time you wish!

What are the pros and cons of having your very own backyard water park?

Pros

  1. Avoid crowds – With your own personal water park you can avoid the crowds when you want to have a splash. The only crowd that you will have to manage are the friends and family that you invite into your space.
  2. Gathering spot – In the heat of the summer a personal water park will be the draw of all of your friends and family. Your home will become the desired destination of all of your loved ones when the sun is beating down and the cool waters call out.

Cons

  1. Cost – Pools are not cheap investments. While you may save some money by building your own water park, there is a large initial investment.
  2. Maintenance – The best thing about not owning your own water park is that you are not responsible for cleaning it. When you have one in your backyard you will have to either clean and care for the area yourself or you will have to pay for it to be cleaned.

The central feature of a water park is the pool. Without a pool you basically have an expensive slip and slide. The cost of a pool depends on its construction. A fiberglass pool runs around per square foot of pool. Vinyl lining is another option that costs about $58 per square foot.

The most versatile construction for a pool is concrete. Concrete can be shaped into almost any desired configuration. This opens up your pool to some great options. Concrete pools typically cost approximately $72 per square foot. (Source: Fixr)

One great feature that makes your pool area feel more like a water park is a water slide. For your backyard water park you have the choice between a number of different water slide options. Premade water slides are easy to install and can be purchased for as little as $4,000.

These kinds of slides are perfect for adding a fun feature to your pool area while not taking up much room or costing much out of pocket. If you want your water slides to be a bit more involved you can go for a custom option.

Custom slides can be as long and as complicated as you like, and are often accompanied by extensive landscaping work. Custom pool slides can cost upward of $100,000! (Source: Houzz)

Other great additions to a water park area include waterfalls and water jets. These kinds of features vary in cost depending on your pool and the extent of work needed.

Check out our definitive swimming pool guide for more details on pool designs and ideas.

This fun backyard water park is equipped with a waterfall and a slide. This is the perfect hangout spot for a family. Invite over all your friends to beat the heat and they'll be sure to have a great time.

This fun backyard water park is equipped with a waterfall and a slide. This is the perfect hangout spot for a family. Invite over all your friends to beat the heat and they’ll be sure to have a great time.

Here is a backyard water park that has a nice stone-lined hot tub attached. With this feature you can have a warm relaxing spot as a fun place to splash and play, giving the park more variety of use.

Here is a backyard water park that has a nice stone-lined hot tub attached. With this feature you can have a warm relaxing spot as a fun place to splash and play, giving the park more variety of use.

In the center of this pool is a fire pit that allows for a cookout or a fun hang out spot by the fire. When the swimming is done and you need to dry off, this is the perfect place for it. The bridge over the pool makes sure that you can stay dry and get to the fire.

In the center of this pool is a fire pit that allows for a cookout or a fun hang out spot by the fire. When the swimming is done and you need to dry off, this is the perfect place for it. The bridge over the pool makes sure that you can stay dry and get to the fire. Source: Zillow Digs™

The stone cave and waterfall on the far end of this pool make for an amazing feature in this backyard water park. This is a great place for kids to play and hide. You can really let your imagination run wild in a pool like this.

The stone cave and waterfall on the far end of this pool make for an amazing feature in this backyard water park. This is a great place for kids to play and hide. You can really let your imagination run wild in a pool like this.

Underwater lighting as seen in this pool here is great for making sure your backyard water park can stay open as late as possible. Normal water parks often close as the sun goes down, but you can leave yours open all night.

Underwater lighting as seen in this pool here is great for making sure your backyard water park can stay open as late as possible. Normal water parks often close as the sun goes down, but you can leave yours open all night. Source: Zillow Digs™

Here we see a water slide placed along a castle-esque stone structure in this water park area. Water slides are the quintessential feature of a water park. They can provide hours of fun and are by far the best way to get into the pool. Contemporary Pool by Cranbury Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers Ehrich & Ehrich Landscape Arch. – L&H Pools, LLC.

Here we see a water slide placed along a castle-esque stone structure in this water park area. Water slides are the quintessential feature of a water park. They can provide hours of fun and are by far the best way to get into the pool.

This pool is equipped with a number of water jets. In a water park environment you can let the water fly. Water jets are a great way to jumpstart the fun and make the atmosphere just right.

This pool is equipped with a number of water jets. In a water park environment you can let the water fly. Water jets are a great way to jumpstart the fun and make the atmosphere just right. Source: Zillow Digs™

In your own personal water park you can landscape any way you please. You can really bring your water park to life with lush plants and trees. Rock features can also tie your park in with the landscape of the wilderness.

Here is a great backyard water park that includes both a water slide and a hot tub. The hot tub empties into a waterfall that leads into the pool. All of these features are tied together. Tying multiple features together is a great idea for water park areas.

Here is a great backyard water park that includes both a water slide and a hot tub. The hot tub empties into a waterfall that leads into the pool. All of these features are tied together. Tying multiple features together is a great idea for water park areas. Source: Zillow Digs™

 Here is a water slide and waterfall in one. This piece makes a great addition that can instantly turn a pool into a water park. This feature really brings the fun to your personal water park.

If you want your water park area to be large you can make your pool expansive. If you build the pool along with smaller offshoots you can create a number of little swimming areas, turning one pool into many smaller ones.

If you want your water park area to be large you can make your pool expansive. If you build the pool along with smaller offshoots you can create a number of little swimming areas, turning one pool into many smaller ones. Source: Zillow Digs™

Even a smaller pool area can have a water park feel with a decent sized waterfall and appropriate water slide. If you can fit these kinds of items in your space, it will be a mini water park in no time.

Even a smaller pool area can have a water park feel with a decent sized waterfall and appropriate water slide. If you can fit these kinds of items in your space, it will be a mini water park in no time. Source: Zillow Digs™

 With plenty of rock features and a sloping entrance to your pool, your water park can have a mountainesque grotto appeal. This is a fun and exciting look for a water park area.

You may decide to have your water features wrap around a sitting area. This creates a small place where people can sit and relax after swimming, or where parents can sit while they monitor their children in the water.

You may decide to have your water features wrap around a sitting area. This creates a small place where people can sit and relax after swimming, or where parents can sit while they monitor their children in the water. Source: Zillow Digs™

 
With proper lighting, your backyard water park will glow at night. This looks great and can be a large draw for nighttime swimming. Who would not be drawn in by the glowing allure of the water here?
 
Fountains are also at home in a water park. Placing interesting fixtures that spew water into your pool can really get the water moving and the good times rolling.
 
Fountains are also at home in a water park. Placing interesting fixtures that spew water into your pool can really get the water moving and the good times rolling.
 
 There is an interesting feature attached to this backyard water park. The bridge that goes over the pool also has a waterfall attached. The water pours over the sides of the bridge into the pool making passing over and under the bridge entertaining.

If you have bridges in your pool area you might as well make them fun. Here is a bridge with rope railings and rope wrapped around the posts. These give the bridge and the park a nautical boat feel.

If you have bridges in your pool area you might as well make them fun. Here is a bridge with rope railings and rope wrapped around the posts. These give the bridge and the park a nautical boat feel. Source: Zillow Digs™

 This is a stunning water park area in a backyard. By lining the entire area in stones you can give the water area an interesting natural appeal while connecting it to the rest of the masonry and brickwork.

Here is a lovely backyard water park with a well lit pool and a great water slide that has been built into some stone landscaping.

Here is a lovely backyard water park with a well lit pool and a great water slide that has been built into some stone landscaping. Source: Zillow Digs™

 You don’t necessarily have to build your water park outside. If you are able to build one inside you can access your water park in all weather. This can increase the use of your water park a great deal as rain and snow will not keep you out of the water.

Water sports are a fun addition to a water park. A basketball hoop gives you a great way to play games in the water.

Water sports are a fun addition to a water park. A basketball hoop gives you a great way to play games in the water. Source: Zillow Digs™

 If you create a long and narrow pool that wraps around seating areas, it can act more like a river. This gives the park a more natural appeal and lets your water encompass the area nicely.

Here is a park with a nice long slide. Custom slides can be made very long; only your space and imagination are the limit. There are some that are built as open air slides but you can also have slides that are tunnels.

Here is a park with a nice long slide. Custom slides can be made very long; only your space and imagination are the limit. There are some that are built as open air slides but you can also have slides that are tunnels. Source: Zillow Digs™

This backyard water park has two slides for double the fun. There is less need to take turns with two slides, keeping the line for the slide down and the fun continuing for hours.

Here is a cool water park area with a grotto and two water fountains. There can be many hours of fun had here with your family and friends. Where else would you want to be on a hot sunny day?

Here is a cool water park area with a grotto and two water fountains. There can be many hours of fun had here with your family and friends. Where else would you want to be on a hot sunny day? Source: Zillow Digs™

This water park has a grotto that is adorned with a number of smaller waterfalls. These numerous waterfalls are great for building a dynamic and natural look.

This water park has a grotto that is adorned with a number of smaller waterfalls. These numerous waterfalls are great for building a dynamic and natural look. Source: Zillow Digs™

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