By When summer settles over the Triad and the humidity makes the asphalt shimmer, there is one Greensboro institution that locals and visitors alike have been cooling off at for four decades: Wet ‘n Wild Emerald Pointe. Tucked off South Holden Road, this is North Carolina’s largest water park, with more than 40 slides, pools, and play areas spread across rolling, tree-shaded acreage. Whether you are a Greensboro family looking for a season pass routine or a visitor planning a single splashy day, here is everything you need to know to do it right.
What Makes Emerald Pointe Worth the Trip
Emerald Pointe is not a tacked-on hotel splash pad. It is a full-scale water park that has been a regional summer ritual since the early 1980s, and the scale shows. You get genuine variety here: heart-stopping speed slides, lazy floats, a massive wave pool, and gentle zones built specifically for toddlers. That range is the real selling point. A group with grandparents, teenagers, and a four-year-old can all find their lane, which is rare and exactly why so many Triad families come back week after week.
The park is built into gently sloped, partially wooded terrain, so there is more shade than you might expect from a water park, and the layout means you are never walking too far from the next attraction. Plan to spend the better part of a day. Most visitors find a half day rushed and a full day comfortable.
The Rides and Attractions
With more than 40 attractions, Emerald Pointe organizes its lineup by thrill level so you can pace yourself. Here is how the standouts break down.
Thrill Slides
- Bombs Away: Dueling drop slides that launch riders downhill at high speed. A signature adrenaline ride.
- Daredevil Drop and Twin Twisters: Steep, fast descents for guests chasing the biggest rush.
- Double Barrel Blast and Riptide Racer: Racing-style mat and tube slides where you can go head to head with your group.
- The Edge: An extreme near-vertical descent for the brave.
Pools and Floats
- Thunder Bay Wave Pool: The park’s centerpiece, generating rolling surf for body-surfing and bobbing. A perfect midday gathering point for a group.
- Lazy River: Grab a tube and let the gentle current carry you in a loop. The classic recovery ride between adrenaline runs.
- Leisure Lagoon: A calmer pool area for easy swimming and cooling off.
Group Rafts and Family Rides
- Raging Rapids and Runaway Raft Ride: Multi-person raft slides so the whole family can ride together.
For the Little Ones
Younger kids get their own dedicated territory with shallow water and pint-sized slides like Willy the Whale and Happy Clam, plus splash-focused play zones including Happy Harbor, Shipwreck Cove, and the Soak Zone. Themed spaces such as Dragon’s Den and Silly Submarine keep toddlers entertained without the height requirements of the big slides. Note that taller attractions carry height restrictions, so check the signage at each ride entrance before lining up.
2026 Season and Hours
Emerald Pointe is a seasonal park, open roughly from mid-May through mid-September, with daily operation concentrated in the heart of summer. Hours shift through the season, so always confirm the day you plan to visit on the official schedule before driving over.
- Early and late season (May and September): Typically 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, often on weekends only at the edges of the season.
- Peak summer (June through mid-August): Generally 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily.
- Extended evenings: On select dates tied to special events, the park stays open until 7:00 PM. In 2026 these include dates around Father’s Day weekend and the July 4 Freedom Fest celebration.
The park also runs themed events through the summer, from pirate takeover days to Foam Zone Fridays and the Independence Day Freedom Fest. Check the official park schedule for the exact calendar, because hours and event days are set per date and do change year to year.
Tickets, Passes, and Parking
General single-day admission runs in the neighborhood of $60 to $65 depending on the date, and buying online ahead of time is the smart move both for price and to skip the gate line. Children 2 and under are admitted free. For families who plan to come more than a couple of times, a season pass pays for itself fast: pass tiers range from a weekday-only entry level up through options that allow daily admission and add perks like bring-a-friend days.
- Parking: Paid parking is around $20 per vehicle, and pre-purchasing online is available and recommended.
- Cashless park: Emerald Pointe operates fully cashless, so bring a card or load a wristband. Cash is not accepted at points of sale.
- Outside food: Outside food and coolers are not permitted, though guests may bring water bottles. Dining options are available throughout the park.
- Cabanas: Private cabana rentals are available for groups who want a shaded home base, and there are dedicated rates for groups and birthday parties.
Because prices, pass tiers, and rules can shift each season, verify the current numbers on the park’s official website before you buy.
Tips From the Locals
A few things seasoned Triad pass-holders know that first-timers learn the hard way:
- Arrive at opening. The 10:00 AM crowd is thin and lines for the marquee slides are short. By early afternoon on a hot Saturday, waits stretch and the best shaded chairs are long gone.
- Stake out seating first. Walk in, claim chairs or set up near the wave pool, then start riding. Free lounge seating goes quickly on peak days.
- Wear water shoes. The walkways heat up under midday sun, and the park is spread across sloped terrain you will be covering on foot all day.
- Buy the parking and admission online. It is cheaper and faster than sorting it out at the gate, and since the park is cashless anyway, do it from your phone in advance.
- Watch the weather and the calendar. Storms can pause slide operations, and on the busiest holiday weekends the park can reach capacity. A weekday visit in late June is the local sweet spot.
- Reapply sunscreen. Between the water and the open sky, an unprotected afternoon here turns into a painful evening.
Where to Stay Nearby
If you are coming from out of town, Emerald Pointe sits in southern Greensboro within easy reach of Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO) and Interstate 85, so lodging options are plentiful and close. The full-service Greensboro visitor resources can help you compare neighborhoods, but a few standouts cluster near the park and airport:
- Grandover Resort & Spa: An upscale resort with golf, a spa, and pools, roughly a 10-minute drive away, ideal for travelers who want to extend a water-park day into a relaxing getaway.
- DoubleTree by Hilton Greensboro: A reliable midrange option convenient to the airport corridor.
- Homewood Suites and other extended-stay properties near Wendover Avenue suit families who want a kitchen and a little extra room.
These and other hotels, inns, and resorts in the area can be compared and booked through major travel sites. Booking a property near the airport keeps you close to both Emerald Pointe and the rest of Greensboro’s attractions, from the Greensboro Science Center to downtown dining.
Plan Your Visit
- Address: 3910 South Holden Road, Greensboro, NC 27406
- Phone: (336) 852-9721 (main) or (866) 211-3369 (guest services)
- Website: emeraldpointe.com
- Season: Approximately mid-May through mid-September, with peak daily operation in summer
- Hours: Generally 10:00 AM to 5:00 or 6:00 PM, with select 7:00 PM event evenings. Confirm your date on the official schedule.
- Admission: Roughly $60 to $65 single-day at the gate, cheaper online. Ages 2 and under free. Season passes and group rates available.
- Parking: About $20 per vehicle, pre-purchase recommended
- Good to know: Fully cashless, no outside food or coolers (water bottles allowed), height restrictions on thrill rides
One last planning tip: build in flexibility for weather. If clouds are gathering, aim for a morning arrival so you bank your slide time before any afternoon storms roll through, and keep the lazy river and wave pool in your back pocket as the relaxed way to ride out a busy crowd.