Deep River Waterpark, Family Fun & Giveaway

by Kathy on August 13, 2014 · 19 comments

in Chicago, Diversions, Family, Food, Giveaways, Reviews

Are you looking for a fun place to go, for a last hurrah of the summer, with your family? Last Friday, my family and I got to visit “Illinana’s Largest Waterpark,” Deep River Waterpark, in Merrillville, Indiana. We had been wanting to go to a waterpark this summer and heard great things about this one.

We made it!

As we drove in the parking lot and our kids caught sight of Deep River Waterpark, our 10-year-old son Sean exclaimed, “Whoa! This place has everything!” I think that my husband Bob and our 4-year-old daughter Abby were equally impressed.

One of the first things we noticed, having recently been on our annual summer trip to Six Flags Great America, is that unlike Six Flags, Deep River has FREE parking! We also discussed how, living on the southwest side of Chicago, it is significantly closer to our home than Great America.

We were impressed with the customer service from the time we picked up our passes and wristbands from will call (see the disclosure at the end of this post) around 12:30 p.m. until we closed the park down at about 6:00 p.m.

Note: Deep River Water Park is open Daily through Sunday, August 17th from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. and then Saturdays and Sundays only from August 18th – September 1st.

Wave Pool

After we entered the park, we asked where was the best place to put our beach bag and such, before checking out all the attractions Deep River has to offer. We were encouraged to find lounge chairs near the zero depth entry wave pool, which is located in the center or the waterpark.

Bob and I weren’t surprised that our kids wanted to start out there, as having been to the ocean earlier this summer on Hilton Head Island, SC in June and making frequent visits to the beach/Lake Michigan with my parents when we visit them in Evanston throughout the summer, as well as spending many weekends at my in-law’s lake house in Sister Lakes, MI, we know how our kids enjoy just swimming around and jumping waves. I have to say that the wave pool was one of the highlights for me too!

Dragon Speed Slides

Our son is pretty fearless when it comes to roller coasters and water rides, so it wasn’t long before Bob and I had to divide and conquer with our kids! We took turns going with Sean to ride or watch him ride some of the bigger and more daring water rides at Deep River. Then whomever was with Abby would take her to the areas of the park more focused on younger kids. Though we did try to do things such as the lazy river together as a family at least once.

Dippin Dots

We had eaten our packed lunches before entering the park, but it was great to know that we could have brought our own food and drinks into Deep River (with the exception of glass bottles/containers). I don’t know if we would have gotten snacks, having just eaten. But since we were given four wrist bands, with five tabs attached to each one, with a value of $1.00 each, for a total of $20.00, we did enjoy some sweet treats throughout the day. We got a kick out of trying Dippin Dots, “the ice cream of the future!” It was a bizarre consistency, but as it melts in your mouth, truly tastes like ice cream and isn’t nearly as messy.

Lazy River

After spending a lot of time on our feet, in the wave pool and waiting in lines for the water rides, Abby and I especially enjoyed floating together in one of the lazy rivers at the waterpark. Interestingly, Deep River is so big that there is a section we never even made it to, which includes the Double Dueling Cannonbowl and another lazy river. Though we were given a map of the waterpark when we entered and there are big ones posted around Deep River, I didn’t notice, until I sat down to write this, that in addition to the Bayou River ride that we went on a few times, they have another one called Mid-America’s Great River ride. We will definitely have to check that one out next time!

6 - Storm Tube Slides

Both Sean and Abby loved Deep River Waterpark! It is truly family friendly and has attractions for all ages. Sean spent much of the day trying every water slide he could. There was only one that he was too intimidated by, one of the Dragon speed slides. But he went on the other one multiple times. Abby really enjoyed the areas designed for younger kids, including Paddles Playzone and Mayor Byrdovich’s Courthouse.

Kid Fun Places

One of Bob’s guilty pleasures is to eat a funnel cake, at least once a year. Usually he gets one when we go to Six Flags Great America. However, this year he didn’t end up having one that day. So he (and we) were pretty excited to find out that Deep River sells them at Milo’s Ice Cream Shop! Though is certainly not the healthiest snack option, we all shared it, along with some Funnel Cake Fries (little funnel cakes in the shape of fries). Who knew there was such a thing?! And they were pretty delicious!

Milo's Ice Cream Shop

Which brings me to Sean and my FAVORITE water ride/part of our day at Deep River… With about an hour left before the park was scheduled to close at 6:00 p.m. Bob returned to the Paddles Playzone with Abby, while Sean and I made our way to the Whitewater Run tube slide. We were surprised and ecstatic to quickly find out that there were only a few others in line/riding the same ride at the time. So we proceeded to go on it together five times in a row, with little to no wait, in between each ride! It was pretty good exercise too, as with such a short wait, we weren’t hanging out of the many flights of stairs to get up to the top, we were climbing them quickly.  So if and when you make your way to Deep River, you may want to consider staying until closing (if it works for your family), as a lot of watermark patrons seemed to have cleared out by later afternoon.

Fav Ride - 7 times

It’s probably obvious at this point, how much fun Bob, the kids and I had at Deep River Waterpark last week! But in case it isn’t, we highly recommend Deep River for a fun family or even an adults only outing!

We had been pretty disappointed that we didn’t fit in the adjoining Six Flags waterpark into our Great America trip earlier this summer. But now we are thinking we may do an annual trip to Six Flags focusing just on Great America (versus trying to split our time with the waterpark there) and an annual trip to Deep River Waterpark!

A note for the many Chicagoans who have or visit summer homes in Indiana and/or Michigan… Part of how we ended up going to Deep River, was that we were looking for a waterpark that we could go to en route to Sister Lakes, MI, where were then spent the weekend. Though it isn’t totally on the way, it isn’t that far out-of-the-way either.

Closing Time

After Deep River closed, we were hungry for dinner and asked friends for a recommendation in Michigan City, IN (where they vacation every summer), which isn’t far from the waterpark and is on the way to Sister Lakes. Our friends suggested a place called the Tree House Cafe.

Tree House Cafe

We absolutely loved it! It was such a fun place to go for dinner and the food (we ordered pizza)/drinks (including craft beers) was good too! Bob and I felt like we were in a time warp… So laid back, everyone was friendly, and the kids were playing (sans electronics) old school games — like pick-up wiffle ball and ping-pong! It was a cooler summer night and thus perfect for eating outside and allowing the kids to run free. We found it very relaxing and stayed almost 3 hours, much longer than we intended!

From spending the day at Deep River Waterpark through to dinner and hanging out at the Tree House Cafe, it was such an awesome experience for my family and me. We will definitely be doing it again next summer! If you have the time and are looking for something fun to do with your family and/or friends before summers’ end, check out Deep River Waterpark!

Now for the giveaway details!

To enter to win 4 complimentary day passes to Deep River Water Park:

Leave a comment here letting me know if you have been to Deep River Water Park before. 

If you have, tell me what you liked best about the experience.

If you have not been to Deep River Water Park before, please let me know what you are most looking forward to doing, if you win and/or when you go there.

I will be choosing the winner, using Random.org, on Thursday, August 14th at 7:00 p.m. CST and will update this post with the winner’s name, as well as contact you to arrange for you to get your complimentary tickets at Will Call in the Group Sales Office at Deep River Waterpark, the day you visit. You may only comment/enter once, but you are welcome to encourage friends/family members to enter on your behalf.

Disclaimer: My family and I received four complimentary passes to Deep River Waterpark, along with wristbands (valued at $20.00) to redeem on Food/Beverage or anything in the waterpark, to write this review and host this giveaway, but the opinions expressed here are my own.

Update (8/14/14): Congrats to Granny NeNe on winning the 4 complimentary day passes to Deep River Waterpark! The Random.org number generator choose #16. Thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway and shared what appeals to you about Deep River Waterpark!

{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Erin August 13, 2014 at 2:48 pm

I would love to try this waterpark! We passed it on the trip to visit some friends in Valparaiso a few months ago and was amazed at how big it looks in real life. So much fun! It looks like a a truly wonderful time for the five of us to enjoy before the school year begins! I think I would love to go down the lazy river with my little one before he takes off for kindergarten. ;(
You also got me with the extra exercise you can get on the stairs at the end of the day! 🙂

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2 Jennifer V. August 13, 2014 at 2:49 pm

I went to Deep River Water Park as a teen and cannot believe how much its changed and what has been added. My kids were able to go with their day camp but did not truly get to enjoy the water park because of the time restraint and ride restraint they were under as campers. I would LOVE the opportunity to win passes so we can go visit as a family and stay the entire day and make some memories.

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3 Lindsey H. August 13, 2014 at 3:18 pm

I was just at Deep River Waterpark on Friday as well with my sister! We are both in our early thirties and had an absolute blast. It’s not just for kids! Our favorite part was the double dueling cannonbowl ride. We also enjoyed spending time by the wave pool, relaxing in the sun and enjoying the music they played around that attraction. We had lunch in the park and were happy with how reasonable the prices were. Cheese fries were amazing! 🙂 I’d be excited to take one more trip back this season!

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4 Christine August 13, 2014 at 3:25 pm

We would LOVE to go! Thank you so much for your review…I never was able to get a sense from their site if the boys would enjoy the park but now I know they will!

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5 Lizz August 13, 2014 at 3:29 pm

i haven’t been and i would love to go i like their page on facebook and see all the fun stuff they have i think they have different things for everyone to enjoy and have a great time. i think as a family we would enjoy the wave pool and my husband and soon will love to go on the tube slides. and of course you can’t end the day without funnel cake 🙂 i would love to try the funnel cake fries , never heard of them before but i’m sure they are delicious 🙂

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6 Heather August 13, 2014 at 3:32 pm

I went to Deep River Water Park about 15 years ago before I was married and had kids. My friends and I had a blast. I would love to now experience it with my kids.

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7 Alina Hahn August 13, 2014 at 4:26 pm

We have been there before and I love that they have two lazy rivers. Our son loves the wave pool and loves jumping the waves. Huge place that even on their busier days never seems too crowded to me!

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8 Stacey G. August 13, 2014 at 4:42 pm

Just about everyday we pass Deep River Waterpark and my children’s eyes light up in the hopes of going and trying the Cannonball Ride, but due to financial restrictions it is not possible. They did have some amazing deals this year that we were not able to participate in but we will hope that we can visit maybe in 2015, because although my kids are looking forward to the Cannonball, I cannot wait to be lazy on the river. 🙂

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9 Granny NeNe August 21, 2014 at 2:39 am

Dear Kathy,

I am sorry to say that my family is unable to use the passes that I won in your blog contest. With the limited operating schedule, sports team practices & games and Labor Day weekend upon us, the “Grands” are just too booked up and we couldn’t make it work. Of course they are very disappointed.

It would be my wish that these passes could be offered to another of the contest entrants, specifically, STACEY G. #8. Nothing would make us happier than to know Stacey can delight in watching her children’s eyes light up when they ride the cannonball.

Thanks so much for allowing us to pass this on to Stacy G.

Granny Nene

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10 Adrianne August 13, 2014 at 4:50 pm

We have never been but my kids would love the lazy river and wave pool! Would love to check it out soon! I’ve heard great things about it!

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11 Meagan Schmock August 13, 2014 at 5:21 pm

We too visited Deep River for the first time. We live just over the state line in Michigan, so it wasn’t a terribly long drive for us, about an hour. We loved it!! The park was very clean, the staff was friendly and helpful. I love the fact that you can bring in your own food, definitely will do that next time, not saying the food wasn’t good or prices outrageous, because they weren’t. But I do like to stretch my budget. The rides were perfect and they have something for every age. Will definitely return in the future…

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12 Ann Heitner August 13, 2014 at 6:55 pm

My kids all 3 of them (ha ha get it) Would love to check out this Illiniana waterpark and maybe we would have dinner at tree house as it is one of our favorites too!

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13 Patty Topp August 13, 2014 at 6:58 pm

I have never been to Deep River Water Park. I am a water fanatic and would love to try some of the tamer slides, but would probably spend most of my time in a lazy river or the wave pool.

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14 Andrea Pacenta August 13, 2014 at 10:12 pm

We’ve been to Deep River once and my boys loved everything about it. I personally loved the lazy river

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15 Angela F. August 14, 2014 at 2:47 am

Last year I took my 2 1/2 year old daughter for her very first visit & we enjoyed the park from the time we walked in, until the time we were told that it was time to go. Deep river has so much to offer, from the very helpful & friendly staff to all the attractions for all ages. I hope to return this year before the season is over =)

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16 Jason R August 14, 2014 at 1:24 pm

Went there for the 1st time last year and the place is awesome! Plenty of rides to choose from and you don’t have to pay/rent for anything like other parks. And it’s nice that you can bring your own food as well and not be stuck buying their food, especially if you are there all day. Highly recommend Deep River ro anyone

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17 Granny NeNe August 14, 2014 at 5:22 pm

Kathy, Great review of Deep River water park ! Was there with the younger of my kids years ago and I know my grandkids would love the experience. Can’t think of a better way to spend A day with all of my GRANDS frolicking in the water making forever memories.

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18 Kathy August 14, 2014 at 7:04 pm

Congrats to Granny NeNe on winning the 4 complimentary day passes to Deep River Waterpark! The Random.org number generator choose #16. Thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway and shared what appeals to you about Deep River Waterpark!
Kathy recently posted..How to Find the Right Workout Program for YouMy Profile

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19 Stacey Goff September 1, 2014 at 6:51 pm

Granny NeNe,

Thank you so much for the amazing blessing. When Kathy contacted me regarding your request to gift me with the package I actually had to read it several times because my eyes were filled with tears immediately. Words cannot express how much it meant to us. Once again thank you so very much!

God Bless You

Stacey 🙂

P.S. Thank you, Kathy and God Bless You.

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