H2OBX Waterpark on The Outer Banks

Water is a major part of what makes the Outer Banks such a great vacation destination. The ocean side provides plenty of opportunities for surfing, swimming and some of the best sport fishing in the world, while the sound sides’ calmer waters are a perfect haven for windsurfing, kiteboarding and boating. However, now there is a third and equally exciting option, where visitors can find thrills and chills or just take life a little easier, all in one place—H2OBX.

H2OBX is a spectacular new waterpark scheduled to open this summer. Located at Powells Point just off the Wright Memorial Bridge coming into the Outer Banks, the park offers more than 30 attractions—from the exhilarating to the sedate—to offer visitors a day of fun, sun and adventure.

“This is the second waterpark we are actually going to build to own,” says Brian Czarnecki, vice president of sales and marketing for Camelback Resort in Tannersville, Penn. Camelback Lodge and Aquatopia were voted the #1 indoor water park in the USA and one of the best resorts in the Poconos. “When you’re building a park for yourself, there isn’t anything spared—you take all the best slides, all the best designs and all the best landscaping. So, the theme of H2OBX is about the Old Outer Banks. It’s Outer Banks architecture mixed with the kind of idyllic stories of the yore. It’s a little bit of theme, a lot of design, and all of that wraps into one park, so instead of having a generic park like you’d see elsewhere in the United States, this is really going to make the visit memorable for guests.”

The park is suitable for thrill-seekers, families and those who just want to relax and enjoy the summer. According to Czarnecki, visitors will be able to find something for everyone, including kids slides and the Twin Tides Family Wave Beach that provides a zero-depth, beach-entry pool. Instead of the waves emanating from one end, it radiates from the middle and washes in two directions. There are only three pools like it in the United States.

“For older kids and adults, we also have a grand wave pool with five different wave patterns that produces some of the largest man-made waves on the East Coast,” he says. “Our dual Flow Rider attraction is a simulated surfing ride that’s fantastic for surfing or boogie boarding. We have a complex with a tower that rises up 84 feet. It’s an adrenaline seeker’s paradise with seven different slides coming off of it. We have family raft rides. We have a kids’ adventure lagoon. We have a lazy river that’s more of an adventure river with splash zones and water fountains. So, everything you need is there. And if you just want to relax, we have 50 private cabanas as well as shaded lounge chairs. It’s a resort-style water park but still an adrenaline adventure.”

Food is also part of the theme, whether you want to simulate a seaside picnic with casual and summery dishes or a grab-and-go option such as pizza, hamburgers and hotdogs. You can even eat like a local with traditional “Bless My Heart” North Carolina barbecue.

H2OBX is doing everything it can to ensure an optimal experience for every guest, every time they visit. In order to fulfill that commitment, they are limiting ticket sales to just 4,500 to 5,000 per day. “One thing that every amusement park and water park does across the nation is they have ebbs and flows, meaning that on any given day their visitation could fluctuate 20, 30 or even 40 percent,” says Czarnecki. “When a park is overly crowded, it takes away from the visitors’ experience. We are limiting ticket sales so that every day is an optimal day for our guests.”

As part of that plan, H2OBX is working with 19 property management and rental companies in the Outer Banks to provide discounted, guaranteed tickets to renters. Those companies include Twiddy & Company, Joe Lamb, Jr. & Associates, Sun Realty, Elan Vacations, Carolina Designs, Hatteras Realty, Corolla Classic Vacations, Outer Banks Blue Real Estate, Midgett Realty, Atlantic Realty, Kilmarlic Resort & Cottages, Stan White Realty Village Realty, Beach Realty, Kees Vacation Rentals, Surf or Sound Realty, Resort Realty, Seaside Vacations and Southern Shores Realty. Discounted tickets will also be available at some local hotels.

In addition, discounted tickets will be available for Dare and Currituck county residents. And season passes will be on sale, which, according to Czarnecki, will pay for themselves after three visits. There are also discounts for buying a family pass for four or more, providing a savings of $10 per pass.

For additional information on H2OBX, visit here. For more information on each of the rental company partners and the properties they have to offer, visit here.