Venture River Water Park: Clear water, big fun
Just five minutes from Western Kentucky’s mammoth Lake Barkley flows a much smaller body of water—but one that offers mega-sized fun.
Venture River Water Park, about 30 miles east of Paducah, offers acres of family entertainment with a wave pool, lazy river, water slides, kiddie-pool and lots more.
Billed as Western Kentucky’s “only water park,” Venture River opened in 1994. Now trips to the pool are a regular event for people like Lisa Ramage and her 6-year-old son Ramsey, who goes weekly as part of the summer activities at Camp Farley (at Farley Elementary in Paducah.)
“We really like the lifeguards that are there,” said Lisa Ramage, who usually accompanies Ramsey. “They are kind and sweet and professional.” Minutes earlier, one of the guards had quickly scooped up Ramsey when he slipped from a water ride. “The professionalism that young man showed was unbelievable,” Ramage said.
Ramage, her husband Matt Ramage and Ramsey are all season-pass holders, she said.
"I like the fact that it is a family environment,” Ramage said, with no alcohol allowed and appropriate swimsuits required. Venture River is clean and well run, and it offers a special welcoming feel. “We’ve got that Southern hospitality,” she said
“It definitely is a family environment,” said Andrea York, one of the park executives. “We try to keep it clean, and we try to keep it affordable.”
General admission is $21 for adults (anyone 54 inches tall or over) and $16 for children under 54 inches tall. Seniors 60 years old and up are $10, and toddlers 2 years old and younger are free.
If you’re entering the park for the final three hours of the day, admission is $10.50 for adults and $8 for children. Season passes are $75 and $55. Discounts are available for church groups.
Highlights at the park include Hurricane Wave Pool, an 18,000-square-foot basin where 480,000 gallons of water surge from front to rear whenever the steamboat horn sounds; the Waloopas, two enclosed, tunnel-style water slides that wind down a steep incline; Old Man River, a relaxing open-air waterway around the park; the Cyclone, where a swift current guests along a fast-moving stream; the Cliffhanger, a 3 ½-story drop into a slingshot slide along a parabolic surface.
Especially for the younger visitors are the Pleasure Island Kiddie Pool, a large island that includes Soak City, with its interactive water play; the kid's castle, a play structure with slides, and the frog slide, a mushroom waterfall.
Parking is free at Venture River, and so are the tubes you’ll need to ride some of the attractions. Refreshments are available, and birthday parties are offered for a per-guest charge, but you must have at least 10 persons.
HelloMetro Tip: Venture River opened its 2010 season in May. Its final day for the year is Sept. 6.
Posted by Bill Wolfe
