CANYON — Families lined up early Friday morning, July 18 at The Canyon Aqua Park (CAP) to kick off the day and enjoy one of the Texas Panhandle’s most popular summer spots.
The visit came just ahead of the facility’s eighth anniversary celebration, which took place Saturday, July 19 and featured giveaways, games, and a luau-style party for guests.
Among the first through the gates Friday was Amarillo resident Travis Lewallen, who brought his daughters, Serenity and Michaela, for a day of swimming and sunshine.
“We’ve been out here about 30 minutes already,” Lewallen said. “We try to come at least once a week. It’s right down the street — just three blocks away — so it’s easy.”
Serenity, a returning visitor, said she was excited to be back.
“I just like swimming, the diving board, and the lazy river,” she said. “I think it’s a lot of time well spent.”
Michaela said her favorite part was hanging out with her sister. Asked who was the better swimmer, she quickly pointed to Serenity.
“She’s right about that,” Lewallen said with a laugh. “That one floats like a rocket.”
Park Manager Stephanie Bass said Saturday’s anniversary celebration included a noon luau, free souvenir tumblers, ticket giveaways, and prize drawings at the end of each session.
“We gave away a birthday party package for 2026 and a season pass for next year,” Bass said. “The turnout was great — it was a fun way to celebrate eight years of the CAP.”
The birthday package includes a shaded pavilion, four pizzas, 10 drinks, 10 ice cream treats, and free admission for the birthday guest.
The CAP features fast slides, diving boards, a kiddie splash zone, and a lazy river that draws the biggest crowds.
“The lazy river is by far our most popular attraction. It fills up quickly,” Bass said.
The park averages more than 600 visitors per day during peak season, she added.
Several improvements were introduced for the 2025 season, including a new Snack Shack offering pre-packaged items like Dippin’ Dots and drinks to cut down on wait times at the main concession stand.
Also expanded this year was toddler time — a Friday morning program that debuted last summer. After every session sold out in 2024, the park doubled its offerings this season.
“It’s $4 for one adult and one child,” Bass said. “We keep a one-to-one ratio for safety. If you have multiple kids, just bring another adult — Mom, Dad, Grandma, whoever.”
The CAP staffs 17 lifeguards daily and enforces strict safety rules. Only U.S. Coast Guard-approved life vests are allowed. Outside toys and inflatable floaties are prohibited. Life vests are available on site at no charge.
General admission tickets are valid for one three-hour session.
Admission for children age 3 and younger is free. Senior citizens receive a $2 discount on general admission.
“This is a family-friendly facility,” Bass said. “We make sure there’s something for everyone, and we want people to feel safe while they’re having fun.”
For updates, hours, and event details, visit the City of Canyon’s website or follow the CAP on social media.
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Families dive in as Canyon Aqua Park celebrates 8th anniversary
Reporting by Michael Cuviello, Amarillo Globe-News / Amarillo Globe-News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
