Buffaloe Road Aquatic Center
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
Buffaloe Road Aquatic Center is a highly-rated public indoor water park in the Raleigh area, best known for its diverse range of family-friendly amenities including a water slide, lazy river, splashpad, whirlpool, and water basketball. It is generally clean and well-maintained, offering a welcoming environment for various age groups, particularly toddlers.
Key Highlights
- ✓Diverse amenities including a water slide, lazy river, splashpad, whirlpool, water basketball, and water jets.
- ✓Features a fantastic toddler area with engaging features and a fun ramp into the big pool.
- ✓Allows birthday parties and personal pool toys.
- ✓Facility is clean, well-maintained, and thoughtfully designed.
- ✓Staff are generally described as friendly, welcoming, and attentive, with specific positive mentions for kindness to kids and safety awareness.
- ✓Provides life jackets for guests.
Standout Features
- ⭐Dedicated water slide
- ⭐Lazy river
- ⭐Splashpad
- ⭐Whirlpool
- ⭐Water basketball hoops
- ⭐Water jets
- ⭐Large public pool area
- ⭐Lap pool area
- ⭐Birthday party allowances
- ⭐Permission to bring pool toys
- ⭐Provided life jackets
- ⭐Fantastic toddler area with engaging features and ramp access
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →Arrive a few minutes before doors open to avoid lines and secure entry.
- →Be prepared for potentially chilly water temperatures in both the pools and locker rooms.
- →Bring your own swim gear, but note that life jackets are provided if you forget yours.
- →If your child is under 48 inches, manage expectations as they will not be allowed on the main water slide.
- →Be aware of the two-tiered pricing structure; City of Raleigh residents pay a cheaper rate.
- →Actively supervise your children to monitor for any negative staff interactions.
Things to Consider
- ⚠Water temperature in pools and locker rooms can be cold, causing shivering.
- ⚠Strict lifeguard rules, including requirements for children to stay within an 'arms reach' and frequent whistle blowing.
- ⚠High height requirement for the main water slide (48 inches/4 feet), which prevents many younger children (e.g., 6-year-olds) from using it.
- ⚠Two-tiered pricing system where City of Raleigh taxpayers pay a cheaper price than Wake County residents, regardless of proximity to the facility.
- ⚠Reported instances of unprofessional staff behavior, including a lifeguard allegedly bullying children and engaging in a verbal altercation with a 7-year-old.
Price & Value
There is a two-tiered pricing system: a cheaper price for City of Raleigh taxpayers and a higher price for Wake County residents, regardless of proximity to the facility. The value is considered good for City of Raleigh residents given the array of amenities, but potentially less so for Wake County residents paying the higher rate.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •No specific accessibility accommodations mentioned in reviews.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •Outside pool toys are allowed. No information available regarding outside food or drinks.
🚗Parking Info
- •No information available regarding parking facilities or costs.
👥Crowd Levels
- •Can be busy, with lines forming at the doors a few minutes before opening.
🛡️Safety Features
- •Lifeguards are present and actively enforce rules, though some consider it excessive.
- •Life jackets are provided for guest use.
- •One reviewer noted feeling safe due to attentive lifeguards, while another reported a negative interaction.
⏰When to Avoid
- • If your primary goal is for a child under 48 inches to use the main water slide.
- • If you or your children are highly sensitive to cold water or cold locker room environments.
- • If you prefer a more relaxed environment with fewer rules and less strict lifeguard supervision for older children.
- • If you are a Wake County resident expecting City of Raleigh pricing for entry.
- • If you are concerned about potential negative interactions with staff, as one bullying incident was reported.
Pricing/Package/Events
Events & Schedule
Special Events(Last 2 months - Next 6 months)
Birthday Party Reservations
Not available at this time
Reservations will be reevaluated for acceptance in the spring.
🍎Food Policy
- • Outside food and beverages are permitted.
- • Glass containers are strictly prohibited.
- • Alcoholic beverages are strictly prohibited.
- • Coolers are subject to inspection upon entry.
- • Food delivery is allowed, but patrons must meet the delivery driver in the lobby; staff cannot accept or manage deliveries.
- • No food or drinks are sold at the facility (water fountains are available).
🛡️Safety Policy
- • All patrons must bring their own towel (towels are not provided by the facility).
- • The large yellow water slide is available only to patrons 48 inches tall or taller. Heights will be measured upon entry.
- • Children under 48 inches tall must be within arm’s reach of a responsible adult at all times while in the water.
- • Lap swimming rules and etiquette are in place (details not provided).
📅Booking Policy
- • Entry is on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to facility capacity limits.
- • If the facility is at capacity, names can be added to a waiting list at the front desk.
🚗Parking Information
- • No specific parking information provided.
What People Say
What's Great
- Clean and well-maintained facilities (mentioned in 2 reviews)
- Friendly and helpful staff (mentioned in 5 reviews)
- Fun and entertaining activities (mentioned in 4 reviews)
- Great for birthday parties (mentioned in 3 reviews)
- Spacious play areas (mentioned in 5 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Tisha
a month agoIt was OK. Took my 6 year old to swim for her birthday and the water was cold, and even going into the locker rooms afterwards was freezing! All other indoor waterparks we visit are almost hot in there, which is amazing. Also, too many rules. I understand kids get rowdy, but it was just whistle blowing the whole time and my kid couldn't be no further than an arms reach, or the whistle is blown. She had fun though. They do have life jackets in case you forget your child's floating devices.
Iris_sb
a month agoAbsolutely best experience I’ve had at a public pool great environment and great employees in specific this beautiful young lady I knew I was safe having her around and so kind to the kids I will definitely be coming again soon
Dan Thompson
a year agoAwesome pool for kiddos!!!!! 😁😁💦💦💦👍👍 Of ALL the public Raleigh area pools, THIS one is by FAR the BEST!!! It has a water slide, it has a lazy river, it has a splashpad, it has a WHIRLPOOL, it has water basketball, it has water jets, it has a large public pool area, it has a lap pool area, it allows birthday parties, and they allow pool toys! Great place to take your family for fun swim time! They have two different prices though, depending on whether you pay your local taxes to the City of Raleigh or to the County of Wake… We literally live two miles down the road from the pool, but, they “had” to charge us the higher price for some odd reason… But, if your taxes go to the City of Raleigh, you pay a much cheaper price, makes no logical sense to me at all, but nonetheless, still a great pool! They really need to bring their height requirement down for their water slide though. It’s set really high at 48”….36”-40” would allow a lot more kids to use it. Four feet height requirement is high in my opinion for a children’s water slide. Both Kings Dominion, Kings Island, and Great Wolf Lodge’s water slides are not set this high. Even Carnival Cruise-lines brand new ship, the Celebration, that we sailed on over a year ago, my six-year-old son could ride two of the three larger waterslides on it. They all allow smaller kids to ride on most of their slides…
Lauren Citrone
3 months agoBuffaloe Road Aquatic Center Review We recently visited the Buffaloe Road Aquatic Center, and overall, it was a wonderful experience for the entire family! The staff was friendly and welcoming, and the facility itself was clean, well-maintained, and thoughtfully designed. The aquatic center had a fantastic toddler area with engaging features that kept our little ones entertained. The fun ramp leading into the big pool was a great touch, making it easy for kids to transition between play areas. My kids especially loved the whirlpool and the “lazy river”—they couldn’t stop laughing and splashing around! I recommend getting there a few minutes before the doors open, we did and there was a line of people to get in. The only downside to our visit was that the water was a bit chilly. Even though my kids shivered through most of the time, they were still having so much fun that it didn’t stop them from enjoying every minute. Despite the cool water, it was a great outing, and we’ll definitely be back for more fun, maybe in the spring/summer time!
Bre Hedgefield
a month agoHorrible experience! This lifeguard chose to bully my children and keep looking at them and then when asked Bryce for her name he claims he didn't know her name which I find weird and probably very untruthful. Would've been an overall experience if they didn't have adult staff bullying children. The children weren't doing anything they shouldn't but she insisted on following them around the pool making them very uncomfortable and then engaging in a verbal altercation with a 7 year old. Very unprofessional. Be mindful of this and watch your children to ensure they aren't being bullied by adults while here.