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Sahara Sam's Water Park formerly Big Kahuna's — Indoor Water Parks in Philadelphia

Sahara Sam's Water Park formerly Big Kahuna's

3.9(6,403)3.9 out of 5 stars, 6403 reviews Philadelphia, PA

About Sahara Sam's Water Park formerly Big Kahuna's

Sahara Sam's Water Park offers a nostalgic experience with fun water slides and family-friendly amenities at an affordable price, particularly when accessed through Groupon. However, cleanliness and safety concerns may detract from the overall enjoyment.

What parents should know

Summarized from real visitor reviews.

Best for: Families looking for an affordable day outBirthday parties and group events, though expect larger crowdsToddlers and young children enjoy the kiddie area, but supervision is crucial due to safety issuesOlder children and adults find the water slides fun and thrilling

Why families love it

  • Affordable pricing through Groupon, with mentions of $20/person being a good value
  • Fast and enjoyable water slides that appeal to both kids and adults
  • Friendly and helpful staff in food service areas
  • Large snack/pizza area with affordable options
  • Free parking available
  • Large bar with tropical drinks

Insider tips

  • Purchase tickets through Groupon for the best price
  • Arrive early to secure a good spot and avoid overcrowding
  • Consider bringing your own changing options due to questionable bathroom cleanliness

Good to know before you go

  • Visiting during peak hours when the park is very crowded
  • Expecting a clean environment or high safety standards
  • Facilities are reported as unclean, with cloudy water and floating debris in pools
  • Inadequate lifeguard supervision leading to safety concerns for children
  • High chlorine levels causing discomfort and irritation
Crowds
The park tends to get very crowded, especially during weekends and holidays
Value
Groupon tickets are recommended for around $20/person, providing good value compared to regular pricing. Lockers are an additional $20 flat fee, which is necessary due to limited seating.
Food
Food options are affordable, but outside food and drinks are likely not allowed
Safety
Lifeguards are present, but their effectiveness has been questioned

What parents say

shannon realtor
3.03.0 out of 5 stars
"Not bad but not awesome. Good deal w/the Groupon but smallish. VERY very crowded. 2 water slides were closed while we were there which didn't help the long lines. Chaos reigns in the "lazy" river, it's more like crazy chaos river than anything else. Parking is free, lockers are $20 flat all day fee- and you're going to need one because the chairs get taken up and rearranged by large groups. They do birthday parties and group events here which is nice, but should have separate hours for such a small space to accommodate the large groups. Pools were ok, although they were all extremely cloudy by"

2 weeks ago

Kay Williams
3.03.0 out of 5 stars
"Sahara Sam's is absolutely gross, nostalgic, and loads of fun all at the same time. There's a reason why they call it Boomer's Park. It hasn't been updated since they opened. Expect mounds of dust, but a warm feeling if you used to come here as a kid. It's best to get the park ticket before you come through Groupon. The water slides are a lot of fun, even as an adult. If you're coming to this water park, definitely lower your expectations for cleanliness. The children will love it, though, and despite the state of the facilities, you just might too. P.s.- Sahara Sam's should really shut the p"

a month ago

Kristen A
2.02.0 out of 5 stars
"Worse life guard. Took my child to the kiddie ares everyone was waiting in line except for these two little girl who were unattended that keep going down the slide. There were children still on the slide going down and these girl were smashing into them. He just kept smiling every time they pushed past him. I approached him when the one little girl landed ontop of my child. His exact words were “what do you want me to do” well for starters be a life guard that’s what you are getting paid to do. You’re responsible for the children in the water. If you can’t handle your job then you should not b"

a month ago

Reviews sourced from public Google data.