Noah’s Ark in Wisconsin Dells, America’s Largest Waterpark, is perfect for kids of all ages. It opened in 1979, and over the years, it has continued to add new rides, resulting in a phenomenal variety of water slides and attractions. There is something for everyone, from babies and toddlers to teens and adults. It offers something for people seeking a calm, relaxing day, as well as those ready to push the limits.
There are plenty of attractions for shorter guests looking for thrills as well as multiple family raft options, so everyone can ride together. They have two wave pools, a water zip line, body slides, tube slides, toilet bowl slides, steep drops, mat slides, surf stimulators, and more. From a Wisconsin Dells locale, this guide will help you make the most of your day. At the bottom, you can find a table summarizing the types of rides and their corresponding height and weight restrictions.
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What to Bring to Noah’s Ark
A good day starts with the right stuff. I’m a minimalist when it comes to packing, but here is what I like to bring into the park.
- Water Shoes or sandals
- Sunglasses with a leash-You need a leash, or you will have to hold them on slides
- Sunscreen
- Towels-Try these low pack volume, quick dry ones
- Full water bottle-I couldn’t find any place to fill mine up
- Waterproof band-aids
- Swim suits and dry clothes
- Goggles for kids in the wave pool
- Sunshirt or cover-up
- A plastic bag for your wet clothes on the way home
I’m working on a full article with more recommendations. Do you have any suggestions? Comment below.
Lodging and Admission
Noah’s Ark is the only large waterpark in Wisconsin Dells, the waterpark capital of the world, that isn’t directly associated with a resort. They do have connections to a handful of local hotels/motels, and if you and the kids stay at those places, you get complimentary tickets for Noah’s Ark every day of your stay, including the day of arrival and the day of departure. If you are traveling in a group and need a place to stay, this is surely the best deal! For example, you can get $160 motel, which includes up to 4 tickets for 2 days!
We liked Amber’s Motel for its family-friendly vibe. They also have an outdoor pool, pool toys, and a playground, and their rooms are a bit larger than the average hotel room. AmericInn offers complimentary tickets to both Noah’s Ark and Chula Vista and includes a standard continental breakfast. They have a basic hotel with a warm indoor pool and a small splash area.
Without lodging, full price tickets cost $60. Kids under 36″ are free! Kids between 36″-42″ pay a reduced rate. Be sure to check out the discounts page, as it frequently features sale prices.
Don’t forget to budget for parking, which is $25-$30. When we go at opening, we pay the extra $5 to get a spot right up close, but general parking is still not terribly far away.
Where do I put my Phone?
Signs say no electronic recording devices or phones are allowed on slides and rides, but that rule wasn’t enforced the last time we were there. The safest place for the phone is in the lockers, but then you can’t take pictures. I carried my waterproof phone in a running belt. This gave me quick access, but it isn’t waterproof, and it doesn’t help me if I drop it. Sometimes I like to combine my belt with a leash that connects to my phone, using a piece that fits under the case, like this one. One popular option is a waterproof case with a lanyard, though I don’t think those are allowed on some of the rides. This option makes the phone too bulky to fit in my belt and feels less secure on the fast rides. It also creates lower-quality photos, as the case seems to steam up just a bit.
Babies and Toddlers
The Elephant splash pad is inside the endless river near in the center of the park. It is a simple place for the youngest to play, with no height minimum or maximum. Slightly older kids will love the five nearby body slides, the Toucan Twisters. These have no height restrictions, and some allow double riding if you want to take your young child along.
Tadpole Bay is in the center of the park and is a splash and play structure. This is great for toddlers or young kids who are not yet ready for the bigger slides. Parents and kids can ride together on the open slides, but kids have to go alone on the enclosed ones. There is a huge bucket that drops water regularly.
The OctoExplorer is a combination of an octopus and a submarine. It is a climb and slide play area with a maximum height of 48″. Right next to this is the calmer of the two wave pools, called The Wave. This wave pool has some tubes and a smaller protected area. Bigger or more adventurous swimmers will head to the Big Kahuna Wave Pool. At the Big Kahuna, you have to pay to rent tubes, so there weren’t many. Kids under 48″ must wear life vests in the wave pools, and Noah’s Ark has plenty to use for free.
There is another kids’ area near Big Kahuna, called Pelican Bay. This shallow area is designed for little guests and features squirt guns, fountains, and slides.
Finally, there is a small splash pad area called Jumping Waters, located on the west end of the park near Stingray. This place is simple and the perfect place for younger guests to wait if older family members are on some of the bigger rides in that area.
Family Fun for All
Our family often splits up during certain parts of the day so everyone can do what they like best, but I LOVE when we can all be together for some slides. There are two awesome family raft rides without a minimum height requirement! The first is Chameleon, which has lights and music making for a super fun ride. Congo Bongo requires little riders to be able to sit independently and feels a bit faster, but is still overall a mild, family-friendly ride.
There are two lazy rivers called the Endless River and Adventure River. These cater to everyone from babies to grandmas.
Finally, there are two wave pools. Both require life vests for kids under 48″. Plenty of life vests of all sizes are available. The Wave has smaller, calmer waves, while the Big Kahuna has larger waves. The Wave has free tubes to use, but if you want a tube at Big Kahuna, you need to rent one, so there aren’t many out there.
Flash Flood is a boat pulled up a roller coaster-like track that then descends down a steep drop. It has a height requirement of 40″. For those who are shorter or are less inclined to jump on the steep drop, there are lots of places to watch the huge wave. The bravest bystanders can stand right in the flood zone and get hit with the blast.
Kids of all Ages
I love that Noah’s Ark, in Wisconsin Dells, has rides for kids of all ages. There are multiple areas of slides without height requirements. The Toucan Twisters are body slides. They allow double riding, so even toddlers can enjoy them, but they are also fun for adults looking for a calmer day. There are two sets of tube slides without strict height requirements: Monkey Rapids by the Adventure River and the Bermuda Triangle.
One of my favorite sections of the park is called Paradise Lagoon. This includes the ever-popular lily pad run, which is available in two difficulty levels. It features a pool approximately 4 feet deep for play. There are two zip lines that, sooner or later, will drop you into the deep water. There are several short, steep slides with drops into a deep pool, as well as a small cliff jump area.
Rides and Slides for those at least 42″-43″
Every kid’s desire for thrill rides varies, but it’s nice to know that some options become available as they start to get taller. This includes Sting Ray, Time Warp, Quadzilla, and Kowabunga. This year, we’re at this stage, and I’m loving getting on some of these bigger rides! I’m not easily scared on rides, but I did let out a scream on the Sting Ray. It’s a huge U-shaped slide that goes nearly straight down. My 5-year-old took me on it back-to-back three times.
Quadzilla is the classic mat slide, and you can go four at a time. We all loved it, the adults easily caught some air off the bumps, so drag your toes if you want to control your speed or need a smoother ride.
Kowabunga is next to the mat slide and is a family raft slide. It doesn’t have any twists or turns, but rather several steep drops in a row. Again, we were surprised when we caught some air but had a great time! Tell your young riders they need to hang on.
The final slide for riders who want excitement but aren’t quite 48″ is Time Warp. It had a longer line and appeared popular with both adults and teens. This classic toilet bowl raft ride has a few surprises, and everyone comes out laughing.
Thrill Rides for Older Kids and Teens
Finally, if your group is ready for the thrill rides and is 48″ and over, there are several awesome rides to keep you on your toes. It includes Point of No Return, Black Anacanda, Scorpion, Raja, and the Surf Stimulator.
The Point of No Return is a step up from the classic punge ride. It is nearly vertical and reaches some sweet speeds. Be sure to cross your legs and don’t bring along any loose items.
Black Anaconda is a water coaster. If you haven’t been on one of these before, you are in for a treat. These slides go down, but also rise a little. You have a more sturdy-than-normal tube, and water blasts along the way help you maintain your speed. This ride is dark, steep, and fast!
Ready for more darkness? Try Black Thunder! This set of 4 tube slides plunges you into total darkness, making every twist and turn a surprise.
Need more speed? Try Raja, this snake-like tube slide is one of the most thrilling rides in the park, reaching speeds of up to 32 mph! Do you prefer a body slide that gets your adrenaline pumping? Check out Scorpion’s Tail, “America’s First Nearly Looping Waterslide!” Yup, you do almost a full loop-de-loop right at the start. To achieve maximum speed, you start in a capsule where the floor drops out from under you.
Finally, guests over 48″ can check out the surf stimulator. This fun boogie board experience takes a little bit of practice and a lot of balance. Everyone gets a couple of tries, and the workers will help coach you on some tricks as you get better. Be sure to wear a suit that will stay in place! Not interested in trying it? It’s still fun to watch everyone else give it a go, the wipe-outs can be spectacular at times, and they have some stadium seating so you can get a good view.
Food Options at Noah’s Ark Waterpark
You cannot bring your own food, so you will need to purchase food on-site or leave the park to eat. They do a brief, cursory bag check at the entrance, looking for carry-in food. I had some forgotten granola bars and other snacks in my bag (because what mom doesn’t have snacks stashed in every pocket?), and they were not found in the bag check.
Food prices are high, which is expected at a waterpark. The following prices were from the summer of 2025. Burger and fries or chicken tenders and fries for $14 each, which didn’t include a drink. Nachos and cheese were $9, a Hot dog and chips for $10, a walking taco for $13, or a funnel cake for $12. Bottled water was $4.50, soda for $5, and beer was $15 a can. You can purchase a souvenir cup for $18.99 and receive free soda refills for the entire year.
I brought my own water bottle, but didn’t see any water fountains. I would imagine you can refill water at a soda fountain.
More Logistics
They offer keyless lockers for rent to store your belongings. Many people simply set them up on tables and chairs, and as it’s a big park, it was fairly easy to find a place. They do NOT link your wristband to a credit card, so you’ll have to stop back at your stuff for money or bring some along with you. I have my credit card linkned to my phone and used that for payment.
Noah’s Ark in Wisconsin Dells offers showers/changing rooms/bathrooms. I did not see any family changing areas that accommodated both parents and kids of both genders.
There are private cabanas available. With kids ages 5 and 7, we kept moving all day and didn’t need to spend the money. Cabana prices range from $80 for a two-person shaded area to $240 for up to 12 people. Perhaps the nicest perk is that most have a phone charging station, and many have a small fridge.
Height and Weight Restrictions at Noah’s Ark
| Ride | Height Minimum | ||
| Endless River | Lazy River | Under 36″ needs an adult | Under 36″ needs an adult |
| Adventure River | Lazy River | None | |
| OctoExplorer | Playground | None | Max 48″ |
| Tadpole Bay | Climb and Splash | None | |
| Elephant Pond | Shallow Pool | None | |
| Pelican Bay | Shallow Pool | None | |
| Jumping Waters | Splash Pad | None | |
| Paradise Lagoon | Pool with slides, zip lines, lilly pads, etc | 36″ | |
| Tocan Twisters | 5 Body Slides | None | Double riding is allowed |
| Scorpion’s Tail | Body Slide | 48″ | 90-300 lbs |
| Point of No Return | Body Slide | 48″ | |
| Chameleon | Raft Slide | None | 250-800 lbs per tube |
| Congo Bongo | Raft Slide | None | Kids must sit independently. 200-1200 lb tube weight |
| Kowabunga | Raft Slide | 43″ | Max tube 1,200 lbs |
| Monkey Rapids | 3 Tube Slides | None | Orange slide has max of 48″ |
| The Bermuda Triangle | 3 Tube Slides | None | Kids must sit independently. Max 400 lbs per tube |
| Sting Ray | Steep tube slide | 42″ | 300lbs single tube, 500 lbs max double tube |
| Time Warp | Toilet Bowl Tube Slide | 42″ | Max tube weight 700 lbs |
| Raja | Tube Slide | 48″ | Single 145-265 lbs, double 220-440 lbs |
| Black Thunder | Tube Slide | 48″ | Double tube max 400 lbs |
| Flash Flood | Steep Boat Ride | 40″ | Adult needed for 36″-40″ |
| Quadzilla | Mat slide | 42″ | |
| Black Anacaonda | Water Coaster | 48″ | Weight 250 lbs-600 lbs per double tube |
| Surfing Safari | Surf Stimulator | 48″ | |
| The Wave | Wave Pool | none | Under 48″ needs a life vest and adult |
| Big Kahuna | Wave Pool | none | Black Anaconda |
Concluding Thoughts
Noah’s Ark has been a popular destination, with kids or without, for years in Wisconsin Dells and continues to stand the test of time. I was so impressed by the breadth of options for all preferences. I would have a blast going just with friends and hitting all the scary rides, and I had a great time with my kids at a variety of ages. This is the kind of park a toddler can enjoy just as much as a teenager.
While the full ticket price is a bit on the high side, there are frequent sales to get discounts. If you are staying the night, getting free tickets with lodging is a great deal and also makes things way more affordable.
We can’t wait to go back soon!