We sent one of our Mom Bloggers to Mountain Creek New Jersey to check out their waterpark. Read her honest review before you plan your family trip here!

I am of an age that when I was growing up, commercials for Action Park were still on tv. Sadly, I never got to go as a kid because it closed down before I could go. Fast forward to our present day and now, in its place, is the Mountain Creek Waterpark. So with a combination of nostalgia and curiosity, my family set off on a glorious Saturday morning to see what this new park had to offer. explore this incredibly scenic outdoor waterpark.

The drive to Vernon, NJ was incredibly scenic and led us through many quaint little towns.  Even though we knew that the waterpark was surrounded by mountains, it was still a sight to see as we arrived at Mountain Creek. The greenery was breathtaking. Now I understand why people flock here to come skiing each winter!

Overall, it was a great day full of fun and laughter. Mountain Creek New Jersey has a lot to offer in addition to the water park, so we’ll definitely be coming back. Next time, we’ll make sure to try out the zip lines and rope courses.

But for now, I have information to share with all of you about many of the Mountain Creek water rides that we went on during our day trip. I hope my insight helps you plan a fun-filled trip of your own this summer!

Mountain Creek New Jersey Waterpark

Mountain Creek New Jersey Sky Ride

Walking towards the entrance of the park, we passed the Sky Ride. (Admission is free with your Mountain Creek Waterpark admission!) We decided to do that first to get a bird’s eye view of what the park had to offer.

As we boarded, the friendly staff let us know that there was a wedding occurring that afternoon at the top of the mountain. I can only imagine how breathtaking an event like that would be! The semi-enclosed gondola slowly ascended to the top of the mountain and we could see mountain bikers riding the trails below. Apparently, Mountain Creek also has an admirable bike park!

Mountain Creek New Jersey Waterpark Rides

The first ride the kids went on was Surf Hill. This slide features 8 lanes where the participants lay on their stomachs on thin mats picking up speed until the very end. They loved it! This was my daughter’s favorite ride of the day.

Next up was the Colorado River. The rafts are big enough for 4 and every rider must wear a helmet. Perhaps that should have given me pause…but we went on it anyway. The water was ice cold and woke us right up!

The Colorado River definitely replicates white water rafting and we soon learned why the helmets were necessary. We got knocked around for sure! At one point, you go through a dark tunnel and on the way out I looked up and saw a sharp corner coming straight at us. As a mom, my first thought was, “Well, that doesn’t seem very safe” and I couldn’t help but think about the stories of Action Park and all of the safety concerns that park had. When the ride was over, my son wanted to do it again, my husband looked confused, my daughter couldn’t wait to get away, and I needed a band-aid.

We decided to go to the High Tide Wave Pool next to give my daughter a chance to relax. Life jackets were available, but wearing them is not mandatory. There are lounge chairs around the pool that gave my husband and I a place to relax and watch our kids enjoy the waves that seemed to come every 10 to 15 minutes. Unlike other water parks that we have visited, there are no tubes available to float on in the pool, which was a drawback for the kids.

Before long, both kids were ready for more excitement and off they went to Thunder Run and The Gauley. Thunder Run is a 2 person raft ride that sends you down a twisting and turning path whereas The Gauley is a single person raft ride. Both received rave reviews from my kids and they spent quite a bit of time here.

My husband and I waited for them at the bottom and in our trek down, we passed Bombs Away – a short slide that drops you 18 feet above the pool below. We also passed a “kids zone” that features a spray park, a play area, and a small lazy river for younger children, Lost Island River.

There is a ride called High Anxiety and you notice it the moment you set foot in the park. It looks like a giant red and yellow funnel. I knew that there was no way that my son was going to let me get out of trying this ride with him, so off we hiked up the hill to get our raft. Walking with a raft up a hill – and up a few flights of stairs – was definitely not the highlight of the ride!

Watching the people ahead of us, I could feel my stomach doing flip-flops. My nerves were a bit raw as I watched the raft shoot out of the drop tube into the mouth of the funnel and get quite close to the edge of the funnel! My son loves exciting rides, water or not, and loves that I scream my head off. He laughed the entire time while I just screamed. Admittedly, the ride was a lot of fun and I would have done it again, but seeing how close the rafts seem to be to the edge of the funnel, I felt like I would be pushing my luck. At this point, we had spent about 5 hours at the park and it was closing soon. (We went on a day when it was only opened for 6 hours)

Unfortunately, we didn’t get to do any of the enclosed tube rides. After 5 hours, the walk uphill was more than my spent kids were up for. The next time we come, I think we will start at the highest point of the park (i.e. the tubes) and then work our way down. This way, gravity is our friend throughout the day!

Food and Beverages

A few hours in, everyone had worked up an appetite, so we went to find something to eat. Mountain Eats has burgers, hot dogs, and chicken fingers as well as healthier choices like fruit, yogurt, and salads. Big Bear BBQ is another restaurant that offers choices like mac-and-cheese and a brisket sandwich. For a sweet treat, make sure you visit the Sugar Shack which offers funnel cake fries (YUM!), fried Oreos and cookie dough, milkshakes, and ice cream.

Admission:

Check the website for the most recent prices, but as of this posting date, the fees for Mountain Creek New Jersey were:

Full Day:

• under 48”: $29.99
• Over 48”: $45.99
• Seniors: $29.99

Afternoon Admission:

• under 48”: $21.99
• Over 48”: $25.99
• Seniors: $21.99

There are also season passes which offer

• Free parking all season long!
• 15% off food and beverage, retail, cabanas, lodging, and zip tours
• $5 discount for friends (any day)
• Free Sky Ride
• Free admission to our legendary Oktoberfest

One Day or Two?

As I mentioned earlier, my school-aged kids were too tired to finish the park in one day. Those hills really do sap the energy out of you in a very healthy way! So, we definitely could have done a second day.

So, if you have kids, you may want to consider staying at the Appalachian Lodge at Mountain Creek. This large, lodge-like hotel is situated at the base of Vernon Peak and you can walk right to it from the waterpark. This is incredibly convenient!

The Appalachian offers spacious studio, one and two bedroom units complete with kitchens, working fireplaces, and mountainside views. Plus, they have a heated outdoor pool and hot tub, so you can soak your tired leg muscles when you get back to the hotel!

Random Things To Know

• Get there early so you can get a parking spot close to the park because it starts to get crowded at noon.
• Only water in plastic bottles is permitted, upon entering the waterpark. So leave your insulated Yeti and Swell bottles at home!
• Lockers are worth it, but they are “first come, first serve.”
• Wear comfortable water shoes — the pavement gets hot! Flip-flops are not a good idea because you’re slippery and walking uphill…carrying tubes and floats. Be careful.
• There’s a dress code – and rightfully so; this is a family establishment. Read more about it here.
• Be prepared to walk a lot! Many of the rides are uphill and the walk from the parking lot is long. You will be tired at the end of the day.
• If you have very young children, please know that this water park is not stroller friendly in the sense that you are going uphill often.
• The water is freezing. It’s a water park though, so it’s to be expected.
• Follow the rules. If a staffer tells you to cross your arms over your chest, cross your arms over your chest or your elbows will get banged up!
• One online reviewer mentioned bringing a small waterproof bag to hold your cell phone and wallet in. We thought this was genius! You know your kids are going to want 800 pictures of their special day!

Have you ever been to Mountain Creek New Jersey? Did I miss any tips or tricks? If so, drop us a comment below and let us know what we missed!

Jenn

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Disclosure: Free tickets for our family of four were provided to We Know Stuff from Mountain Creek. However, the opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Mountain Creek.

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