Things to Do

Grand Texas Opening New Waterpark and Gator Bayou for Memorial Day

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Tony Maples Photography

 

Opening for its first season on May 25, 2019, Gator Bayou Adventure Park and Big Rivers Waterpark are the first two highly anticipated features of Grand Texas in New Caney. The 632-acre park, located by the Interstate 69 and State Hwy. 242 intersection is still moving forward, following last year’s announcement of an opening in June. This first full season for these features will keep progressing the park forward in its drive to make a home for these two facilities in addition to a theme park, factory outlet shopping, a sportsplex, and multi-use retail space. The property will also be home to several hotels.

In an interview with the Community Impact Newspaper, Monty Galland, CEO of the Grand Texas venture, stated, “We’ve got enough room to expand for the next 30 years—so we’ll be expanding; there will be construction, and we’ll be adding things for the next 30 years. Right now, we’ve got everything you’d expect from a premium waterpark, and then we’ve got lots of things that you wouldn’t expect, like the alligator habitat, like the zip line [and] the challenge courses.”

Grand Texas Opening New Waterpark and Gator Bayou for Memorial Day

Photo: Pixabay

Gator Bayou features an aerial rope challenge including zip lines, a seven-story free-fall tower experience, an inflatable aqua park, a climbing wall, as well as an alligator exhibit and a petting zoo. Big Rivers will boast the Boca Chica Wave Pool, water slides, and a lazy river (said to be the largest one in the Houston area). Both parks will allow guests to make use of Big Red Texas BBQ—a full-service barbecue restaurant—as well as the Armadillo Grill (a Tex-Mex restaurant), food trucks, and even a beer garden with local craft beer on tap! Park entry fees include on-site catch-and-release fishing and a giant maze, according to Galland, and with admission rates set at $39.99 and $34.99 for adults and children, respectively, it’s a bargain. Season passes are also available for $69.99!