Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park

Elitch Gardens is Denver's only major theme and water park, offering roller coasters, thrill rides, a full water park, and a kiddie area all in one location right in downtown Denver. Originally opened in 1890, making it one of the oldest amusement parks in the country, it moved to its current location along the Platte River in 1995. For families, the key value proposition is that one ticket includes both the theme park and the water park -- two experiences for one price.

The theme park side features about 30 rides across different thrill levels. For big kids and teens, the marquee attractions are the Mind Eraser (an inverted suspended coaster), the Sidewinder (a boomerang coaster with a vertical loop), the Tower of Doom (a 200-foot drop tower), and Half Pipe (a U-shaped halfpipe ride). These deliver genuine thrills comparable to rides at larger parks.

For younger riders, KiddieLand offers about 10 age-appropriate rides with no or low height requirements, including a mini roller coaster, flying planes, and a Frog Hopper gentle drop tower. Kids ages 4-7 typically find KiddieLand perfectly thrilling.

The water park (Island Kingdom) is a full-featured facility with a wave pool, lazy river, multiple water slides (body slides and tube slides), a splash pad for toddlers, and a large tipping bucket play structure. On hot Denver summer days, the water park is where families spend the majority of their time. The quality rivals standalone water parks, and the fact that it is included with theme park admission makes the overall value strong.

A realistic family day at Elitch Gardens splits into morning theme park rides (hit the big coasters early when lines are shortest), midday water park (when the sun and heat peak), and return to the theme park for evening rides. This morning-water-evening rhythm maximizes your time and minimizes heat exposure.

Practical considerations: the park is seasonal, operating roughly from May through October, with limited hours in spring and fall and full daily operations in June through August. Always check elitchgardens.com for the exact schedule before planning your visit -- the park sometimes closes on non-peak weekdays.

Denver's summer weather adds a wrinkle: afternoon thunderstorms are common from July through August, typically rolling through between 2 and 5 PM and lasting 30-60 minutes. When storms hit, rides close temporarily and many visitors leave. If you wait out the storm (take shelter in indoor arcades or restaurants), ride lines drop dramatically afterward.

Ticket prices at the gate run $55-65 per person depending on the day, but online advance purchase typically saves $10-15 per person. Parking is $25-30. Food inside the park is standard theme park fare (burgers, pizza, chicken strips, funnel cakes) at $10-18 per item. Outside food is not allowed (except water bottles and baby food), so budget for meals or eat before entering.

The park is located in downtown Denver along the Platte River, easily accessible from I-25. It is a 5-minute drive from Union Station and adjacent to the Children's Museum of Denver, making it possible to combine attractions if you have a multi-day visit.