NRH2O Family Water Park

What NRH2O Family Water Park does

NRH2O Family Water Park is a single-location, municipal-owned water park operated by the City of North Richland Hills, Texas. Founded in 1995 as the first municipal water park in Texas and one of the first in the nation, the park operates on a 17-acre footprint with 23 water attractions including thrill slides (Sidewinder, Viper, Accelerator, Purplepalooza), family attractions (Double Dipper, NRH2Ocean wave pool, Endless River lazy river), and children's areas (Tadpole Swimming Hole, Frogstein's Splashatory). It is open seasonally and processes approximately 1 million gallons of water daily through UV filtration and sodium hypochlorite sanitization systems, with full water recycling at season end. The park is overseen by General Manager Stephanie Hee-Johnston, who has served in the role since progressing through the organization since 2003.

The business generates revenue across eight distinct streams: day tickets with tiered height/weekday/weekend/residency pricing ($14.99-$37.99 range), season passes with bundled perks, premium reserved seating (Beachside Bungalows $200-$250/day, Cabana Island $249.99-$299.99/day, Cabanas $99.99-$124.99/day, Luxury Loungers $39.99-$49.99/day), birthday party packages (Basic $249.99, Plus $299.99, Extreme $399.99), group bookings with tiered per-guest pricing from $19.99 to $23.99, on-site F&B operations (Al Gator's Smokehouse & Grill, Piper's River Falls Cafe, Sheldon's Ice Cream Shop, Eb & Flo's Funnel Cake Lab), merchandise through Waterford's Gift Shop, and daily locker rentals. The park is funded entirely through revenue with no property tax support and offers free parking and free cooler policies as customer-friendly differentiators.

NRH2O serves a diversified consumer base — primarily families with children in the DFW metroplex, supplemented by corporate groups, church and civic organizations, birthday party hosts, and North Richland Hills residents who receive discounted admission. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via the gatemastertickets.com online platform, walk-up ticket booths, and a dedicated group sales office. Core partnerships include Ellis & Associates for aquatic safety certification (the industry benchmark used by 90% of US water parks), Pepsi as beverage sponsor, and Dippin' Dots, Cook Children's, and Heavenly Crust Pizza as F&B partners. The park has earned TripAdvisor accolades and multiple international aquatic industry awards for safety and service excellence.

Name

NRH2O Family Water Park

Legal name

City of North Richland Hills (NRH2O Family Water Park)

Website

https://nrh2o.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

NRH2O Family Water Park is a municipally-owned, 17-acre seasonal water park in North Richland Hills, Texas, operating 23 attractions for DFW-area families, corporate groups, and birthday party hosts since 1995.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Park / Amusement Park Services

NAICS

Amusement and Theme Parks (713110)

akta.pro primary industry

Outdoor Water Parks (Wave Pools, Lazy Rivers, Slides) (THAAABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Standalone/Pay-Per-Entry Water Parks (Day-Visitor Focused) (THAAABAD), Water Parks (Outdoor/Indoor, Wave Pools & Slides) (THAJAEAB)

Keywords

• Water park attractions
• Family water park
• Seasonal amusement park
• Group event hosting
• Reserved cabana rentals

Headquarters

HQ city

North Richland Hills

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Admission Tickets: Day tickets sold at gate and online with tiered pricing based on height (under/over 48 inches), day of week (weekday/weekend/holiday), and residency status. Free admission for children 2 years and under.
2. Season Passes: Season passes offering unlimited admission throughout operating season with additional perks including free buddy entries, reserved seating discounts, meal voucher entitlements, and souvenir bottle discounts
3. Food and Beverage: On-site food and beverage operations including Al Gator's Smokehouse & Grill, Piper's River Falls Cafe, Sheldon's Ice Cream Shop, Eb & Flo's Funnel Cake Lab, and Pepsi Freeze products. Revenue from mobile ordering, grab-and-go items, souvenir bottles, and drink wristbands
4. Reserved Seating Rentals: Premium reserved seating options including Beachside Bungalows ($200-$250/day), Cabana Island ($249.99-$299.99/day), Cabanas ($99.99-$124.99/day), and Luxury Loungers ($39.99-$49.99/day). Cabana Island seats 42-56 guests
5. Birthday Party Packages: Three birthday party tiers: Basic ($249.99), Plus ($299.99), and Extreme ($399.99). Packages include admission tickets, reserved seating, food, drinks, and party host services
6. Group Bookings and Events: Group tickets with tiered pricing (15-500+ guests), group dining with meal vouchers, Bayou Banquet catering, and exclusive park rentals for corporate events
7. Locker Rentals: Three locker sizes rented daily at kiosks accepting credit/debit and cash. Pricing varies by size and day of week
8. Merchandise: Waterford's Gift Shop selling souvenirs including t-shirts, magnets, candy, sunscreen, water shoes, swimsuits, and shark tooth necklaces

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

NRH2O Family Water Park is a 17-acre municipal water park operating 23 water attractions including thrill slides, a 225,000-gallon wave pool, a 660-foot lazy river, and interactive water playgrounds. It sells day tickets, season passes, group tickets, birthday party packages, reserved cabanas and bungalows, food and beverage, merchandise, and locker rentals to families and group visitors in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Product overview

NRH2O Family Water Park is a single-location municipal water park offering a unified portfolio of 23 water attractions and comprehensive guest services. The core product is day-ticket and season-pass admission to the 17-acre park featuring thrill rides (Sidewinder, Viper, Thunder, Riggamaroll, Accelerator), family attractions (Double Dipper, Purplepalooza, NRH2Ocean, Beachside Bay, Blue Sky), and children's areas (Frogstein's Splashatory, Tadpole Swimming Hole, Endless River). The park supplements admission with add-on services including reserved seating (Cabanas, Luxury Loungers, Beachside Bungalows, Picnic & Banquet areas), group ticketing, birthday party packages, and food & beverage operations (Al Gator's Smokehouse & Grill, Eb & Flo's Funnel Cake Lab, Sheldon's Ice Cream Shop, Piper's River Falls Cafe). Technology services include mobile food ordering, locker rentals, and an online discount ticket program. The park operates as a City of North Richland Hills facility with free parking and cooler policies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Day Tickets Single-use admission tickets sold on weekdays and weekends/holidays, tiered by guest height (under/over 48 inches), day of week, and North Richland Hills residency status; free for children 2 and under.
• Season Passes Annual season passes offering unlimited admission throughout the operating season with Greatest Value and Extreme tiers, including free buddy entries, reserved seating discounts, meal voucher entitlements, and souvenir bottle refills.
• NRH Resident Season Passes Discounted season passes for North Richland Hills residents requiring proof of residency at purchase and entry, including additional buddy entry perks.
• Group Tickets Discounted admission for groups of 15 or more guests with tiered pricing from $21.99 down to $19.99 per person for 500+ guests, plus a walk-up group rate of $23.99 per person (minimum 15 guests).
• Birthday Party Packages Three-tiered birthday celebration packages — Basic ($249.99), Plus ($299.99), and Extreme ($399.99) — including admission tickets, reserved seating, food, drinks, party host, and additional guests at $21.99 each.
• Cabanas and Luxury Loungers Reserved shaded seating including individual cabanas seating up to 6 ($99.99 Mon-Thu, $124.99 Fri-Sun & Holidays), the Cabana Island seating 42-56 guests ($249.99-$299.99), and Luxury Loungers ($39.99-$49.99) with wait-staff service.
• Beachside Bungalows Deluxe shaded double bungalows at Beachside Bay with luxurious patio furniture, full-service servers, and specialized food menus for up to 12 guests; bungalows #1-5 priced at $200 Mon-Thu and $250 Fri-Sun & Holidays.
• Picnic and Banquet Seating Covered reserved seating areas including Splashatory Picnic (4 tables for 24-32 guests at $39.99-$74.99) and Bayou Banquet facilities seating 242-484 guests ($299.99-$399.99 per side).
• On-site Food and Beverage Operations Four branded food venues — Al Gator's Smokehouse & Grill (1/3 lb Angus burgers, chicken tenders, hotdogs, fries), Eb & Flo's Funnel Cake Lab, Sheldon's Ice Cream Shop (Dippin' Dots sundaes), and Piper's River Falls Cafe — plus Pepsi products, souvenir bottles, drink wristbands, and group meal deals.
• Mobile Food Ordering Text-based mobile ordering system for Al Gator's and Piper's Cafe allowing guests to order and pay ahead with email/text confirmation and pickup notification.
• Waterford's Gift Shop On-site gift shop selling souvenirs including t-shirts, magnets, candy, sunscreen, water shoes, swimsuits, and shark tooth necklaces.
• Locker Rentals Secure lockers in three sizes (Small 9x11x20 in, Medium 9x17x20 in, Large 15x23x20 in) rented daily at kiosks accepting credit/debit and cash, priced from $14 Mon-Thu to $25 Fri-Sun.
• Group Dining and Catering Group meal deals (Hotdog $6, Pizza $7, Burger $8), all-day fountain beverages at $5/guest, and All-You-Can-Eat Catering for 50+ guests including hotdogs, burgers, sides, and beverages.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free parking and free cooler policy removes ancillary costs for family visits
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Sky ElementsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered for shark-themed drone show event, bringing drone light show entertainment to NRH2O guests
• Heavenly Crust PizzaminorOthersNRH2O partners with Heavenly Crust Pizza as the preferred pizzeria, providing pizza slices to park guests at Piper's River Falls Cafe
• Dippin' DotsminorOthersDippin' Dots ice cream available at Sheldon's Ice Cream Shop as a sponsor
• PepsiminorOthersOfficial beverage sponsor providing Pepsi products throughout the park including Pepsi Freeze slush products
• Hilton Garden Inn Dallas at the Hurst Conference CenterminorOthersRecommended hotel partner for guests requiring lodging; full hot breakfast for two adults and children under 12 included in rate
• Holiday Inn Express & Suites DFW WestminorOthersRecommended hotel partner with complimentary hot breakfast buffet served daily
• Hampton Inn & Suites DFW Airport West HurstminorOthersRecommended hotel partner for extended stays
• Hyatt Place Fort Worth/HurstminorOthersRecommended hotel partner with free breakfast, Wi-Fi, outdoor pool, fitness center. Corporate discount code available for NRH2O guests
• Tru by Hilton North Richland Hills DFW WestminorOthersRecommended hotel partner; newest Hilton hotel in area opened November 2023 with complimentary hot breakfast, Wi-Fi, parking, indoor pool
• Ellis & AssociatescoreTechnology or IntegrationAquatic safety training and certification provider. Ellis & Associates trains 90% of US water parks and provides ongoing safety audits. NRH2O consistently ranks among top water parks nationally for safety compliance
• World Waterpark AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNRH2O General Manager Stephanie Hee-Johnston serves on the Board of Directors; park has had over a decade of service on Marketing and Communications Committee

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Schlitterbahn New Braunfels: Iconic Texas water park destination in New Braunfels operated under the Schlitterbahn brand. Comparable major Texas water park with rivers, slides, and resort/lodging components targeting families and group events across Texas and the broader Southwest.
• Kalahari Resorts Texas: Large African-themed indoor water park resort in Round Rock, TX (near Austin). Comparable Texas resort water park with slides, wave pool, lazy river, and integrated lodging serving family travel, birthday parties, and corporate group markets.
• Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark: City of Grand Prairie-operated indoor water park in the DFW metro featuring slides, wave pool, lazy river, and family attractions. The most direct operational and geographic comparable as another municipal water park serving overlapping family and group customers in the same metro.
• Splash Kingdom: Texas-based family water park chain operating multiple locations including Canton, TX. Comparable mid-sized Texas water park with similar family attractions, season-pass programs, and group event capabilities targeting the same Texas family and church/school group segments.
• Great Wolf Lodge Grapevine: Indoor resort water park in Grapevine, TX (DFW metro) operated by Great Wolf Resorts with slides, wave pool, lazy river, and integrated lodging. Comparable resort-integrated water park in the same DFW metro serving families, with birthday-party and group-event programs.
• Bahama Beach Waterpark: Family-owned water park in south Arlington serving the DFW area with slides, splash pads, and family attractions. Comparable mid-sized regional water park competing for the same DFW families and group events with similar pricing and group-rate programs.
• Hawaiian Falls: Texas-based family water park chain with multiple DFW-area locations featuring slides, wave pools, and group amenities. Comparable outdoor water park operator targeting the same Texas family market segment with overlapping season-pass and group-booking offerings.
• Hurricane Harbor Arlington: Six Flags-operated outdoor water park in Arlington, TX with 20+ slides, a wave pool, lazy river, and thrill attractions. Closest major commercial water park competitor in the DFW metro, serving the same family and thrill-seeker segments with comparable day-pass economics.

Broad incumbents

• SeaWorld San Antonio: Major theme park in San Antonio, TX operated by United Parks & Resorts featuring rides, shows, and significant water attractions. Adjacent theme park with water park elements but broader entertainment focus, competing for Texas family tourism and group event dollars.
• Six Flags Fiesta Texas: Major theme park in San Antonio, TX operated by Six Flags featuring rides, water attractions, and seasonal events. Larger Texas theme park competitor with water park elements but broader amusement park focus, drawing from overlapping family and group event segments.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• TikToktiktok.com/@wix
• Xx.com/NRH2O
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about NRH2O Family Water Park