Just a few blocks from the roller coasters and pies of Knott’s Berry Farm is Orange County's largest water park, Knott’s Soak City. A veritable water-fun wonderland, it also channels some of the thrills and names of the nearby SoCal beaches.
What to Expect at Knott’s Soak City
Admission is separate for Soak City, which is only open during warmer months from mid-May through early September. Over its 15 acres, the water park offers 23 speed, tube, and body slides; the 750,000-gallon Tidal Wave Bay wave pool; a 0.33-mile lazy river; and the three-story Beach House, with 200 water guns, nozzles, sprayers, and more.
Shore Break at Knott’s Soak City
If you want the ultimate thrills, go to Shore Break, the seven-story-high tower that has six different slides—four of which send you off using an Aqua-Launch chamber, where the floor drop outs from under your feet. The near-vertical plunges deliver a true freefall sensation before twisting into high-speed turns, making it one of the park’s most adrenaline-pumping attractions and one of the most intense water slides in Southern California.
Or, you can race on the six-lane Banzai Falls slide, or splash on one of the attractions named after SoCal beaches. Malibu Run features four individual inflatable-tube slides that start at a height of nearly 40 feet, while the Laguna Storm Watch Tower offers three inflatable raft tube slides for one or two riders each. Take the whole family together on the The Wedge, a raft-ride-style slide that’s a nod to the infamous wave in nearby Newport Beach.
Little-Kid-Friendly Rides at Soak City
Smaller children, meanwhile, will like the Gremmie Lagoon, a water playground for families. To upgrade your day at the park, book one of the cabanas, which come with shaded loungers and a dining table as well as four inner tube rentals and waiter service. As a reminder that you’re not too far from the origins of the theme park next door, the Portside Pizza eatery at Soak City offers a boysenberry-topped funnel cake for dessert.
Soak City Upgrades
For the ultimate experience, rent a semi-private cabana and enjoy reserved lounge chairs, inner tube rentals and waiter service at your very own, shaded patio table. Cabanas also include a small table and chairs, along with a lockable storage space for personal items. Rental options vary by size and location within the park, and advance reservations are recommended, especially on weekends and peak summer days.