Big Kahuna's Water & Adventure Park

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Welcome to Big Kahuna’s, Destin’s iconic water park and adventure zone that has been making a splash since 1986. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know for an epic day at Big Kahuna’s – from its tropical water attractions and thrill rides to practical tips on tickets, timing, and what to pack. Whether you’re a family with kiddos, a group of young adults seeking thrills, or older travelers looking to relax, we’ve got insider info to help you maximize the fun (and minimize the waits and headaches). Let’s dive in!

Big Kahuna’s Water & Adventure Park is a Destin institution, blending island vibes with classic family fun. The park first opened in 1986 and has delighted locals and tourists for over three decades. As the largest water park on the Emerald Coast, it boasts 40+ water attractions ranging from adrenaline-pumping slides to lazy rivers. You’ll feel the vibrant energy as soon as you enter – swaying palms, colorful tiki statues, and that unmistakable smell of chlorine and sunscreen in the air. It’s a tropical-themed paradise designed to transport you to an island getaway right in the heart of Destin.

Park layout: Big Kahuna’s actually encompasses two parks in one. The main Water Park area is a splashy labyrinth of slides, pools, and play areas (you’ll find most water attractions clustered together, intertwined with walkways and tropical landscaping). Adjacent to it, the Adventure Park offers dry-land fun like mini golf and a sky-high swing ride, perfect for when you need a break from the water. Everything is contained within the same complex at 1007 US Highway 98 East, Destin – conveniently across the street from the beach and nearby condos like Jade East Towers (more on that later).

The overall vibe at Big Kahuna’s is family-friendly and laid-back, but with plenty of excitement at every turn. You’ll hear squeals of joy echoing from towering slides, toddlers giggling in shallow pools, and maybe an excited shriek or two from the Adventure Park’s thrill ride. Whether you’re racing down a five-story water slide or drifting on an inner tube, every corner of the park is designed to keep that carefree, vacation spirit alive. Now, let’s explore the attractions in detail.

Water Park Attractions 

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Big Kahuna’s water park has something for everyone, from tiny tots to thrill-seekers. Here’s a breakdown of the main attractions you can splash into:

• High-Speed Water Slides: If you love heart-pounding water slides, you won’t be disappointed. Big Kahuna’s features multiple high-adrenaline slides, each with its own twist (literally!). The Kowabunga Racer is a 4-lane mat slide where you can race your friends head-first for glory. It plunges nearly five stories and shoots you through twisting tubes before a final drop – a fast and furious sprint to the finish. For a near-vertical thrill, tackle Jumanji, a five-story-tall slide that delivers a steep drop sure to make your stomach flip. Other fan favorites include Maui Pipeline (a curvy tube slide), Hammerhead and Pirate’s Escape (twisting body slides that start from the faux-volcano “Temple of Doom” structure), and the tandem tube slides like Monkey River and Cobra Twister. Each slide has posted height restrictions (generally 42–48″ minimum) and max weight limits (often around 300 lbs) for safety, so check the signs before lining up. Pro tip: hit the biggest slides early in the day when lines are shortest.  

• Family Raft Rides: Not into solo free-fall drops? No worries – Big Kahuna’s has group tube rides that are big on fun without being too extreme. Tiki River Run, for example, lets 2–3 riders share a raft and slalom down together through winding twists and turns. It’s a perfect option for parents and kids to experience a slide as a team (and get a great photo of everyone screaming in unison!). These raft rides have moderate thrills and usually require riders to be about 44″ tall (or accompanied by an adult if shorter). They’re a blast for families or groups who want to laugh through the curves and splash down together.  

• Wave Pool: No water park is complete without a wave pool, and Big Kahuna’s delivers with a large surf-style wave pool that generates rolling waves periodically. You can grab a tube or just body-surf. The shallow “beach” entry is great for wading, but venture deeper and you’ll feel the swell. Heads up for parents: the waves can get surprisingly strong – keep little ones close and in life vests. In fact, Big Kahuna’s requires children under 42″ to wear a flotation device in the wave pool, and any child under 48″ must be accompanied by an adult in that pool. Lifeguards are on duty, but always stay within arm’s reach of non-swimmer. If you prefer to stay dry, there’s a sandy beach area around the pool edge where you can lounge and watch the action.  

• Lazy River: When you need a break from the thrills, grab an inner tube and float the Lazy River. Big Kahuna’s lazy river winds around a portion of the park, carrying you past lush landscaping and under bridges at a mellow pace. It’s the ultimate “chill out” attraction – you can quite literally drift your worries away. The lazy river is family-friendly (no height limit; little ones can ride with a parent) and tubes are provided free (no rental fee). Pro tip: This is a great mid-afternoon cooldown when the Florida sun is beating down. Also, if you’ve got a toddler who needs a floating nap, the gentle current might just rock them to sleep!  

• Activity Pools & Rivers: In addition to the lazy river, the park offers other waterways to explore. The Raging Rhino River and Thunder River are moderate tube slides/rivers where you can ride the current through caves and waterfalls – a bit faster than the lazy river, but still tame enough for older kids and adults who want a step below the wild slides. There’s also Bombs Away Bay, a tropical swimming hole with a stage nearby (sometimes used for events or DJ music). Bombs Away Bay is more of a chill pool area, 0–5 ft depth, where families can splash and kids can practice swimming. It’s like a giant resort pool complete with that island ambiance. You might catch a water aerobics session or little kids engaging in splash wars here. In short: if you just want to swim or float, you’ve got options beyond the wave pool.  

• Kiddie Play Areas: Big Kahuna’s truly shines for families with young children, thanks to several kid-approved zones designed just for smaller swimmers. These shallow play areas are full of mini-slides, spray features, and climbing structures scaled down to toddler size. Buccaneer Cove is a pirate-themed water playground with pint-sized slides and a dumping water bucket – perfect for adventurous preschoolers. Pleasure Island and Crocodile Flats are similarly equipped kiddie pools with gentle slides and splash features, and Tadpole Pond is an ultra-shallow pool ideal for infants and toddlers to sit and play. There are even Fun Fountains – likely a splash pad where little ones can toddle through spraying water jets. These areas are family-friendly and generally open to all ages, but intended for the smaller set (parents can supervise closely, and yes, you can go down the tiny slides with your toddler in your lap – we won’t judge!). One important note: if your child isn’t potty-trained, they must wear a swim diaper in the water. The park enforces this for health reasons and sells swim diapers at the gift shop if you forget yours. With these kiddie zones, even the tiniest guests will have a blast – and parents get a safe space for kids to splash without the big kids rushing by.  

In total, Big Kahuna’s water park offers a huge variety of attractions, ensuring all ages and comfort levels have something to enjoy. From freefall slides to lazy floats, from wave surfing to water tot lots, you can easily fill an entire day and never get bored. Now, if you need a break from water or want some dry-land fun, the Adventure Park has you covered.