Epic Waters is the result of the City of Grand Prairie wanting to offer their community a place to play and experience leisure unlike any other… they wanted a place they could call EPIC that would live up to its name.
To make their dream a reality, the City Council chose the best developers for the job, commissioning a large-scale partnership between OpenAire and leading industry experts. This dynamic team gave rise to The Epic Grand Central; a monumental complex that will provide 172 acres of concentrated recreation space for all of Grand Prairie’s six million citizens. Major attractions include many outdoor trails, a recreation centre and athletic facilities, an amphitheater, a music studio, indoor and outdoor playgrounds, a library, a spa and the 5860m2 Epic Waters waterpark (indoor), all framed by elegant, sweeping architecture and landscaping.
Epic Waters waterpark has been to date, the largest retractable-roofed indoor waterpark in the USA, soon to be replaced by OpenAire’s other waterpark, The Island in Atlantic City.
The waterpark is contained under a soaring barrel vault enclosure with a total of 36 automated retractable roof bays, keeping the park at a perfect 85°F in any weather. Crowning this gleaming structure is an 25m high cupola housing the waterpark’s slide tower with 11 slides.
OpenAire’s incredible free-standing aluminum structure with polycarbonate-roof panels and glass walls that makes a bold impression, yet connects beautifully with the rest of the centre’s design. The graceful arched roof will span 50m wide and be 117m long. The design includes 18 retractable bays along each side of the roof’s apex that will let in the sunshine and fresh air of hot summer days, while closing securely at the touch of a button during colder or rainy days.
Included in the park is the longest indoor lazy river in Texas, the tallest Aqualoop in the USA, the world’s first boomerango and constrictor combination slide and the first two passenger Aquasphere in the USA. The full effect of the enclosure will be a huge, soaring space that provides Epic entertainment year round.
Awards:
2018 World Waterpark Association: Leading Edge Award, 2018
2018 World Waterpark Association: Wave Review Award 2018
2019 Award of Merit Sports/Entertainment: The Epic
2019 “Best of Big D” from D Magazine
2019 Best of Aquatics, Aquatics International Magazine
2021 Travel Channel: “8 of the most incredible indoor water parks”
2021 USA Today’s “10 Best Dallas Waterparks”
2022 Best in DFW: Best Aquatics Facility/Water Park,
