Hit the slopes even in the summer
Camelback turns to Camelbeach during summer months
There may not be snow on the mountains of the Poconos, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make a visit to Camelback Mountain. During the warm months of summer, the sloping hills of Camelback take on a new name, Camelbeach Mountain Water Park.
At Camelbeach, you will find a great assortment of waterslides, pools and attractions. The best part about the park is that it is really designed for all ages. As a parent of young children, it is often hard to find a water park that caters to those my son’s height. While only 3, and only 40 inches tall, he has no fear. My son loves to jump on any ride, slide or pool that you’ll let him.
The problem is, at most water parks, he is just a hair short to take the plunge. At Camelbeach, however, there were only a handful of slides he was too small to take on. And, for those he could not try out, there were similar equivalents to the same ride.
For example, The Vortex was a favorite of our group upon our visit to Camelbeach. Our family group included adults, teens and young children, and all seemed to love this blue-and-white-striped adventure. Resembling, pardon the analogy, but basically a toilet bowl, this slide shoots out riders quickly into a swirling basin. You twist and turn circling the “drain” and eventually are shot out the other side. The adults and teens loved this adventure.
While my 3-year-old was too short to qualify for a jaunt on The Vortex, Camelbeach includes the “Spin Cycle,” an intertube-including clone of the Vortex. Riders can partner with a parent or friend on this version and ride to their hearts content.
For those who are not concerned about height restrictions, and a tad fearless, the Triple Venom Speed Slides offer a bit of excitement. The teens jumped into the lines for these rides far more times than I’d like to count. They loved the fast-paced rides.
Younger members of the family will love the Pharaoh’s Phortress, a maze of slides, sprayers, hoses and sprinklers, and of course, a giant dumping bucket to top it all off. The “usual suspects” are also seen here at Camelbeach, including a family raft ride (Titan), a lazy river (Blue Nile), a wave pool (Kahuna Lagoon) and an Olympic-sized swimming pool.
Our family’s most recommended slide was the Checkered Flag Challenge. Up to eight lanes of family members and friends can take to this ride at the same time and race down the lanes. You are given a mat, on which you lay flat on your stomach. Zipping down the lanes, you can challenge each other all while having the thrill of the slide.
If you make the trip, I highly suggest adding a cabana to your ticket purchase. We rented one near the Phortress and just loved it. For $99 for a party up to six people, the cabana not only allows you a place for shade, relaxing between rides and to store your gear, but also includes two lounge chairs, a table and two upright chairs, and, get this, your very own waiter.
While the kids are coasting the watery slides, mom can kick back with a book and be waited on hand and foot. From frozen alcoholic beverages, to an assortment of cold beer, to of course the usual amusement park goodies (burgers, dogs, pizza, sandwiches, salads, sweets), the waiter at your cabana will bring it all over to you. No need to wait in line or to hop from stand to stand. It is a great addition to the park, and I highly recommend the service if you visit. The waiters were wonderfully attentive and responsive, and brought food and drinks right to us, all day long. It was well worth the additional cost.
Overall, the cost of tickets and items within the park were very affordable. Those age 2 or under are free, and those over 48 inches can purchase tickets online for $31.99. To save even more for families, ticket packages for four are available online as well for only $99.99. There are few places, in my opinion, that you can take a family of four out for an entire day of water amusement for less than $100.
Camelbeach is open through Sept. 12, so if you want to make a visit before the snow starts falling on the Mountain, make your ticket purchase soon. For more information or to purchase tickets online, visit www.camelbeach.com.
