Photo TR: Point Mallard Water Park

[TheRapidsNerd]

Realized I hadn't done a PTR in a while and wanted to contribute a little something to the Park Index with a couple recent trips to a local water park.

 

Point Mallard is small, but hey, it's what we have and it's fun. It was also my first bowl slide (I'm a wee bit of an enthusiast over these things) as of earlier this week. Had a good time and looking forward to going back on their half price days ($8 instead of the usual $16).

 

Picture time!

And we'll end the trip with my new souvenir buddy, Buzz. He's no Ice Bat, Hippo, or Jelli (all of whom rock!) but I'll keep because he makes me laugh. Hope this TR made you laugh and thanks for reading.

Hmmm...yeah, I want these in my back yard one day too.

One more of the fun water slides. BTW I took TWO tunnels on one of those runs.

Ooo! Express Entrance...through the gate!

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This memorial was outside the Express entrance. He was a life guard at the park before his service.

Time to head out after a fun evening with bowl slides, and pizza and get a few parting shots.

The absurdity about being enthusiastic about being flushed down a giant toilet bowl still makes me giggle like an idiot.

I had a good time on this, though the first time was a bit freaky, especially entering the bowl. You're high up on the wall and wondering just what is holding you there. While we all know that answer, it still warps my fragile little mind.

If this is what they mean by "Going to the Pro Bowl", sign me up!

Yes that shadow is me. Hey, I'm a Nerd after all.

Twisty wet goodness. Yeah, I said it! And?

They may be old school, but these tube slides had some pretty good speed and almost flipped me over in the S curves. Yeehaw!

Welcome to the slide side or the....no...I won't use THAT joke again.

Hey Yogi! Let's eat over there!

One of my favorite pictures from this set. Ahhh.....

There's a long path between both sides of the park. This is where some pretty pic-a-nic areas are.

Heading over to the West Siiiiiiide, between the wave pool side and the slide side. Holla! (I have no idea what I'm saying either, but you're still grinning, so a hollow victory is a victory nonetheless.)

Family raft slide and Olympic pool. Between being hungry and some big blisters on my feet, I just wasn't feeling very Olympic today.

I enjoyed the colorful themeing and this unique take on the traditional park map. Very clean and well manicured park, btw.

There are a few kiddie slides as well as the Squirt Factory (mini water fort) for the little ones. Just beyond is the Olympic Pool, a family raft slide, and high dive platforms.

There are also some big grass areas for pic-a-nics, and other bearable activities.

Just down the way from the wave pool is the sand area and volleyball court. There's also a boat dock nearby for whatever watercraft drives you.

Yes folks, that's authentic, vintage, outdoor mat. Ok, not really, but I was strapped for a caption here.

Let's work our way from East to West shall we? Here's the wave pool, which every water park should have...except for Shane's, which is so awesome it doesn't NEED one!

Ok, $8 in, lets go get a locker. Decisions, decisions...

East Entrance? No. Express Entrance? Yes? Confused? Yeah, me too. Moving on.

I see you America's first wave pool. (No really. I didn't know that either.)

Point Mallard sign near the main entrance and more goodies for Larry.

The afore mentioned West Entrance. Somehow I was expecting a cowboy hat or something. Oh well. I'll leave the East Entrance jokes up you all.

Dear Santa, screw the two front teeth! I want this...oh, and a gift card to Steak 'n' Shake.

Can I have this in my backyard when I grow up?

Driving in, you pass by the West Entrance and you're greated with a ProBowl. This was the reason for my trip.

Captain Mike Mallard welcomes you. Well, he does have good taste in first names. Ain't that just Ducky?

 

(Methinks I just got the Moose and Big Mike approval here.)

A left turn and a couple miles after the Decatur bridge puts us here. Right turn, Clyde!

[WFChris]

Thanks for the report! I love waterpark PTR's, there aren't nearly enough, probably because nobody carries a camera around on the water slides:)

 

I enjoyed reading this.

 

Chris.

[thrillerman1]

WOW I grew up going to PM...never thougt I'd see it on TPR. Thanks for the pics!

[Electerik]

Any park with a duck mascot is okay in my book!

 

Thanks for the TR, Nerdy.

[TheRapidsNerd]

Thanks you guys! Had a good time there and may be going back with friends in the next couple weeks.

[televisedconfession]

I can practically smell the chlorine from here.

 

Nice TR

[Brandy524]

I have been to Point Mallard once in my life, and the only memory I have is that my mother hit her elbow on a slide and made it bleed (her elbow, not the slide, haha). I swear I have no other memories of it. It looks like fun, though. And it's not too far away from me. It's nice seeing parks in my home state getting reports! Good job!

[TheRapidsNerd]

^Well thank you! I'm headed back there soon, and would enjoy meeting up if timing worked out. Let me know, and delighted to come out and talk shop.

 

Might post another PTR later this week, which is hopefully worthwhile fodder for the Park Index. If so, great. If not, no worries.

 

For now, there's leftover Marion's Pizza calling. The Ohio folks, especially around Dayton and Cincinatti will be able to appreciate that local jem. Good good stuff!

 

Cheers and thanks again for the all the reads and nice comments.

[CoasterDude211]

Seeing as I grew up about 30 minutes away from here, I've been here a lot. The park has some charm and a very scary/dangerous wave pool, but does pretty bad with crowds and has a very small selection of slides. I really think that this area could use a real water park, instead of this place.

[thrillerman1]

^It is amazing that nearby Huntsville with a population of over 150,000 doesn't have its own water park by now. Shane, are you listening? Salt Lake City is only slightly larger.

 

I haven't been to Point Mallard since the 80's, but as evidenced by these photos the place hasn't changed ANY except for the newer bowl slide. Back in the day, the 3 water slides were cutting edge stuff. I hope the concrete walkways with the raised sharp edged pebbles have been replaced by now. That used to KILL my feet. What were they thinking?! Well it was the nation's first wave pool, so maybe they didn't know any better at the time. I agree, the park is long due for an extreme makeover if it can be done without destroying any of its charm.

 

Edit to add after looking back at the photos, it looks like the horrible concrete walkways with the sharp edged pebbles are still there.

[CorkscrewFoley]

This has to be a first for me--a water park TR. I really liked the feel of it from the pics, very laid back and green.

[TheRapidsNerd]

I haven't been to Point Mallard since the 80's, but as evidenced by these photos the place hasn't changed ANY except for the newer bowl slide. Back in the day, the 3 water slides were cutting edge stuff. I hope the concrete walkways with the raised sharp edged pebbles have been replaced by now. That used to KILL my feet. What were they thinking?! Well it was the nation's first wave pool, so maybe they didn't know any better at the time. I agree, the park is long due for an extreme makeover if it can be done without destroying any of its charm.

 

Edit to add after looking back at the photos, it looks like the horrible concrete walkways with the sharp edged pebbles are still there.

 

Yup, the rough, feet burning concrete and asphalt between both sides and up the hill are still there. That's how I got quarter sized blisters on the ball and heel of each foot. Lauckers (attempting to dodge the word filter here) at the West Entrance would help with having shoes nearby to save your feet. This is really the only gripe I had about the park.

 

Curiously, this is still a MUCH better value than Spring Valley Beach (Blountsville, Alabama) that charges $20 for essentially a big pool, a halfpipe slide, a couple tube slides, and old cement slides cut into the hill the require a rider to wear a helmet. It's also a better deal than Southern Adventures FEC's "water park" which is a 4 slide tower, small pool, and small kiddie wading pool for $15. (Point Mallard at full price is $16).

 

Unfortunately, the only reason Huntsville has been getting certain shopping and civic improvements is due to BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure) people moving in. Since there were some 4 star generals coming in, the city finally decided it'd be a good idea to clean up the place and offer some ammenities that are common to other cities. Things like a good water park along the lines of Wet 'N' Wild would be wonderful and welcome, however, just as with certain retail chains, the chain says "Huntsville isn't read for us or we don't think you can support us" even though the populace can do so and says "Yes we really want you here because we NEED better stuff". Either that, or the city doesn't want to pay the standard costs for bringing in better stuff, and the deal to bring in a good water park, for example, folds. It's a real catch 22.

 

Really, I agree we need GOOD theme parks and water parks close to Huntsville and I can see where Point Mallard could use some updates. Even so, for it's size, it's a decent quality park and it is fun to go to. It also looked like they left room for further slide expansion on the deck extension near the pro bowl. While the possibility is there, no word, rumor or otherwise on that.

 

Crazy times, but appreciate the spark discussion. Oh, and Shane, I'll buy you donuts or something if you build your next park here.