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The days are long, the sun is hot and the roads are busy. For H2OBX, the Outer Banks’ premiere water park, that means another summer of fun is well underway.
Driving down the Caratoke Highway, H2OBX is exceptionally hard to miss. After miles and miles of billboards, suddenly bright-colored water slides that seem to reach through clouds come into sharp relief.
Here on the Outer Banks, we know that not every day can be a perfect beach day. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be a perfect waterpark day!
Rides
With 30 different rides, slides and attractions, boredom is not an option at H2OBX. For the youngest ones in your group or anyone who feels a bit shaky in their swimming skills, there are plenty of kid and family-friendly rides that are sure to delight!
Be sure to check out Teach’s Tides Adventure River for a relaxing float down the lazy river with the sun on your skin. And don’t be fooled by the calm before the storm! The CAT-5 Bay Wave Pool can churn up waves more than 6 feet high.
When you take a ride on Queen Anne’s Revenge, you’ll forget you aren’t actually aboard a real pirate ship. Join up to five of your friends on this whirlwind adventure with the most feared pirate of them all.
If you think you know adventure parks, think again! The Deep Six Adventure Lagoon marries the fun and thrills of adventure and water parks together to create an aquatic playground suitable for all ages.
For the more adventurous adrenaline enthusiasts, however, there are plenty of rides that straddle the line between fun and fear.
Though the unpredictability of the ocean is part of what makes it exciting, it can also make for a disappointing surfing trip if the waves aren’t great. With its continuous rideable surf, the Endless Wave Flowrider will never fall flat.
Fast and agile, the Wild Horse Run evokes the feeling of riding a horse through the tides.
If you have a fear of heights, you may want to look away. But if you’re up for the challenge, the Paradise Plunge boasts a nine-story freefall sure to terrify and excite in tandem.
If you liked the Paradise Plunge, grab your most fearless friend and hit the Midnight Marauder in a double tube! The seven-story closed slide mimics a stormy night ride on the open sea, leaving you breathless and ready for another go.
Clearly, the draw of the Outer Banks’ remarkable nautical history is not lost on the folks behind H2OBX. If you know anything about Outer Banks history, some of these names will certainly stand out to you.
Queen Anne’s Revenge is the name of the pirate Blackbeard’s ship that sank off our coast, Wild Horse Run harkens back to the wild banker horses that roam the Corolla shores (but, please, leave the rides to the waterpark) and CAT-5 is a way of categorizing hurricanes, something we’re all too familiar with here.
These are only a handful of the rides and activities available at H2OBX. You’ll have to visit yourself to discover the rest!
Concessions
The clever references to Outer Banks life, history and culture don’t stop at the attractions. In North Carolina, pulled pork BBQ is a point of pride and state loyalty. At Heavenly Hawgs BBQ, they hold true to that claim, serving classic BBQ Carolina style. If BBQ isn’t your meal of choice, Outer Banks Eats has you covered with a selection of wraps, salads, pizzas, subs, burgers and chicken tenders.
For dessert, try a funnel cake or novelty shake from Dune Devil Desserts. And for authentic, all-in Carolina dining, pair your BBQ sandwich from Heavenly Hawgs with a Cheerwine float.
New this season to the food and beverage roster is the Bait & Tackle Coffee Bar, where you can get your caffeine fix after a long morning of swimming, splashing and sliding.
After a day full of adrenaline rushes or hours spent chasing after and corralling delighted youngins, unwind with a local brew or glass of wine from Flyboys.
Cabanas
If you plan to spend a whole day at H2OBX with the family, why not reserve a cabana in advance? Standard and deluxe cabanas are located all throughout the park, ready to add a touch of luxury to your day out. All cabanas come equipped with plenty of seating and space to stretch out, water to rehydrate after hours spent in the sun, a fan to help you cool off and a locker to keep your belongings safe.
The VIP cabana comes with additional services, including snacks and a dedicated cabana server. The largest cabana, the deluxe, can fit up to 12 people and has a TV, even more seating and a family dining table.
And if you’re bringing your whole family, a group of friends, summer campers or party-goers, H2OBX offers group rates at a discount for parties 15 or larger.
H2OBX in the Community
H2OBX doesn’t only entertain the local community, it also supports it in all kinds of charitable endeavors. They have collaborated with and sponsored organizations such as the Network for Endangered Sea Turtles, Vusic OBX, Outer Banks Running Company and Special Olympics North Carolina, donating time, space and resources for their great causes.
This season, H2OBX will continue its sponsorship of N.E.S.T. with a new collection of plush turtles available for purchase from the park’s shop, Wright Retail. Like last year, when they raised more than $2,000, they’ll be donating half of the proceeds from the plush turtle sales to N.E.S.T. to support their conservation efforts.
Next time you come to visit, make sure H2OBX is on your itinerary. With all the fun to be had and memories to be made, you won’t regret it!
Planning Your Visit
As much as you may want to hop in your car and high-tail it to H2OBX right this second, don’t forget to plan out your visit to the park first!
• First and foremost, H2OBX is only open in season, from late May to early September.
• If you want to catch the H2OBX mermaid, be sure to come to visit on a Monday. You’ll find her flapping her tail at the Sandpail every Monday morning. She’s more than happy to take a photo with you!
• Readers of Outer Banks This Week magazine receive $5 off the cost of admission. To receive the discount, book online and use the code OBTW. Tickets are not date specific, so they’re good for any operating date in 2023.
(252) 491-3000
8526 Caratoke Highway, Powells Point
About the Author Leah Wingenroth
Leah was born and raised on the Outer Banks and is an alumnus of Appalachian State University and King's College. She currently resides in England, writing and managing content in the lifestyle, education, travel and literary publishing sectors.
