Splash Kingdom at Pharaoh’s

Pharaoh’s is back, and wetter than ever! Splash Kingdom at Pharaoh’s is hands-down the best water park in San Bernardino County.

NEW FOR 2012: WAVE POOL at Splash Kingdom!

The park re-opened in the summer of 2010 with many new upgrades and changes. Dave, the park’s new visionary, is now at the helm. Bringing decades of experience from water park and amusement centers in Southern California, the Corona resident promises big things on the horizon. While many of those plans are still in the works (and under wraps), signs point to beach-esk water attraction that will bring more water, more fun, and more capacity than Splash Kingdom has ever seen since opening in 1996. Formerly with world famous Raging Waters, Dave aims to provide an affordable and fun water park that is within miles of 4.2 million residents of Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

Splash Kingdom Water Park

When the sun rises overhead, San Bernardino residents young and old turn to Pharaoh’s Splash Kingdom for relief, and for good reason. The slides, pools, lazy river, surf machine and more provide hour of entertainment. Here is the lowdown:

The Tower of Kings – Water Slides

Splash Kingdom is home to 20 (yes, 20) water slides, setting this park apart from the dozens of smaller water parks in the Inland Empire.

While some are made for kids, seven slides begin their journey in the tallest freestanding water attraction tower in the United States. At 165 feet, the view from the top suggests that this may be the tallest structure in San Bernardino County, perhaps rivaled only by the 13 story Rosa Parks Memorial Building in downtown San Bernardino. The climb up this tower leads to 7 very different slides at three different levels. With this level of variety, there are options for riders looking for different types of thrills and varying levels of bravery.

Level 1

Tut’s Tomb is a dark body slide for individual sliders- no tube needed. Riders looking for thrills and entertainment at the park will have a great time.
The Dark Chamber is another dark slide, but for single or double riders with a tube. The ride will drop you in a splash pool below.
The Sphinx Express is a three-person open water slide with extreme banks, a 360° turn, and splash down in three and a half feet of wet fun.

Level 2

The Wrath of Ra is the longest three-man raft slide in California, running 745 feet in length. Half of the slide run is open and the other half enclosed, winding up the finish of the run with an electrifying 31-foot drop into 3 inches of water. This may be the most popular slide at Splash Kingdom, and for good reason.
Pharaoh’s Revenge is a 3 person, inline raft ride that begins 70 feet up. This ride can be enjoyed by the entire family, if they dare. Reaching speeds of 40 mph and finishing with a 20-foot drop at the end, this is a thrill everyone will experience.
Ramses Rocket-Speed Slide will send you traveling 400 feet in less than 12 seconds, reaching speeds up to 40 mph. With many visitors not tall or brave enough, dare devils will be treated to a short line.
Pharaoh’s Falls-Free Fall is a single rider body slide, allowing water riders to flow gently through a tunnel to a 70-foot freefall. Riders swear that this is their favorite attraction of the day, though only a select few are brave enough to ride this fear inducing slide.

Level 3

The Anileator holds the title of being the world’s tallest enclosed waterslide, standing 90 feet high and 625 feet long. If you think 50 mph is slow on the freeway, you’ll have a different opinion when it’s just you racing down one of the fastest slides in the state, if not the nation. This slide is definitely for the extreme and experienced water sport enthusiasts- not for the faint of heart!

Riptide Surf Pool - FlowRider (Surfing Machine)

Splash Kingdom is home to one of the very first FlowRider’s in the country. A FlowRider® is the trademarked name for a surf machine designed by a company based in San Diego that pumps a steady stream of water over a soft surface, simulating a perfect wave.

If you want to try to ride a wave, there’s no reason to go to OC or LA for a beach when the waves are right here in your own back yard. If you’re a novice, the staff is more than willing to help you learn, though you may have to return to the end of the line a few times before you get the hang of it.

Since this machine has been around in San Bernardino for years, many locals are experts at performing some of the wildest tricks. The video below captures one of those expert surfers at Splash Kingdom.

The Nile River (Lazy River)

This lazy river flows quickly around Fantasy Island, passing under two bridges, through a cave, next to a water fountain and past several decorativly painted animal sculptures, all while enjoying music from speakers throughout the river. Part of the river is in the sun, and part is in the shade. The park provides plenty of inner-tubes for visitors or just walk along the river. If you rent an inner-tube for the day, you can slide down ”The Swisher”- a slide that drops you straight into the Nile River. This wide river keeps hundreds of visitors of all ages happy for hours.

Fantasy Island - Kiddie Pool

This pool, made especially for the youngsters, includes slides, shallow water and a brand new 20 foot high tipping bucket that dumps refreshing water on your head! The island also offers water cannons, shotgun watertubes and 800 shaded lounge chairs for parents to keep an eye on their kids or just lay back and enjoy the day while trained lifeguards make sure the kids are following the rules.

The Forgotten Lagoon – Activity Pool

This activity pool has slides for kids and adults, a net climb, lily pads to climb on as you hang on tight to a rope overhead, water cannons, water volleyball and much more. There are plenty of lounge chairs to lay back and watch as your friends and family enjoy the activity pool and nearby slides. There is no shortage of attentive and helpful lifeguards to make sure that everyone enjoys their day.

Grand Pizza Buffet

A day of running around and climbing the world’s largest waterslide tower will build up an appetite for water park patrons of all ages. The new Grand Pizza Buffet provides a full array of options, from salad and veggies to fruit and a potato bar. The buffet lives up to its name, with fresh, hot pizza that rivals the national chains, with no shortage of ready made pizzas with various toppings and sauces from tomato to BBQ. Your buffet ticket includes soda, coffee, a small Icee and frozen yogurt. Although this buffet is no gourmet meal, it will certainly fill the youngsters up for the day. Though you can return to the buffet while eating, once you leave the dining room, you’ll have to buy another ticket to go back a second time later in the day, so don’t think of this as your all-day snack bar. The dining room is quite large, and includes numerous party rooms and large projector screens running family-friendly TV. The buffet’s $7.99 price tag (if purchased online) makes this yet another good deal at Pharaoh’s.

Upper Deck Sports Lounge

One of the best sports bars in the Inland Empire is hidden on the second level of the signature pyramid building at Pharaoh’s. Added during the 2010 remodel of the park, the bar features plenty of beers on tap, top shelf liquor and some of the biggest projector screens in the area (15′ HD).

In fact, when some of the top pay-per-view MMA events are shown in the lounge, Pharoah’s can expand the event into numerous rooms upstairs, ensuring that everyone will have a seat for the big fight. The lounge is also perfect for parents looking to drop their kids off at the water park. If you’re with your family, either skip admission to the water park or take a break from the rides and enjoy a cold one and the biggest games in this adult oasis. The air conditioning ensures that you’ll have no idea how hot it may be outside in the hot inland sun. The Upper Deck Sports Lounge closes at midnight.

Splash Kingdom Park

Formerly known as Pharaoh’s Lost Kingdom and Pharaoh’s Theme And Water Park as well as Pharaoh’s Adventure Park, the park is now known as Splash Kingdom at Pharaoh’s and has hours of fun for kids, adults (young and old) and the whole family. The park includes bumper boats, bounce houses (moon bouncers), go karts, miniature golf.

Bumper Boats

Pharaoh’s is the official place to get wet, whether you brought a swim suit or not. The bumper boats include water guns, adding excitement to these powered water toys. The bumper boats are included in the all-access pass, which is in addition to the Splash Kingdom pass.

Go Karts

The Pharaoh’s go karts are plenty of fun, with three tracks at the park’s disposal. The most popular track includes the choice of normal go karts or the trucks, which are faster and even more exciting. Even the go kart mechanic rides this track like a kid in a candy story. The go karts are an upgrade that is not included in the all-access pass, so be sure to plan ahead if you want to ride.

Miniature Golf

Adjacent to Interstate 10 lies one of the most elaborate miniature golf course in the region. Pharaoh’s boasts 4 separate 9-hole courses. The course is currently being remodeled, so expect big things in the coming months as water and paint are added to bolster the look and feel of the course.

Splash Kingdom Prices, Deals, Specials, Coupons and Season Passes

Pharaoh’s / Splash Kingdom is affordable if you’re paying your own way, treating the family or holding a birthday party at the park. The park runs many specials that are advertised on radio stations, newspapers, billboards and online.

Water Park General Admission - $24.99 (only $21.99 if purchase online)
Water Park General Admission – After 4 p.m. - Only $12.99!
Combo Pass - includes unlimited Splash Kingdom, mini golf and bumper boat rides- $29.99 (only $26.99 if purchase online)
Waterpark Season Pass - includes everything in a combo pass for the entire season - $49.99 (only $44.99 if purchased online)

Purchase your tickets online here.

Military discounts, 2 hour funpark passes, group, fundraiser, catered and school rates are available on the Splash Kingdom website.

With prices that are this affordable, its hard to imagine how Splash Kingdom produces so much fun for so little dough (without any government funding). Prices listed may not be current – check with Pharaoh’s for current prices.

Location

Splash Kingdom is close to many cities in the Inland Empire, just miles away from these locations:

Riverside (Downtown) – 12 miles
Corona (Downtown) – 26 miles
Ontario (The Mills) – 20 Miles
Upland – 25 Miles
Banning – 23 Miles

Splash Kingdom is located at 1101 N California St., Redlands, CA 92374. Adjacent to San Bernardino, just exit California St. off Interstate 10 and head north. Parking inside the park is $7. Though some opt for parking on nearby streets, parking is free with the purchase of the pizza buffet.

The water park opens at 11 a.m. and stays open until 8 p.m. (9 p.m. on Saturdays). The rest of the park opens earlier and stays open later. The water park will be open through Labor Day 2011, with the rest of the park stays open year-round. These hours are subject to change, so check with the park to plan your day!

For more information, check out splashkingdom.net, find Splash Kingdom on Facebook or call Splash Kingdom at (909) 335-7275. Upper Deck Lounge is also on Twitter.

Check out our full listing of Water Parks in the Inland Empire.