A Unique, New Pirate-Themed Water Park Is Coming To Texas' Kemah Boardwalk In 2027
A popular tourist destination along the east coast of Texas is undergoing a major expansion. Kemah Boardwalk, just outside of Houston, is adding a water park, complete with a wrecked pirate ship theme. According to KHOU, it should be ready to entertain visitors in the first quarter of 2027.
The new Boardwalk Bay water park will stand where the seafood restaurant Flying Dutchman once stood. Instead of a familiar locale serving up fresh catches from the sea, the new park will offer eight different water attractions. Its main focus, according to Chron, is the Kids Play Cove. This section of the park will be focused on young visitors and include three slides, a tipping bucket, and a toddler pool. Reports also say that a net bridge and different types of water jets will help keep guests cool.
Details are scarce on other particulars surrounding Boardwalk Bay, though construction is well underway at Kemah Boardwalk. Other attractions along the water will remain open during construction of the new water park, staying true to Kemah Boardwalk's reputation as a place where "the fun never stops." Until now, the closest major water park attraction to the area was Schlitterbahn, about 26 miles away and considered one of the coolest indoor water parks in the United States.
Kemah Boardwalk will remain open as its new water park is built
Since it opened in 1998, Kemah Boardwalk has been a destination for amusement park rides, dining, and shopping. Its location on Galveston Bay, just 33 miles from Houston, makes it an easy day trip from the city center, and a convenient stop along the coast if you're headed to Port Aransas, one of the best beach towns in Texas, 230 miles south.
As construction continues on Kemah Boardwalk, regular visitors will notice that the new water park is not only replacing the Flying Dutchman but also the site of the former Joe's Crab Shack. That space will soon serve as an entrance building to Boardwalk Bay, according to ABC13. The new water park is expected to reinvigorate the coastal attraction, as Terry Turney, chief operating officer of Kemah Boardwalk, told the television station. "We're very excited about our latest renovation that will bring new and exciting energy to the Kemah Boardwalk for all ages to enjoy," Turney said.
The boardwalk is open year-round, with hours varying by season. Kemah Boardwalk is 43 miles from George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas, and 24 miles from Houston Hobby Airport. For those looking to travel by rail, Amtrak connects to Houston from New Orleans, Louisiana, along one of the most scenic train routes in North America.