MS Coast waterpark reopens for 20th season this weekend. Here’s what to know
This year marks a lot of big anniversaries for the Mississippi Coast including the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and the 15th anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, among others. But this year also marks a big anniversary for one Coast business.
As Gulf Islands Waterpark in Gulfport reopens for the 2025 season on May 17, the park will be celebrating 20 seasons of providing summertime fun for the Mississippi Coast.
The waterpark’s general manager, Mark Moore, reflected on that anniversary as he went about readying the waterpark on Thursday for the park’s Saturday opening. According to Moore, a lot has changed since the park’s opening but a lot has also stayed the same.
“We were the new people in the community,” he said. “Now we’ve been here for 20 years and people kind of count on us. They kind of depend upon us.”
What’s changed
While the park has been open for 20 years, Moore has served as its general manager for 15. Moore, who grew up in Mississippi, says he got his start working as a lifeguard for the YMCA and then got into the waterpark business.
“In a sense, I’m a lifeguard who never quit,” he said.
Moore claims the waterpark is the largest employer of teenagers on the Coast. Many of the Coast’s current workers of all kinds can trace their careers back to Gulf Islands’, Moore says. After 20 years, Moore says now they’re hiring the children of former teenage employees.
According to Moore, the COVID-19 pandemic five years ago was a challenging time for the business, but despite restrictions on capacity, Mississippians showed out to support the business.
Things haven’t altogether gotten easier since then though, according to Moore. Since the pandemic, prices for materials for the waterpark have fluctuated. And in 2023, the park permanently closed its adjacent zipline and high ropes course, Zip’N Fun.
“Things which used to cost a million bucks now cost two — literally,” Moore said.
The biggest challenge for Gulf Islands Waterpark, though, is school start dates. Over the last 20 years, school start dates have shifted earlier in the summer as many schools shift to a more year-round schedule. Moore says after kids go back to school in late July, attendance drops off and now the park only operates on weekends in August.
Moore says despite those challenges, the park has worked hard to maintain a good experience. In 2023, Gulf Islands made all their fountain drinks free to guests. They’ve also added to the look of the park — adding more greenery like palm trees, more decor and even more small attractions. This year they plan to have a new food truck menu featuring Mexican food options and bring back a popular past performer — the Frisbee dogs.
“We’re continuing to look to really grow the guests experience and what they can they can expect from enjoying themselves and our friendly faces.”
Earlier this year, the park’s owners, Leisure Sports and Recreation LLC, announced their intent to open another waterpark called Jubilee Park in Mobile, Alabama. Moore says the park is still in early development and likely wouldn’t open until at least 2029.
What the park offers
Gulf Islands Waterpark offers a range of attractions, many of them original to when the park opened 20 years ago.
The park features a 12,000-square-foot wave pool, a lazy river that wraps around the park and a large splash pad. Several tall waterslides, including the Camille Cutter, Horn Island Blaster, Deer Island Express, Cat Island Catapult and the Riptide Racer tower over the park. Many of the slides require innertubes, which are provided.
Dining options include burgers and chicken tenders from Petit Bois Island Cafe, pizza from Dockside Pizza and desserts from Polly’s Sweet Treats.
Gulf Islands also offers cabanas for rent, space for large groups and special events.
If you go this season
Gulf Islands’ opening day for the 2025 season will be Saturday, May 17. The park will be open May 18 and then close until May 24 when it opens again for daily operation. The park will have daily operation until July 28 and then will only be open weekends through Labor Day.
Full cost for admission is $48.99 for people 42 inches tall and above, and $29.99 for those under 42 inches tall. Children 2 and under get free admission.
Moore says booking tickets online is the best way to save on admission. According to Moore, the online prices vary by the day, but average between $25 and $39 depending on how far in advance the tickets are purchased. The park also offers season passes for $74.99.
Cabanas can also be rented online for prices ranging from $60 to $375 depending on the cabana and the day of the week. Admission is not included in the cabana rentals.
Gulf Islands Waterpark is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. during daily operation. On Sundays in August the park hours shift to 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
This story was originally published May 17, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
