Lee's Summit, Missouri, was founded in 1865, soon after the Civil War, and its most infamous citizen -- Confederate guerrilla Cole Younger -- was one of its earliest. After the South's surrender, Younger teamed with notorious outlaw Jesse James to rob and terrorize banks, stagecoaches and trains throughout the Midwest and West. Finally captured in 1876, Younger spent 25 years in prison before returning to his hometown. Today, Lee's Summit is known more for its historic downtown and an abundance of parks and trails, including the city-owned Summit Waves water park. Several other water parks are within a 15-mile drive.
Summit Waves, the only water park in Lee's Summit, features body and tube slides, a 904-foot lazy river and a six-lane lap pool with diving boards. A children's play area includes dump buckets and mini slides. Other amenities include restrooms, lockers and a concession stand. The seasonal facility -- typically open from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day -- has single-day admission and also offers season passes at a discounted rate. Summit Waves is home to the Stingrays swim team, provides swim instruction and also holds special events such as family fun nights and "dive-in" movies on the outdoor screen.
The Bay Water Park, part of Longview Tract Park in south Kansas City, lies less than eight miles west of Lee's Summit. The park has two giant tube slides, a funnel bowl slide, a lazy river and an activity pool with lap lanes, floating animals and basketball goals. The Family Play Pool includes a family water slide, several smaller slides, a spray ground and a large dump bucket. The facility, open from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day, also has a bathhouse and concession stand. Daily admission and discounted season passes are available.
Super Splash USA in Raytown, 10 miles northwest of Lee's Summit, is home to the Rocky Mountain Avalanche -- a tube slide with a 35-foot vertical drop -- and the twisting, turning Missouri Fury body slide. Catalina Cove is a zero-depth entry pool with dump buckets and tube slides, and the Pebble Beach play area for younger children includes fountains, a rope ladder and belly slide. Another feature is Water Wars, a water balloon battle station. Open from Memorial Day weekend to mid-August, Super Splash USA has daily admission and a variety of season passes -- including discounted rates for youth, families and seniors.
CoCo Key Water Resort is a 55,000-square-foot indoor water park that is part of the Holiday Inn Kansas City Southeast, about 12 miles northwest of Lee's Summit. The Key West-themed indoor park provides year-round fun with a constant water temperature of 84 degrees and a bevy of slides and tube rides with names such as Barracuda Blast, Pelican Plunge and Shark Slam. Other attractions include children's interactive play areas, the Coconut Grove Adventure River and Palm Grotto, an adults-only whirlpool spa. You can purchase overnight hotel packages, daily admission tickets and discounted annual passes.
Adventure Oasis is a city-owned water park in Independence, about 14 miles north of Lee's Summit. Open during the summer months, the park has a trio of slides called Rattler, Scorpion and Sidewinder. Additional attractions are the 900-foot Coyote Creek lazy river and Cactus Climb, a poolside climbing wall. Buckaroo Beach is a 6,000-square-foot activity pool with zero-depth entry and includes Halfpint Paradise, a play area for younger children. Adventure Oasis also has a six-lane lap pool and the Oasis Grill, a full-service dining area. The park has several ticket options, including daily admission for individuals and families, a discounted five-visit pass and season passes. Non-residents pay slightly higher rates.
