It was an inviting scene, to be sure, but also somewhat intimidating, because atop those waters was a brand-new Aquapark daring landlubbers to come aboard.
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Situated at the marina at Horsehoe Bay Resort, abutting the resort’s new Waterfront Beach and adjacent to its popular Waterfront Restaurant, the Aquapark was introduced this year to provide a new brand of summer fun for hotel guests and Club members.
“It’s been a five-decade tradition to associate Horseshoe Bay Resort with aquatic fun on the lake, and this new attraction brings a thrilling dimension of fun for the young and young at heart,” said Horseshoe Bay Resort Managing Director Bryan Woodward.
The new Aquapark at Horseshoe Bay Resort. Kristin Finan photo
I visited the resort on a recent Sunday with three of my kids. After an initial safety briefing, we received wristbands, donned lifejackets and cannonballed into the cooling waters of Lake LBJ to swim over to the hulking inflatable blue, green and yellow Aquapark. Getting onto the Aquapark – which features 100 feet of slides, climbing walls and obstacle-course challenges – was easy thanks to multiple in-water ladders.
Once we were on the Aquapark, we took tentative steps across its marshmallow surface, trying to find our footing and decide which routes to take. Soon, though, any hesitation was gone as we raced across the course with the other visitors, living out every “American Ninja Warrior” fantasy we’d ever culled right there on the water.
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After about an hour, I was ready for a snack and a drink at the Waterfront Restaurant, but my kids enjoyed every minute of their two-hour session at the Aquapark. Once our session was over, we checked in for a night at the AAA-Four Diamond Horseshoe Bay Resort.
Horseshoe Bay Resort recently underwent a $100 million renovation. Kristin Finan photo
In addition to the Aquapark, there’s so much to love about Horseshoe Bay Resort. First of all, it’s only an hour’s drive from Austin. Second, it has every amenity you can dream of, from world-class golf to yes, a private airport. And while it may sometimes get overshadowed by San Antonio-area resorts, it has everything kids love, too, from nightly s’mores to sprawling pools to giant lawn chess.
Nightly s’mores are a must-do tradition at Horseshoe Bay Resort. Kristin Finan photo
For my family, Horseshoe Bay Resort has always provided the most perfect respite. Sometimes we’ll rent a pontoon boat and spend a day on the water. Sometimes we’ll hit the links on one of four championship golf courses. And sometimes, like this time, we’ll simply plant ourselves by one of four on-site pools and splash the day away.
Although Horseshoe Bay Resort has been a popular destination for travelers for decades, it recently underwent a $100-million renovation to update the golf courses and spa, upgrade the guest rooms, expand conference space and add new restaurants in the hotel tower, yacht club and entertainment complex.
Take your pick from multiple pools at Horseshoe Bay Resort. Kristin Finan photo
Whether you spend the morning traversing the on-site hiking trails, rent a bike and roll your way across the property or take a boat out on the water, Horseshoe Bay Resort is sure to delight all types of travelers. For us, it was the perfect quick escape for experiencing a little adventure, then a little downtime, during the dog days of summer.
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