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Sandcastle Waterpark

By Albrecht Powell, About.com

The wild and wet summer playground known as Sandcastle Waterpark is located about 10 miles from downtown Pittsburgh on Rt. 837 between the Homestead High Level and Glenwood bridges (just 4 miles from Kennywood Amusement Park). A wild wave pool, 15 waterslides, plus adult and kiddie pools provide plenty of cool entertainment.
Operating Hours:
Sandcastle Waterpark is open daily June 9 - August 26*, and Sept. 1-3, 2007. Gates open at 11:00am and close between 6:00pm and 7:00pm, depending on the crowd size and weather.

**Limited operations August 20 - August 27, 2007. Not all attractions are open. Special Whitewater admission rates apply during this time.

The Sandbar, Sandcastle's 21 and older nightclub, is open Friday and Saturday nights from 6:00pm until 2:00am.
Admission & Tickets:
A regular waterpark Whitewater Pass is $24.95. A Junior Whitewater Pass for guests 46 inches and under is $12.95 (no coupons accepted) and a Senior (55+) Whitewater Pass is $17.95. Children 2 and under are free (pools only). After 3pm a Whitewater Pass is available for $17.95 (seniors $13.95 and children $8.95). A combo pass to Kennywood & Sandcastle for $31.00, allows admittance to both parks on the same day. Season passes to Sandcastle are available for $59.95.
Location / Directions:
Sandcastle Waterpark is located just 12 miles southeast of downtown Pittsburgh on the Monongahela River. From Interstate 376 (which runs from downtown Pittsburgh to Monroeville), take Exit 5 toward Homestead. Take the exit ramp off the Homestead High-Level Bridge. You'll find Sandcastle just past the Waterfront shopping, restaurant and entertainment complex. Parking is $5 per vehicle; boat docking is free.
Pools & Slides:
Sandcastle water park features the Mon Tsunami wave pool, and 15 twisting, turning, plunging, and churning waterslides. There are pools for adults (including the world's largest hot tub) and pools for kids (including Wet Willie's WaterWorks and the 1 1/2 foot deep Tad Pool). Surrounding it all is the Lazy River, a gently flowing stream where you can float on an inner-tube for hours.
Sandbar @ Night:
For adults age 21 and older (proper ID required), Sandbar night club is open on Friday and Saturday nights. Enjoy live DJs, dancing, hot tub and fire pit, plus two SPOT Bars and tasty food. Admission to The Sandbar is free until 9:00pm, and $3 after 9:00pm.

For the Oldies crowd, Jukebox Sunday nights at Sandcastle feature guest DJs, live entertainment, draft beef specials and a buffet in the Sandbar area. Admission before 8:30pm is $9.50 including buffet, or $5.00 without buffet. After 8:30pm, a $3.00 cover charge applies. Season pass holders enjoy free admission without the buffet, or $8.50 admission with the buffet. Every Sunday from 6:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., May 27 - September 16, 2007.

Dive-In Movies

At dusk, the Sandcastle wave pool transforms into an outdoor movie theater with plenty of boardwalk games before and after the movie. Check the Sandcastle Events Calendar for the full schedule of Dive-In Movies.

Best Times to Visit


According to the folks at Sandcastle, June is the least busy month. The hotter the day, generally the bigger the crowd. If you don't mind overcast days or a bit of rain, Sandcastle attractions remain open even in the rain unless the weather is severe. If the water slides and swimming pools have to close for more than 60 minutes during the course of a day, then you'll get a 1/2 price ticket for your next visit. If the waterpark is forced to close early, then a complimentary pass will be given.

Sandcastle Tips

Save money on admission. Bring along a can of Pepsi, Diet Pepsi or Mountain Dew to the park to receive a discount on weekday admission. Area Giant Eagle stores also sometimes offer discount coupons for Sandcastle.

Double the fun. Can't decide if you want roller coasters or waterslides? A Kennywood/Sandcastle same-day combo pass can be purchased for $31.00 - the same price as a FunDay pass to Kennywood.

Save time at the gate. FunDay tickets can be purchased and printed online. When you get to Sandcastle, just head straight to the e-ticket entrance and you're good to go!

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