Splashy Summer Fun

12 of the best pools and waterparks for cooling off in DFW this summer

There's no rule against pool-hopping.

WorldSprings/Facebook

The real ones know: The best way to survive a scorching DFW summer is by spending it in the water. Now whether that means doing laps or lapping up cocktails in a hotel pool is up to you, but we have some ideas of where to spend a splashy summer keeping cool in the water.

If you're already a swimmer, you know that each city in the DFW area has its own community pools, operated by their respective Park and Recreation Departments, which charge a nominal fee and offer resident discounts. Some are even classified as Aquatic Centers and boast impressive slides, splash pads, lazy rivers, and other bells and whistles.

But if you're looking for more creative ways to beat the heat, read on:

The Texas Pool, Plano
It just wouldn't be right to start this list any other way than with a big pool shaped like the Lone Star State. Built in 1961, this 168,000-gallon saltwater pool is on the National Register of Historic Places. There's a diving board, two water slides, a “North Texas” island, and a shallow “South Texas” wading area for small children and parents.

WorldSprings, Grandscape at The Colony
Billed as an "outdoor social-wellness destination," this spa-amusement park combo is the country's largest hot springs pool complex. It boasts 45 outdoor soaking pools inspired by the most famous hot springs from around the world. Take a dip in cold-plunge pools, Finnish saunas, and even a Dead Sea-inspired pool, with aquatic classes and adults-only and all-ages sections to boot.

NRH2O, North Richland Hills
NRH2O was the first municipal water park in Texas and one of the first in the nation, opening in 1995 with three body slides, a river, and a wading pool. Today, the 17-acre park has 23 attractions to fit both the young and the young at heart. Of course, NRH residents receive a discount.

Goodsurf, Dallas
Who says you can't surf in landlocked Dallas? Just show up to this indoor pool/pickleball facility and they provide the wetsuit, rash guard, and fully stocked locker room. Each 30-minute session is limited to only seven surfers, and the skill levels range from complete newbie (with the aid of a balance bar) to surfing pro. If anyone prefers to remain dry, there is also pickleball, shuffleboard, yard games, and food and drink to explore.

JadeWaters at Hilton Anatole, Dallas
Use ResortPass to book a daycation at one of Dallas' best resort pool complexes, which is home to a sparkling pool, water slides, fun poolside activities, and a winding lazy river. Chow down at the JadeWaters Grill and enjoy signature drinks at the swim-up bar. For the ultimate day of luxury, book a cabana which includes comfortable seating, chaise lounges, refrigerator, TV, ceiling fan, and exceptional service.

The Joule, Dallas
Another swanky spot where ResortPass will get you in the door, even if you're not a guest. This clear-sided pool is famous for being cantilevered over Main Street, giving swimmers the thrill of paddling eight stories above the sidewalk. Make eyes at The Eye while you're up there.

The Ritz-Carlton Dallas, Las Colinas
Feel like royalty for the day (thanks yet again to ResortPass) in this lush pool that snakes its way through the resort. Book a cabana or shaded daybed to enjoy impeccable service as you sip refreshing cocktails and snack on elevated pool snacks. Or make it a full-on staycation and partake of The Nelson Sports & Golf Club and The Ritz-Carlton Spa & Salon while you're there.

EpicWaters, Grand Prairie
The largest indoor water park in North Texas, this massive, glass-enclosed complex is open year-round. From a dizzying array of slides to a wave pool, lazy river, swimming pool, and kids splash area, it also boasts an arcade, gift shop, and cafe.

Lazy River at Riders Field, Frisco
Yes, you can even watch live sports while floating in a pool. The Lazy River at Riders Field includes a 400-foot-long pool overlooking the baseball diamond where the Frisco RoughRiders — Double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers — play their home games.

The Cove at The Lakefront, Little Elm
This 42,000-square-foot indoor waterpark features something for everyone of all ages. Splash away in the zero-depth splash ground, catch a wave on the FlowRider Double Surf Machine, float down the lazy river, or take a trip down one of the thrill-seeking slides. Elevate your experience with a private, luxury cabana, or book a birthday party or full-facility buyout to have the place all to yourselves.

King Spa and Spa Castle Texas, Carrollton
These Korean-inspired spas offer everything from healing hot and cold sauna rooms to massages to movie theaters, as well as food and drink to fuel an hours-long stay. Change into your swimsuit before heading to the waterpark areas, where hydrotherapy is, ahem, king.

Burgers Lake, Fort Worth
A 30-acre spring-fed lake smack in the middle of Fort Worth that features sandy beaches, shady trees, charcoal grills for cooking, six diving boards, three slides, a 25-foot trapeze, bounce balloons, volleyball courts, kids splash pad, and more. If you're seeking the classic summertime swimming hole experience, it doesn't get any better than this.

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CREEPY CRAWLIES

Nightmarish stinging fireworms are washing up on Texas beaches

Harte Research Institute/ Facebook

Researcher Jace Tunnel holds a nightmarish fire worm.

Heads up, Gulf vacationers: Officials are sounding the alarm about a creepy critter that could ruin your next beach trip. The Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies says that fireworms, a centipede-like sea creature with sharp bristles, are washing up on Texas shores.

Researcher Jace Tunnel posted the warning in a Facebook photo series detailing a recent beachcombing expedition. Along with benign finds like lost stuffed animals, seashells, and seeds, the explorer encountered a slithery pair of fireworms feeding on a pile of gooseneck barnacles.

Although voracious predators, fireworms are not usually a threat to humans. But their common name should give any beachgoer pause if they encounter them in the wild. The hollow bristles can inject a potent neurotoxin that can cause painful burning, nausea, and dizziness.

“[I]t literally feels like fire for about three hours,” explains the institute in a 2024 post. “Your skin can feel sensitive in the sting site for weeks, depending on where it stung you.”

The bristle worms are native to the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean and are most commonly found near coral reefs. Although not a new sight in the Gulf of Mexico, they are rare enough to cause a stir. When angler Alyssia Ramirez posted a 2020 video of catching a fireworm, it made international news, according to Corpus Christi NBC affiliate KRIS 6.

While the risk of getting stung by the washed-up amphinomids is relatively slim, WebMD says the treatment is relatively simple. Affected swimmers should apply vinegar or isopropyl alcohol to the affected area, then remove the bristles with tweezers or adhesive tape. Inflammation and burning can be treated with over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream. Although painful, the neurotoxin is not potent enough to be deadly.

Fireworms are not the only nightmare creature causing a stir in Texas this year. In late June, the Texas Animal Health Commission and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department formed a task force to battle screwworms, a parasite that threatens the state's wildlife and cattle.

Fearless Texans can watch Tunnel's close encounter with fireworms — and other beachcombing expeditions — via the institute's YouTube channel.

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