Roller Coasters in Arizona

There are a few decent roller coasters in Arizona, though no major parks. Almost all are in the Phoenix area, with one mountain coaster near Flagstaff.

Castles N’ Coasters

A little north in Phoenix is Castles N’ Coasters, a mini-golf & amusement park mashup. The mini-golf seems to be the “castles” part of the park, while “coasters” refers to, well, two roller coasters. Desert Storm is the more extreme with two inversions, while Patriot is more family-friendly with no inversions. (Click the links for videos!) There’s also a log flume, a drop tower, and some flat rides, plus an arcade and a 4D theater.

The four mini-golf courses and arcade are open all day, 10-10, as are some bumper boats and go-carts. The thrill ride park is open after 5 pm during the week and after 2 pm on weekends. Passes range from $15 for a round of golf to $57 for an unlimited ride pass, a round of golf, and $10 of arcade play. Just a pass for the rides is $47 (though you can tack on a round of golf for only $7 more.) As always, check hours before you visit.

Mattel Adventure Park – Coming 2024

Coming soon to Glendale is Mattel Adventure Park, an amusement park based on childhood favorites like Barbie, Hot Wheels, He-Man, and Thomas & Friends. Promising an “indoor/outdoor design” and “acres” of air conditioning, it sounds like an excellent way to beat the sweltering Arizona heat.

There are at least two roller coasters slated to open with the park, both appropriately themed to Hot Wheels. Twin Mills Racer, the more extreme coaster, has a fast-launch start and a few inversions. A family coaster, Boneshaker, is a tamer experience. (Though with that name, it might not be that tame!) There will also be a Hot Wheels-themed go-kart track, a Thomas train ride, a Barbie theater show, and dream-house restaurant, and a full-size Castle Greyskull with laser tag inside.

The whole thing seems to be part of a larger VAI Resort, with accommodations, a 5-acre swimming pool, a sand beach, a tethered balloon attraction, and an impressive concert stage. Look for Mattel Adventure Park to open sometime in 2024.

Canyon Coaster Adventure Park

Canyon Coaster Adventure Park in Williams, nearer Flagstaff, has a mountain coaster, the Canyon Coaster. Besides the mountain coaster, there’s a tubing hill open in summer and winter. It looks like it’s open year-round, open at 10 am and closing at 4:00 during the week and all the way until 9 pm on Fridays and Saturdays.

The Canyon Coaster is $20 per person to ride or add a kid to your sled for an extra $10. Summer tubing costs between $10-59, depending on if you want 1, 3, or 5 rides, 2 hours, or all day. Snow tubing costs $40 and is good all day.

Wildlife World

To the west of Phoenix is Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium, and Safari Park. The zoo itself is pretty big, with 600 species on exhibit and 10 rides, including the Family Roller Coaster. (That’s its actual name – click for the ride video.) There’s also a safari train, a Skyride (like a chairlift), carousel, log flume, tram ride, flying scooters, and a seated zipline ride. All these rides are in, over, and among the animals themselves. A herd of llamas resides under the roller coaster. The log flume takes you through the aquarium! And the tram and train are narrated trips past the animals in each section.

The kicker here is the cost. It’s $45.50 per adult, and $25.50 for each child under 12 (2 and under is free) for the park itself and all the animals. But the rides cost extra and are around $6 each. The carousel is only $3, but the zip line is $10. For one person to enjoy the park and ride all the rides, it would cost $94.50 for an adult, $74.50 for a child. I think that’s pretty steep. Even taking off the carousel and the flying scooters, that’s still $85.50 for everything I would be interested in.

Enchanted Island

Tucked into Encanto Park in Phoenix is Enchanted Island, an amusement park mostly aimed at kids. Included in this is the Dragon Wagon, a kiddie roller coaster. (Click link for video.) You can also rent pedal boats and canoes to ply the waters around the island and through the park.

Admission to the park is free. A single ride costs $5, or $20 for an all-day pass for all rides, including a train, carousel, splash pad, and a fun water-gun castle. Pedal boats start at $18 for 30 minutes.

Schnepf Farms

Schnepf Farms on the southeast outskirts of Phoenix is a real, working farm with peach orchards, large u-pick vegetable patches, a country store, and a bakery. You can have your wedding here or glamp in a shiny airstream trailer.

And from February 25 – May 30, the Schnepf Farms Agritainment Park is open with over 25 rides, including one home-grown roller coaster! (Click for video – or just the giggling. It’s hilarious!) There is also a Ferris wheel and several flat rides, food, and games for your enjoyment. Tickets cost $27.95 per person or $99 for a season pass. (Note that the amusement park rides are closed for the 2023 season. Time will tell if they ever open back up.)

Water Parks in Arizona

Arizona’s water parks are where it’s at, with the innovations of America’s first wave pool and water coaster. The slides are big and crazy, particularly in the top three parks listed below.

• Hurricane Harbor Phoenix used to be a Wet ‘n Wild location before Six Flags bought it. It’s one of a few Hurricane Harbor locations not attached to a Six Flags theme park. The park features seven major slides, including a *dueling* water coaster! There’s also a wave pool, lazy river, and several play areas for small kids. $30-45 plus $20 for parking.
• Golfland Sunsplash in Mesa has 12 slides, including the first water coaster! There’s also an arcade, mini-golf, go-karts, bumper boats, and laser tag, all situated around a large King Ben’s Castle. $40-53, depending on the day.
• Honorable mention to Big Surf Waterpark in Tempe, which had 12 slides and America’s original wave pool! Big Surf never reopened in 2020, and last year sold to a development company and has been demolished.
• The Great Wolf Lodge in Scottsdale, near Phoenix, has 6 slides, including two big family raft rides, a tandem tube slide, and one of those “trapdoor” body slides, which is unusual for an indoor water park. There’s also a lazy river, activity areas, three kid’s areas, and one adults-only spa. The water park is open to all resort guests, or for anywhere between $50-100 for a day pass. Half-day passes are available, but won’t save you much – it’s best to go in the middle of the week.
• Connected to the Arizona Grand Resort & Spa is the Oasis Water Park with three 8-story slides, a large wave pool, lazy river, and hot tub, plus areas for kids. Non-resort guests can visit by buying a day pass for ~$55-60.
• The Eldorado Aquatic & Fitness Center in Scottsdale has two large slides, four diving boards, and a water play area. It’s not much, but the price is low! Only $5 for non-residents.
• Foothills Aquatic Center in Glendale has 2 slides, one curvy and one straight, a lazy river, and a kid’s play area. $8 gets non-resident access to the water area plus all the other facilities in the building.
• The Nozomi Aquatic Center in Chandler has one figure-eight slide and a zero-entry pool. The general public is allowed on certain dates; see website. Only $2.25 and under.
• There is an Aquatics Center in Anthem (near Phoenix) with at least a couple of slides, but it looks like it’s only open to residents and their authorized guests.

Did I miss anything? Have you been to any of these parks? What are you looking forward to doing this summer? Let me know in the comments below!