Bunker Beach is a

water park A water park (also waterpark, water world, or aquapark) is an amusement park that features water play areas such as swimming pools, water slides, splash pads, water playgrounds, and lazy rivers, as well as areas for floating, bathing, swimming ...

in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, United States, within Bunker Hills Regional Park, run by the Anoka County Parks and Recreation Department. It is

Minnesota Minnesota ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Upper Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Ontario to the north and east and by the U.S. states of Wisconsin to the east, Iowa to the so ...

's largest water park, featuring a

wave pool A wave pool is a swimming pool in which there are artificially generated, large waves, similar to those of the ocean. Wave pools are often a major feature of water parks, both indoors and outdoors, as well as some leisure centres. History Th ...

water slide A water slide (also referred to as a flume, water chute, or hydroslide) is a type of Playground slide, slide designed for warm-weather or indoor recreational use at swimming pools or water parks. Water slides differ in their riding method and ...

s, and other water features.

History

In 1986, Anoka County announced several additions to its Bunker Hills Park, including a $1 million

to be completed in 1988. It would be the first wave pool in Minnesota. By its completion, the project cost $1.4 million ; officials hoped that the wave pool would prove to be a profitable venture, unlike traditional rectangular pools. The pool opened on June 12, 1988, and for its first several weeks sold out at 800 admissions each day. In its first season 101,362 people visited the pool, with ticket and concession revenue totaling $216,637 and $137,029, respectively. Prior to the 1989 season, a sand volleyball court, picnic shelters, and an additional concession stand were added to the waterpark. Prior to the 2003 season the park was expanded beyond the wave pool with a gradual-entry pool, a sand play area, and two water slides. Attendance in the 2008 season was 95,605. A $3.5 million renovation began place at the end of the 2009 season, adding a

lazy river "(Up A) Lazy River" is a popular tune and song by Hoagy Carmichael and Sidney Arodin, published in 1930. The melody is by Arodin, arranged and with words modified by Carmichael. It is considered a jazz standard and pop standard, and has ...

, two tube water slides, a leisure pool, and an activity pool with a basketball hoop and climbing wall. Additional concession stands and a lifeguard lounge were also added. Attendance in the 2009 season was 69,680 visitors. After the waterpark closed in 2020 due to the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...

, officials began a $6.5 million rebuild of the 33-year-old wave pool, which had become more difficult to maintain. The new pool features heated water and a 3,000-square-foot, child-friendly area. A splash pad was added in 2023, replacing a sandbox and playground equipment.

Amenities

Bunker Beach is Minnesota's largest water park, spread across ten acres. Bunker Beach has a number of attractions for visitors. The primary attraction of the park is a

capable of holding 1,000 swimmers. It also has a zero-entry lagoon and adventure pool, lazy river, climbing walls, waterslides, and pool basketball courts. Park capacity is 2,500.

References

{{reflist Buildings and structures in Anoka County, Minnesota Tourist attractions in Anoka County, Minnesota Water parks in Minnesota