Magic Springs

Arkansas has only one amusement park. Luckily for Saline County residents, it’s only minutes away. Magic Springs Theme and Water Park continues to be a popular entertainment destination for local and regional visitors alike. For more than 40 years, families have been making magic memories at this beloved attraction.

“I think Magic Springs is very popular [in Saline County] because it’s a short drive to enjoy a full day of entertainment for the entire family,” said Michelle Keeney, Magic Springs Director of Sales and Marketing. “The season pass is a real value when you live so close and can utilize both the theme and water park all summer, along with the special events. It also enables you to drive to just come for a short visit or for an evening concert.”

Magic Springs has seen many changes since it opened on July 22, 1978. There have been many rides added throughout the years, and in 2000, the water park was added. The Summer Concert Series came to Magic Springs in 2003, and has offered patrons a variety of musical acts from an array of genres. This year is no different, offering well-known favorites and new talent in its list of nearly ten acts.

“We are constantly looking for ways to innovate and better serve our guests, including searching for new attractions that would offer something unique to the region,” Keeney said.

The pandemic has changed how Magic Springs operates, but even last summer, patrons visited with safety protocols in place. The park will continue to adhere to Arkansas Department of Health guidelines this season to ensure the safety of both guests and employees.

“Like every individual and business, we have made many changes due to the pandemic,” Keeney said. “We immediately instituted new safety protocols at the park following all local and federal guidelines, and will continue to do so during this season as the situation evolves.” 

“You’ll see our processes adapted at all levels, including opportunities for drive-through Season Pass processing, social distancing throughout the park and especially in lines, hand sanitizer stations available, employee temperature checks, and various other protocols for safe family fun. We are dedicated to keeping our employees and guests safe and ensuring they have the best time in the park.”

Keeney, who is a veteran of the amusement park business and came to Magic Springs last fall, said no new rides have been added at the park, but she’s excited for patrons who haven’t ridden Brain Drain, the park’s most recent ride addition which debuted in 2018, to try it. The ride takes patrons, who are seated, up slowly to a height of 120 feet, and then drops them suddenly, reaching a maximum speed of 47 mph before entering a magnetic braking area.

“Brain Drain remains the hottest new attraction at our park,” she said. “As we monitor the ongoing pandemic, we look forward to offering additional attractions.”

Magic Springs continued its Summer Concert Series in 2020 with social distance guidelines enforced. A slate of nine concerts is again offered this season with an eye on the changing guidelines for 2021. General admission seating on the lawn (blankets and lawn chairs are allowed) and reserved seating upgrades are available. Keeney said the park is waiting on releasing reserved seating options until it becomes clear how many seats can be used and still maintain social distance standards. 

Among the notable acts of 2021 are ‘90s hip hop artist Vanilla Ice kicking the season off June 19, country artists John Michael Montgomery and Lone Star June 26, Arkansas native country artist Matt Stell July 17, and alternative rock group Sevendust July 24.

“We are pleased to offer an incredible new lineup of outdoor concerts in our 2021 Summer Concert Series,” Keeney said. “With so many live shows canceled, it means a lot to us to offer safe, outdoor, socially-distanced live music for all types of music fans. I wasn’t here for last year’s Concert Series, so I am really excited to take part this year.”

Keeney said special events that have been featured favorites in the past and continued during the pandemic are scheduled for this season.

“In 2020, our dedicated team was able to continue to offer these safe outdoor events during the pandemic and we are looking forward to more this season. Magic Springs will continue to celebrate corporate and small group parties, and offer unique family-friendly events such as Dive-In Movies, Mermaid Mondays, and Cooler Sundays. We work hard to create unique experiences that are high quality and high value for our guests. Our fall-themed program called Halloweekends is the perfect example of this, with special weekends designed with all-day family-friendly activities.”

Halloweekends was introduced last year as an alternative to the Magic Screams Halloween festival that featured haunted houses the pandemic prevented. Instead, the park presented Halloweekends, which was set during the day and great for families, featuring costume contests, face painting and more.

Another family option introduced this year is a Celebration Package, where families can gather for birthdays graduations and other special occasions. There is always something happening at Magic Springs from concerts and thrilling rides and slides. There’s something for everyone to enjoy! For more information on Magic Springs visit magicsprings.com.