Adulting is hard!
But what if there was a waterpark where you could leave most of your responsibilities behind and cool off with good vibes?
Well, there is, and it is called “The Cove at BearX,” an adults-only waterpark in College Station.
The Cove has been open for six seasons, but everything changed this summer after a viral TikTok video promoting the waterpark reached people outside of Texas. With over 2.5 million views, “The Cove” became an overnight sensation.
“This summer is drastically different because we’re actually getting people that are coming from all over the U.S., from out of state and not just from Austin, Dallas, and Houston,” said CEO Heath Phillips, speaking with KBTX.
“I opened my email up one Saturday and we had hundreds of reservation inquiries coming through and thousands of more followers on Instagram within a day,” he added.
The Cove features a massive lazy river, a surf machine, a wakeboard cable park, yard games, live music, and a swim-up bar. And if you want to protect “your vibe,” you can rent a VIP bungalow or cabana.
For adults looking for a weekend getaway from their children, the waterpark offers a chance to relax and slow things down.
“It’s a place where you’re an adult, but you get to go and experience fun again like when you were a kid,” explained Phillips. “As we get older and become adults, responsibilities increase, and life can be tough…so we created a place where you can come to still have that fun.”
While there is plenty of fun to be had at The Cove, there are ten “Covemandments” that guests must follow.
For instance, one Covemandment instructs guests, “DON’T BE AN —HAT: I don’t know about your mama, but my mama always said if you don’t have anything nice to say, then… you’re an —hat. Get stuffed!”
The popular waterpark is enjoying its success, and the city of College Station is also feeling the residual effects of the increased tourist traffic.
“It’s just tremendous for us because when people come in, especially from out of town or out of state, not only are they going to that amenity, but they’re coming to our restaurants, they’re coming to our retailers, and they’re staying overnight,” said Aubrey Nettles, College Station’s marketing manager of economic development and tourism.
While The Cove’s summer season ends on September 11, Phillips is already working on next year. He plans to meet with city officials to see how they can all capitalize on the extra attention next summer.