Taxpayers Question Muslim-Only Event At Epic Waters

A popular city-owned waterpark in Grand Prairie is facing growing backlash after booking a “Muslim-only” private event that will close the facility to non-Muslims.

Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark, which receives public funding through a voter-approved sales tax, is scheduled to host the “3rd Annual DFW Epic Eid” celebration organized by the East Plano Islamic Center. The event, which requires attendees to be Muslim, has sparked widespread debate over whether a taxpayer-supported public venue can legally restrict access based on religion.

Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark in Grand Prairie has earned recognition as one of the Top 3 Indoor Waterparks in the Nation by USA Today for three consecutive years, according to its website (2023, 2024, and 2025). The 80,000-square-foot facility sits in the heart of the Grand Prairie area and advertises itself as a premier year-round destination for families.

However, it now appears that only certain families can enjoy the park on June 1.

A flyer circulating on social media advertising the “3rd Annual DFW Epic Eid” event – scheduled for June 1 – quickly went viral after X user @SaraGonzalesTX sounded the alarm. Gonzalez posted the flyer showcasing how the city-owned park would be hosting a “Muslim-only” event featuring halal food and a private prayer area, closed entirely to the general public who do not identify as Muslim.

🚨ISLAMIFICATION ALERT🚨

Grand Prairie, TX has an indoor water park called Epic Waters (no relation to EPIC city).

It is owned by the city & now has a MUSLIM ONLY event on June 1st, with halal food, and a private prayer area.

The event is closed to the public- Muslims only. pic.twitter.com/c7qgyKhCN7

— Sara Gonzales (@SaraGonzalesTX) May 4, 2026

The event’s promotional materials explicitly state that it is “for Muslims only” to create a “family-friendly environment,” with tickets starting at $55-65 per person.

The event page notes that men and women will not be separated, but attendees are urged to “uphold Islamic etiquette” and adhere to a modest dress code aligned with Muslim guidelines. A private prayer room is also allegedly being made available at the waterpark.

“Please follow the event’s modest dress code, and practice ḥayāʾ (modesty) through respectful behavior—such as maintaining personal space and lowering the gaze,” states the event FAQ page.

Nationally syndicated radio host Dana Loesch questioned the event, asking how a taxpayer-funded, city-owned entity could legally exclude non-Muslims from a public water park, adding that “There would be literal riots if Muslims were similarly excluded and we all know that’s 100% accurate.”

Texas State Rep. Mitch Little (R-District 65) also weighed in on X, writing: “I mean, this is a law school essay question and not a hard one. You can’t have a Muslim-only event, guys. What are we doing here, Texas?”

Most of the backlash centers around how the waterpark is funded. Epic Waters is part of the larger Epic development in Grand Prairie, which is funded in part by a 0.25% sales tax approved by voters in 2014. That tax was created to support improvements and new facilities across the EpicCentral district, including the waterpark.

The East Plano Islamic Center is running the event itself; the park reportedly has no official ties to the congregation or its leaders, regardless of the potentially confusing and overlapping EPIC names.

At the center of the controversy is a simple constitutional issue: can a publicly funded venue legally restrict access based on religion, even during a privately organized, ticketed event?

As of press time, neither Epic Waters nor the East Plano Islamic Center had issued a public statement in response to the growing backlash, and the city of Grand Prairie had not commented on whether it reviewed the event’s exclusivity policy before approving the booking.

The Dallas Express will continue to follow this developing story.