Splash Lagoon ranks 2nd on list of best indoor water parks nationwide
A popular indoor water park in Erie County has been ranked second in the nation.
Splash Lagoon has welcomed 8 million guests since it opened in 2003.
It's been nominated as part of USA Today's 10 Best Readers' Choice Awards eight times.
This year, it landed its highest ranking of number 2, just behind Kalahari Resorts.
Waldameer's Ravine Flyer II ranks 4th among best coasters in US
In addition to slides, Splash Lagoon features the biggest wave pool east of the Mississippi.
Scott Enterprises' CEO Nick Scott Sr. said he's proud to help put Erie on the map for tourists.
'I always thought that somewhere between Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Buffalo, they're all equidistant. Erie was a great destination. It's such a big part of Erie's destination tourism, so we're really proud that we reached the number two in the entire country,' said Scott.
Scott said Splash Lagoon also draws visitors from Rochester, Syracuse and Canada.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Trump takes aim at Musk's government contracts but says ex-pal can keep White House key
WASHINGTON — Their breakup was full of insults and acrimony, but President Donald Trump says Elon Musk can keep his golden key. "I don't take things back, I gave him a key, he tried very hard," Trump said of his former DOGE head. The golden key, etched with the White House insignia, is not a real key but symbolizes respect and honor from the president. Trump and Musk had a public falling out this week after the billionaire, who worked part-time for the federal government until last month, waged a war on the president's tax bill over it's projected $2.5 trillion price tag. The fight spiraled as the pair traded attacks, and the two men stopped speaking. Trump told reporters on June 6 that he was not interested in reconciling with Musk. Elon Musk hits back after Trump threatens contracts. SpaceX's government ties, explained In social media posts on June 5, the president said he asked Musk to leave his post spearheading the DOGE initiative and threatened to cancel billions of dollars of the SpaceX founder's federal contracts. Trump said the following day that he was serious about ending the government contracts —and would do so if he thought it was in the financial interest of the country. 'We'll take look at everything. I look at everything. He's got a lot of money. He gets a lot of subsidy," Trump told reporters on June 6. "Only if it's to be fair for him and for the country, I would certainly think about it." Musk responded by saying he would decommission SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft immediately. He said in another post that without his help, Republicans would have lost the House and Senate and Trump would not currently be the president. A Washington Post analysis found that Musk's companies have received at least $38 billion in government contracts, loans, subsidies and tax credits over the years. SpaceX has about $22 billion in government contracts alone, Reuters reported. While the country might be twittering about his breakup with Musk, the president said on June 6 that his focus was squarely on a cache of complex international issues. 'Honestly, I've been so busy working on China, working on Russia, working on Iran ... I'm not thinking about Elon Musk," Trump told reporters riding with him on Air Force One to his New Jersey golf club. He also claimed he had not thought about whether or not he would keep his new Tesla. SpaceX works closely with the Department of Defense and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. But the president told reporters the federal government can survive without its partnerships with Musk's companies. 'The U.S. can survive without almost anybody," Trump said. "Except me." Contributing: Joey Garrison of USA TODAY. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump says ex-pal Elon Musk can keep his golden White House key
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
FAA caps flights at Newark Airport to cut delays through 2025
The Federal Aviation Administration finalized new air traffic restrictions at Newark Liberty International Airport, saying that arrivals and departures would be limited to 34 each per hour through Oct. 25, 2025. Arrivals and departures at EWR will be further reduced on weekends from Sept. 1 through the end of the year to accommodate airport construction. The FAA previously signaled it was planning to reduce traffic at Newark in response to weeks of delays caused by equipment outages and staffing issues that hampered the airport's capacity. "The confirmed reduced rates will maintain safety while alleviating excessive flight delays at the airport due to staffing and equipment challenges. The early completion of runway construction at the airport that added to the delays will also contribute to a more efficient operation," the FAA said in a statement. "Working with airlines and the airport, the limited arrival rate already paid dividends over the Memorial Day holiday with smooth travel into and out of Newark." United Airlines, which operates a major hub at Newark, touted the airport's on-time rate over the previous week. "Newark (EWR) is the most reliable airport in the New York City area this week," the airline said in a statement. United noted that 79% of its departures from Newark were on time between June 2 and June 5, while 88% of arrivals landed at Newark on time, and 90% of the airline's flights departing Newark arrived at their destinations on time. At a press conference announcing the early completion of a runway reconstruction project at the airport, alongside Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, United CEO Scott Kirby said that travelers in and out of Newark will be able to take advantage of great airfare deals this summer. "We did get well behind on bookings because of the perception issues around Newark recently, so that means more seats are available, which means the fares are better than they're probably going to ever be in the years to come, so now's the time to book your vacation if you want to go to Europe or you want to head across the country," he said. Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York and you can reach him at zwichter@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Newark flight? FAA reduces traffic to improve on-time performance


USA Today
10 hours ago
- USA Today
Portillo's opening new locations in 2025, including first in Georgia
Portillo's opening new locations in 2025, including first in Georgia Show Caption Hide Caption How to take your hot dog to the next level Hot dogs don't have to be boring. Here are 5 ways to upgrade the classic American staple. ProblemSolved, Reviewed Portillo's, known for its Chicago-style hot dogs, announced its plans to expand as the year nears its halfway point. The fast-casual restaurant chain, which also serves beef and sausage sandwiches and pasta, will have opened up 12 new locations by the end of the year. Among the new restaurants, most will be in Texas and, for the first time, in Georgia. The location in Kennesaw, Georgia, will open during the latter half of 2025, Sara Wirth, the director of PR, IR and internal communications at Portillo's, told USA TODAY. Wirth said Portillo's fiscal 2025 is focused on restaurant growth outside Chicagoland, where the chain already has a presence. The chain's current focus is the Sunbelt, primarily in Texas, but there are plans to enter the Atlanta and San Antonio markets in the second half of 2025, she added. In addition to the new locations, Wirth said Portillo's plans to open its first walk-up restaurant format later this year. Although Portillo's has plans set, Wirth stated that the chain will "continue to fill-in existing markets, including Chicagoland and adjacent markets as opportunities come available." What is Portillo's? The 62-year-old company opened its first hot dog stand called "The Dog House" in 1963 in Villa Park, Illinois. The company began as a trailer with no bathroom and no running water. Owner Dick Portillo spent $1,100 on the trailer, running a 250-foot garden hose from a nearby building into the trailer for water, the company said on its website. Four years after opening 'The Dog House,' the company was renamed Portillo's and moved into a new building. In 2000, the company began shipping nationwide, and five years later, expanded outside of Illinois with a location in Buena Park, California. The company has continued to open new restaurants in states such as Indiana, Arizona, and Florida. The company welcomed new customers this year at three locations in Orland Park, Illinois, and in Katy and Willowbrook, Texas, Wirth said. Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@