By Tricia Berwick
Imagine trying to steady yourself on a surf board as you attempt to catch the perfect wave or floating down a lazy river on an inner tube without a worry in the world for an entire afternoon. A little hard to fathom at this time of the year? Absolutely! Especially with all the snow and ice that has covered the New Jersey landscape for the past month or two. Don’t give up on those daydreams yet though. It is possible to ride a few waves, and swim and splash, even during these frigid, frosty months. At Sahara Sam’s Oasis Indoor Water Park in West Berlin, the forecast is 84 degrees every day, which makes it the perfect playground to chase away the winter blues.
This 58,000 square-foot water park, which celebrates summer year-round, offers many attractions for all ages. There are thrilling water slides for older kids and grown-ups, and quiet little pools and splash areas for toddlers and babies to frolic and play too. Between the warm temperatures and the tropical theme, this relaxing and fun atmosphere is an indoor paradise where families can take a short vacation from the every day routine without leaving New Jersey.
Although the staff at Sahara Sam’s wants all their guests to have tons of fun, Marcy Edwards, the park’s Director of Marketing, says their main goal every day is to create a safe environment.
“One comment that we always hear from the public is how safe Sahara Sam’s is,” says Edwards. “We always have plenty of lifeguards on duty at all times to monitor all of the different play areas and even more on busy days such as holidays and weekends.”
Sam Girlya owns the water park and his son, Ilya, is the managing owner. Because the park is a family-run business, the owners know first-hand that ensuring their guests’ safety is the first and most important step in creating an environment in which families can feel comfortable enjoy their experience.
“The owners of Sahara Sam’s Oasis take pride in making the water park a place where families can participate in the activities together with their children while having a great time,” says Edwards. “They know what type of product the public wants.”
Since its inception, the public has been quite pleased with what Sahara Sam’s Oasis has to offer its customers. One of the most popular attractions is the Flow Rider Surfing Simulator, the only attraction of its kind in New Jersey. Participants need to be at least 8 to surf. Other attractions include: Snake Eyes Tube Slides, Mt. Kilamanjaro Family Raft Ride, Tim-Buk Tu Tree Fort with Tipping Bucket, a Lizard Lagoon for younger guests, the Crocodile Flats Cargo Rope Course, Sam’s Slam Dunker Water Basketball, and the Congo Bongo Adventure River.
On a recent trip to Sahara Sam’s Oasis, my twin six-year-old daughters relished the opportunity to wear their bathing suits during the winter months. They absolutely loved sliding, splashing, and swimming underwater.
One ride they couldn’t get enough of was the Congo Bongo Adventure River. The girls had a blast floating down this lazy river while getting sprayed and splashed with water. While one of my daughters was a little apprehensive about the Crocodile Flats Cargo Rope Course, the other was determined to get her little body across without falling into the pool. Although her arms weren’t strong enough to successfully navigate to the other side of the pool successfully, she had lots of fun trying and even enjoyed falling off into the pool.
Our favorite ride together was the Mt. Kilamanjaro Family Raft Ride. Once we climbed to the top of the water slide, the whole family piled into a circular raft and prepared ourselves for the trip down though the dark, wet tube. Once the attendant nudged our raft into the tube’s entrance, we quickly picked up speed and raced down the chute while winding through all of its twists and turns. Of course, there was lots of giggling and screaming from my girls, and my hubby, as we made our way down the slide and finally exited the tube with a thunderous splash in the pool at the bottom! We loved the raft ride so much that we went down a few times throughout the course of the day.
Once your family is completely tuckered out from all of the water attractions, there are showers and dressing rooms to change back into dry clothes before the ride home. If your crew has worked up an appetite, you can treat them to a slice of pizza or some chicken tenders at the full-service Sand Dune Café. And for the adults, Sahara Sam’s now has a full modern lounge with bar right inside the water park. The bar features specialty cocktails, draft and bottle beers, and signature frozen drinks. Food service is also available at the bar. The lounge area also has several flat screen televisions which will feature many sporting events.
In addition to all of the water attractions, Sahara Sam’s Oasis also has a 3,000 square foot arcade to entertain the kids once they’re all dried off. The great thing about the arcade is that the kids can take a break from the water rides for a little while, play a few games, and then return to the water park. Guests can easily go back and forth between the two areas.
Sahara Sam’s is about a 60 to 90 minute drive from the Shore area. So if you’d like to extend your trip into an overnight or weekend getaway, take advantage of one of Sahara Sam’s “Stay and Play Packages.” Though not connected to a hotel, the water park has great connections with some area hotels. All of the packages offer tickets to the water park with a hotel reservation.
After your trip to Sam’s, keep it in mind for your child’s next birthday party or special occasion. As a complete indoor entertainment center, Sahara Sam’s has private party rooms which are perfect for hosting all kinds of events, including birthday parties, group trips for schools, camps, scouts and youth groups, bar or bat mitzvahs, family reunions, company picnics, and fundraising programs.
With spring still many weeks away, you and your family can take a break from the doldrums of winter while staying right here in New Jersey. Just pack up your pool bag and head over to West Berlin for a day of family fun at Sahara Sam’s Oasis Indoor Water Park. Sahara Sam’s is located at 535 Route 73 North. For more information, splash over to their website at saharasams.com, or call 856-767-7580. Be sure to check out the online 360 degree tour of the water park before your trip. You can even sign up for their e-newsletter which will provide exclusive offers and discounts, as well as details on upcoming events and special promotions.
Some noteworthy upcoming events at Sahara Sam’s Oasis include:
1.) Sahara Sam’s Special Needs Exclusive Nights . Admission is only $15 per person (regularly $29.95). Non-participating chaperones are only $5. Tickets for these special evenings are limited, so they suggest purchasing tickets online to guarantee admission. The evening will feature water play on Sahara Sam’s most popular attractions that offer a variety of sensory stimulation. There will also be a quiet room available. The lighting and sound will be modified throughout the water park and arcade. Guests can bring their own snacks into the water park or dine from the full-service café. Sahara Sam’s wants all of the guests to be comfortable, so T-shirts and shorts are okay to wear for swimming. There will be plenty of seating available throughout the water park. Guests just need to bring their own towels. These evenings are open to all ages and there are activities for everyone. Siblings, friends and family are welcome to attend this “no judgment zone” event.
“Our family understands firsthand what it means to have a special needs child,” says Sam Girlya, the Chairman of Sahara Sam’s. “Our daughter Gabriella has inspired all of us to be patient, sensitive, and understanding. One of our goals here at Sahara Sam’s is to encourage all people to come together and have fun.”
2.) During the month of February, Sahara Sam’s Oasis is hosting “Wacky Wednesdays.” All weekday tickets are only $14.95 through February 28. These special tickets are available online or at the door. However, if you purchase your tickets online, your family is guaranteed admission.
3.) Also during the month of February, Sam’s is featuring “Buy One Get One Free Weekends.” These tickets are also available online or at the door, but Sahara Sam’s highly recommends buying the tickets online to guarantee admission.
4.) If you travel to the water park during your child’s birthday month, their admission ticket will be just $12. Guests must show proof of age either by showing a state issued license, birth certificate, or military identification.
