Forget standing in long lines with a bunch of 12-year-olds at your local waterpark this summer — why not build your own right in your backyard? Let’s face it, your grown-up body probably isn’t jonesing for those epic slide dumps and belly flops like it used to anyway. Creating a DIY waterpark is a very grown-up solution to a scorcher of a day, and it’s also a solid excuse to invite your buds over and relive your glory days.
Contrary to what you might think, you don’t need tons of money or time — or even skills — to build a fully functional waterpark. Read on for five tips and picks from Walmart that will have you slipping, sliding, and chilling out by next weekend.
1. Chill out in a grown-up kiddie pool
Think of an inflatable pool as your waterpark’s main attraction but, instead of doing cannonballs in it, you’ll be sipping highballs while submerged neck-deep in cool water. Be wary of the smaller pools though – some are too shallow to even cover your kneecaps. Basically, you want a pool that’s built for grown-ups but that you and the kids can still play Marco Polo in. This spacious pool is one such oasis that’s easy to set up and, as the box says, ready for deluxe comfort. It has four cushy seats where you can lounge horizontal and there are built-in drink holders, which is a nice perk for going hands-free.
2. Quench your need for speed with a water slide
There’s something about sliding all fast and furious-like across wet plastic that takes you back to the days of banana seats and Donkey Kong. All you need to make a DIY water slide is a plastic tarp and a water hose, but something like this H2OGO! water slide is a better idea. First off, it’s 18 feet long, making for a pretty generous runway. It also has inflatable bumpers that you can crash into at the end, so you’re not catapulted onto the grass. When you’re all tuckered out, you can also just lie there as water sprinkles over you and eat bologna sandwiches like you did as a kid.
3. Have a blast from the past, literally
You want to set up a space in your backyard for some good-old-fashioned water games, like water-balloon dodge ball, water-balloon piñata popping, or the king of all summer water games: water-blaster fights. Create an obstacle course — lawn chairs and outdoor tables work great, just make sure they don’t have any sharp edges — and then duck and dodge the afternoon away. This affordable max blaster shoots water to a whopping 25 feet so you can soak your opponents as they sneak around the corner of the house — surprise, sucker!
4. Crank the big-hair music
Your DIY waterpark will likely lack a few amenities — like neon plastic bracelets and the reek of chlorine — but you can still dial in the finer details and create an authentic vibe. Many waterparks seem to dig the big-hair 80s music, so blast your own from a water-resistant speaker. This colorful Bluetooth speaker has LED lights that sync to the beat. You can even line up some lawn chairs for a game of musical chairs. The loser gets pummeled by water balloons, naturally.
5. Kick back and crack open a cold one
Building on the 80s theme, grab a few crazy-bright towels to throw over your lawn chairs so the backs of your thighs don’t stick to them. These leopard-print ones hit the spot. Kick back and take a look around at the backyard setup that you oh-so carefully constructed. Do you feel like a kid again? Because this is your very own water park and you make the rules here, you can upgrade over those food court options of yore to whatever your rumbling stomach desires after all that slipping and sliding. Just fill this portable cooler with your drinks and snacks of choice, so you don’t have to track wet footprints into the kitchen. Cheers to you for winning the summer game.
