After a soft opening during a cool and extremely wet June, Kalispell’s Woodland Water Park finally is in full swing.

The same goes for the Flathead’s other water attractions as the thermometer rises.

A couple of hundred people showed up July 4 for Woodland Water Park’s Red, White and Blue Day, one of many special events scheduled this summer.

Pool attendance continues to grow as the sun shines and temperatures climb into the 80s and 90s.

“We had well over 300 people here Sunday and Saturday, and averaged about 350 or more in our last couple weeks as the weather turned around,” said Brittney Weideman, the swimming lesson supervisor at Woodland Water Park.

“When the weather is nice, people come out, and they certainly have been. We’ve had much busier days.”

Hot, sunny weather is forecast to continue this week in the Flathead, with highs in the low- to mid-90s and only a slight chance of rain or thunderstorms through Sunday, the National Weather Service said.

June’s cool, wet weather hampered traffic at Kalispell’s outdoor pool, which usually receives 18,000 to 20,000 visitors a season.

Heated water helped a few people brave temperatures that hung in the 50s for much of June, but that cool weather combined with frequent rain “delayed a lot of people from even thinking about the pool,” Weideman said.

The 6.2 inches of rain that fell in June made it Flathead County’s wettest month ever, eclipsing a 6.02-inch record set in July 1993.

Cool, wet Junes seem to be the norm, said Mike Baker, Kalispell’s director of parks and recreation.

“It’s been a while since we had a really nice, warm June where a lot of people wanted to come out and use the pool,” he said. “We’re looking at pretty much a two-month pool season any more, July and August. That seems to be the trend.”

But at least July is shaping up nicely this year.

At Big Sky Waterpark in Columbia Heights, business was slow throughout June, but it’s much better at this point in July than last year, General Manager Roger Elliott said.

“Last year even the first part of July had some good days and bad days,” Elliott said.

Glacier National Park’s opening of Going-to-the-Sun Road on June 19 this year, compared to July 13 last year, means a lot more people are out and about looking for things to do. Hot weather has a lot of them looking to cool off.

“We’ve had really good attendance the last few days — ever since we got rid of June,” Elliott said. “July has been hot and that brings people out to seek relief.”

Elliott added that Big Sky Waterpark celebrates its 30th anniversary this summer. On Thursday, July 12, the water park will admit the first 30 people free. On Friday, the park will reduce its entry fee to $10.

“We’re going back to 1980s prices for the whole day,” he said.

Big Sky Waterpark is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. through mid-August.  

For more information, go to www.bigskywp.com.

Woodland Water Park

Open swims: Noon to 4 p.m. daily and from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

Adult lap swims: From 7 to 9:30 a.m., 11 to 11:50 a.m. and 6 to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Special events

• Every Wednesday, family night, $3 a person for evening open swim.

• Monday, July 16 and Aug. 6, family pizza party with free pizza and games.

• Saturday, July 21, children’s triathlon.

• Thursday, July 26, water carnival during evening open swim.

• Sunday, Aug. 12, community day, $3 a person plus one can of pet or human food for open swim.

• Sunday, Aug. 19, last chance day, $3 a person for day open swim and duck races in the lazy river.

For more information on hours, prices, swimming lessons, passes, special events or reserving the pool for private parties, call 758-7812 or visit www.kalispell.com/parks_and_recreation/WoodlandWaterPark.php

Reporter Tom Lotshaw may be reached at 758-4483 or by email at tlotshaw@dailyinterlake.com.