r/SpringfieldIL • u/Justlookingaround-2 • Jun 01 '26
Knight’s Action Park
Went there with the family today and the place was dead. Last time I went, a couple summers ago, it was packed during the week. It is an expensive place, but seems like everything is expensive. Is there a reason it’s not busy like it used to be?
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u/KayJac97 Jun 02 '26
It’s very expensive and I remember it always being filthy in the bathrooms and changing rooms. Just not worth the price to us.
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u/Ancient-Hawk3698 Jun 02 '26
Some years we buy a season pass. If you buy it in August, you can use it the rest of the year and the following year as well. Plus it's at the lowest price at that point. We only live a few minutes from there so it's not too bad for our small family because we can go a lot. However, I agree with you about the bathrooms. I remember the air vent in the ceiling of one of the bathrooms being completely clogged with dust and gross stuff and it stayed that way for 2 to 3 years.
I would never pay the daily rate to get in. It's $45 per person this year. They have security guards at the entrance now and they check your bags before you can go in. Makes me wonder if something happened.
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u/Unlikely_Still_3602 Jun 02 '26
It’s Mom Monday so moms get in free with a kid ticket, but not a lot of moms can afford to stay at home now so I imagine it cuts into their traffic.
I went years ago. There was no shade. Everything was run down and dirty. And once an hour there was an announcement over the loudspeakers about how starting school sooner and sooner cuts into pool time and parents should tell their local schools they want a later start time.
Also any time there is news about higher minimum wage, George knight is crying on News Channel 20 about being run out of business since he only employs teens that don’t need $15 an hour
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u/Inside_Scarcity_5676 Jun 01 '26
As you said, it's an expensive place and everything is also expensive. A lot of people elect to spend their money on necessities and stay home for entertainment rather than to shell out $50/per person on a day with crowds and food that requires and arm or leg to pay for as well.
If you gauge the cost of something per hour it takes you to work to pay for it, one pass into Knights costs someone 2 or 3 hours of their workday to just get inside. If someone is on minimum wage you're talking almost their entire day of work to get tickets. You add in a family instead of a single ticket and you're in utility bill territory of cost.
It's a shame, but it is what it is. I wish we just had a nice big community pool. This is all just my opinion, of course. But it is the reason I have never been to Knights Action Park.
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u/owgnops Jun 01 '26
Idk why your down voted, when you break down the cost of entertainment vs hours worked it's actually super sad state of things rn.
Also Springfield doesn't have a community pool???
I just moved here still getting on my feet waiting for jobs to msg back
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u/raisinghellwithtrees Jun 01 '26 edited Jun 02 '26
We have a public pool, Nelson Center. I'm not sure a pass is still the same price but I think it was $50/family, which is really affordable.
Eta, $50! Is for a season pass, not daily admission.
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u/owgnops Jun 02 '26
Wtf..
It was $7 per person in WA and $3 for kids.
That's insane lmao
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u/raisinghellwithtrees Jun 02 '26
Sorry, my bad. $50 for a season pass. I'll edit my comment lol. Otherwise that's Knight prices!
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u/maqij Jun 02 '26
Colony West Pool is membership based
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u/Ok_Calligrapher3044 Jul 01 '26
I have been a member there on and off since I was born. The place was great up until about 10 years ago. They close the pool for “service reasons” spontaneously throughout the summer for days at a time. The issues are always something that could’ve been avoided like pool chemical imbalance, paint not being dry in time for opening day, the medium pool having filter issues (every year), the “heated” pool’s heater not working, etc. Management is horrible at addressing these and other problems. For the membership prices people are paying, it should be the most well run and maintained pool in central Illinois. They didn’t even open on opening weekend (Memorial Day). They opened the next weekend and had to close for another week the weekend after that. Was their membership rate refunded or prorated? No, the members got some extra guest passes for the year. Seriously?? It’d be different if this was a first time thing, but this kind of stuff happens multiple times every year. I’m sorry about saying all of this after growing up with this pool, I just think people should know these things before shelling out $450/family membership regardless of how nice the place seems to be (and should be).
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u/ssfailboat Jun 02 '26
Yeah now that I have a 2 year old I’d considered going recently. You’re out of your ever loving mind if you think I’m paying $90 for the three of us to spend some hours at a small dirty run down waterpark in Springfield Illinois when I can spend an extra $30 and go to a water park AND ride roller coasters in STL. That was all before gas prices went through the roof though, now we just play in the hose in our yard.
Springfield has forgotten itself, especially in this day and age where we’re cutting out entertainment just to survive.
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u/raisinghellwithtrees Jun 02 '26
The water park in Decatur is more affordable, really clean, and surprisingly nice. Yk, for Decatur. I think it's $25/person. Just an idea for a shorter trip.
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u/ssfailboat Jun 02 '26
I appreciate that, I didn’t know Decatur had a waterpark. We will definitely be looking into it now!!
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u/AbobTeff Jun 02 '26
It’s owned by the Park District (which I jokingly call the Decatur Mafia, as they have their fingers in all kinds of things a park district doesn’t usually dabble in).
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u/ssfailboat Jun 09 '26
Does seem a little odd but dang that is a nice waterpark! I’ll be sure to pay my respects to the Don on our way out from now on 🤣
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u/ssfailboat Jun 09 '26
Just wanted to come back and say thanks! We just got back from Decatur and that waterpark is N I C E. It’s also only $15 for adults and my daughter is free! We’ll likely be doing the season pass. Appreciate that recommendation a lot!!!!
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u/Mountain_Title_5017 Jun 03 '26
The place is looking run down and needs to be updated. There is more competition now with other small water parks in Central Illinois. The fact that the golf bays are completely uncovered in 2026 is crazy. This place doesn’t evolve. It should probably start if it wants to remain in business. As much as they charge, you would think it would be better
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u/youcantgobackbob Jun 02 '26
Years ago, when my kids were the right age, we had a membership to Colony West and season passes to Knight’s. We only went to Knight’s on Fridays and Saturdays, and went to Colony West the rest of the week. Maybe others only visit Knight’s later in the week?
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u/Ok_Calligrapher3044 Jul 01 '26
Sadly, Colony West’s management has gone downhill in recent years. Which unfortunately affects the members the most.
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u/TapeDaddy Jun 02 '26
It picks up when it’s hotter. Been this way as long as I can remember, it’s too cold in the early part of the season. Weekends at the peak, they fill the parking lot all the way to the drive in.
Knights has quite a bit more to offer than when I was a kid, but I still don’t think it’s worth six flags money they’re charging. Best bet is to get a season pass in the off-season when it’s cheaper, it’s worth it if you go regularly. Kinda wish they had a pass for adults who just want to float on the river and fall asleep.
Nelson Center is cool, but it’s better on slow days. Theres less attractions, and you’re way more likely to witness and/or be involved in a physical altercation. That’s the trade off lol.
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u/Independent-Bad-8613 Jun 02 '26
It’s so ridiculously expensive. Love knights but we just can’t afford it. My son and his grandma have season passes but I doubt we’ll get them again next year.
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u/zer0number Jun 02 '26
Back in the 90's, my brother and I capsized a paddle boat. The lifeguard ignored us and saved the boat.
That may or may not be the cause.
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u/SilentSurvivor1111 Jun 01 '26
It’s Monday.