We have been going to the Red Jacket for years and were anxiously awaiting the opening of the new water park. We tried to book previously, but were told that the water park entrance was an extra $40.00 per person, so we passed. We waited until water park tickets were included with the room (we paid $229.00/night). I don't know if this will be the case in the future or if this was a special deal for NH's school vacation week.
The water park looks beautiful and clearly a lot was invested in it, however, we found that there were too many rules. Our two mild-mannered daughters were frequently getting 'whistled' at by the life guards. They both (ages 8 and 4) took these whistles to heart and it seemed to dampen their spirits. Most of the whistles were because our daughters (both good swimmers) swam in the wave pool when waves were turned off. Yes, I said they swam. When I questioned one of the life guards about this, he stated that you cannot put your face in the water. Hello???? How else do you swim? That's a basic swimming element, one of the first things children are taught - to put their faces in the water and blow bubbles. He explained that they, the life guards, have special training to look for people whose faces are in the water. I am unfamiliar with this kind of life guard training, but it seems to me (a former life guard) that one could differentiate between face down and swimming, and face down and drowning. So in essence, there is no place to swim in this enormous water park.
My older daughter also got whistled at for sliding down one of the smaller tot slides. Later, I saw several adults going down the same slide. Everyone in our family enjoyed the 'activity center' (we got no whistles there!). It is a fun structure with several small slides and lots of sprinklers and sprayers.
The whistles were going off all the time for other people, too. Perhaps with more experience, the whistles will be more for genuine safety issues rather than pettiness.
The room, the staff, the service and the food were all the usual Red Jacket high standards.

i am a fifty yr.old woman and my husband is 53, with adult sons. to stay at the Red Jacket now with the new indoor water park is annoying to say the least. there are no peaceful moments in the hotel.maybe parents are not telling their children not to run and scream down hallways. i don't know.the once lovely huge family room off the lobby with a bar/ lounge off to the side,now has the running,screaming children going through.. i don't see how the hotel will handle this during leaf-peeping season.(october).this is when a lot of older folks appear in north conway.. we have gone there since 1978. we do not know if we will go back.


reviewers from north of Boston
.review dates 03/11/08 thru03/13/08

went to the hotel for a one night stay to try out the new waterpark. Everything we expected and more. Our children had a blast and my husband and I also had a good time. Thier were four big water slides a kiddie area with slides, a wave pool which we thought was alot of fun. In the wave pool their was an access tunnel to another little pool with water basketball and lots of basketballs floating around. You could also access the basketball area from a set of stairs. Yes you could not jump into the pool but you can't jump in at any waterpark with a wave pool. The kids loved the play area with more slides and water guns and the giant bucket dumping on you. I can say it is not like going to a huge outdoor water park but since it is not outdoors it was a great winter get away. As for the price I certainly did not think it was that bad. we payed 169.00 for a night and the water park included. The hotel was nice on the older side but clean and well kept and what a view of the mountains. I will say if you wanted to go during prime weeks like school vacation it can get very expensive just like anywere. We have already looked to go back and did notice that about school vacation. So all and all it was a great little get away and would recommend it. One other note they also provide free life jackets swim diapers if you need them at no charge and very friendly and helpful staff.

My family just returned from a weekend stay and I would like to say that my twelve year olds enjoyed the water park and game room. What I would like to say is there appears to be a heavy fee surrounding this and the clerks must certainly be "commissioned" because there is a lot of nickel and diming when it comes to negotiating rates with the package as stated by the other reviewer.The facility however being new is clean with lots of help. One more thing children ages 6-14 are allowed in the jacuzzi with an adult but no one seemed to be monitoring this!