WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — Memorial Day weekend marks the start of fun at the lake, pool and water park. That is especially true with Rigby's Water World in Houston County opening this weekend.
The park is open every day from May 25 to July 28, but it changes to weekends only in August through Labor Day.
But Rigby's Entertainment provides year-round fun to families and professionals.
"We're out here having our Wingman Day, where we take the entire day off and we come out here to fellowship," Chelsea Taylor said.
Taylor is part of the F15 Squadron at Robins Air Force Base. They enjoyed The Patio and Entertainment Complex for their team's morale day.
"I like it. I hope we can keep this pattern going," Taylor shared.
Outside of work, she's familiar with the complex. Taylor says she brings her family out for fun at least three times each summer.
"It's inexpensive, I don't really have to worry, there is always staff available, so if something goes wrong, they're there," she said.
She's talking about the more than 300 workers that Rigby's employs to make the summer a splash.
Owner Steve Rigby says the Water World is opening for their seventh season. Based on data shared by Warner Robins' Community & Economic Development Director Kate Hogan, the park is expecting more than 195,000 visits this summer.
Rigby says they have everything to support their guests.
"We have lockers for rent, we have concession stands," Rigby said.
Walking around the park, he showed off the area where parents can enjoy the pool, rent out cabanas or float on the complex's lazy river.
There is even a special place for little ones.
"This is Little Surfers Cove. This is where a lot of little ones learn to swim. Their first swimming lessons are here," Rigby said showing off a one-foot-deep pool with several small slides.
Guests can lay near Paradise Island or climb the steps to 16 slides.
Last summer, more than 130,000 guests had fun in their pool tubes, according to Rigby's. Afterward, many guests trickle into the community.
Data suggest that Highway 96 sees 124,000 cars from visitors to the park, but that also splashes into neighboring businesses.
"Publix will ask us when we're opening to make sure they're stuffed up on sunscreen, the restaurants around us want to know when we're opening so they're ready for the dinner rush," Gracie Preston Rigby shared.
She says Rigby's is proof that there is something fun for all in Warner Robins. Whether you enjoy adult drinks at The Patio, enjoy the Water World, their Walk-ons Bistreaux or the Entertainment complex, they say they have something for you.
Gracie says that when they win, the surrounding community wins.
"We want to continue to provide that for the entire Middle Georgia and Southeast region of the states," she said.
Rigby's expects to welcome even more guests this summer with some new additions. They are building an Olympic-sized pool, which will also have a diving board and go 12 feet deep. Plus, they say the area will include a rock climbing wall. They hope it will be ready in July.
Rigby's says their Best Western hotel is all booked up this summer, meaning guests will have to book at other places around town.
With the high demand, they now plan to build another 100-room hotel on the park grounds. They say it will offer bridal suites and a rooftop pool.