Thanks to the Kartrite Resort & Indoor Waterpark for hosting our stay.
When my almost six-year-old told me he wanted to go on a weekend adventure away to celebrate his upcoming birthday, I wanted a place he (and the whole family) would have a blast and remember forever. A friend recommended The Kartrite Resort & Indoor Waterpark, New York’s largest indoor water park in the Catskills. Since we are a family that loves a waterpark—especially one big enough to feel like a getaway and close by— I knew it would be the perfect place to celebrate Andrew’s birthday. I booked a two-bedroom suite that would accommodate my family and Andrew’s friend Lucas and his crew (his mom and sister joined, too), and we headed up to the park in Monticello, New York.
Drive up for hours of fun day and night at Kartrite Resort and Waterpark. Photo Credit: Kartrite Resort
Pulling up to paradise at The Katrite Resort
The drive to Katrite was easy, about 2 hours and 10 minutes from my house in Monmouth County. As we pulled up, I noticed the resort looked modern and inviting, nestled amongst the mountains, and my kids were excited to see what would be inside. After parking in the free lot, we stepped through the doors into the beautifully appointed, chic lobby that felt modern and family-friendly. We felt welcome as soon as we checked in, thanks to the staff’s friendliness and helpful advice. Since our room wasn’t ready yet, we were able to store our luggage until check-in. In the meantime, we got our wristbands from the receptionist to enter the water park, took what we needed to change into our suits, and were all set to play.
The Kartrite Waterpark is fun for the whole family. Photo Credit: Kartrite Resort
Making a splash at the Katrite waterpark
Entering the waterpark was like stepping into a tropical oasis—with the air temperature at a humid 84 degrees and tropical plants and trees everywhere—it felt like we had landed on a Caribbean island. It’s covered entirely in a texlon transparent roof (the largest in the world), letting in natural sunlight and lending to the tropical feel. The waterpark was a perfect size for our crew – the kids had plenty to enjoy and explore, yet I could keep an eye on them as to where they were headed. We decided to rent a cabana for the day—we wanted the comfort of having a space all to ourselves—it and it proved to be a great idea since all the kids and adults took breaks there throughout the day to eat and rest. Our cabana had a private server for food and drinks (hello, pina colada!), comfortable couches, lounge chairs, snacks, a fridge full of drinks, and a TV. Once we settled in, it was time to hit the water. All the kids (and adults) loved the four giant waterslides – Krakken, Time Warp, Nor’easter, and Jiggerty Jaggerty. It was fun to race down the Jiggerty Jaggerty on mats and see who made it to the bottom first. Beyond the slides, we went on a relaxing tube ride along Empire Bay (their version of a lazy river), splashed across the rope bridge in Later Gator Crossing, and got dumped on by giant water buckets over at Kartrite Island.
But I have to admit, The Flo Rider, a surfing simulator, was my favorite. I’m not a surfer, but I thought I’d try it, and I’m so glad I did. The helpful instructor did his best to get me to try moves I was comfortable with. It may not have looked graceful, but I had a blast. We spent hours in the hot tub, with doors that opened to the outside attached heated pool. It was refreshing, and we all enjoyed being able to enjoy the fresh air. The kids also enjoyed the pool basketball area and loved challenging themselves on the leap pads.
The rooms at the Kartrite Resort range in size to accommodate a small family or large group. Photo Credit: Kartrite Resort
Relaxing in our room
After a full day in the waterpark, we got the keys to our room from the receptionist. Because we were a bigger party, we were happy they offered a two-bedroom suite with a balcony. Our room was spacious and comfortable, decorated with a contemporary aesthetic that was also family-friendly. It felt like an apartment and had all the amenities we’d need during our two-night stay, including a pullout couch, a table and chairs, a microwave, and a mini fridge. I appreciated it had two separate bathrooms, giving each family privacy when we needed it and our own space.
After settling in and changing, we headed downstairs for dinner at Bixby’s. Located on the lobby level of the Kartrite, Bixby’s is a sit-down restaurant with the modern, chic décor that the Kartrite is known for. All the kids ordered burgers off the kids’ menu, and I ordered the salmon and tried my husband’s steak –both were delicious. After dinner, though the kids were hoping to try the arcade and other non-water activities, we were so tired that we went back and enjoyed the comforts of our room.
Bowling is a fun activity to do before the waterpark opens. Photo Credit: Kartrite Resort
Fun and games on dry land
In the morning, we explored all the activities around the resort after breakfast. There’s a daily calendar of creative and family activities, including Family Yoga, magic shows, family karaoke, and lots of fun maker projects for an additional fee. We loved playing a game of candy bingo and decorating our own donuts. In the afternoon, we also saw a family movie playing in the lobby and saw a magic show. We thought about trying out one of the non-water activities, the escape cube, arcade, bowling, rock climbing, ropes course, 3D gaming experience, or laser tag, but ended up spending more time at the waterpark. Later that night, as we celebrated the end of the weekend, we all agreed we made some incredible memories we will always look back on and look forward to making this an annual birthday visit.
There are shows available at Kartrite Resort to keep the fun going.
What to know before you go to Katrite
The Kartrite Resort & Indoor Waterpark is in the Catskills mountains of NY, only 90 miles from Manhattan and a little over two hours from parts of New Jersey. With 324 luxurious guest suites ranging from one to three bedrooms, accommodations fit all sized families and groups. There is an outdoor courtyard area that includes fire pits (perfect for roasting s’mores) and Adirondack-style chairs. The Kartrite is a cashless resort, and (besides in the room) outside, food and beverages are not allowed. There are seven dining and bar locations, including the buffet-style, Eat. Eat. Eat., fine dining at Bixby’s Derby (reservations are highly recommended), the casual Surfside Grille, and ice cream at Pop’s Sweet Shoppe. During the warmer months, Katrite offers five excellent trails with nearly 6 miles of scenic hiking.
The Kartrite Resort & Indoor Waterpark
555 Resorts World Drive
Monticello, NY 12701
