\u201cThe leaders of North Richland Hills 30 years ago had the foresight to create a city-owned water park, and not just like a splash pad that most cities have,\u201d said Craig Hulse, the city\u2019s economic development director. \u201cIt\u2019s literally a water park that competes with the one at Six Flags.\u201d<\/p>\n
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NRH2O Family Water Park, Texas\u2019 first municipal-owned water facility, opened in 1995. (Courtesy photo | City of North Richland Hills)<\/p>\n
The first municipally owned water park in Texas, NRH2O is open just four months of the year, but brings in hundreds of thousands of people from around the region, Hulse said.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust doing that was one catalytic event,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The city\u2019s location \u2014 centered between DFW Airport, downtown Fort Worth and the Alliance corridor \u2014 has prompted similar projects to complement the nation\u2019s second-largest municipal water park.<\/p>\n
In March, Merlin Entertainments Limited opened Peppa Pig Theme Park Dallas\/Fort Worth<\/a> next door to NRH20 water park. The colorful children\u2019s theme park has pint-sized rides, playscapes, interactive attractions, live daily shows and splash pad play areas.<\/p>\n The North Richland Hills park complements other area Merlin attractions \u2014 including the indoor Peppa Pig World of Play, Legoland Discovery Center and Sea Life Aquarium, all at the nearby Grapevine Mills mall.<\/p>\n Entertainment centers boom<\/p>\n Developers have opened various entertainment-recreation centers in other booming areas of the Fort Worth area.\u00a0<\/p>\n The number of family entertainment centers \u2014 a $28 billion annual industry \u2014 is expected to grow more than 10%<\/a> through 2032, according to Global Market Insights Inc.<\/p>\n The centers are increasing because of demand for leisure activities that cater to children and adults.<\/p>\n In September 2024, Andretti Indoor Karting & Games opened in far north Fort Worth<\/a> with a new $45 million, 100,000-square-foot venue with go-karts, video games, a restaurant, bar and other entertainment.<\/p>\n Samantha LaMagna, director of marketing for Andretti, said the company\u2019s first year in Fort Worth was strong despite inflationary costs.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom opening through our one-year mark, we have welcomed hundreds of thousands of <\/strong>guests to our Fort Worth location,\u201d she said via email. \u201cWe have been fortunate that our loyal guests continue to support our business despite a slow down in discretionary income spend.\u201d<\/p>\n Social media influencer Melanie Ward, a mother of four, said she was impressed with the Andretti racing center during a Sept. 25, 2024, visit.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s in a family-oriented area,\u201d she previously told the Fort Worth Report. \u201cWe needed something like this here.\u201d<\/p>\n Family-friendly venues<\/p>\n In North Richland Hills, officials said, the economic impact of family entertainment centers accounts for an estimated $100 million in combined sales, Hulse said.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s the equivalent of having a mall,\u201d Hulse said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Hulse said the city embraces entertainment and recreation businesses as an economic benefit to sites near neighborhoods. Over the years, NRH2O expanded to 17 acres with 23 attractions.<\/p>\n \u201cNot only does it put smiles on parents\u2019 and kids\u2019 faces, it also brings in people from outside the area and it also supports the businesses and the tax base,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n He said that the city\u2019s failed 90-acre North Hills Mall site is being redeveloped into a $250 million mixed-use City Point<\/a> project adjacent to the City Hall complex that opened in 2016. City Point will include 367 single-family homes, 300 apartments, a 100-plus room Homewood Suites by Hilton hotel and 60,000 square feet of commercial space.<\/p>\n Hulse said Malibu Jack\u2019s<\/a> sought a location in North Richland Hills and complements the city\u2019s other attractions. That entertainment center \u2014 billed as the state\u2019s largest indoor theme park \u2014 opened in June 2025 and offers a roller coaster, go-karts, laser tag, bowling and an arcade in the 135,000-square-foot facility.<\/p>\n \u201cThe first big domino that took place was Peppa Pig Theme Park from Merlin Entertainments that found value in being next door to NRH20,\u201d Hulse said. \u201cFive Star Parks & Attractions, owner of Malibu Jack\u2019s, then said, \u2018OK, we\u2019re looking for a building that fits our size, but we want to be close to Peppa Pig and NRH20.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Malibu Jack\u2019s opened in a closed At Home store.<\/p>\n Hulse said that city officials along with planning and advisory committees determined in the 1990s that entertainment and recreation should be a targeted industry for the city.<\/p>\n \u201cNot only is it something that caters to families with children, which are very important to the viability of the community for your schools and your shopping and whatnot,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The redevelopment of a former retail space aids the city, Hulse said.<\/p>\n \u201cTo us, as a community, it\u2019s very complementary,\u201d he said. \u201cThe transition of these legacy commercial pieces of property toward entertainment and recreation are a perfect fit for us.\u201d<\/p>\n Fans head to sports centers<\/p>\n Family sports-oriented centers are also thriving across North Texas.<\/p>\n Just north of the North Richland Hills water park, 1611 Golf Club<\/a>, a virtual golf center, opened on Parker Road with seven golf bays and a restaurant inside. Two trampoline centers and a play park are also open in North Richland Hills.<\/p>\n Nytex Sports Centre<\/a>, on Ice House Drive, is also attracting families interested in hockey, volleyball and indoor soccer. Those sports host local tournaments that aid in economic growth with hotel and restaurant sales.<\/p>\n North Richland Hills officials are discussing another family recreation center near Peppa Pig park and the water park, Hulse said.<\/p>\n \u201cBirds of a feather flock together, right?\u201d Hulse said, adding that other companies appear eager to jump into the DFW recreational market.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re blessed right now,\u201d he said. \u201cWe continue to grow.\u201d<\/p>\n Eric E. Garcia is a senior business reporter at the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at eric.garcia@fortworthreport.org<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n News decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n Fort Worth Report is certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative<\/a> for adhering to standards for ethical journalism.<\/p>\n Republish This Story<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Andretti_Sept24_CamiloDiaz0002.jpg\")
Visitors wait in line to enter into Andretti Indoor Karting & Games for its grand opening on Sept. 24, 2024, in north Fort Worth. (Camilo Diaz | Fort Worth Report)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Andretti_Sept24_CamiloDiaz0138.jpg\")
A visitor zooms across Andretti Fort Worth\u2019s multi-level race track on a electric Superkarts on Sept. 24, 2024, in north Fort Worth. (Camilo Diaz | Fort Worth Report)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/DSC02592-scaled-1.jpg\")
Peppa Pig Theme Park, based on a popular children\u2019s TV show, opened at 8851 Boulevard 26 in North Richland Hills on March 1, 2025. (David Moreno | Fort Worth Report)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/524128012_1162214652619595_4837149891261255421_n.jpg\")
The 1611 Golf Club, which offers virtual golfing, recently opened in North Richland Hills. (Courtesy photo | City of North Richland Hills)<\/p>\n
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