Vacationers Start Holiday Weekend With A Splash

The scorching temperatures are keeping pools and waterparks busy during the 4th of July holiday weekend, and that’s why the Coachella Valley is often called the ideal “staycation” location.

The view from above the Ace Hotel and Swim Club was as refreshing as it looked.

Best friends tossed the football around.

Adults enjoyed their favorite beverage.

Kids were floating in the pool, and everyone else basked in the sun — stretched out reading their favorite magazines.

“We’re going to be sold out Saturday, Sunday and Monday,” said Jason Dibler, general manager of the Ace Hotel. “Bands, DJ’s all weekend — all daytime and all night.”

Hotel staff were busy keeping the residents with a swim club memberships and guests from out of town happy.

“(There is) a little bit of room left for the rest of the people who want to come out and have a good time,” said Dibler.

But if you plan on being out in the sun on this 4th of July weekend, don’t forget you’re sunscreen.

“The hotter, the better here,” said Brad Ouellette, with Knott’s Soak City Water Park.

“It’s awesome,” said Rachel Katzerman, from Memphis.

“It’s great to just get in and splash around with my friends,” said Riley McRae, from Atlanta.

Business is up 10 percent at Knott’s Soak City this year compared to the same period last year.

Many of the visitors are from out of town.

“San Diego, Memphis, Santa Cruz, Fort Meyers and my buddy (is) from Atlanta,” said McRae.

But there were also a lot of locals.

The lines were long at all 14 waterslides.

The wave pool and lazy river were also filled to capacity.

“It feels like the holidays, because everyone’s here and (there’s) a lot of people and usually when there’s no holiday it’s just not really exciting,” said Sophia Holanda, 10, from La Quinta.

The next “Dive-In” movie screening at Knott’s Soak City is on Saturday July 9 — the film will be Happy Feet.