Information
Landmark: Point Mallard ParkCity: Decatur AL
Country: USA Alabama
Continent: North America
Point Mallard Park, Decatur AL, USA Alabama, North America
Overview
Point Mallard Park in Decatur, Alabama, is a local favorite, where you can paddle the Tennessee River, wander through its storied grounds, and enjoy wide green spaces under the southern sun.
It opened in 1970 with the nation’s first wave pool, where swimmers bobbed in gentle swells, and has since expanded into a sprawling 750-acre park packed with year‑round entertainment and outdoor adventures.
Back in the 1960s, Decatur set out to boost tourism and give locals more to do along the Tennessee River, and that’s when the idea for the park first took shape.
Back in 1970, Point Mallard unveiled the nation’s first public wave pool, sending foamy crests rolling under a hot Alabama sun and drawing crowds from miles around.
Over the years, fresh attractions popped up, from shaded picnic spots to quirky art displays, until it became a favorite destination for locals and tourists alike.
The park’s facilities stretch from shady woodland to the river’s edge, offering spots for paddling in the cool water, pitching a tent under the trees, and relaxing in wide, open meadows.
Here’s what stands out first: 1.
Point Mallard’s Wave Pool, the first ever built in the U.
S., still draws the biggest crowds, its turquoise swells rolling in under the summer sun.
Lazy River and flume slides-summer’s timeless draw for families, with cool water rushing under a bright, cloudless sky.
Speed Slides for the adrenaline rush, and a splash-filled Water Playground where kids can laugh under the spray.
The Olympic-sized swimming pool and diving complex once drew crowds for national competitions, and today you can still hear the splash of swimmers training or families enjoying a casual swim.
Number two.
Point Mallard Campground offers over 200 shady spots for tents and RVs, with many sites providing full hookups and cool relief beneath the trees.
Walking and biking trails curve along the Tennessee River, slip under shady trees, and lead you from the campground straight to the water park and the golf course.
Golf Course: This 18-hole championship layout, designed by Bill Bergin, stays open all year, with crisp fairways ready for play even in winter.
The driving range and pro shop are perfect for golfers, whether you’re practicing your swing or eyeing that crisp new set of clubs.
Number three.
Ice Complex: One of the few ice rinks in north Alabama, where you can lace up your skates for public sessions, join a hockey game, or take lessons on the smooth, cold ice.
Soccer fields and tennis courts host everything from neighborhood leagues to weekend tournaments, with the thud of a ball echoing across the grass.
The Festival Grounds and Amphitheater buzz with concerts, special events, and neighborhood get‑togethers, from lively summer nights to crisp autumn afternoons.
Every year, Point Mallard hosts major events that pull in crowds from across the region, including the Spirit of America Festival-one of the South’s biggest Fourth of July celebrations, with booming fireworks, live bands, and red‑white‑and‑blue pageantry.
The festival kicked off in 1967, then shifted to Point Mallard once the park’s gates first swung open.
Each Memorial Day weekend, the Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Classic fills the southern sky with dozens of colorful balloons, making it one of the region’s oldest and most beloved festivals.
Concerts and sports tournaments keep the park buzzing, from the roar of a soccer final to the glow of holiday lights, all year long.
For years, Point Mallard has anchored Decatur’s tourism scene, pulling in families from across Alabama and even from just over the state line.
Locals flock here all year-splashing through the water park in July, gliding across the ice rink in January, and wandering the pine-scented trails or pitching tents no matter the season.
With its blend of features, this park feels less like a typical city green space and more like a lively resort, complete with the hum of music and the splash of a nearby fountain.
Visitor Experience – Seasonality: The water park’s open for the summer crowd, usually kicking off on Memorial Day and wrapping up by Labor Day, when the air turns crisp.
Facilities such as the campground, golf course, and winding trails stay open all year, even when frost coats the grass.
The best times to go are in summer for the water rides and lively events, and on Memorial Day or July 4th when the sky bursts with balloons and fireworks.
You’re only a few minutes from downtown Decatur, with quick access to the highway and plenty of parking right out front.
Point Mallard Park shines for its unique mix of history, community, and versatility-it’s where America’s first wave pool still splashes under the summer sun, where crowds gather for the Spirit of America festival, and where you can spend the day camping, skating, or both.
It shows Decatur’s drive to become north Alabama’s cultural and recreational center, while keeping stretches of its riverfront open for everyone to wander, picnic, or simply watch the water drift by.
In the Tennessee Valley, it’s still one of the go-to spots, known for family fun, lively community festivals, and outdoor adventures-like hiking trails that smell of pine after a summer rain.
It opened in 1970 with the nation’s first wave pool, where swimmers bobbed in gentle swells, and has since expanded into a sprawling 750-acre park packed with year‑round entertainment and outdoor adventures.
Back in the 1960s, Decatur set out to boost tourism and give locals more to do along the Tennessee River, and that’s when the idea for the park first took shape.
Back in 1970, Point Mallard unveiled the nation’s first public wave pool, sending foamy crests rolling under a hot Alabama sun and drawing crowds from miles around.
Over the years, fresh attractions popped up, from shaded picnic spots to quirky art displays, until it became a favorite destination for locals and tourists alike.
The park’s facilities stretch from shady woodland to the river’s edge, offering spots for paddling in the cool water, pitching a tent under the trees, and relaxing in wide, open meadows.
Here’s what stands out first: 1.
Point Mallard’s Wave Pool, the first ever built in the U.
S., still draws the biggest crowds, its turquoise swells rolling in under the summer sun.
Lazy River and flume slides-summer’s timeless draw for families, with cool water rushing under a bright, cloudless sky.
Speed Slides for the adrenaline rush, and a splash-filled Water Playground where kids can laugh under the spray.
The Olympic-sized swimming pool and diving complex once drew crowds for national competitions, and today you can still hear the splash of swimmers training or families enjoying a casual swim.
Number two.
Point Mallard Campground offers over 200 shady spots for tents and RVs, with many sites providing full hookups and cool relief beneath the trees.
Walking and biking trails curve along the Tennessee River, slip under shady trees, and lead you from the campground straight to the water park and the golf course.
Golf Course: This 18-hole championship layout, designed by Bill Bergin, stays open all year, with crisp fairways ready for play even in winter.
The driving range and pro shop are perfect for golfers, whether you’re practicing your swing or eyeing that crisp new set of clubs.
Number three.
Ice Complex: One of the few ice rinks in north Alabama, where you can lace up your skates for public sessions, join a hockey game, or take lessons on the smooth, cold ice.
Soccer fields and tennis courts host everything from neighborhood leagues to weekend tournaments, with the thud of a ball echoing across the grass.
The Festival Grounds and Amphitheater buzz with concerts, special events, and neighborhood get‑togethers, from lively summer nights to crisp autumn afternoons.
Every year, Point Mallard hosts major events that pull in crowds from across the region, including the Spirit of America Festival-one of the South’s biggest Fourth of July celebrations, with booming fireworks, live bands, and red‑white‑and‑blue pageantry.
The festival kicked off in 1967, then shifted to Point Mallard once the park’s gates first swung open.
Each Memorial Day weekend, the Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Classic fills the southern sky with dozens of colorful balloons, making it one of the region’s oldest and most beloved festivals.
Concerts and sports tournaments keep the park buzzing, from the roar of a soccer final to the glow of holiday lights, all year long.
For years, Point Mallard has anchored Decatur’s tourism scene, pulling in families from across Alabama and even from just over the state line.
Locals flock here all year-splashing through the water park in July, gliding across the ice rink in January, and wandering the pine-scented trails or pitching tents no matter the season.
With its blend of features, this park feels less like a typical city green space and more like a lively resort, complete with the hum of music and the splash of a nearby fountain.
Visitor Experience – Seasonality: The water park’s open for the summer crowd, usually kicking off on Memorial Day and wrapping up by Labor Day, when the air turns crisp.
Facilities such as the campground, golf course, and winding trails stay open all year, even when frost coats the grass.
The best times to go are in summer for the water rides and lively events, and on Memorial Day or July 4th when the sky bursts with balloons and fireworks.
You’re only a few minutes from downtown Decatur, with quick access to the highway and plenty of parking right out front.
Point Mallard Park shines for its unique mix of history, community, and versatility-it’s where America’s first wave pool still splashes under the summer sun, where crowds gather for the Spirit of America festival, and where you can spend the day camping, skating, or both.
It shows Decatur’s drive to become north Alabama’s cultural and recreational center, while keeping stretches of its riverfront open for everyone to wander, picnic, or simply watch the water drift by.
In the Tennessee Valley, it’s still one of the go-to spots, known for family fun, lively community festivals, and outdoor adventures-like hiking trails that smell of pine after a summer rain.
