Typhoon Texas Opens

BBQ, bikinis and X-Boarding: 10 cool things to look for at the new Typhoon Texas waterpark

Just when you think the phrase everything’s bigger in Texas has been completely played out, a waterpark, like Typhoon Texas and its 1,500-foot Lazy-T river, which stretches the length of five football fields, comes around and proves once again that the saying is true and should remain in tact.

Plus there’s a 25,000-square-foot Texas-sized wave pool.

1. There are more than 35 slide paths stretching a third of a mile, so there are lots of places for the kids (and adventurous adults) to check out.

2. X-Boarding – think Guitar Hero on a water slide. X-Boarding is the newest water park gaming experience and it’s always changing. It uses a hi-tech ride vehicle with an embedded game controller to create a futuristic video game integrated water slide. For those parents who can't pull their kids away from the video games, this is your best hope this summer.

3. If you’re water conscious, this park’s for you. Seriously. The park uses pumps that recirculate 70,000 gallons of water per minute, which is less water usage than a typical high school.

4. Taking your Texas pride to a whole new level. The Texas flag, which is prominently placed throughout the park will put you in the Texas spirit, plus you’ll just love the lifeguards and other staff’s uniforms, which (obviously) don the state flag, so even visitors won’t forget where they are.

5. Season passes are less than $100. Talk about getting your Texas summer money’s worth! (Individual admission is $44.99 weekends/holidays, $39.99 weekdays.)

6. Not feasible to take the kids to Vegas? You can still rent cabanas, with just a slightly different vibe.

7. Life jackets are available (upon request) and free of charge, but it is BYOT (Bring Your Own Towel).

8. If you have a competitive streak, take it to the Lone Star Racers for bragging rights. The Lone Star Racers features eight lanes to race headfirst against your neighbors.

9. BBQ and Bikinis. While it’s not officially under the Roegels name, The River Grille & Smokin’ BBQ features slow-smoked daily BBQ, where the staff was trained by pitmaster Russell Roegels. And it's pretty dang good.

10. There is no booze onsite (nor can you bring any in), unless you rent the space out for a corporate event, which should quickly become a trend. Tell your boss.

Here’s to a bigger and better summer in the 'burbs. Add another point to the “move to Katy” win column.

The Texas flag, which is prominently placed throughout the park, will put you in the Texas spirit.

Courtesy photo

The Texas flag, which is prominently placed throughout the park, will put you in the Texas spirit.

texas lists barbecue parks openings

Concert News

Jack Johnson rides into Houston on surf-themed 2026 tour

Photo by Tahnei Roy

Jack Johnson will play at Dos Equis Pavilion in Dallas on August 30, 2026.

Singer-songwriter Jack Johnson, known his for laidback surf-rock music, will embark on the SURFILMUSIC Tour in 2026, which will include a stop at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in The Woodlands on Friday, August 28.

The expansive 43-date North American tour, which starts on June 19 in Gilford, New Hampshire, will have three separate legs.

The three Texas dates — The Woodlands on August 28, Austin on August 29, and Dallas on August 30 — will be part of the second leg, where Johnson will be joined by Lake Street Dive.

The tour is Johnson’s first since 2022 and will celebrate a new era of music, film, and environmental connection rooted in his 20+ year career.

Johnson is touring in support of a forthcoming soundtrack, scored by Johnson and Hermanos Gutiérrez for a new documentary, SURFILMUSIC, that chronicles Johnson’s evolution from surfer to filmmaker to musician.

The film, which will be released in 2026, weaves through the making of his iconic surf films Thicker Than Water (1999) and The September Sessions (2000), which paved the way for his music career.

It celebrates the lifelong friendships and ocean-driven community that shaped Johnson’s path, and features many of the surfers who appeared in the original films, including Kelly Slater, Rob Machado, and the Malloy Brothers.

Johnson released his first album, Brushfire Fairytales, in 2001, and he has gone on to put out eight other albums, most recently Meet the Moonlight in 2022.

Fans can register for the Jack Johnson presale at jackjohnsonmusic.com, now through Sunday, November 9. The presale begins Monday, November 10, 2025 at 10 am local time and runs through general on-sale date of Friday, November 14.

Jack Johnson SURFILMUSIC 2026 Tour Dates

June 19 – Gilford, NH – Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion
June 20 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center
June 21 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
June 24 – Saratoga, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Center
June 26 – Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion
June 27 – Philadelphia, PA – Highmark Mann Center
June 28 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell at Jones Beach Theater
June 30 – Toronto, ON – RBC Amphitheatre
July 1 – Canandaigua, NY – CMAC
July 3 – Burgettstown, PA – Pavilion at Star Lake
July 4 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center
July 5 – Grand Rapids, MI – Acrisure Amphitheater
July 7 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center
July 8 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center
July 10 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre
July 11 – Chicago, IL – Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island
July 12 – Shakopee, MN – Minnesota Quarry Amphitheater
August 18 – West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
August 19 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
August 21 – Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
August 22 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park
August 23 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
August 25 – Nashville, TN – Ascend Amphitheater
August 26 – Orange Beach, AL – The Wharf Amphitheater
August 28 – The Woodlands, TX – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
August 29 – Austin, TX – Germania Insurance Amphitheater
August 30 – Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion
September 1 – Riverside, MO – MORTON Amphitheater
September 2 – Greenwood Village, CO – Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre
September 3 – Greenwood Village, CO – Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre
September 4 – West Valley City, UT – USANA Amphitheatre
September 6 – Stateline, NV – Lake Tahoe Amphitheatre at Caesars Republic
September 26 – George, WA – The Gorge Amphitheatre
September 27 – Bend, OR – Hayden Homes Amphitheater
September 28 – Troutdale, OR – McMenamins Edgefield Amphitheater
September 30–October 1 – Berkeley, CA – The Greek Theatre
October 3 – Santa Barbara, CA – Santa Barbara Bowl
October 4 – Santa Barbara, CA – Santa Barbara Bowl
October 6 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
October 9 – Chula Vista, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
October 10– Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl
October 11– Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl

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