A waterpark built entirely on public money has ignited a firestorm of controversy after officials announced that non-Muslims will be turned away at the gate for a June 1 celebration of Eid.
Epic Waters waterpark, located in Grand Prairie, Texas, is the site of the planned exclusion.
The facility was constructed using $88 million in taxpayer funds, money drawn from a sales tax that Grand Prairie voters approved back in 2014.
Tickets for the exclusive event are priced starting at $55 per person.
Promotional materials distributed this week identified the gathering explicitly as a “Muslim Only Event,” language that set off an immediate and wide reaction on social media.
The stated goal of restricting attendance, according to event marketing, is to cultivate a “family-friendly environment” for Muslim guests.
Anyone who does attend will be required to follow a strict dress code rooted in Islamic standards of modesty.
Women are expected to wear head-to-toe swimsuit coverings, and children attending the event are subject to the same dress requirements.
All food available at the event will be exclusively Halal-slaughtered meat, with no alternative options indicated in promotional materials.
Event guidelines call on attendees to “uphold Islamic etiquette” throughout their visit, which includes the practice of “lowering the gaze” around others, according to the Daily Mail.
The official event language states: “Please follow the event’s modest dress code, and practice ḥayāʾ (modesty) through respectful behavior.”
While male and female guests will share the space, all participants are instructed to conduct themselves in accordance with Islamic values for the duration of the event.
Once the story gained traction publicly, organizers quietly revised the event flyer, swapping out the phrase “Muslim Only Event” in favor of the softer language “Modest Dress Only.”
Conservative commentator Sara Gonzales called out the revision directly, stating, “The event organizer is trying to cover their tracks. They’ve now updated the graphic to read ‘Modest Dress Only’ instead of the previous ‘Muslim Only.’”
Radio host and conservative commentator Dana Loesch took to X to challenge the legal basis of the event, writing: “How is a taxpayer-funded, city-owned entity allowed to discriminate against non-Muslims at a public water park? There would be literal riots if Muslims were similarly excluded and we all know that’s 100% accurate.”
The backlash spread rapidly across social media, with many users raising pointed questions about whether city-owned public venues are legally permitted to bar entry to residents based on religious identity.
No statement from Grand Prairie city officials had been issued at the time the story gained widespread attention.
