Muslim Only Event at Taxpayer Funded Texas Waterpark Sparks Outrage

A taxpayer-funded waterpark in Texas is facing a wave of backlash after an event advertised as “Muslims only” set off accusations of discrimination and questions about whether a public facility should ever appear to shut out people based on religion.

The controversy erupted over a flier promoting the 3rd Annual DFW Epic Eid celebration, scheduled for June 1 at Epic Waters in Grand Prairie, just outside Dallas. The original advertisement made clear in multiple places that the event was strictly for Muslims, while also requiring modest swimwear. That wording immediately ignited criticism online, where outraged commenters argued that a city-owned venue funded by taxpayers should not be hosting what looked like a religion-exclusive event.

“Seems like a civil rights violation,” one person wrote.

Another asked the question that quickly became a rallying cry in the backlash: “Should we expect a Christians only day?”

Conservative radio host Dana Loesch also weighed in, blasting the arrangement and asking how a taxpayer-funded, city-owned property could allow what she described as discrimination against non-Muslims at a public waterpark.

The uproar has only intensified because Epic Waters is no small private venue. The 80,000-square-foot indoor waterpark opened in 2017 after Grand Prairie residents approved a 0.25% sales tax increase in 2014 to help fund the massive $88 million project. That public financing is now at the heart of the anger, with critics arguing that a venue built with taxpayer money should never appear to cater to one faith group at the exclusion of others.

The event’s FAQ added more fuel to the fire by stating that “the entire waterpark has been exclusively reserved for Muslims.” Tickets were listed at $55 each, or $65 with halal food included. The celebration also advertised a private prayer room and offered detailed dress guidance encouraging attendees to follow Islamic etiquette, dress modestly, and maintain a spiritually mindful environment.

The website even featured a “what to wear” section with suggested modest swimwear for women, children, and toddlers, reinforcing the event’s religious tone even as organizers later insisted the goal was not to exclude outsiders.

After the backlash exploded, organizer Aminah Knight told The Post that the wording on the flier was being changed to better reflect the event’s intent. A revised version removed the phrase “Muslim only,” replaced it with “modest dress only,” and added the line: “Come and celebrate Eid with us, all are welcome!”

Knight said the event was never meant to ban non-Muslims, but rather to create a comfortable environment for families and individuals who prefer modest dress.

“The core intention behind this event is to create a space where individuals and families who value modest dress and a modest environment can come together and feel comfortable enjoying a recreational space that often doesn’t naturally accommodate those preferences,” she said.

She added that while the event is centered around Eid and the Muslim community, the real standard for attendance is the modest dress code. According to Knight, women would be expected to wear burkinis or similar modest swimwear, while men should wear swim trunks with shirts.

Still, for many critics, the damage was already done. They argue that the original advertising said exactly what it meant, and that changing the language only came after public outrage made the event impossible to ignore.

Epic Waters, for its part, has tried to distance itself from the firestorm. A spokesperson said the waterpark is not hosting or organizing the event and simply rents its space to outside groups, including faith-based organizations. According to the park, private rentals and even full-park buyouts are common for everything from birthday parties to corporate events, and the outside group, not the venue, controls the event programming.

That explanation, however, is unlikely to satisfy critics who see a bigger issue at play. For them, the central question is simple: when a public facility built with taxpayer dollars is turned over for a private event, can organizers set rules that appear to favor one religion over everyone else?

That debate is now splashing far beyond one Texas waterpark, tapping into a much larger national argument over religious accommodation, equal access, and whether public spaces are being bent to serve identity politics instead of the public at large.

One thing is certain: what may have started as a local Eid celebration has now become a political flashpoint, and plenty of Texans are asking whether this would have been tolerated for any other faith.