West Mesa Aquatic Center

Name: West Mesa Aquatic Center
Address: 6705 Fortuna Rd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87121, USA, Albuquerque, NM, US
Telephone: (505) 836-8718
Price range: $$
Rating: 4.2

6705 Fortuna Rd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87121, USA

Overview

Category:Indoor Water Parks

Location:Albuquerque, NM

Expert Summary

Detailed Insights

West Mesa Aquatic Center offers a comprehensive aquatic experience with both indoor and outdoor pools, including multiple splash pads and waterslides suitable for various age groups, alongside an Olympic-sized pool for lap and recreational swimming. It's noted for its cleanliness, ongoing upgrades (as of Spring 2023), and strong accessibility features, making it a versatile option for family water fun.

Key Highlights

✓Clean pools with new paint and upgrades actively in progress (Spring 2023).
✓Convenient location with well-staffed and friendly personnel.
✓Features 1 outdoor pool with a splash pad and 2 waterslides.
✓Includes 2 indoor pools: one with waterslides and a splash pad, and another Olympic-sized pool for both lap and recreational swim.
✓Locker rooms are large.
✓Gender neutral and wheelchair accessible bathrooms available.
✓Positive feedback on the regular lap swimmers community.

Standout Features

⭐Variety of aquatic options: indoor and outdoor pools, splash pads, and waterslides catering to different preferences.
⭐Olympic-sized pool for serious swimmers and recreational use.
⭐Large and well-kept locker rooms.
⭐Commitment to cleanliness and facility upgrades.
⭐Accessible facilities including gender-neutral and wheelchair-accessible bathrooms.
⭐Ample parking, including EV charging stations.

Perfect For

Young Children (Toddlers-Preschoolers): Excellent with multiple splash pads (both indoor and outdoor) available.

School-Aged Children (Elementary-Pre-Teens): Well-suited with a total of 4 waterslides (2 outdoor, 2 indoor) and various recreational pool options.

Older Children & Teens: The Olympic-sized pool provides ample space for recreational swimming, and the waterslides can still be entertaining.

Adults: Lap swimming is available in the Olympic-sized pool, though with significant scheduling caveats.

Ideal For

Families seeking a venue with diverse water activities, from gentle splash pads for toddlers to waterslides for older kids and an Olympic pool for swimming.

Individuals requiring accessible facilities, including wheelchair access and gender-neutral bathrooms.

Parents looking for a clean and well-maintained aquatic center, especially after recent upgrades.

Anyone needing to cool off with multiple pool options.

💡Pro Tips from Reviews

→**Bring your own lock** for day-use lockers.
→**Do not rely solely on calling ahead** to ensure entry; even after calling, patrons report being turned away due to 'session full' capacity limits.
→**Verify specific lane availability** for lap swim, as online/posted schedules might not reflect actual co-scheduling conflicts.
→**Prepare for potential disappointment** if you are visiting with children, as entry is not guaranteed due to capacity restrictions, leading to heartbreak for kids.

Things to Consider

⚠Frequent issue of being turned away because 'the session is full', even when the parking lot is not at full capacity and people are leaving.
⚠Inconsistent and unclear lap swim schedule; advertised times (e.g., 6-8pm weekdays) are co-scheduled with swim team, water polo, and water aerobics, leaving only 2-3 lanes for lap swim.
⚠Business hours can be 'interesting' or unpredictable, making pool usage difficult.
⚠Overgrown weeds on the pool decking are a minor aesthetic issue.

Price & Value

No specific pricing information is mentioned in the reviews. The value proposition is strong given the range of facilities (multiple pools, slides, splash pads) and accessibility features. However, the recurring issue of being turned away due to capacity limits, even after calling, significantly diminishes the perceived value and reliability for planned family visits.

♿Accessibility & Special Needs

•Gender neutral bathrooms.
•Wheelchair accessible bathrooms.
•Designated parking (♿️).
•EV parking and charging stations.

🚗Parking Info

•Plenty of parking available.
•Designated parking for handicapped individuals (♿️).
•EV parking and charging stations are on-site.

👥Crowd Levels

•Can experience high demand leading to 'session full' capacity limits, even when the parking lot isn't completely full, indicating internal capacity controls.
•Lap swim lanes become very crowded during peak evening hours (e.g., 6-8 pm weekdays) due to co-scheduling with multiple activities.

🛡️Safety Features

•Reported as 'well staffed', implying adequate supervision for patron safety.
•Pools are described as 'well kept' (Review 1), which contributes to a safer environment.

⏰When to Avoid

• If you require guaranteed entry for a specific time or planned family outing, as capacity limits can lead to being turned away.
• Dedicated lap swimmers who need consistent, ample lane space during weekday evenings (6-8 pm) due to heavy co-scheduling.
• If precise and reliable operating hours are critical for your visit.
• Families expecting perfect, weed-free pool decking, as some areas may be overgrown.

Pricing/Package/Events

Events & Schedule

All Pools close after their morning programs.

🛡️Safety Policy

• Every pool has a capacity based on the maximum bather load set by City of Albuquerque Pool Code.
• Bather load fluctuates based on various programming and is calculated off the surface area of available space for recreational swimming.

📅Booking Policy

• Indoor recreation pool is great for birthday parties.

🚗Parking Information

• New paved parking lot.

Information extracted from official website • Last updated: Oct 2, 2025

Photos

What People Say

What's Great

Spacious play areas (mentioned in 4 reviews)

Areas for Improvement

Parking can be challenging (mentioned in 4 reviews)

Recent Reviews

Meghan Bachmann

a week ago

The pool itself is large and well kept, but essentially unusable for lap swim. The pool schedule says there is lap swim available from 6-8pm every weekday, but they co-schedule swim team, water polo, and water aerobics during that time as well which ends up leaving only 2-3 lanes for lap swim. They need to create a schedule that is posted online and in person at the pool which tells patrons which lanes are and are not available at exactly which times.

Diana Yesville

a year ago

Clean pools, new paint and upgrades are in the works (spring 2023) convenient location, well staffed, friendly staff, lovely regular lap swimmers. Gender neutral and wheelchair accessible bathrooms. EV parking and charging stations. Plenty of parking with designated parking♿️

BeKind BeConsiderate

3 months ago

Some interesting business hours. Unable to use the pool.

Darth ShiShi

a year ago

This is third time I've come and been told that the "session is full". The other times, the parking lot was sort of full, but at least 3 groups of people had just left. But I gave the benefit of the doubt. This time I watched 15 people walk out as I was getting us out of the car and ready and the parking lot is more than half empty. Its ridiculous and were never trying to come here again. Doesn't matter to them, but its still heartbreaking to have to tell your child we can't swim, even after calling ahead and making sure..

Bailey Keller

3 years ago

Awesome pace to cool off! 1 outdoor pool with splash pad and 2 waterslides. 2 indoor pools; 1 with waterslides & splash pad, the other is an Olympic-sized pool for both lap and recreational swim. Locker rooms were large. Bring your own lock for day-use lockers. Only negative was the overgrown weeds on the pool decking.