Rio Vista Whitewater Park replaced the old, failing Rio Vista Dam on the San Marcos River with three stacked wave features, designed by Scott Shipley's S2O Design to keep the spot working for everyone who already used the river — swimmers, tubers, and paddlers included. Spring-fed flows keep it running year-round and keep the water refreshingly cool even in a Texas summer, which is a big part of why it stays busy. It's built beginner-friendly, with eddies and swimming rocks mixed in among the waves, so it suits first-time river surfers as easily as tubers floating through. Downtown San Marcos access makes it an easy add-on if you're already in town for the springs or Texas State.