July 7, 2025
Jared Schaller: Behind the Pyramids Host
Welcome to Behind the Pyramids a Moody Gardens podcast. I'm your host, Jared Schaller, and I'm very excited for today's guest, if I'm talking with him, it means Summer is almost officially here, joining me now. Jeremy Lockett, manager of Palm Beach at Moody Gardens, thank you so much for taking the time to talk with me.
Jeremy Lockett: Palm Beach Manager
sir. Thank you for letting me be here, man. Give you all some information about Palm Beach go time. Summer is here.
Jared Schaller: Behind the Pyramids Host
Summer is definitely here. I mean, this is our first episode, we want to focus on what's going into summer. Right now, at this point in time, Palm Beach is about to officially open on Saturday, May 3. Jeremy, what preparations are happening right now to make sure Palm Beach is ready for some fun?
Jeremy Lockett: Palm Beach Manager
Yeah! So right now we're kind of just doing like normal maintenance, so that could involve, you know, checking pumps, filtering sand, clearing out drains, painting, painting cabanas and bamboos. You know, we have a lot of shaded seating here at Palm Beach. So that's also included, you know, digging in umbrellas. We also are in the middle of us hiring lifeguards, hiring my front gate staff, cabana staff. We're doing some trainings for lifeguards, getting everyone prepared to start the summer. And we do have some new additions this summer. Everyone remembers last year we did have the hurricane Beryl, and it kind of did a little damage to Palm Beach. So this year we're doing a few renovations. Aquarium adventure is our kids section. We're doing some renovations to that area. It was closed last year due to Hurricane Beryl. So that's that's kind of a big project that we're working on right now. And then also, one thing that we're renovating, we do, we're renovating our bar at the entrance of Palm Beach. So a lot of our guests who've been here, the bar is going to be a little little different, little more enhanced.
Jared Schaller: Behind the Pyramids Host
You can never go wrong with a bar upgrade. Hey, yeah. And I'm guessing there was, like, a little silver lining, you know, Beryl, you know, did affect a lot of people, but it at least allows for a little bit of upgrades to happen.
Jeremy Lockett: Palm Beach Manager
something new for something new for, you know, guests too.
Jared Schaller: Behind the Pyramids Host
So my question is, now, I went to Palm Beach as a kid, and now I'm planning on going as an adult for but for those who have maybe never heard of Palm Beach, what makes it so unique?
Jeremy Lockett: Palm Beach Manager
Palm Beach, we're a small water park, I kind of say that, but we do have something for all ages. We do have a wave pool, lazy river. We have our tower slides. You do have to have be a certain height to ride those. And then we have small kids sections like our splash pad and our new aquarium adventure that I kind of just gave some information about. But one thing also that I found, like unique for our our Palm Beach is our location. We're kind of off the coast office Bayou, so you get a nice little breeze. Even in this Texas heat, it gets hot, we get a little breeze off that Bayou. And then also, with us being here at Moody Gardens, it's very rare to have a water park and then you get to step out and then go into a rainforest attraction or go into an aquarium, you know. So we kind of have a lot going on over here for, you know, the guests to check out.
Jared Schaller: Behind the Pyramids Host
is it true that all the sand, or most of the sand, is actually brought in from Palm Beach, Florida?
Jeremy Lockett: Palm Beach Manager
Yes, that's why we get the name. We're in a little bit of Florida to Texas, exactly right. Yeah, that's a nice fact. A lot of guests don't know that. So yes, we get Sand from Palm Beach, Florida.
Jared Schaller: Behind the Pyramids Host
And what I forgot about, you know, you were talking about the weather, you know, like I forgot about being on Galveston Island. It could be 100 degrees in Houston, but you still have that nice beach breeze here in Galveston.
Now, Palm Beach has a little something for everyone, adults, kids, families. You know, you mentioned, you know, the wave pool and everything so. But I want to know what some of your favorite things to do,
Jeremy Lockett: Palm Beach Manager
my favorite thing to do, I like to and if I go to a water park, I'm the guy that likes to relax. so I like to just float the lazy river, to be honest with you. And then, usually what we do, like, before we open, whenever we're open, like me and my staff, will swim laps just to keep us, you know, conditioned. You know, you have to make sure we're able to get into the water and do what we have to do if, if it's problem comes, right? But we do a lot of laps. So after that swimming, I like to go relax in the hot tub as well. I know it's hot, but I like to go in the hot tub just to, you know, relax my muscles.
Jared Schaller: Behind the Pyramids Host
Well, I will take you up on the lazy river, and maybe not so much the laps, but yeah, it's so easy to get lost. Like, I think one time I've done the lazy river, and it was like three hours passed by real quick, and I was like, Okay, maybe it's time to get out now. Oh yeah. Oh, yeah. I recently saw you at lifeguard tryouts. You know, safety is very important for Moody Gardens and at Palm Beach, correct?
Jeremy Lockett: Palm Beach Manager
yes, sir. So safety is important. You know, we hold our lifeguards to a high standard. Me personally, with me being the manager here at Palm Beach, I'm also an instructor. And like I said, there. Earlier we are doing, we're in the process of training and hiring lifeguards. So with that process, you know, we teach them some techniques that they need to know. We train them on proper protocol and equipment to use in certain situations. One thing I always like to mention, and I'll tell our guests, that whenever they're out here at Palm Beach as well, and they can kind of see it as well, but we always test our lifeguards every single day real life scenarios, just so they're aware of what they need to do when the problem occur. You know when situation happens. So, you know, it's just a way for them to always stay vigilant. And it's if something was to happen there, you know they know what they need to do. You know, in a situation like that, my goal as an instructor is to make sure lifeguards understand they have a responsibility. And you know, we give them the proper tools that they need.
Jared Schaller: Behind the Pyramids Host
I'm sure for those parents listening, that's great to hear that, you know, everybody's up to date, knows what to do, just in case something does go wrong, you know, because, you know it's, it's a fun adventure every single day here, yes, it is. I always like to ask this question, you know, because we work in the guest service industry. So like, what are some of the most common questions you get about Palm Beach? And what are some of those answers?
Jeremy Lockett: Palm Beach Manager
Yeah, a lot of the get a lot of guests when they come to Palm Beach. The number one question is, are chairs and umbrellas free? We do have free seating at Palm Beach. We do have designated rental areas, but those areas have signage posted on them so, but we get a lot of, hey, all of the umbrellas we have in Palm beach that Oh, can you get those for free? Yes, of course, free seating out here. Also, it's the food and drinks. Can you bring food and drinks into Palm Beach? We allow food and drinks purchased on property. So if you did, you know, bought a coffee at Starbucks in the hotel, or if you got some food in the rain forest concessions, you're allowed to bring that inside of Palm Beach. It's just any outside food. You can't so you can't come in with a 12 pack of Gatorade or things like that. We only allow food and drinks purchased on property, food for medical reasons, and bottled water.
Jared Schaller: Behind the Pyramids Host
That's great, because I know some of the attractions you know, you can't bring even drinks or other things into the attractions, like the rainforest pyramid and all that. So at least, you know, they'll be able to at least bring whatever they bought from the rainforest and other Moody Gardens attractions.
Jeremy Lockett: Palm Beach Manager
One more question too, is top three questions for me. our rain policy. We call it a liquid sunshine policy. And anytime we have lightning within the area, within 10 miles, we do have to clear our water. And that also means, if it's, you know, sunshine, it's bright, you know, it could be sunshine outside, but it could be lightning 10 miles off the bayou, you know, whether it's 10 miles we still have to make sure we're following our policy. So that's another thing. Oh, I don't see any lightning. Well, unfortunately, you know, I have apps on my phone that alert me whenever it's in the area, and we do have to follow our policy. So those are kind of the top, top three questions that we get at Palm Beach. Well,
Jared Schaller: Behind the Pyramids Host
So we're going to switch gears a little bit. Yes, we're going to talk about beats on the beach. Nice. It's a separate event, Saturday evenings, starting june 14 through August 9. Now, I've never been to that. I've been to Palm Beach, but I've never been to beats on the beach. What can someone like myself who's never been expect,
Jeremy Lockett: Palm Beach Manager
So, yeah, beats on the beach. Like you said, june 14 through August, 9. Saturdays only, you can come out dance. Have a good time, enjoy good food and drinks. Enjoy the water park, but it's kind of like a night scenery. So you get to come out here in the water park during night. You know? It's totally different ambiance at night, right? We have a lot of guests. They'll bring their boats and their yachts and they'll dock out there. They kind of hear our music. So it's a nice little, nice scenery. You know, you get to take pictures. And, you know, everybody nowadays are taking videos, posting tiktoks, things like that. So you want to come out with your family and take some nice pictures. it is a nice time to do that. You got the boats in the background. But we also have live bands. We have a different band every week. You get to hear some live music. And then also the best, one of the best parts of it is we shoot fireworks, fireworks at 915 every single Saturday, between june 14 to August, 9. So just a lot, lots of lot to do. You come out. Enjoy your time. Have a good time with your family.
Jared Schaller: Behind the Pyramids Host
So last year, there were some specials on. Select days for Palm Beach. Are there any this year?
Jeremy Lockett: Palm Beach Manager
Yes, we do have some specials. So with the specials, we have Father's Day special. So on June 15, which is Father's Day, you get a free burger with the purchase of a meal. Another special is going to be our taco Tuesday. Now, with Taco Tuesday, you get a discounted taco meal every Tuesday, once we are open daily, and then on Wednesdays, we have a half off ticket at Palm Beach once we're open daily, you get the Palm Beach ticket for half off.
Jared Schaller: Behind the Pyramids Host
You had me at Taco Tuesday. So the tacos good?
Jeremy Lockett: Palm Beach Manager
Yes, awesome. I eat them every day, to be honest with you.
Jared Schaller: Behind the Pyramids Host
You can count me there. So for those days, and you can't be half price admission, that was Wednesdays, correct?
Jeremy Lockett: Palm Beach Manager
So on the Taco Tuesdays that start June 3 every Tuesday, and then on the half off Wednesdays that starts June 4 every Wednesday, during the season that we're open daily.
Jared Schaller: Behind the Pyramids Host
That's a great deal, especially if, like, you can get away during the middle of the week. Oh yes, I'm sure it's maybe not as crowded as, like, maybe a Saturday or Sunday.
Jeremy Lockett: Palm Beach Manager
So Saturdays, usually Friday and Saturdays are our busiest days. So you know, it's a good, good time to come check us out during the middle of the week, when you get to actually relax a little more, because Friday and Saturdays, we do get kind of busy.
Jared Schaller: Behind the Pyramids Host
sounds like a great time. Now, last question, I don't want to put you on the spot, but of course I will, before we go, give me your best pitch. Why should someone come spend a day at palm beach this summer?
Jeremy Lockett: Palm Beach Manager
Yeah, so I feel like you should all come, come check us out, just because, like I said, it's a good time, good ambiance, good location, it is in this Texas heat, Texas summer. It gets hot, but with our water park, we do get a nice little breeze out here. You also get to see our zip line right over our water park. So that's a nice little attraction to check out as well. It's not a part of Palm Beach, but it's right next to it. We also have our live bands, we have fireworks, we have hot tub, Lazy River, wave pool, we have our shore bar. We do special drinks on special days, so like beats on the beach on Saturdays, we'll do a special drink, and we'll have it posted at the entrance of Palm Beach. You get to meet, you know, meet a lot, a lot of guests that come out here, and then you also get to just relax and have a good time. You know, with our attraction, it's kind of a smaller attraction, but it still has a lot to offer.
Jared Schaller: Behind the Pyramids Host
I'm just curious. Sorry, I'm throwing a curveball at you. Like, what is the capacity at Palm Beach?
Jeremy Lockett: Palm Beach Manager
the capacity we can do around, whether it's like seating in in the water, we can do around 3000 4000 guests. So yeah. So you still, you still come out. Enjoy your time.
Jared Schaller: Behind the Pyramids Host
awesome. That sounds like a great time. So I'm going to end it here. Thank you so much. Jeremy Lockett Palm Beach manager, for speaking with me.
Jeremy Lockett: Palm Beach Manager
Yes, sir, thank you for having me. And I hope we get to see some of you all come out here. Enjoy the time once again. We open May 3 weekends, and then we open daily, starting May 31 so feel free to come check us out. We hope to have you all out here.
Jared Schaller: Behind the Pyramids Host
Awesome. I'm definitely going to be checking y'all out too, and I even work here.
I'm Jared Schaller, thank you for streaming behind the pyramids. A Moody Gardens podcast, have a great day. Have a good day. Bye.
Transcribed by https://otter.ai