Our Vacation Adventures

Kalahari Resorts Unveils Nation’s Largest Indoor Waterpark

Okay, to say that the indoor waterpark industry is booming would be an understatement. This was an idea whose time had arrived. People love waterparks, but there are god forsaken places in this world where you can’t have an outdoor waterpark open year round. The solution? Build indoor waterparks. Kalahari Resorts has taken that idea to the extreme, building the world’s largest indoor waterpark in Sandusky, Ohio.

According to Kalahari Resorts president and owner, Todd Nelson, the indoor waterpark industry has seen a 283 percent increase over the past five years. “We’re bringing the best of the outdoors inside where it’s always 86 degrees and tropical,” says Nelson, who recently announced plans to build the company’s third Kalahari property, in Fredericksburg, VA. “As
the indoor waterpark resort concept continues to gain momentum among vacationers, Kalahari is not only the largest but we are also leading the industry in innovation with one-of-a-kind thrills.” As of July 2007, there were 3,643,100 aquatic square feet and 27,230 hotel rooms associated with indoor waterparks in the U.S.

In 2002, Kalahari unveiled its first magnum indoor waterpark at its Wisconsin Dells, WI property. Since then, the park has remained America’s largest — at 125,000 square feet. To create the new record-breaking park in Sandusky, OH, Kalahari added a 93,000-square-foot indoor waterpark expansion to its existing 80,000-square-foot waterpark.

“The family-oriented indoor waterpark resort segment has established itself as a viable segment of the travel industry and has expanded well beyond its original Wisconsin base,” said David Sangree, president of Hotel & Leisure Advisors, a national hospitality consulting firm. “Kalahari Resorts has certainly proved to be a trendsetting developer, creating exciting concepts in indoor waterpark resort properties.”

At 173,000 feet this waterpark almost has to be good. If you’re looking for a fun vacation for the family in winter time, you may want to investigate this option.

For more information: Kalahari Resorts.