Kalahari Resorts
{{short description|American water park resort chain with African theme}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox water park
|name = Kalahari Resorts
|image = File:Kalahariresortslogo.png
|location = {{unbulleted list|Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin|Sandusky, Ohio|Pocono Manor, Pennsylvania|Round Rock, Texas}}
|coordinates = {{Coord|43.570178|-89.772184|display=inline}}, {{Coord|41.382750|-82.643977|display=inline}},
{{Coord|41.098621|-75.390042|display=inline}}, and
{{Coord|30.5197711|-97.6336570|display=inline}}
|theme = African
|homepage = {{URL|http://www.kalahariresorts.com}}
|owner = Todd Nelson
|opening_date = 2000 (Wisconsin)
2005 (Sandusky)
2015 (Poconos)
2020 (Round Rock)
|season = Year-round (outdoor theme, water parks, and pools closed in the winter)
}}
Kalahari Resorts and Conventions is a water park resort chain with locations in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin; Sandusky, Ohio; Pocono Manor, Pennsylvania; and Round Rock, Texas.{{cite web|url=https://www.kalahariresorts.com/texas|title=Coming Soon to Texas: America's Largest Indoor Waterparks|publisher=Kalahari Resorts|access-date=July 1, 2017|quote=Opening 2020}}{{cite news|url=https://communityimpact.com/austin/round-rock-pflugerville-hutto/development-construction/2019/02/05/kalahari-resort-convention-center-on-track-to-open-in-november-2020/|title=Kalahari Resorts & Conventions' Round Rock location on track to open in November 2020|last=Killough|first=Kirby|date=February 5, 2019|newspaper=Community Impact Newspaper}} Named for the Kalahari Desert in southern Africa, occupying eastern Namibia, western Botswana and northwestern South Africa, the resorts are heavily decorated with African animals and plants, and other African motifs.
Kalahari Resorts operates some of the largest indoor water parks in the United States. The Round Rock location's 223,000-square-foot indoor water park is the largest in the United States, followed by the Pocono Mountains location's 220,000-square-foot water park, the 173,000-square-foot waterpark in Sandusky and the Wisconsin Dells' 125,000-square-foot park. A Fredericksburg, Virginia location was in development until 2013, when it was scrapped after problems with financing.{{cite news |url=https://patch.com/virginia/fredericksburg/fredericksburg-kalahari-project-no-longer-expected |title=Fredericksburg Kalahari Project 'No Longer Expected' |date=March 1, 2012 |work=Patch |first=Dan |last=Telvock |access-date=May 15, 2021}}{{cite news |url=https://ballparkdigest.com/201309266650/minor-league-baseball/news/new-site-pitched-for-fredericksburg-ballpark |title=New site pitched for Fredericksburg ballpark |date=September 26, 2013 |work=Ballpark Digest |first=Kevin |last=Reichard |access-date=May 15, 2021}} Kalahari later returned to Virginia and broke ground on their newest resort in Spotsylvania County, which is set to open in 2026.
Conventions held at the Kalahari Resorts are typically by state and regional organizations, such as the Wisconsin Network Conference on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias in May 2014,{{cite news |url=https://lacrossetribune.com/alzheimer-s-conference-to-address-end-of-life-care/article_303a2e20-f4f7-574d-8572-9afbd52ca09f.html |title=Alzheimer's conference to address end of life care |date=February 5, 2014 |newspaper=La Crosse Tribune |location=Wisconsin |access-date=March 22, 2021 }} Ohio Holstein Convention in February 2020,{{cite web |url=http://ohioholstein.com/catalogs/OHConvSale_Feb2020.pdf |title=100th Convention & Annual Meeting Schedule of Events |website=Ohio Holstein Association |access-date=March 22, 2021 }} and Wisconsin District Ladies Ministries Retreat in April 2021.{{cite web |url=http://www.upciwisconsin.church/ladies/ladies-retreat-2021/ |title=Ladies Retreat 2021 |website=Wisconsin District United Pentecostal Church International |date=February 2, 2021 |access-date=March 22, 2021 }}
Locations
=Wisconsin Dells=
{{Main|Kalahari Resorts and Conventions Wisconsin Dells}}
The Wisconsin Dells resort opened in May 2000. It has 756 guest rooms, making it one of the larger resorts in the state. The convention center was expanded from {{convert|100000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} to {{convert|230000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} in 2011.Bishop, Christy. Kalahari Resorts. N.p., December 3, 2011. Web. December 5, 2011.
The indoor water park at Wisconsin Dells is the largest in Wisconsin, at {{convert|125000|sqft|m2}}. It was also America's largest indoor water park until the Kalahari Resort in Sandusky finished its indoor water park expansion in December 2007. The Wisconsin Dells resort's Indoor Waterpark is home to the first indoor uphill water coaster, named the Master Blaster, and first indoor FlowRider surfing simulator. In 2011, the indoor waterpark went through an expansion, which included America's first indoor Super Loop slides.Selwyn, Adam. Kalahari expands Waterpark, Yahoo Finance. N.p., November 16, 2011. Web. December 5, 2011 Wisconsin Dells Kalahari also has a {{convert|77000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} outdoor water park with several water slides, a lazy river, and a three-story interactive play structure.
In December 2008, the resort added Tom Foolery’s Adventure Park, a {{convert|110000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} indoor theme park.Seyler, Christy. Fun Coast. N.p., January 29, 2009. Web. December 5, 2011.
=Sandusky=
{{Main|Kalahari Resorts and Conventions Sandusky}}
File:KalahariResortSanduskyOhio.jpg
Opened in June 2005, the Sandusky, Ohio, resort's waterpark is {{convert|173000|sqft|m2}}. In 2008, the resort expanded its {{convert|80000|sqft|m2}} water park by {{convert|93000|sqft|m2}}, making it the largest indoor hotel water park at that time.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ocregister.com/2008/05/25/ohio-resort-boasts-biggest-hotel-indoor-water-park/|title=Ohio resort boasts biggest hotel indoor water park|date=May 25, 2008|website=Orange County Register|language=en-US|access-date=August 20, 2019}} The water park contains a FoilTec roof system that lets in natural light.{{cite web|last=Butcher|first=Dan|date=July 15, 2009|title=Top U.S. water parks|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2009/TRAVEL/getaways/07/15/top.water.parks/index.html|access-date=January 23, 2010|website=CNN}}
With 884 guest rooms, the hotel is the largest in the state of Ohio.{{Cite web|date=March 2, 2016|title=Kalahari Resort & Hotel Breakers named top family hotels|url=https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/local/kalahari-resort-hotel-breakers-named-top-family-hotels/95-64837756|access-date=August 20, 2019|website=WKYC}}
In August 2006, the resort opened a {{convert|100000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} convention center that was later expanded to {{convert|215000|sqft|m2|adj=on}}.
On March 12, 2018, a section of HVAC ductwork fell from the ceiling of the indoor waterpark, injuring five people.{{Cite web|last=Keenan|first=Bretton|date=March 12, 2018|title=Injuries at Kalahari after duct falls into pool|url=https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/oh-erie/at-least-two-injured-after-air-duct-falls-into-pool-at-kalahari-resort|access-date=February 11, 2019|website=WEWS|language=en}}{{cite web|date=March 12, 2018|title=At Least 5 Injured After Air Duct Falls Onto Guests At Ohio Water Park|url=https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2018/03/12/kalahari-resorts-air-duct-falls/|access-date=February 11, 2019|website=KDKA-TV}}
In 2019 and 2020, the resort made some minor updates to the property. A new outdoor mini-golf course was constructed, the Zip Coaster roller coaster-water slide hybrid was torn down, and the water basketball area was closed and replaced with underwater virtual reality.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}
=Poconos=
{{Main|Kalahari Resorts and Conventions Poconos}}
The Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania, location opened on July 1, 2015, and completed an expansion in March 2017. It consists of a {{convert|220000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} indoor waterpark, an outdoor waterpark, {{convert|230000|sqft|adj=on}} convention center, 977 guest rooms, and a {{convert|40000|sqft|adj=on}} arcade and entertainment center.{{Cite web|last=Levine|first=Arthur|date=April 3, 2017|title=Poconos' Kalahari: America's largest indoor water park|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/experience/america/theme-parks/2017/04/03/kalahari-largest-indoor-water-park-usa/99888302/|access-date=June 5, 2020|website=USA TODAY|language=en-US}}
=Round Rock=
{{Main|Kalahari Resorts and Conventions Round Rock}}
The Round Rock, Texas, location opened on November 12, 2020. It consists of a {{convert|223000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} indoor waterpark (the second largest in the country), outdoor water park, 3 acres of outdoor pools, a 975-room hotel, five restaurants, 10,000 square feet of retail space and a 200,000 square-foot convention center. It is the first location to be in a metropolitan area instead of a resort town because the manager stated that "Round Rock has been one of the fastest-growing cities in the country and we took notice of that and as we started to look at our next development, it made sense we go south and what better place than the great state of Texas".{{cite news |url=https://www.statesman.com/news/20201110/kalahari-resorts-in-round-rock-has-grand-opening-on-thursday |title=Kalahari Resorts in Round Rock has grand opening on Thursday |date=November 10, 2020 |newspaper=Statesman |first=Rebeccah |last=Macias |access-date=November 12, 2020 }} On March 21, 2022, an EF2 tornado passed by, leaving no major structural damage at the resort.{{cite news |url=https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/kalahari-round-rock-texas-tornado/269-e55ed962-9adc-40e4-a9c8-518aa5739ad2 |title=Gas leak resolved after tornado passes by Kalahari Resorts in Round Rock |date=March 21, 2022 |website=KVUE |first=Shawna M |last=Reding |access-date=April 6, 2022 }}
=Spotsylvania=
A Spotsylvania, Virginia, location will be located off the I-95 exit 118 at Thornburg. The current expectation is for the water park to be opened in 2026.{{Cite web|date=October 20, 2023|title=Kalahari Project|url=https://www.spotsylvania.va.us/2460/Kalahari-Project|access-date=November 3, 2023|website=Spotsylvania Economic Development|language=en-US}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- [https://www.kalahariresorts.com/ Kalahari Resorts Website]
{{WD WP Resorts}}
{{Zoos of Ohio}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Indoor amusement parks
Category:Water parks in Wisconsin
Category:Water parks in Pennsylvania
Category:Buildings and structures in Sandusky, Ohio
Category:Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
Category:Tourist attractions in Erie County, Ohio
Category:2000 establishments in Wisconsin
Category:2005 establishments in Ohio
Category:2015 establishments in Pennsylvania