Indoor waterpark

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An indoor waterpark is a type of waterpark that is located inside a building. An indoor waterpark has the ability to stay open year-round, as it is not affected by weather conditions.

Contents

[edit] Indoor waterpark history

The first ever indoor waterpark was built in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada in 1985 at the West Edmonton Mall as part of the 1.2 billion dollar 3rd phase of the mall. It is called the World Waterpark and is over 200,000 sq ft (19,000 m²). It was a success for the mall. The first indoor waterpark in the U.S. was built in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin at the Polynesian Hotel. They built it in 1994 so it could make the Dells a "year round destination", as the Wisconsin Dells tourist season was from Memorial Day to Labor Day before it was built.

[edit] The indoor waterpark craze

Since the opening of the first park, the indoor waterpark business has become increasingly more popular, especially for the Edmonton area in Canada, and in the Wisconsin Dells in the U.S., which proclaims itself as the "waterpark capital of the world". The Dells has 5 Waterpark Resorts that have at least 1 waterpark bigger that 55,000 sq ft (5,100 m²). This includes the Kalahari Resort (America's Largest Indoor Waterpark), Chula Vista Resort (Lost Rios), Great Wolf Lodge, Wilderness Territory (Wild West, Klondike Kavern, Wild WaterDome), and the Hotel Rome at Mt. Olympus (formerly Treasure Island Resort; Bay of Dreams). Wisconsin has the most indoor waterparks in one state. Other states in the U.S., especially in the midwest, are building more indoor waterparks separate or to existing hotels so they can become a year-round destination. More waterparks are also being built in Canada, Europe and Asia.

[edit] What does a major indoor waterpark consist of?

A view of the Children's Play Area at the Water Park of America in Bloomington, Minnesota.
A view of the Children's Play Area at the Water Park of America in Bloomington, Minnesota.

Most major indoor waterparks over 50,000 sq ft (the average size for an indoor waterpark in May 2007) have: [1]

  • 2-3+ Tube Slides
  • 2-3+ Body Slides
  • 1+ Speed Slides
  • Children's Play Area with sprayers, tipping buckets, slides, and geysers
  • 1+ Family Rides (Ride that can occupy over 3 guests)
  • Lazy River or Torrent River
  • Wave Pool
  • Water Coaster (Master Blaster)
  • Other Attractions (FlowRider, Mat Racing Slides, Tornado Vortex Ride, Pro Bowl/Behehmoth Bowl, etc.)

[edit] United States Indoor Waterparks

See main article: List of waterparks

[edit] Top 15 largest indoor waterparks

(As of 3/08)

[2]

1. Wilderness Territory's 3 indoor waterparks in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin (250,000 sq ft total & America's Largest Indoor Waterpark With Total Square Footage)

1. Kalahari Resort's Waterpark in Sandusky, Ohio (173,000 sq ft total & America's Largest Indoor Waterpark Under one Roof)

2. Kalahari Resort's Waterpark in Wisconsin Dells (125,000 sq ft)

3. Great Wolf Lodge's 3 Waterparks in Wisconsin Dells (100,000 sq ft total)

4. Avalanche Bay Indoor Waterpark at Boyne Mountain in Boyne Falls, Michigan (88,000 sq ft)

5. Chula Vista Resort's Lost Rios Indoor Waterpark in Wisconsin Dells (80,000 sq ft)

6. Great Wolf Lodge's Indoor Waterpark in Grapevine, Texas (80,000 sq ft)

7. Great Wolf Lodge's Indoor Waterpark at the Pocono Mountains in Scotrun, Pennsylvania (78,000 sq ft)

8. Great Wolf Lodge's Indoor Waterpark at Kings Island in Mason, Ohio (78,000 sq ft)

9. Water Park of America in Bloomington, Minnesota (70,000 sq ft)

10. KeyLime Cove's Indoor Waterpark in Gurnee, Illinois (65,000 sq ft)

11. CoCo Key Indoor Waterpark at the Sheraton in Arlington Heights, Illinois (65,000 sq ft)

12. CoCo Key Indoor Waterpark at the Sheraton Ferncroft in Danvers, Massachusetts (65,000 sq ft)

13. CoCo Key Indoor Waterpark at the Clarion in Kansas City, Missouri (65,000 sq ft)

14. CoCo Key Indoor Waterpark at the Holiday Inn in Omaha, Nebraska (65,000 sq ft)

15. CoCo Key Water Resort in Cincinnati, Ohio in the Sheraton Cincinnati North (65,000 sq ft)

[edit] Waterparks under construction

1. Las Vegas Wet in Las Vegas, Nevada (opening 2011 - 350,000 sq ft (33,000 m²); Will become the world's 2nd largest indoor waterpark and North America's Largest Indoor Waterpark when completed and be part of a 200+ acre multi billion dollar resort development)

2. Grand Empire Waterpark in Lithonia, Georgia (Opening mid 2009 - 170,000 sq ft)

3. Grand Sierra Waterpark in Reno, Nevada (Opening late 2008 - 150,000 sq ft)

4. Crosswinds Waterpark in Baltimore, Maryland (Opening late 2009 - 145,000 sq ft)

5. Grizzly Falls Waterpark in Rosemont, Illinois (Opening spring 2008, 100,000 sq ft)

6. Grand Isle Indoor Waterpark in Baltimore, Maryland (Opening 2009, 100,000 sq ft)

7. Sun Island Indoor Waterpark in Hoffman Estates, Illinois (Opening spring 2008, 80,000 sq ft)

9. Aquazonia Indoor Waterworld in Farmington, New York (Opening Fall 2008 - 70,000 sq ft)

10. CoCo Key Indoor Waterpark at the Marriott in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey (Opening spring 2008, 65,000 sq ft)

11. Wild Buffalo Lodge Waterpark in Traverse City, Michigan (Opening late 2007 - 61,000 sq ft)

[edit] Other large indoor waterparks

[edit] Former indoor waterparks

  • Transvaal Park in Moscow, Russia (Had its glass roof collapse in 2004)
  • Bay of Dreams Indoor Waterpark in Wisconsin Dells (Was once part of the old Family Land/Treasure Island Complex, but was bought by Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park and became The Bay Indoor Waterpark. The waterpark will soon change its treasure theming to Greek to match with the rest of Mt. Olympus.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Hotel-Online.com Waterpark Guide
  2. ^ About.com: U.S. and Canada- Indoor Water Parks

[edit] External Links to Waterparks Listed