Kalahari Resorts

Kalahari Resorts
Location Wisconsin Dells, Sandusky, and Pocono Mountains
Coordinates 43°34′13″N 89°46′20″W / 43.570178°N 89.772184°W / 43.570178; -89.772184, 41°22′58″N 82°38′38″W / 41.382750°N 82.643977°W / 41.382750; -82.643977, and 41°05′55″N 75°23′24″W / 41.098621°N 75.390042°W / 41.098621; -75.390042
Theme African
Owner Todd Nelson
Opened 2000, 2005, and 2015
Operating season Year-round
Website http://www.kalahariresorts.com

The Kalahari Resort and Convention Center is a water park resort chain with locations in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin; Sandusky, Ohio; Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania; and soon Round Rock, Texas. At 220,000 square feet, the indoor water park at Kalahari's Pocono Mountain resort is the largest in the United States, followed by the waterpark in Sandusky, Ohio at 173,000 square feet and in third place the Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin property at 125,000 square feet.

Overview

The Kalahari Resorts and Conventions is named after the Kalahari Desert in southern Africa, hence the African theme at all the resorts. Located in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin; Sandusky, Ohio; Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania; and soon Round Rock, Texas;[1][2] the lobbies have artificial fountains, trees, and animals that have been imported from local markets and shops in Africa. Special Africa-themed events, such as getting photographed with baby lions, are also held. Most of the water slides are named after African animals, such as the Rippling Rhino and the Wild Wildebeast. Other services at the Kalahari include restaurants, spas, gift shops, and sweet shops.

Wisconsin Dells

The Wisconsin Dells resort is Kalahari's first location, having opened in May 2000. The resort has 756 guest rooms, suites, condos, and five-bedroom condos, making it the second largest resort in Wisconsin. The convention center has expanded from 100,000-square-foot (9,300 m2) to 230,000-square-foot (21,000 m2). It has four main restaurants, and several other eateries in the water park, lobby, and theme park. Other activities include a spa, a fitness centers, free-roaming virtual reality and golfing at the Trappers Turn Golf Club on the north side of Wisconsin Dells.[3]

The indoor water park at the Wisconsin Dells location is the largest indoor water park in Wisconsin, at 125,000 square feet (11,600 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 and first indoor FlowRider surfing simulator. In 2011, the indoor waterpark went through an expansion, which included America's first indoor "Super-Loop" slides.[4] Kalahari's indoor waterpark includes numerous water slides, a wave pool, a lazy river, an interactive play structure, and an indoor/outdoor hot tub. Wisconsin Dells Kalahari also has a 77,000-square-foot (7,200 m2) outdoor water park with several water slides, a lazy river, and a three-story interactive play structure.[3]

In December 2008, the resort became home to a 110,000-square-foot (10,000 m2) indoor theme park. It includes a six-story ferris wheel, a laser tag arena, a two-story go-kart track, a mini golf course, a 24-lane Brunswick bowling alley, rock climbing walls, carousel, sports bar, a ropes course, a 5-D theater/ride, a swinging pendulum thrill ride, and an arcade spread throughout the complex.[5]

Sandusky

The outside of the Kalahari resort in Sandusky, Ohio

Opened in June 2005, the Sandusky, Ohio resort is "America's Largest Indoor Waterpark",[6] at 173,000 square feet (16,100 m2). It is located about 8 miles (13 km) south of Cedar Point on Milan Road (US Route 250) in Huron Township. The water park opened in May 2005 and contains a FoilTec roof system that lets in natural light, allowing people to receive a suntan at any time of year.[7] The location also features two Flow Rider surfing simulators, a variety of water slides (both indoor and outdoor), wave pool, a basketball pool, a children's play area, an indoor/outdoor hot tub and a swim-up bar.[8]

With 884 guest rooms, suites, and condos, the hotel is the largest in the state of Ohio. Like the Wisconsin Dells resort, the Sandusky resort also has four main restaurants, as well as smaller and quicker food options throughout the lobby and waterparks. Aside from the waterparks, other indoor activities at the resort include an arcade, a spa, a fitness center, 9-hole mini golf, pottery painting, mini bowling, a 5-D Theater/Ride, and a laser tag arena. Outside there is an animal park, ropes course, zip line tour, and climbing walls.

In August 2006, the resort opened a 100,000-square-foot (9,300 m2) convention center, later expanding this space to 215,000 square feet.

Pocono Mountains

The Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania location opened on July 1, 2015 and consists of a 220,000-square-foot (20,000 m2) indoor waterpark, an outdoor waterpark, 230,000-square-foot (21,000 m2) convention center, 977 guest rooms, Spa Kalahari and Salon, a 40,000-square-foot (3,700 m2) entertainment center featuring mini bowling, mini golf, a 5-D Theater/Ride, free-roaming virtual reality and arcade games. Kalahari Resorts in the Pocono Mountains, is home to America's Largest Indoor Waterparks.

The resort has several signature dining experiences: Great Karoo, Ivory Coast, Brandberg, Double Cut Bar and Grill, Sortino's Family Kitchen and Marrakesh Market, as well as smaller dining options like the resorts in Wisconsin Dells and Sandusky.

References

  1. ↑ "Coming Soon to Texas: America's Largest Indoor Waterparks". Kalahari Resorts. Retrieved July 1, 2017. Opening 2020
  2. ↑ Warner, Joe (January 12, 2017). "Kalahari commitment is top story for Round Rock in 2016". Business. Community Impact Newspaper. The opening date is targeted for May 2020.
  3. 1 2 Bishop, Christy. Kalahari Resorts. N.p., December 3, 2011. Web. Dec 5, 2011.
  4. ↑ Selwyn, Adam. Kalahari expands Waterpark, Yahoo Finance. N.p., 16 Nov. 2011. Web. 5 Dec. 2011
  5. ↑ Seyler, Christy. Fun Coast. N.p., January 29, 2009. Web. December 5, 2011.
  6. ↑ Collins, Laura (December 21, 2007). "Kalahari's Expansion Makes It Nation's Largest Indoor Waterpark". The Point Online/Sandusky Register. Retrieved December 24, 2007.
  7. ↑ Butcher, Dan (July 15, 2009). "Top U.S. water parks". edition.cnn.com. CNN. Retrieved January 23, 2010.
  8. ↑ "Kalahari Resorts Indoor Waterpark Ohio". Kalahari Resorts. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
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