Hotel Waterpark Resorts
Construction Report 2005

52 Are Under Construction or Will Break Ground in 2005

By Jeff Coy and Bill Haralson

Hotels with indoor waterparks are growing from 28% to 36% annually while the overall hotel industry expects new supply to grow less than 1.0% in 2005 and 2006. In 2000, there were only 18 hotel waterpark resorts. Today, over 100 are open nationwide.

Twenty-three new additions and expansion projects are expected to open by year end. Hotel waterpark projects under construction have grown from 8 in 2000 to 52 that are under construction or will break ground during 2005.

Clearly, hotel waterpark resorts are not a fad but here to stay. Projects in the development phase grew from 19 in 2002 to 46 in 2003, 69 in 2004 to 121 in 2005.

Construction Project Growth
Hotel Waterpark Resorts USA

Source: Hotel Waterpark Resort Research & Consulting, Jeff Coy & Bill Haralson.

The number of hotel rooms attached to indoor waterparks is expected to grow from 5,400 in 2000 to a forecast of over 24,000 in 2006, which is an increase of 4.4 times over six years.

Room Supply Growth
Hotel Waterpark Resorts USA

Source: Hotel Waterpark Resort Research & Consulting, Jeff Coy & Bill Haralson.

The total square footage of indoor waterparks attached to hotels was 732,100 in Year 2000. That number grew to more than 2.3 million square feet in 2005 and is expected to grow to nearly 3.6 million square foot by the end of 2006. The supply of hotel indoor waterpark space grew 24% in 2004, 38% in 2005 and a forecasted 51% in 2006.

Indoor Waterpark Square Footage Growth
Hotel Waterpark Resorts USA

Source: Hotel Waterpark Resort Research & Consulting, Jeff Coy & Bill Haralson.

Hotel waterpark resorts grew out of Wisconsin during the 1990s, and then spread to adjacent states in the Upper Midwest. The growth pattern is spreading across the northern tier of the USA, with new properties stretching to states in the Pacific Northwest and New England.

Many seasonal hotels and resorts now have or will soon open indoor-outdoor waterparks to build revenues on a year round basis. In the future, indoor waterparks will spread to the Sunbelt where desert resort guests and their kids will look for protection from the sun, hot temps and humidity.

Recent Openings: USA

In January 2005, Holiday Inn Grand Forks ND opened a 7,000 sf indoor waterpark which was converted from a pool in its atrium. GM Deb Steding said the waterpark conversion cost $1 million plus another $600,000 was spent on hotel renovations.

United Management of Grand Forks purchased the hotel two years and wanted a indoor waterpark to keep up with national trends. Steding said many Holiday Inn franchisees have embraced the indoor waterpark concept with little help from parent company, InterContinental Hotel Group. However, InterContinental has recently received so many requests for waterpark exemptions from franchise holders that it has had to develop several waterpark conversion prototypes for its old holidome concept.

In March 2005, Great Wolf Lodge in Williamsburg VA opened with 301 rooms, 6,500 sf of meeting space and a 64,000 sf indoor waterpark. The waterpark consists of 8 waterslides, 6 pools, 2 hot tubs, lazy river and a wave pool. The 48-foot Fort MacKenzie has over 60 interactive geysers and sprays and tipping bucket that drenches everyone gathered below with 1,000 gallons of water. Total cost was $48 million. Contact General Manager Curtis Brown at 757-229-9700.

In April 2005, Grand Bear Lodge near Starved Rock State Park in Utica IL with 92 lodging units and a 24,000 sf indoor waterpark.

In May 2005, seven new hotel waterpark resorts opened:

• Kalahari Resort Sandusky OH opened 596 rooms, a conference center and 80,000 sf indoor waterpark with 5 waterslides and an uphill watercoaster. Total project cost was $60 million. Kalahari Resort is owned by three Wisconsin Dells resort owners who have been competitors for decades --- Todd Nelson, owner of the Kalahari Resort, Tom Lucke, owner of Wilderness Hotel & Golf Resort and Jim Mattei, owner of Treasure Island Resort & Bay of Dreams --- but who have formed a partnership, LMN Development LLC, to build the Kalahari Resort in Sandusky. Contact management at 877-253-5466.
  
  
• Mountain Grand Hotel & Avalanche Bay indoor waterpark at Boyne Mountain Ski Area in northwest Michigan opened its 220 unit condo-hotel and 83,000 sf indoor waterpark during a Memorial Weekend Grand Opening. The indoor waterpark features 6 waterslides including a cannonbowl tube slide, 4 pools with a lazy river, 2 whirlpools, a Flowrider water coaster and climbing structure with tipping water bucket.
  
  
  
  

  The facility also has an arcade, food & beverage and retail areas. Water Technology Inc of Beaver Dam WI provided the design concept and engineering. Steve Kircher, owner-operator of Boyne Mountain Resort, hopes the new hotel indoor waterpark will help the resort regain its footing as the No. 1 ski resort in the Midwest, a Ski magazine ranking it held for many years. Reach Steve at 231-549-6005 or go to www.boyne.com.

• Country Springs Hotel's waterpark addition in Waukesha WI. Owner Dick Richards has always been innovative when it comes to promoting his hotel in Waukesha WI, a suburb of Milwaukee. But with increased competition and lost business over the last three years, Richards decided to build a $25.6 million, 40,000 sf indoor waterpark addition to his 187-room hotel. He says the indoor waterpark will draw more people to the hotel and the surrounding area year round.

  The indoor waterpark includes 3 waterslides, 4 pools and a hot tub along with a 15,000 sf family entertainment center. Richards joined with Real-Cap LLC owners Mark Flaherty and Ed Carow to form a separate entity for the project, CIP Equity LLC. The project will be financed through a loan with First Bank of Illinois. Architectural Design Consultants of Lake Delton WI designed the project.

• Holiday Inn Express & Waterpark in Hayden ID opened 96 rooms and a 25,000 sf indoor waterpark in connection with the Triple Play family entertainment center. The indoor waterpark has 3 slides, 2 pools, a wave pool and 2 conference rooms. You can reach the hotel by calling 208-772-7900.
  
  
• Holiday Inn Express & Waterpark in the Milwaukee suburb of Oak Creek WI opened 115 rooms and a 6,000 sf indoor waterpark consisting one slide and hot tub. The hotel was has two meeting rooms totaling 1,500 sf. Telephone is 414-563-4000.
  
  
• Bridgewood Conference & Aquatic Center in Neenah WI opened 95 rooms and 5,500 sf indoor waterpark plus 10,000 sf of conference rooms. The property is owned by Rich Batley, Gary Laeyendecker and Jim Geertz.
  
  
• Nickelodeon Family Suites by Holiday Inn opened in Orlando FL with its outdoor waterpark. This is the first-ever Nickelodeon hotel waterpark which cost $110 million. This is a destination hotel featuring two interactive waterparks, 3,000 sf arcade, a kid's spa, KidSuites, a Nick at Nite lounge for adults and a state of the art theater. You can even have breakfast in the Nicktoons Café and be greeted by SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer. For more information, call Angela Richmond at 407-423-8006.

In June 2006, two hotels with indoor waterparks opened:

• Zehnder's Splash Village Hotel in Frankenmuth MI opened with 152 new and renovated rooms and 30,000 sf indoor waterpark. The waterpark includes two 4-story tube slides, one body slide, lazy river, multiple level play structure and a tipping water bucket. The project was a conversion and expansion of the former Bavarian Haus. Owner Al Zehnder says the property is located adjacent to Bronner's, the largest Christmas store in the world. Frankenmuth is 90 north of Detroit and is one of Michigan's top tourist destinations. You can go to www.zehnders.com for more info or talk to Al Zehnder at 989-652-0430.
  
  
• Holiday Inn Suites & Waterpark in Baxter MN opened 98 rooms and 18,000 sf indoor waterpark consisting of 2 waterslides, 1 pool, 2 hot tubs and a lazy river. You can reach owner Bob Sullivan at 218-824-3232.

In July 2005, three more properties opened with indoor waterparks:

• Massanutten Resort in McGaheysville VA opened a 42,000 sf indoor waterpark that will feature 12 waterslides, 2 pools, spa, lazy river and a wave pool. Massanutten is a thriving four season resort and community of over 600 single-family homes, 900 timeshare units and a multi-million dollar ski business.

  Massanutten was the second ski resort in the nation to build an indoor waterpark; the first was Boyne Mountain MI which opened Memorial Day 2005. Aquatics Development Group of Cohoes NY was the design-engineering firm. For more information, contact Clay Rice, director of resort operations at 540-289-4977. Website is www.massresort.com.

• A Condo-Hotel & Indoor Waterpark Project in Ocean Shores WA opened with 60 units and a 8,000 sf waterpark.
  
  
• Comfort Inn & Splash Harbor in Bellville-Mansfield OH 100 rooms and a 6,500 sf indoor waterpark consisting of one waterslide, 2 pools and a hot tub. For more information, call Sharon Cox at 419-886-4000.

In August 2005, Holiday Inn & Wild Woods Waterpark in Otsego MN opened with 135 rooms and a 30,000 sf indoor waterpark. The waterpark features 3 waterslides, 3 pools, 1 hot tub, and a lazy river. Landcor Development of Osseo MN did the project. You can talk to Landcor president Bob Fields at 763-315-0818 or call general manager Jackie Olson at 763-656-4400.

Developers Doug Rohde and Joel Cairy opened their Lodge at Brainerd Lakes & Paul Bunyan Waterpark in Baxter MN in August. The lodge has 102 units and 10,000 sf of meeting and convention space for groups of 12 to 500. The 30,000 sf waterpark is state of the art. It is the first in Minnesota and second in the nation to use advanced interactive virtual reality technology. The VR provides slide-riders with a variety of lights, sounds, videos and holographic images that simulate log jams, thunderstorms and Paul Bunyan swinging his ax. Go to www.lodgehotels.com.

Under Construction & Opening in 2005: USA

As of September 29, 2005, we identified six properties that are still under construction which we expect to open before the year ends:

• Great Wolf Lodge Pocono Mountains PA
  
  
• Best Western Edgewater Duluth MN
  
  
• Best Western Pzzazz in Burlington IA
  
  
• Thumper Pond Golf Resort in Ottertail MN
  
  
• Great Escapes Hotel & Waterpark in Lake George NY
  
  
• Condo-Hotel & Indoor Waterpark in Auburn IN

Great Wolf Lodge Pocono Mountains PA is expected to open its 401 rooms and 90,000 sf indoor waterpark in October 2005. The indoor waterpark will include 10 waterslides, 4 pools, 2 hot tubs, lazy river, wave pool, 6,000 sf arcade and 6,500 sf of conference rooms. The Pocono Mountain location in Pennsylvania will draw leisure families from New Jersey and New York City. Owner is Great Wolf Resorts Inc of Madison WI.

Best Western Edgewater Duluth MN with 282 rooms will open its indoor waterpark addition within the next 30 days. The 23,000 sf waterpark has two waterslides and a lazy river. The property is owned and managed by ZMC Hospitality. Contact Ken and John Goldfine at 218-723-8433 for more information.

The 171-room Best Western Pzzazz in Burlington IA is expected to open its 20,000 sf indoor waterpark, Fun City, in November 2005. Owner Randy Winegard built the indoor waterpark for about $10 million. The waterpark features 2 slides, 3 pools, 1 hot tub, climbing wall and tipping bucket. You can talk to Allison Hanson, director of aquatics, by dialing 319-753-2223.

The indoor space also features a family entertainment center with bowling, arcades and electric go-karts. Winegard also negotiated with the city to build a 50,000 sf outdoor waterpark, which will open near his hotel in June in 2006 The outdoor waterpark will feature 4 pools, including a wave pool.

The 78-room Thumper Pond Golf Resort in Ottertail MN will open its 11,000 sf indoor waterpark in November 2005. The owner is Doug Balaha. Phone is 218-367-2431.

Great Escapes Hotel & Waterpark in Lake George NY is expected to open with 200 rooms and a 38,000 sf indoor waterpark in December 2005.

Plan B Development Inc expects to open a yet unnamed 150-unit Condo-Hotel & Indoor Waterpark in Auburn IN before the year ends.

Jeff Henry and the NBGS Group own the Schlitterbahn on South Padre Island TX, voted the Best Waterpark in America by The Travel Channel. On December 10, 2005, Henry plans to open the Schlitterbahn Indoor-Outdoor Waterpark on Galveston Island TX.

The $28 million project will feature a retractable roof that can be closed in winter and opened in summer. Sherry Bramson said Hurricane Katrina caused miminal damage and slowed them down only a few days --- the project still plans to open on schedule. The outdoor portion of the project will open in Summer of 2006.

Growth in the Size of Hotel Waterpark Resorts

The number of hotels with indoor waterparks grew from 18 in 2000 to a forecast of 104 open & operating at the beginning of 2006. The average sized hotel waterpark has about 170 rooms. The average number of rooms stays at about 170 rooms while many smaller properties and a few mega-giant waterpark resorts are under construction or in the development process. Total indoor waterpark square footage grew from 487,000 in 2000 to more than 2,370,000 at the start of 2006. See chart.

Growth in Average Size
Hotel Waterpark Resorts USA

Source: Hotel Waterpark Resort Research & Consulting, Jeff Coy & Bill Haralson.

Indoor waterparks are getting bigger in relation to the number of hotel rooms. In 2000, the big hotel waterpark resorts in Wisconsin Dells dominated the whole industry with an average of 137 square feet of waterpark space per guest room.

In the Years 2001, 2002 and 2003, more and more hotels were built with smaller indoor waterparks compared to the mega-resorts in The Dells, so the waterpark square footage per guest declined to 133, 125 and 125. However, in 2004, 2005 and 2006, the trends are up for larger and larger waterparks in comparison with hotel room counts. It seems that bigger is better for the first entry in a new market.

Under Construction & Scheduled to Open in 2006: USA

Twenty-seven hotel waterpark resort projects are currently under construction with scheduled opening dates throughout 2006:

• Holiday Inn East Columbus OH
  
  
• Canad Inn's Destination Center in Grand Forks ND
  
  
• Big Horn Resort & Waterpark in Billings MT
  
  
• Lake Lawn Resort's condo expansion. Waterpark later
  
  
• Grand Lodge & Waterpark of America in Bloomington MN
  
  
• Great Wolf Lodge waterpark expansion in Wisconsin Dells WI
  
  
• Mt Olympus Themed Waterpark's addition of indoor waterpark and lodging facilities
  
  
• Chula Vista Resort's expansion in Wisconsin Dells
  
  
• A yet unnamed Hotel & Splash Universe indoor waterpark in Shipshewana IN
  
  
• Holiday Inn Holidome Conversion in Elmhurst IL
  
  
• River Bluff Resort in McGregor IA
  
  
• Randall's Island Indoor Aquatic Center in NYC
  
  
• Sheraton Resort in Danvers MA
  
  
• An unnamed Hotel Waterpark Resort in Belvedere NY
  
  
• Ron Jon Surfpark at Festival Bay Mall in Orlando FL
  
  
• Great Wolf Lodge at Paramount's Kings Island in Cincinnati OH
  
  
• Great Wolf Lodge's expansion in Williamsburg VA
  
  
• Jellystone Park in Warrens-Tomah WI
  
  
• Sheraton Chicago Northwest's indoor waterpark addition in Arlington Heights IL
  
  
• A yet unnamed Hotel Waterpark Resort in Wausau WI
  
  
• Double JJ Ranch & New Frontiers indoor waterpark in Rothbury MI
  
  
• Holiday Inn & Suites in Maple Grove MN
  
  
• Hawthorn Suites' indoor waterpark addition at Midlane Golf Resort in Wadsworth IL
  
  
• Northern Bay Golf Resort & Water on Castle Rock Lake in Arkdaled WI
  
  
• A yet unnamed Condo-Hotel & Indoor Waterpark in Kent IN
  
  
• Scott's Hotels & Splash Lagoon Expansion in Erie PA

Hotel Waterpark Resort Under Construction
Or Scheduled to Break Ground in 2005