Indoor amusement parks attached to hotel/indoor waterparks.

I was just curious if people would like to see more indoor dry ride areas accompanying existing hotel/indoor waterpark facilities?

Grand Bear Lodge in Utica Illinois has this setup as seen here.

Would companies like Great Wolf or Kalahari consider doing this in the future? It would be another winter option for places like Sandusky, OH or Wisconsin Dells.

Indoor is fine for winter & all... as well as it can be opened year-round without the fears of any inclimate weather...

...but how well would they do business-wise during the summertime when people would rather spend the time outdoors?

I'd like to see maybe one or two pop-up around the East Coast, but I think any more would be over-kill. It'd be best served in areas where there's a high-demand, but seasonal weather isn't the greatest (ie: ikky winters).

The one problem is that most indoor waterpark resorts are open only to hotel guests (save for the occasional night passes or field trips during slow season). A resort would have to have a whole lot of rooms to make an indoor amusement park worthwhile. That is why the few that have lasted tend to be located inside major shopping malls (West Edmonton, Mall of America) or major tourist draws (Circus Circus).

Grand Bear is trying. I've give 'em that. Small flat rides that require a small footprint and low overhead clearance.

Paris said:
The one problem is that most indoor waterpark resorts are open only to hotel guests (save for the occasional night passes or field trips during slow season). A resort would have to have a whole lot of rooms to make an indoor amusement park worthwhile. That is why the few that have lasted tend to be located inside major shopping malls (West Edmonton, Mall of America) or major tourist draws (Circus Circus).

Actually the waterpark at MOA isn't located inside MOA. It's attached to a hotel that is close to MOA and the airport. Still your point is quite valid. People come to the Twin Cities, fly into the airport, want to stay near MOA, and stay at the hotel/waterpark for the weekend.

What Paris, said. This is just personal preference - I can't afford to spend that much money on a hotel room even when the cost of a pretty cool water park or small amusement park is thrown in. So either attractions, for me personally, would have to get way better or rooms would have to get way cheaper.

I think small indoor parks would do well. Family Entertainment centers with indoor rides seem to be popular but most that I have seen only have kiddie rides (one near me has a train, frog hopper and a tea cup ride).

Throw in maybe 10 - 12 rides including some adult flats and maybe a small/medium size family style coaster something like Runaway Train at Gillian's and it would be a great way to break up the offseason.

The thing is, Grand Bear seems to be approaching this concept in the right way.

The dry ride area is only open Thurs. - Sun. , they give discounts on wristbands to hotel guests, and they allow the outside public to ride for a more expensive wristband or per ride tickets.

Most indoor waterparks are inexpensive when you stay as an overnight guest, and even more so when they offer specials.

For an average of $200 for an automatic group of 4 people, you get 2 full days at most indoor waterparks.

Except for a few rooms at Castaway Bay for 3 people, all rooms are quoted with at least 4 total guests, with larger group packages also being available.

At least at Splash Lagoon in Erie, PA, you also get free breakfast, free use of towels, low-cost locker rentals, and some other freebies during various times of the year.

My hotel package at Splash Lagoon in Erie from December 29 and 30, 2006 (considered one of the busiest times for indoor waterparks during Christmas break, was originally $179 plus tax, but a late sale decreased the price an additional $25 (which Splash Lagoon always applies IF you call them on their toll-free number), plus we got a few freebies/souvineers in addition to the lowered price for 4 of us.

Thats still over $150.00 just to use a waterpark. kind of expensive if you ask me.

$150 for 4 people for 2 days at the waterpark INCLUDING the hotel room and free breakfast!?!?

That's an average of less than $20 per person per day, and you get the hotel stay as part of the package.

Pretty cheap to me!

You can opt for a non-guaranteed 'Day Pass', and pay between $30-40 per person, per day, at some of the indoor waterparks, but WHY would you not buy the cheaper package deal?