Will Sandusky become Dells:Part 2?

Obviously, by now most people know of Kalahari's construction that will double their size to 160,000 sq. ft. Plus, the sign across the road for the Coyote FallsLodge, (due to open Spring 2008, yet no ground appears to have been broken as of yet). Here is a link to the company building the Coyote Falls Lodge: Dial Family Resorts

As we were leaving TGI Fridays at Castaway Bay yesterday, I noticed a sign in front of the "Thirsty Pony" for a very small indoor waterpark being built for the hotel adjacent to the TP. The sign didn't explain a lot, but did give the proposed name for the park as being "RAIN".

I know at the Dells not all the indoor waterparks are massive works like Kalahari or Great Wolf, some are additions to small hotels/motels. Could we be seeing the beginnings of the same thing in Sandusky? *** Edited 2/12/2007 10:00:26 PM UTC by Floorless Fan***

I wouldnt be suprised because that business model is red hot now, plus you have allmost the exact same setup in Sandusky that you do in the Dells, huge tourist market from a summer destination (Dells the trio of Noah's Ark, Riverview and Family Land, Sandusky CP obviously) that dries up every winter and the hotels need a way to pack in the people in the winter. What could possibly be a better way then allow Midwesterners to pretend like its summer for the weekened?

It will be interesting to see how fast this develops, when I moved to WI the indoor waterpark was in its infancy in 1992, it pretty much exploded into what it is today in a little more then five years.

I did notice while we were up there this past weekend that there were fewer hotels/motels closed, and more businesses in general were open.

I might have thought that the larger amount of people were due to Kalahari having a boy scout convention and a national cheerleading competition, (which is why we were there), but it didn't seem many people ventured out from the resort because of the crummy weather. Kalahari was packed everywhere we walked the whole weekend, it was shoulder to shoulder in the waterpark on Saturday.

National Cheerleading Competition? No offense but I think I just found a new definition of "personal hell"! ;)

^obviously you have not met my 4th grade begining band class -- we are studying the recorder right now so that they can start on their instruments next fall.

My own personal hell. :(

Recorder class! That is truly a hell that I would not wish upon anyone. But I'll gladly sell your school or students their recorders and then get away as quickly as I can. ;)

I have heard that the "Rain" indoor waterpark will be very small. It will cater to very young children. I think it will be advertised as something else to do during bad weather.

Swoosh said:
^obviously you have not met my 4th grade begining band class -- we are studying the recorder right now so that they can start on their instruments next fall.

My own personal hell.

Swoosh, I had no idea - my heart bleeds for you. You are either a saint or about to go postal. Our dog still barks in agony listening to my 7th grade daughter practice her clarinet.

Could be worse: she could be praticing the tuba.

"Will Sandusky become Dells:Part2?"

I really think it already has.

Hey....no making fun of the clarinet. :)

I like wooden clarinets the best. They burn! ;)

Seriously though, we can't claim that Sandusky is becoming the next Dells until they get some good wood. (ok, not so seriously) :)

This one time in band camp.;)

I'm from Cleveland and in the Construction industry. Even though our company doesn't work in Sandusky, we often get invited to bid projects outside our territory. The Maui Sands Resort & Cabana Village - New Hotel & Indoor Waterpark is now out for bid.

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dexter said:
I have heard that the "Rain" indoor waterpark will be very small. It will cater to very young children. I think it will be advertised as something else to do during bad weather.

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Yeah, I would totally agree on both counts.

1) The buildings extension is very small, and appears to be adjoining between the hotel and the Thirsty Pony.

2) Just by the buildings size alone, it couldn't hold much more than some small themed areas, (ex: small slides, water mushroom-type contraption, some spraying stations, etc.)

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sws said:
Swoosh, I had no idea - my heart bleeds for you. You are either a saint or about to go postal. Our dog still barks in agony listening to my 7th grade daughter practice her clarinet.

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I actually do not mind the 5th and 6th grade bands, it is just those d*** annoying recorders that have to be the shrillest thing ever invented. Sometimes my own paitience with the kids amazes me. :)

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crazy horse said:
This one time in band camp.

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I wondered how long before someone would bring that up -- somehow it doesn't surprise me that it is you C.H. ;)

OK guys, was just looking around for hotels for CP's opening weekend May 12th. In the process, I was looking for the Holidome on Milan Rd., and could not find it, so I called the HI Express nearby. She was very helpful...even to the point of telling me the Holidome is currently closed, but would be re-opening under the name Maui Sands. This spiked my curiosity, so after searching a bit I found this...

Holiday Inn Announces Development of Indoor Waterpark Resort

Sandusky’s fifth waterpark resort has been confirmed by Brighton Hotel Corporation, at the site of Sandusky’s Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express at 250 and Rte. 2. The Holiday Inn flag will be coming down when the resort takes on a Hawaiian theme as the Maui Sands Resort.

The resort will include three hotels, all connected to a new indoor waterpark. A new four story 96-room all suite hotel, called Maui Sands Family Suites, will be built between the Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express. The Holiday Inn will undergo a Hawaiian themed renovation and become Maui Sands Hotel and Cabana Village. The Holiday Inn Express will also undergo a Hawaiian themed renovation but will remain a Holiday Inn Express. The total of the real estate value and improvement costs of the completed 310-room resort will be $40 million.

The waterpark will have 55,000 square feet of wet recreation space, becoming Sandusky’s second largest indoor waterpark. Other amenities include a 5,500 square foot game arcade, full service spa, banquet rooms and three restaurants, one hosting an authentic Hawaiian Luau.

Charter One Bank is the lead bank lender. Construction will begin by the end of the year for a projected winter 2008 opening.

...I don't know if this is new news to anybody up north, but to me it was, and it's exciting news to me. *** Edited 2/20/2007 3:45:18 AM UTC by Floorless Fan***

Sounds like Castaway Bay will soon be the "baby" indoor waterpark in Sandusky. ;)

But very close (if not closest?) to Cedar Point, no?

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Swoosh said:
Sounds like Castaway Bay will soon be the "baby" indoor waterpark in Sandusky.

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Actually Great Wolf Lodge is fairly small. They don't even have a wave pool there. We just went for the second year in a row and it may have been our last trip. My daughter will top 48" sometime this year and she's already been able to ride everything at GWL, it really isn't very big. Couple that with the fact that GWL has no lot security and 5 vans were broken into sometime this past weekend makes me a little worried.

Tom