Will Sandusky become Dells:Part 2?

Niagara Falls, Ontario is probably closer to becoming the "Wisconsion Dells" of the East...

...this in tune because Great Wolf has their huge 93,000sq ft indoor waterpark. Americana has a 27,000sq ft indoor waterpark with their hotel, and the 3 adjoining hotels on the Sheridan, & others have a combined one on top of the casion hotel that's over 100,000 sq ft big.

On TOP of all that, is the fact that HOCO Entertainment is also planning an indoor waterpark to their hotel that's in the planning stages being build next to the Skylon tower.

That would be a total of 4 indoor waterparks within just a few mile area.

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DawgByte II said:

That would be a total of 4 indoor waterparks within just a few mile area.

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Well, Sandusky currently has 3 in operation, two more scheduled to open in roughly a year(1 of which is VERY small), plust Coyote Falls sometime in the next 4 years. That'll be 6 in about a 5 mile area, but that's not the point. It seems that the Great Lakes area is a hotbed of Indoor Waterpark activity. Niagara, Erie, Sandusky...The Dells might not qualify since its a good distance to Lake Michigan but it is interesting to note the areas that are starting to take off.

Tom

Let's also not forget that after the Sandusky Kalahari finishes it's expansion next winter, it will be 160,000 Square Feet. That'll easily boost it to the top, (or close to it) as the largest indoor waterpark in North America at least.

I truly believe that we haven't nearly seen the end of the all the indoor waterparks, (I could even see an indoor amusement park down the road). Two immediate reasons in mt mind are:

1) It's been being pretty well stated that Sandusky is pushing more toward being a year-around destination.

2) Weather can be somewhat testy up around the great lakes all years long. Putting things indoors like this can really help tourism, and can provide activities for the locals as well.

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LdScotsman said:

Actually Great Wolf Lodge is fairly small. They don't even have a wave pool there.

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Most indoor waterparks tend to choose between either having a wave pool or a lazy river. I haven't been to the GWL in Sandusky, but Castaway Bay has a wave pool and no lazy river and Kalahari has a lazy river but I don't recall a wave pool.

Either way, the trend will only continue. Great Wolf's next two lodges are in Texas and Washington (state). Disney has indoor waterparks as one of the "blue sky" concepts that they shared with investors earlier this month at WDW. Holiday Inn has about a dozen now (though mostly small endeavors).

It's definitely a growing movement.

^ And why not? Same great business model as an outdoor waterpark. High initial capital investment, but low continuing maintenance compared to a lot of other indoor attractions. Water bills are relatively cheap, teenage lifeguards come pretty cheap and while the insurance requirements could be a little scary, you can charge people a pretty hefty price because not only is it seen as an "amusement park", but there's the added convenience of not having to worry what the weather is (other than a thunderstorm). After you get through the first couple of years, an indoor waterpark has to be an amazing profit-making machine... with the added benefit of double the typical "northern" waterpark operating season ...

*Makes mental note to start indoor waterpark*

*** Edited 2/21/2007 12:39:09 PM UTC by Impulse-ive***

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Paris said:

Most indoor waterparks tend to choose between either having a wave pool or a lazy river. I haven't been to the GWL in Sandusky, but Castaway Bay has a wave pool and no lazy river and Kalahari has a lazy river but I don't recall a wave pool.

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That currently is correct, but after Kalahari's 93,000 square foot expansion they will have a 13,000 gallon wave pool. I haven't been there but the pictures of their 920 foot lazy river look at least entertaining. GWL's lazy river is about 300 feet at best and has two trickles falling over rocks 2 feet high, it's not very entertaining. The shame is that GWL is really landlocked, there is not much room to expand there in any direction, and they will be falling WAY behind once Kalahari expands and Coyote Falls opens up.

Tom

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Paris said:...Kalahari has a lazy river but I don't recall a wave pool.

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Kalahari @ Sandusky doesn't have a wave pool yet, but there is one being installed with the current expansion.

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...Holiday Inn has about a dozen now (though mostly small endeavors).

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I don't know about all of the HI indoor waterparks, but Fort Rapids in Columbus, OH is right on par with Great Wolf @ Sandusky in size.