The growth of indoor hotel waterparks

The number of indoor waterpark resorts in the United States has tripled just since 2003. By the end of the year, there will be 224 such resorts open. The largest offers more than 4 acres of indoor water fun under one roof.

The Wisconsin Dells once was the epicenter of the indoor waterpark resort industry. In fact, for sometime, it was the only place you would find indoor waterpark resorts in the United States. Now indoor waterparks have spread to the hotel industry and are appearing not just at tourist locations, but also in the back yards of many Americans. We now even have a publicly traded company, Great Wolf Lodge, that is marching across the United States and Canada developing indoor waterpark hotels, with 10 now opening and more under development.

Not only is the number of indoor hotel waterparks increasing in America with 224 expected to be open by the end of 2008, but the size of the waterparks is also increasing, setting records. Kalahari Resorts in Sandusky, Ohio, just won bragging rights for the largest indoor waterpark at a whopping 173,000 square feet. That's four acres or 1.6 hectares under roof.