In a previous blog I briefly described the devastating toll the recent Midwest floods took on tourist hot spots such as the Wisconsin Dells. At the time I wrote that entry managers at the resort’s largest waterparks were desperately trying to get the word out that they were still open for business and looking to entertain the legions of families that flock to the Dells on an annual basis.
I’ll have more details on the impact the floods are having on the region in a future blog, but in this post I want to continue with my series on the country’s most popular waterparks by spotlighting what the Midwest has to offer thrill-seeking families:
WISCONSIN
The Wisconsin Dells proudly refers to itself as the “Waterpark Capital of the World” and for good reason. The area is home to several of the nation’s largest waterparks including Noah’s Ark, Kalahari Resort, Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park, and Wilderness Territory Waterpark Resort. The latter is home to the hugely popular ride the Hurricane, where riders experience the eye of the storm as they rapidly descend through a four-story funnel. Flashes of lightning, rumbling thunder, and drifting fog are all part of the attraction that was built to simulate a full-blown natural disaster.
OHIO
The Kalahari Resort in Sandusky (about 60 miles from Toledo) recently underwent a massive expansion that now includes a 40,000-square foot clear roof that allows guests to catch some rays year round. Another new addition is the Swahili Swirl, which ejects thrill seekers from a steep tube slide into a 60-foot-diameter bowl before it swirls them three times around and sucks them down a drain and drops them into a 50-foot-long landing pool. (So basically, it’s like a massive toilet bowl that preys on humans.) Note: A new Kalahari waterpark resort is currently under construction in Fredericksburg, Virginia, with a scheduled opening of 2010.
If you are traveling near Cleveland this summer consider visiting Geauga Lake’s Wildwater Kingdom. The park has attractions for the entire family. Older children will go nuts for the 60-foot-tall, 253-foot-long Liquid Lightning tornado slide. The wet and wild ride launches you at speeds of up to 24 mph from a tube slide into a giant funnel, before spitting you into a massive swimming pool. Meanwhile, younger children will have a blast in the much tamer Splash Landing family activity center, which features pint-sized waterslides, soaker hoses, bubbling geysers, and raining mushrooms. The park is also home to Coral Cove, an activity pool, which features three basketball hoops and huge climbable animals.
Related Articles:
Super Summer Fun: Wet and Wild Waterparks (South)
Get Ready to Splash Into a New Water Park
Summer Theme Park Review: Splashes and Screams
Serious Family Fun—Spending Spring Break at an Indoor Waterpark
Creating Your Own Backyard Water Park