At these indoor waterparks, the fun doesn’t stop when the temperature drops.

By Luisa Frey Gaynor

Where can you slip, slide, splash, surf and whirl to your heart’s content 365 days a year in all kinds of weather? At indoor waterparks, of course. This national phenomenon has grown over the past decade, but the Midwest still holds the lion’s share as far as quantity and size goes.

The statistics prove both these points. Between 1994 and 2006, 97 new indoor waterparks opened in the United States and Canada. By the end of 2007, a total of 115 indoor waterparks were in operation in the U.S., according to David Sangree, president of Hotel & Leisure Advisors, a Cleveland-based consultant company specializing in indoor and outdoor waterparks. While 21 states have at least one indoor waterpark, 32 percent of the country’s total are in Wisconsin. In fact, the industry was born in Wisconsin Dells, known as the waterpark capital of the world.
Below are some of the best indoor waterparks in the Midwest.

Wisconsin Dells

LOST RIOS INDOOR WATERPARK AT CHULA VISTA RESORT

At this resort, the Mayan theme is seen in all 80,000 square feet. One highlight is the Flyan Myan, known as the world’s longest and fastest indoor water coaster. As for waterslides, there are plenty, along with bowl-like tube rides and raft rides. The original 30,000-square-foot indoor waterpark, Coyote Mountain, is separate from Lost Rios and is perfect for younger children.

www.chulavistaresort.com

POLYNESIAN WATER-PARK RESORT

This is where it all began. The Polynesian was the first waterpark hotel in the U.S., boasting indoor and outdoor waterslides and pools. The 38,000-square-foot indoor park features body flumes, tube rides, a lazy river ride and interactive water play. There is also a Kiki Kids play area designed for toddlers, complete with tot-sized frog slides, buckets and fountains that gently splash the little ones.

www.dellspolynesian.com

GREAT WOLF LODGE

This Wisconsin Dells location has all the trademark rides of waterpark chain Great Wolf, but because this one is larger—at 100,000 square feet—there’s even more fun for everyone. In addition to five pools and a lazy river ride, there are a whopping 19 different waterslides. Bear Track Landing has three pools, including a zero-depth entry pool for tots. And don’t miss Howlin’ Tornado, a six-story extreme tube ride within a 65-foot funnel that drops 30 feet every second. Families can race each other on Mountain Edge Raceway, the nation’s first indoor competitive mat racer. Rock-climbing enthusiasts can get some action on a wall, albeit one located within a huge waterfall.

www.greatwolflodge.com

KALAHARI RESORT

Although the title of the country’s largest indoor waterpark was recently passed to the Kalahari Resort in Sandusky, Ohio, this location is still something to write home about. With 125,000 square feet of African-themed water play, there is something for all ages. The Splashdown Safari interactive play area is designed for little ones ages 6 and younger, with plenty of tunnels, water toys and small slides all within parents’ range of sight.

For the older crowd, there is FlowRider, which was the first indoor surfing ride in the United States. At 570 feet, Master Blaster is the only indoor uphill water roller coaster in the country. It blasts guests through its wild course in a mere 35 seconds. Other headliners include a family raft ride, spiral flume ride and wave pool. kalahariresorts.com

WILD WATERDOME, KLONDIKE KAVERN AND WILD WEST WATERPARK AT WILDERNESS HOTEL & GOLD RESORT

This trio of indoor waterparks totals 215,000 square feet. The newest is the 70,000-square-foot Wild WaterDome. Adults will enjoy the Foil Tec roof, which allows guests to tan indoors, as well as the world’s largest indoor wave pool. Those splashing in the pool at Wild West Waterpark should be on the lookout for spectators on the deck who can shoot water cannons and make geysers erupt on those below. And if you’re standing under the park’s tipping bucket, also beware—this is one of the largest tipping buckets ever created. The oldest of the waterparks is Klondike Kavern, which, at 65,000 square feet, is home to the Midwest’s tallest family raft ride, The Hurricane.

www.wildernessresort.com

MT. OLYMPUS WATER & THEME PARK

In early 2007, the resort purchased three adjacent lodging properties, and now the indoor water and theme parks are all under the Greco-Roman-themed Mt. Olympus umbrella. For one ticket price, guests can enjoy The Bay indoor waterpark, The Parthenon indoor theme park, Neptune’s outdoor waterpark (seasonal) and Zeus’ Playground outdoor theme park (seasonal). The 55,000-square-foot Bay boasts the tallest indoor waterslide, the Mystical Tower, which is a seven-story-high tube slide. There are nine waterslides altogether, an adventure river, water basketball, a kiddie pool with a pirate ship and five miniature waterslides.

www.mtolympusthemepark.com

THE NATION’S BIGGEST INDOOR WATERPARK

You’d better plan on spending more than one night at Kalahari Resort in Sandusky, Ohio, located about an hour west of Cleveland. At a mind-boggling 173,000 square feet, you’ll need plenty of time to explore this enormous playland. Newly expanded, it more than doubled its space in December, now holding the title as the nation’s largest indoor waterpark. So what’s the excitement all about? Due to the popularity of its first FlowRider surfing ride, the expanded park now has two areas for indoor surfing. In addition, there is a12,000-square-foot wave pool; numerous additional waterslides; Cheetah Race, where you can race friends and family down a four-lane slalom; and Crocodile Cove, which has a 3,000-square-foot activity pool. Oh, and all that is in addition to the pre-existing facilities that range from family raft and lazy river rides to an African-themed play area, a wading pool for the little ones and more.

www.kalahariresorts.com

Outside Wisconsin Dells

GREAT WOLF LODGE
KANSAS CITY

This is one of 10 indoor waterparks owned by Great Wolf Resorts, the largest family of indoor waterpark resorts in the United States. Like the majority of Great Wolf properties, it has a rustic atmosphere in both the hotel as well as the indoor waterpark. Play in Fort Mackenzie, which features 12 levels of water-based adventure interconnected with suspension bridges, cargo nets and web crawls. Every three to five minutes, the huge 48-foot-tall bucket at the top of the area fills with 1,000 gallons of water, then overturns on everyone in sight. There are also eight waterslides to choose from, including body slides, tube slides, three kiddie slides and an exhilarating three-person toboggan-style raft ride that winds 336 feet through the park.

www.greatwolflodge.com

TIMBER RIDGE LODGE AND WATERPARK
LAKE GENEVA, WIS.

Conveniently located an hour from Milwaukee, Timber Ridge Lodge and Waterpark features 30,000 square feet of indoor waterpark and 20,000 additional feet of outdoor rides and fun. Moose Mountain Falls has a lazy river inner tube float ride along with a water play area with water hoses and other wet ‘n wild toys. The two large enclosed waterslides begin three stories above ground and wind their way through the complex.

www.timberridgeresort.com

PARADISE LANDING
MILWAUKEE

Paradise Landing, in the downtown Milwaukee Hilton, was the nation’s first urban waterpark. The 20,000-square-foot park is centered on a recreated three-story Jamaican village with four waterslides. There is also an idyllic lagoon with water games, including ropes that the guests can use to swing across the pool; water cannons; a rain-drop fountain in the shape of a mushroom; and a 31-person whirlpool.

www.paradiselanding.com