By Jeff Coy and Bill Haralson
If you’re planning to add an indoor waterpark to your existing hotel or start from scratch with a new construction project, like the Kalahari Resort or Great Wolf Lodge at Wisconsin Dells, you may want to get the experts involved early.
Did you hear the one about the guy who built a yacht in his basement and then had to tear down his house to get the boat out? Well, it can be the same problem in reverse when you’re building an indoor waterpark. Many times, you have to build the water structure first - -- you know, the waterslides and the treehouse. Then you build the walls around it and a roof over the top of it. This can be just one of the unique things about constructing indoor waterparks that requires expert help early in the design stage.
Want to Build a Hotel Waterpark Resort? Here are some tips:
* First, get a market analysis and feasibility study done. Ask an independent consultant to quantify the demand in your area and specify the size of your indoor waterpark. Sizing your waterpark must be done in relation to the size of your hotel, area demographics and the preferences of the potential guests within 200 miles of your hotel.
* Using your feasibility report, determine a tentative footprint for your indoor
waterpark, let’s say 30,000 square feet. Give this footprint to a pool designer
and a waterslide manufacturer along with the report recommendations and
list of features, such as slides, treehouse, rocks, pools, spas, lazy river, wavemaker, mushrooms and geysers.
* Ask the pool designer to read the feasibility report regarding the target market and recommend some design and theming concepts.
* Ask the waterslide manufacturer’s engineers to work with your pool designer to (1) determine where slides will end and start, (2) design the slide radiuses and descents that are acceptable and (3) determine the final footprint of your building.
“Indoor waterparks are much more than a pool with a slide. They include many complex systems that must be integrated to provide the highest possible entertainment value,” says Tom Pientka of Planning Design Build Inc of Madison WI. Pientka’s firm designed and built the Kalahari Resort and Treasure Island Bay of Dreams and built the Great Wolf Lodge in Wisconsin Dells.
More Tips On How to Build a Hotel Indoor Waterpark
* Go back to the drawing board until you get the pool designer’s OK that all desired attractions can properly fit into the building. Confirm all elevations for fit.
* Understand that you will be using 30-40 inch diameter HVAC ductwork in your indoor waterpark. That’s a lot to fit inside the building. These large ducts will be used to keep the indoor environment fresh and comfortable. You will have to use 100% outside air. Inside air can’t be reused because it is filled with humidity and odor from pool water treatment chemicals. At the same time, you want to recapture the heat using a heat recovery device to keep energy costs down. Be sure to ask an HVAC engineer for help.
* More than half of the construction work is the installation of pumps and underground pipes. Pour the foundations for the walls of the indoor waterpark. You will have to remove up to 5-6 ft of dirt inside for the pool piping system.
* Inspect the concrete work, walls and foundations. Check for sharp edges. Test the slides. Adjust the water flow for the proper speed. Regulate the flow and speed for each slide.
Hotel Waterpark Projects Underway
Sixty two (62) hotel indoor waterparks are open and operating in the USA. Fourteen (14) new hotel waterparks opened in 2003. Nine (9) hotels with indoor waterparks are under construction in the USA, as of October 2, 2003. Forty six (46) additional projects are in the planning stages. Michigan, Wisconsin & Minneapolis are leading the way in new developments. Coy and Haralson have teamed up to form Hotel Waterpark Resort Research & Consulting, a collaborative effort of their two firms, to collect a hotel-waterpark industry database as a resource for owners and developers. Data resources include waterpark supply & demand growth, construction costs, operating expense ratios as well as before & after impacts of indoor waterparks on hotel occupancy, average room rates and revenues.
Jeff Coy is president of JLC Hospitality Consulting based in Cave CreekAZ. You can reach him at 480-488-3382 or email him at jeffcoy@jeffcoy.com or go to www.jeffcoy.com. Bill Haralson is president of William L. Haralson & Associates of RichardsonTX. You can contact him at 505-802-1522 or email wharalson@aol.com or go to www.wlha-inc.com.
Labels: Indoor Waterpark 0 comments
Water parks in Alaska-H2Oasis Indoor Waterpark
Alaska's only indoor waterpark is open year-round-- even when it's 30 degrees below zero outside. Features a Master Blaster uphill water coaster, a wave pool, and a lazy river.
Attraction is intended for child
Pirate Ship & Lagoon
Attraction is intended for children 48" and under
Go down feet first on all slides
Maximum water depth is 1'
Double or lap riders permitted with parent
Lifejackets are available
Follow the rules and directions of the lifeguards at all times
No running or horseplay
No diving, standing, or jumping off or on any of the play structures
No walking up or crawling up any of the slides
Children using diapers must wear swim diapers
Do not intentionally put pool water in mouth
Children above 42" are not permitted to use the structure
No tubes or furniture are allowed in the pool
Small children should not be left unattended
Failure to abide by these rules may result in injury to you and to others
Lazy River
Maximum pool depth is 3'
Life jackets are available
Exit and enter the river at the stairs
Follow rules and directions of lifeguards at all times
Follow the current of the river. Do not go against current, stop, or
impede traffic
Children using diapers must wear swim diapers
Do not intentionally put pool water in mouth
This attraction is not recommended for weak swimmers.
Tubes must stay in the river
No stacking or throwing tubes, hanging on walls, running, diving, trains
or horseplay is allowed
No furniture is permitted in the water
Guests with neck or back problems, heart conditions, prone to motion
sickness, pregnancy, or any other medical limitations may not want to
ride this attraction. Only you know your limitations
Failure to abide by these rules may result in injury to you and to others
Hot Tubs
Must be 16 years old to enter hot tubs
Maximum water depth is 3'
Follow rules and directions of lifeguards at all times
No diving, pushing, climbing, running or horseplay
No tubes or furniture are permitted in the water
Do not intentionally put pool water in mouth
Guests with neck or back problems, heart conditions, prone to motion
sickness, pregnancy, or any other medical limitations may not want to
participate in this attraction. Only you are the best judge of your limitations
Failure to abide by these rules may result in injury to you and to others
Wave Pool
Maximum pool depth is 6'
Enter at beach only
Life jackets are available
One person on the boat slide at a time
Go down feet first on the boat slide at all times
Follow rules and directions of lifeguards at all times
Walking or crawling up the boat slide is unacceptable
Double or lap riders on tubes is not allowed
This attraction is not recommended for weak swimmers.
Do not intentionally put pool water in mouth
Stacking or throwing tubes are not permitted
Climbing on any of the play structures is not allowed
No horseplay, running, jumping or diving, hanging on walls, hanging on
rope, or trains are allowed in the water.
Furniture is not permitted in the water
Do not take tubes out of the wave pool
Guests with neck or back problems, heart conditions, prone to motion
sickness, pregnancy, or any other medical limitations may not want to
participate in this attraction. Only you are the best judge of your limitations
Failure to abide by these rules may result in injury to you and to others
Master Blaster
Must be 42" to ride this attraction
This is a 2 person ride. For maximum thrills pair up. (Two small children
aren't heavy enough.)
The weight limit is 289 lbs for a single rider and 500 lbs for two people
Proper riding position includes seating with legs extended outward over
the tube
Only double tubes are permitted on this ride
Hold onto the handles at all times
The heaviest rider or single riders must ride in the backseat of tube
Stay seated in tube until the second exit in the Lazy River
Maximum pool depth is 3'
Follow rules and directions of lifeguards at all times
Do not enter the ride until the lifeguard tells you to do so
Standing in the ride is not permitted
Do not intentionally put pool water in mouth
Do not try to stop or slow yourself down
Guests with neck or back problems, heart conditions, prone to motion
sickness, pregnancy, or any other medical limitations may not want to
participate in this attraction. Only you are the best judge of your limitations
Failure to abide by these rules may result in injury to you and to others
Body Slide
Must be 36" to ride this attraction
Must go down Body Slide feet first with arms across the chest and
ankles crossed
Recommended that glasses and hats are taken off before riding
Maximum pool depth is 3'
Exit quickly out of landing pool when finished riding
Please wait to get into Body Slide until told by the lifeguard
Follow rules and directions of lifeguards at all times
Body Slide is not recommended for small children and weak swimmers
No running or horseplay
No diving, standing, or jumping permitted
No double or lap riders permitted
Do not intentionally put pool water in your mouth
Do not try to slow down or stop inside the ride
No apparel with metal buttons, rivets, zippers, or buckles allowed
Guests with neck or back problems, heart conditions, prone to motion
sickness, pregnancy, or any other medical limitations may not want to
ride this attraction. Only you know your limitations
Failure to abide by these rules may result in injury to you and to others
Winter Hours H2Oasis Waterpark:
Monday** | 3:00 PM - 9:00 PM |
Tuesday | Closed for Special Activities |
Wednesday** | 3:00 PM - 9:00 PM |
Thursday | Closed for Special Activities |
Friday | 3:00 PM - 9:00 PM |
Saturday | 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM |
Sunday | 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM |
1 Day Pass
Adult (13+): $23.99
Child (3-12): $18.99
Birthday Pass
Birthday Child: $20.99
Birthday Adult: $25.99
1520 O'Malley Road
Anchorage, Alaska 99507-7301
Telephone: (907) 522-4420
Toll Free: (888) H2OASIS [426-2747]
FAX: (907) 644-5625
