Inside the ‘waterpark capital of the world’ with 28 resorts and more than 200 rides
A CITY has been dubbed the “waterpark capital of the world” for its many resorts – and it is set to open a brand new waterslide.
Not only are there a whopping 28 water parks, but there are also over 200 water slides.
7
7
7
7
Wisconsin Dells in the US welcomed tourists with riverboat tours as early as the 1870s, according to local media.
However, the first water slide was not opened until 100 years later.
And the first water park, the Polynesian Water Park Resort, opened thereafter in 1989, making it the first indoor water park.
Rhonda Parchem, director of marketing and communications for the Wisconsin Dells Visitor and Convention Bureau, said Local media: “The fact that we were able to offer year-round swimming, splashing and waterslides in Wisconsin was a real game-changer.”
“As more and more water parks emerged, it gave us a point of difference from other destinations in the Midwest.”
Since then, additional water resorts have opened, many of which are record-breaking in the United States.
This includes Noah’s Ark, the largest outdoor water park in the United States with 70 acres of pools and rides.
And the Wilderness Resort is also the largest indoor-outdoor combination water park in the country.
7
7
Other parks include Chula Vista Resort and Kalahari Resort.
New this year was Land of Natura, a 150-acre floating water park.
Rhonda added: “We still have more water parks of all sizes per capita here than anywhere else on the planet.”
Additionally, Wisconsin had a “record year” for tourism, generating £23.7 billion last year – an increase from £22.2 billion before the coronavirus crisis.
There’s even a new water slide opening next Year.
“The Rise of Icarus” is set to open at Mt.Olympus Water and Theme Park Resort.
At 14 feet tall, it will be the tallest in the United States.
It’s just one of five new slides opening next year, along with a new kid-friendly area as part of an $8 million expansion.
The Facebook website says: “According to Greek mythology, Icarus flew too close to the sun with wings attached to his body with wax, and the sun’s heat melted the wax and Icarus fell into the sea.”
“Here at Mt Olympus you get a much happier ending at the end of the slides.”
Nearby is the largest water park in the world, located in Germany.
And we’ve also rounded up the UK’s biggest water parks, including the world’s longest indoor rollercoaster at 250 meters.
7