Dec. 16–A Wisconsin Dells company has announced plans to develop a $163 million waterpark resort but it won’t be in the “Waterpark capital of the World.”
Waterpark Ventures Management Services, a resort and waterpark development and management company, has partnered with Camelback Mountain Resort in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania to develop a 453-room resort with 170,000 square-feet of indoor entertainment, including a 125,000-square-foot indoor waterpark.
The eight-story resort, which will include conference space, dining and spa facilities, is scheduled to open in February of 2015 at the base of Camelback Mountain in Tannersville, Pa.
WVMS is owned by four men with years of experience in the waterpark industry. Tim Gantz had been a co-owner of Noah’s Ark since 1994 before he and his brother sold the Lake Delton outdoor park in 2012 to a California company. Pete Helland Jr. and his cousin Tim Lucke managed and developed the Wilderness Resort in Lake Delton and now, along with Pat Helland and Gantz, developed and manage the Wilderness at the Smokies in Sevierville, Tenn. .
According to a press release, Camelback Lodge & Indoor Waterpark ownership group is a partnership comprised of WVMS and Arthur Berry III and Ken Ellis, co-owners of Camelback Mountain Resort. WVMS will oversee the development and will manage the new Camelback Lodge & Indoor Waterpark, including a call center based out of the Wisconsin Dells.