Sure, there are other communities in the United States that claim to have an indoor water park attraction or two. Big deal. Wisconsin Dells decided it was going to be the undisputed champ of the indoor water park craze, and business owners in the area pitched in by building nearly 20 of these indoor fun zones. No other city even comes remotely close to claiming "The Waterpark Capital of the World!®" title. Visitors and reporters alike are always itching to know about the biggest of the bunch. For those inquiring minds, here is a rundown of the four largest indoor water park resorts in Wisconsin Dells.
Chula Vista Resort
Perched on the bluffs towering above the Wisconsin River, this resort has undergone a magical transformation over the past few years. New condos, golf course villas, an upscale steakhouse and an incredibly themed indoor water park -- Lost Rios. Inside this 80,000 square-foot Aztec paradise, you can race each other on the Matador Mat Racers or hang out in Mount Montezuma's giant rain forest. Not to be missed is the Flyan Myan Zip Coaster, the world's fastest and longest indoor water roller coaster.
Great Wolf Lodge
Great Wolf Lodge combines the rustic charm of a Northwoods lodge with the amenities you'd expect at a top-notch resort, with loads of dryland activities geared toward younger children too. Head to the resort's indoor water parks -- there are three of them, measuring a mammoth 100,000 square feet -- and there you'll find a range of rides that are family-pleasing. For the older kids and daredevil adults, the Howlin Tornado, a six-story high extreme tube ride, is the centerpiece. For the young ones, a four-story treehouse waterfort is irresistible.
Kalahari Waterpark Resort Convention Center
This resort is distinguished by its authentic African art, a live animal exhibit with tiger cubs and baby kangaroos, and some of the largest freestanding condominiums in the area that include five bedrooms, four bathrooms, billiard room and theater room. But it's the indoor surf machine known as the FlowRider® that has made this place famous. Stand-up surf or boogie board on this ride, with 50,000 gallons of water flowing under you each minute to create a five-foot ocean-like wave. A close second in talk value is their Master Blaster uphill water roller coaster. This indoor water park comes in at a whopping 125,000 square feet.
The Wilderness Hotel & Golf Resort
Bigger is better here, no doubt about it. The Wilderness Resort is America's largest indoor/outdoor combination water park resort, with three massive indoor water parks totaling 250,000 square feet and another three outdoor to match. Guests tan year-round in the Wild WaterDome with its see-through roof, when they're not in family-raft racing rides or bobbing in the country's largest indoor wave pool that is. Klondike Kavern is famous for its lazy river and Hurricane water raft ride. Wild West Waterpark is fun for all ages and features the Fantastic Voyage family raft ride.
Of course, these four are just the tip of the iceberg, so to speak. The nice thing about Wisconsin Dells is that, if you prefer cozier surroundings in a water park, they've got that too. So you choose - big, small, something in between, or all of the above.
View all Wisconsin Dells Indoor Water Parks.
