waterparks waterparks Photographs courtesy Photographs of skibromont.com (Main) Ski Bromont’s outdoor SINK OR waterpark has attracted summer visitors since 1984 (Inset) Camelbeach at Camelback Mountain Resort welcomed some 400,000 guests last summer (Below) Camelbeach now includes 37 rides, slides and attractions Photo courtesy of Camelback Mountain Resort How a multimillion-dollarSWIM? investment in a waterpark waterslides, a raft ride and tube slide, foreign capital to flow into the USA, but these were all outdoor facilities. It was provided that the money creates jobs here.” can help winter resorts keep their heads above water the indoor waterpark attached to lodging Jay Peak has raised some US$300 million that really blew the lid off the industry.” from 600 investors in 58 countries through Lauren Ansell A resort waterpark has great four- EB-5. “We wouldn’t have been able to season revenue potential, but it is a huge accomplish what we have without this Long gone are the days when industry expert. “To maximise revenue and Then, in May 2005, Michigan’s Boyne investment, particularly in an era of programme,” Toland adds. a ski resort holiday was all about skiing. profit – and spread the risk over 12 months Mountain became the first US ski area to economic instability. “Dozens of ski areas As well as state-of-the-art hotel facilities, As innovations and trends in all areas – they must be four-seasons destinations.” open an indoor waterpark. At 88,000ft2, were considering indoor waterparks, the resort’s US$300 million investment has of the recreation industry have raised the In 1998, Camelback Ski Area in Avalanche Bay is attached to a 220-suite outdoor waterparks and adventure facilities equipped the indoor waterpark with a host bar and created greater competition, guests Pennsylvania became the first in the USA hotel. “While Avalanche Bay was under before the recession hit,” Coy reveals. “But Against the odds of superlatives. In addition to owning the have come to expect more for their money, to install an outdoor waterpark. As a ski construction in 2004, several ski areas the financial crisis caused development Jay Peak opened its Pump House indoor USA’s longest lazy river, the Pump House and traditional ski areas have struggled hill with no lodging, the owners decided were installing outdoor waterslides, but to virtually stop. Now, many ski areas are waterpark in December 2011, followed by features the country’s first indoor, looping, as a result of seasonal revenue generation to build Camelbeach Mountain Waterpark there’s more to the waterpark experience looking into inexpensive investments such an adjoining 176-suite hotel in February free-fall body slide. “La Chute is one of the and Mother Nature’s fickle whim. to attract visitors during the summer. An than just a few slides,” Coy continues. as zip lines to attract year-round revenue. 2012. “The Pump House [along with most most popular rides,” Toland reveals. “The “They can no longer afford to be open initial US$4.2 million funded a lazy river “Killington Ski Resort in Vermont added During the 2008/2012 recovery period, other upgrades at Jay Peak] was financed enclosed waterslide drops you into a 60ft only three months of the year,” says Jeff and pool in 1998, and this was followed by two waterslides and a giant body flume; there was one ski resort waterpark project through a federal scheme called the EB-5 free-fall before shooting you into an upside- Coy, president of Arizona-based JLC a series of investments over the next seven Attitash at Mt Washington in New that really stood out: Hotel Jay and Pump Foreign Investor programme,” explains down loop and then spitting you out. Hospitality Consulting and a waterpark years totalling an additional US$20 million. Hampshire, meanwhile, added four House indoor waterpark in Vermont.” JJ Toland from the resort. “EB-5 enables You travel 300ft in about three seconds.” Winter Sports Technology International Winter Sports Technology International 042 NOVEMBER 2012 NOVEMBER 2012 043 waterparks waterparks Photographs courtesy of Jay Peak Resort courtesy Peak Photographs of Jay Photographs courtesy of Avoriaz Resort courtesyAvoriaz Photographs of Asking price In 2005, Massanutten Resort in October 2009, Greek Peak Resort US$18-24 million for the entire 2 2 (Above, main) Child- The 50,000ft waterpark is also the (Above) The 50,000ft preparing to build an indoor waterpark Virginia opened a 44,500ft2 indoor in New York opened a 106-suite facility. Also, an indoor waterpark friendly climbing wall at the largest retractable enclosure in North indoor waterpark at complex and hotel. 2 2 waterpark and later an 88,000ft lodge and 21,000ft indoor should be attached to a hotel, and Aquariaz indoor waterpark America. The curved roof structure is a Jay Peak Resort sits “It’s the ideal location,” explains outdoor waterpark for an estimated waterpark for approximately an upscale hotel may cost around slopeside, encased in (Above, inset) The tropical co-owner Ken Ellis, who acquired US$133,000 per room to construct huge skylight and – when weather permits a transparent cocoon US$23 million and US$3 million US$33 million. vegetation at Aquariaz was – retractable glass panels enable portions of Camelback Ski Area in partnership with respectively. In May 2008, the “It all depends on sizing – that’s nearly US$40 million for a transported from Cambodia the roof to slide open. Further innovations “The Pump House has played an integral his college roommate Arthur B. Berry III in 45,000ft2 Silver Rapids indoor and cost per ft2,” says Jeff Coy. 600-suite hotel. include an advanced mechanical system part in the financial health of the resort,” 2006. “We actually bought the ski area waterpark and 268-room hotel “An indoor waterpark can cost “Meanwhile, outdoor waterparks under the floor that includes defender Toland believes. “Last year, in the midst of because we wanted to build a hotel and opened at Silver Mountain Resort anywhere between US$300-400 cost about US$1 - 1.5 million per filters, an ultraviolet system to kill the worst winter in some 30 years, Jay Peak waterpark complex here,” he adds. in Idaho, estimated to have cost per ft2, depending on the number acre,” Coy reveals. “So a five-acre bacteria, a bromine system, and a experienced its best year ever in terms of “Design and entitlement for the project US$34-35 million in total (US$13-15 of rides, quality, theming, outdoor waterpark would cost heat-recovery loop that saves energy. revenue. And year-round visitorship has began in 2006 and approval was granted million for the waterpark). And in retractable roof, etc. That means approximately US$5 -7 million.” The weather wasn’t kind to ski areas grown by around 70% since we added in 2009, but we had to put it on hold for over the 2011/2012 winter season, with the Pump House. It’s getting to the point a while because of the economic climate The US$150 million investment is Camelback is located in the Pocono European perspective many resorts experiencing record lows. where we have almost as many visitors at that time,” Ellis says. The partners were scheduled to break ground in March 2013, Mountains, an area well known for Across the pond, a €13 million (US$16.7 “Christmas break is typically one of the in the summer as we do in the winter.” able to reignite the project earlier this year. with opening planned for November 2014. recreation. “As we are a relatively small million) investment has brought a tropical busiest (and most critical) times for any The development – which will be open “The new complex will have a positive mountain close to populated areas, we get aquatic paradise to the snow-capped winter resort,” says Toland. “But if the Back to the future all year round – will incorporate effect on our midweek ski business,” a lot people coming here to learn to ski mountains of the French Alps. The snow conditions aren’t ideal, guests Prior to the installation of its outdoor a 450-suite hotel with 125,000ft2 indoor believes the co-owner. “It will also and snowboard,” Ellis explains. “But not 3,000m2 Aquariaz indoor waterpark has leave in droves, taking the revenue they waterpark, Camelback Ski Area (now waterpark, as well as a 30,000ft2 family bring more people to the resort in the everyone in the family might want to do recently been built as part of an extensive represent with them. That did happen Camelback Mountain Resort) recorded entertainment centre and 25,000ft2 shoulder seasons. In March and April, that, so the more we can offer that guest, €200 million (US$261 million) expansion during the 2011 Christmas break, but not about 340,000 winter visitors and of conference space. “The hotel is also for example, spring break makes for very the better their experience will be. Our taking place at the Avoriaz ski resort. at Jay Peak. People stayed – because of 50,000 summer visitors every year. But, in designed to be in a ‘ski-in, ski-out’ busy waterparks, but in the ski business, goal is to be an interactive, four-season “Primarily we wanted to provide an the Pump House. They would ski or ride 1998, the year that Camelbeach opened, venue and will be attached to one of the that time of year is typically very slow. resort for everybody.” attractive alternative to skiing,” says in the morning for two or three hours, summer visitors rose to some 100,000. resort’s high-speed quads,” Ellis reveals. “In addition, while only 12% of the Camelback currently welcomes some Stéphane Lerendu, director of Avoriaz – and then spend the rest of the day in the And, as a result of further investments, The waterpark will boast wavepools, USA skis, at least 80% use waterparks, so 900,000 visitors a year.