Kalahari Resorts & Indoor Water Park, Pocono Mountains, PA
THE CHALLENGE:
Following the great success of its 110,000-sq. ft. waterpark and resort expansion in 2015, Kalahari Resorts and Conventions in Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania set out to complete Phase II of its redevelopment project with OpenAire. Kalahari had first chosen OpenAire to design and build an expansive retractable skylight for Phase I of the park’s expansion based on the company’s reputation for building spectacular, large-span retractable roofs. The dynamic, sunlit atmosphere created by OpenAire’s first skylight was an instant hit with visitors to Kalahari. Now, OpenAire had the task of repeating this success on Phase II.
THE SOLUTION:
OpenAire delivered several beautiful skylights for Kalahari’s second expansion, completed in 2017, which added another 110,000-sq. ft. of aquatic attractions and many new guest rooms to the resort. Now covering 220,000 square feet, Kalahari Pocono Mountains has achieved the record for largest indoor waterpark in the United States. OpenAire’s customized skylights ensure that Kalahari guests can experience the park’s many slides, pools and spa attractions in an authentic outdoor atmosphere with abundant natural light no matter what the weather outside.
The completed waterpark includes a soaring glazed roof enclosure measuring 134’ x 50’ with a 34’ high glass front wall and a huge 134’ wide glass sidewall rising from a height of 34’ to 51’; as well as an incredibly large polycarbonate glazed single-slope roof measuring 134’ x 53’; three sloping clearstory windows measuring 136’ x 6’-8” high; two large pyramid skylights measuring 50’ x 50’; and a ridge skylight measuring 30’ x 40’ over the slide tower. OpenAire is very proud to complete this multi-year project with Kalahari Resorts and Conventions, which has allowed OpenAire to bring outdoor-style aquatic environments to the world on an unprecedented scale.
