Waterparks with OpenAire retractable roofs have been listed among the top around the globe for nearly 30 years. Most recently, two of OpenAire’s retractable waterpark designs have earned places on US News & World Report’s list, “30 Top Indoor Water Parks around the World.” A quick look into any of these parks makes it easy to see why. OpenAire’s versatile aluminum frames and expansive glazed panels bring the best of the outdoors into indoor waterparks of all sizes like no other enclosure, all year long. Park visitors don’t just get to enjoy vibrant sunshine as they explore a park’s exciting attractions; they also get to experience the fresh air of the outdoors – and maybe even get a tan – when the enclosures open in fair weather. When the weather turns cold or inclement, the enclosures provide shelter at the touch of a button. This is why, regardless of the weather or season, waterparks with OpenAire roofs guarantee day and night fun.
The two waterparks that made it onto this worldwide list are Zehnder’s Splash Village in Frankenmuth, MI, ranked at #7; and Kalahari Resorts & Conventions Pocono Mountains in Pocono Mountains, PA, ranked at #20. These highly successful indoor parks rank alongside world-class facilities from the United States, France, Germany, China and more.
Zehnder’s Splash Village had operated as a popular seasonal waterpark since 2005 until its owners decided to build an extension featuring a year-round 29,000-square-foot retractable roof enclosure from OpenAire in 2014. The new facility gave Zehnder’s guests many thrilling new attractions, all bathed in beautiful sunshine throughout the year. The response from park goers was overwhelming; “We expected that [with visitor growth], in year three or four of our proforma we could get to $2 million in day passes,” says John Shelton, VP Sales and Marketing for Zehnder’s Splash Village, “We were able to do that in the first year of opening.”
Kalahari Pocono Mountains worked with OpenAire on a massive two-phase expansion of their African-themed indoor waterpark, totaling 220,000 sq. ft. When Phase II of the expansion opened in 2017, Kalahari became the largest indoor waterpark in the United States. OpenAire created a series of customized fixed and retractable skylights, three sloping clearstory windows, and glass wall enclosures to provide as much natural light as possible throughout the park. OpenAire is very proud to have completed this multi-year project with Kalahari Resorts and Conventions, which has allowed thousands of families from across the northeastern United States to experience an outdoor-style aquatic environment on an unprecedented scale.
OpenAire is honored to contribute to these indoor waterparks that now rank among the Top 30 in the world. Since 1989, the company has created hundreds of other customized retractable designs for waterparks around the world, many of which have also earned awards for their owners. Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark in Grand Prairie, Texas, opened in early 2018 and was soon listed as #2 on Texas Hill Country’s Top 5 Indoor Waterparks in Texas. Travel Channel also listed it as #5 on its list of the 8 Most Incredible Indoor Waterparks in the United States (and Epic Waters truly is incredible; having set the record for the largest indoor waterpark under a single curved retractable roof). Two more OpenAire designs also made Travel Channel’s list of incredible parks: WaTiki Indoor Waterpark in Rapid City, SD ranked #7; while Kalahari Pocono Mountains earned the #2 rank. Earlier, OpenAire also built the world’s largest aluminum dome for Aqua Sferra’s Aquapark in Donetsk, Ukraine. Measuring 278 ft. in diameter, covering 61,000 sq. ft. and standing 86 ft. high, the dome includes four huge triangular panels that can slide open or shut at the touch of a button.
