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The Nelson Family
Meet the Nelson Family: A Wisconsin Family of Seven That Is Revolutionizing the Hospitality Industry
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Kalahari Journey
See how a family business became a national brand. With four locations, America’s Largest Indoor Waterpark Resorts welcome millions of guests a year.
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African Inspiration
Inspired by the Nelson family’s frequent trips to Africa, Kalahari Resorts is authentically African themed and designed to bring families together.
The Kalahari Journey
May 2000
Kalahari opens its first property in Wisconsin Dells.
December 2002
Kalahari Resorts & Conventions – Wisconsin Dells adds a $12 million expansion to make it the nation's largest indoor waterpark at 125,000 square feet.
August 2003
Kalahari Resorts & Conventions – Wisconsin Dells expands the Spa Kalahari to include a hair salon within the resort.
June 2004
Kalahari Resorts & Conventions – Wisconsin Dells debuts 120 condominium units, the first condominiums in the nation attached to a convention center.
June 2004
The first-ever indoor surfing ride, the FlowRider®, makes its debut at Kalahari Resorts & Conventions – Wisconsin Dells, the nation's largest indoor waterpark.
May 2005
Kalahari Resorts & Conventions takes its ultra-popular, all-under-one-roof vacation concept on the road and opens a second property in Sandusky, Ohio.
February 2006
Kalahari Resorts & Conventions – Wisconsin Dells adds a championship golf course to the already extraordinary list of amenities when it purchases Trappers Turn Golf Club.
June 2006
Kalahari Resorts & Conventions – Sandusky marks its one-year anniversary by unveiling an impressive, newly expanded 77,000-square-foot outdoor waterpark, featuring a wide array of new amenities including luxurious African-styled private bungalows.
January 2008
Kalahari Resorts & Conventions – Sandusky opens its expanded indoor waterpark — the largest in the U.S. at 173,000 square feet — featuring a Texlon transparent roof and other unique waterpark features such as the world's largest behemoth bowl, mat racers, a second FlowRider® and much more.
December 2011
Kalahari Resorts & Conventions – Sandusky opens a $22 million convention center expansion, making it the largest convention center resort complex in the Midwest.
July 2015
Kalahari Resorts & Conventions opens its first property in the East Coast (and third in the U.S.) located in Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania, featuring Pennsylvania’s Largest Indoor Waterpark.
June 2016
Kalahari Resorts & Conventions announces its intention to build the company’s fourth resort in Round Rock, Texas.
March 2017
Kalahari Resorts & Conventions opens “Phase 2” in the Pocono Mountains. Included in the expansion is America’s Largest Indoor Waterpark, additional rooms bringing the total to nearly 1,000, signature dining experiences and more.
May 2017
The Sandusky, Ohio property adds five new slides to its outdoor waterpark including family fun raft rides, extreme thrill rides and loop slides.
July 2017
Kalahari Resorts founds National Waterpark Day on July 28, 2017. The holiday is recognized by National Day Calendar.
November 2017
Kalahari Resorts & Conventions – Sandusky opens its brand-new waterslide, The StormChaser, a slide that knows who you are! This wild ride integrates, skill, speed, and competitive sports into an experience that will define waterparks of the future.
November 2018
Kalahari Resorts & Conventions – Wisconsin Dells opened Tom Foolerys Adventure Park, a 100,000 sq ft indoor adventure park featuring a 6-story ferris wheel, thrilling rides, a challenging ropes course, climbing wall, a zip line, bowling, laser tag, mini golf and 250 of the very best in arcade games.
August 2019
Kalahari Resorts & Conventions – Wisconsin Dells expanded its convention center to 212,000 square feet, doubling the available flexible meeting space to include three ballrooms and a total of 45 meeting rooms.
December 2019
Kalahari Resorts and Conventions – Poconos expanded its convention center by 105,000 sq. ft., bringing the grand total to 205,000 sq. ft., including 33 meeting rooms, four large ballrooms and an Exclusive Executive Conference Center for up to 400 guests.
January 2020
Kalahari Resorts and Conventions – Sandusky becomes first Sensory Friendly Certified resort in the Midwest.
May 2020
Kalahari Resorts & Conventions celebrates the brand’s 20th anniversary.
November 2020
Kalahari Resorts & Conventions opens its fourth property in Round Rock, Texas – the brand’s first expansion to the Southwest. With 223,000 sq. ft. of indoor waterpark attractions, the Round Rock property is now America’s Largest Indoor Waterpark Resort featuring 975 guest rooms, three acres of outdoor pools, Tom Foolerys Adventure Park, 20 on-site dining options and a 200,000 sq. ft. convention center for meetings and events.
July 2021
Kalahari Resorts & Conventions – Wisconsin Dells expands Trappers Turn Golf Club with 12North, a new 12-hole short course designed by professional golfer Andy North.
July 2021
Kalahari Resorts & Conventions celebrates the fourth anniversary of National Waterpark Day with the launch of America’s first virtual reality waterslide at the Pocono Mountains resort.
December 2021
Kalahari Resorts & Conventions - Wisconsin Dells announces addition of Redd's Piano Bar & Lounge.
February 2022
Kalahari Resorts & Conventions - Pocono Mountains announces opening of Cinco Niños, a modern Mexican restaurant and tequila bar.
March 2022
Kalahari Resorts & Conventions announces its intention to build the company’s fifth resort in Spotsylvania County, Virginia.
June 2022
Kalahari Resorts & Conventions announces The Water Colors Life Project through its Nelson Family Life Foundation, providing clean water to communities in Africa and African artists.
Press Materials
Press Releases
Kalahari Round Rock- 1 Year Birthday
November 12, 2021
Kalahari Resorts & Conventions Reignites Partnership with Richard Childress Racing
May 18, 2021
Wisconsin Dells Vaccination Event Included Kalahari Resorts and Conventions
April 16, 2021
Kalahari Resorts and Conventions Opens America’s Largest Indoor Waterpark Resort
November 12, 2020
Take a Peek Inside America’s Largest Indoor Waterpark
September 15, 2020
Kalahari Resorts and Conventions Opens Sortino’s Italian Kitchen This Fall
September 10, 2020
America’s Largest Indoor Waterpark Opens Nov. 12 in Round Rock, TX
July 20, 2020
Kalahari Resorts and Conventions Expands Pocono Mountains Convention Center
December 2019
Kalahari Resorts and Conventions Breaks Ground on Round Rock, Texas, Resort
May 15, 2018
Kalahari Resorts and Conventions Breaks Ground on Dells Convention Center Expansion
October 5, 2017
Kalahari Resorts and Conventions Founds ‘National Waterpark Day’
July 27, 2017
Kalahari Resorts and Conventions Is Home to America’s Largest Indoor Waterpark
Mandela Poster Project Makes Long-Awaited United States Debut
June 22, 2016
Embark on a World-Away Adventure at Kalahari Resorts and Conventions
March 1, 2016
Kalahari Resorts and Conventions Is Now Open in the Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania
Kalahari Resorts and Conventions — Where the Spirit of Africa Comes Alive
Feb. 25, 2015
Kalahari Management Company Agrees to Long-term Deal with Lake Delton Waterfront Villas
Dec. 9, 2014
The World’s Coolest Holiday Getaway Is Just a Short Drive Away!
Nov. 2014
Kalahari Resorts Is Reinstating Family Time, Starting With Summer Vacation
June 18, 2014
Warm Up at the Coolest Waterpark in the World
March 31, 2014
More than the Nelsons: Kalahari Resorts Employees are a Family Extension
March 31, 2014
Experience an Award-Winning Spring Break Getaway
Feb. 28, 2014
Celebrate Wisconsin at the Newly Opened Wisconsin Brew Pub
Feb 27, 2014
Family-owned resort working to bring its unique African themed park to East Coast
Jan. 10, 2013