David Sangree

After two years of pandemic concerns that saw many waterparks remain closed throughout 2020 and suffer continued disruption in 2021, 2022 is anticipated to be a pivot back to normal for the industry. As vaccines are now widely available and COVID becomes endemic, waterparks are poised to capitalize on pent-up demand and return to pre-COVID performance levels. While 2021 saw robust growth in pricing at many properties, 2022 will see the industry open a number of expansions and new developments… Show more

After two years of pandemic concerns that saw many waterparks remain closed throughout 2020 and suffer continued disruption in 2021, 2022 is anticipated to be a pivot back to normal for the industry. As vaccines are now widely available and COVID becomes endemic, waterparks are poised to capitalize on pent-up demand and return to pre-COVID performance levels. While 2021 saw robust growth in pricing at many properties, 2022 will see the industry open a number of expansions and new developments. Several large-scale projects will alter the waterpark landscape at both indoor and outdoor waterparks and continue to encourage properties to innovate and update to keep market share. A number of larger developments are planned for 2023 and beyond at waterparks and surf parks throughout North America.

Attendance at waterparks in 2021 was down overall due to COVID-19 concerns that imposed capacity constraints at many waterparks. However, most waterparks were able to increase their prices, and they expect to maintain these higher prices in 2022. Consequently, as attendance returns to pre-pandemic levels, we expect increases in total revenues at many properties.

While 2022 looks as though it will be the first “normal” year for waterparks since 2019, the industry will still face challenges. Factors such as higher wages and prices, inflation and lingering pandemic effects will impact the industry in 2022. Show less

The COVID-19 crisis was the definitive event of 2020. The lodging and attractions industries were among the most negatively impacted sectors and experienced record declines in occupancy, attendance, and revenue. With mandated closures, limited capacities, and travel restrictions, many outdoor waterparks delayed their season openings while others decided, or were mandated, not to open at all in 2020. Many resorts with both indoor and outdoor waterparks and standalone indoor waterparks were… Show more

The COVID-19 crisis was the definitive event of 2020. The lodging and attractions industries were among the most negatively impacted sectors and experienced record declines in occupancy, attendance, and revenue. With mandated closures, limited capacities, and travel restrictions, many outdoor waterparks delayed their season openings while others decided, or were mandated, not to open at all in 2020. Many resorts with both indoor and outdoor waterparks and standalone indoor waterparks were forced to close for several months. Current projections for the vaccine rollout indicate a return to normalcy no earlier than the fall, making 2021 a year of continued depressed attendance and revenue.

Despite the challenges, more than half of the existing waterpark supply was able to open in some capacity in 2020. Many existing facilities took advantage of the closures to complete needed renovations. While many of the new outdoor facilities that were planned for 2020 were forced to postpone their openings until 2021; growth in the indoor segment in 2020 outpaced 2019.

Based on our research, the waterpark industry experienced a total attendance drop of about 83.9 million in 2020, leading to $3.7 billion in lost revenue. These numbers represent performance at a wide range of properties, including outdoor waterparks, resorts with outdoor waterparks, standalone indoor waterparks, and indoor waterpark resorts. All of these properties were sharply affected by the COVID-19 crisis in 2020 and will continue to face pandemic-related challenges throughout most of 2021. Show less

For the ever-growing waterpark industry, 2019 will be another year for robust growth as over $1 billion in investment is slated for indoor and outdoor waterparks and their related resorts. We project 21 municipal and private outdoor waterparks will open and three resorts will add or expand outdoor waterparks. The indoor segment will total 629,200 square feet of new waterpark space in 12 properties.

Three of this year’s most anticipated and expensive new waterparks are all indoor… Show more

For the ever-growing waterpark industry, 2019 will be another year for robust growth as over $1 billion in investment is slated for indoor and outdoor waterparks and their related resorts. We project 21 municipal and private outdoor waterparks will open and three resorts will add or expand outdoor waterparks. The indoor segment will total 629,200 square feet of new waterpark space in 12 properties.

Three of this year’s most anticipated and expensive new waterparks are all indoor facilities. They include the 225,000-square-foot DreamWorks Waterpark at American Dream Mall in Rutherford, New Jersey; the 350-room Great Wolf Lodge with an 85,000-square-foot indoor waterpark in Scottsdale, Arizona; and the 324-room Kartrite Resort with an 80,000-square-foot indoor waterpark in Monticello, New York. Show less

Overview of the indoor and outdoor waterpark industry in the United States including discussion of indoor waterpark resorts, outdoor waterparks, stand-alone indoor waterparks, and resorts with outdoor waterparks. Article discusses new supply projected to open in 2018.

The waterpark industry continues to expand in North America, with more than $550 million worth of new investment in indoor and outdoor waterparks and their related resorts in 2016. Waterpark related development is expected to grow in 2017, with over 40 expansions and new facilities opening.
In 2017, we project 16 municipal and nine private outdoor waterparks will open, outpacing 2016’s nine municipal and five private outdoor additions. We foresee continued, albeit slower, growth in the… Show more

The waterpark industry continues to expand in North America, with more than $550 million worth of new investment in indoor and outdoor waterparks and their related resorts in 2016. Waterpark related development is expected to grow in 2017, with over 40 expansions and new facilities opening.
In 2017, we project 16 municipal and nine private outdoor waterparks will open, outpacing 2016’s nine municipal and five private outdoor additions. We foresee continued, albeit slower, growth in the indoor segment, where an additional 243,000 square feet of waterpark space are planned. Show less

The waterpark industry continues to expand in North America, with more than $500 million of new investment in indoor and outdoor waterparks and their related resorts in 2015.

Total waterpark related development spending is expected to grow in 2016 with a number of new facilities opening and many expansions of the existing waterparks occurring. Two major new indoor waterpark resorts opened in the Poconos in Pennsylvania in 2015 and three large indoor waterpark resorts… Show more

The waterpark industry continues to expand in North America, with more than $500 million of new investment in indoor and outdoor waterparks and their related resorts in 2015.

Total waterpark related development spending is expected to grow in 2016 with a number of new facilities opening and many expansions of the existing waterparks occurring. Two major new indoor waterpark resorts opened in the Poconos in Pennsylvania in 2015 and three large indoor waterpark resorts are


projected to open in California, Colorado and Quebec in 2016 (including two Great Wolf Lodge properties).

In 2015, 17 municipal waterparks and one private outdoor waterpark opened, while in 2016 we project 14 outdoor waterparks to open with equal numbers of private and municipal facilities. The largest privately owned outdoor waterpark will open in Texas with 27 slides. We attribute the waterpark industry's continued growth to properties offering a variety of amenities and attractions that attract existing and new guests to the waterpark experience. Show less

The amount of indoor and outdoor waterpark square footage will grow at a faster rate in 2014 than in any year since the Great Recession. Twelve indoor waterpark resorts or standalone indoor waterparks will be opened or expanded in 2014 compared to nine in 2013. The projected 370,000 new indoor square feet in 2014 dwarfs the 68,000 indoor square feet added in 2013. Eight private outdoor waterparks are projected to open in 2014 compared to five in 2013.
- See more at:… Show more

The amount of indoor and outdoor waterpark square footage will grow at a faster rate in 2014 than in any year since the Great Recession. Twelve indoor waterpark resorts or standalone indoor waterparks will be opened or expanded in 2014 compared to nine in 2013. The projected 370,000 new indoor square feet in 2014 dwarfs the 68,000 indoor square feet added in 2013. Eight private outdoor waterparks are projected to open in 2014 compared to five in 2013.
- See more at: http://www.hotelnewsnow.com/Article/13405/Indoor-outdoor-waterparks-show-growth-in-2014#sthash.jcBZEdEY.dpuf Show less

Review of recent and planned openings of indoor and outdoor waterparks throughout the United States

Despite recording revenue per available room well above the national average, the U.S. weight-loss resort market segment is surprisingly undersupplied. The U.S. has only five true weight-loss resorts with 360 guestrooms.

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