Island Waterpark, the newest addition to the Showboat Resort in Atlantic City, opens its doors to the public on 30 June.
Atlantic City is known as ‘America’s favourite playground’ and the Showboat Resort upholds this reputation. The resort was created by Tower Investments CEO and Showboat owner Bart Blatstein and is a world-leading indoor beachfront attraction, offering a complete visitor destination for families.
Island Waterpark is the world’s largest indoor beachfront water park and has 11 slides. The Electric Eel, Sonic Serpent, and Barracuda Blaster tube slides have sharp bends and banking turns. There are three Tidal Racers mat racer slides which send visitors sliding head-first, and Slide Island, which features five waterslides suitable for younger guests. All together the park spans 120,000 square feet and holds more than 317,000 gallons of water.
The water park also has a 1,000-square-foot Wild Wave FlowRider surf simulator from WhiteWater. This is the only such facility in New Jersey to offer lessons, and will also be a venue for surfing competitions. In addition, Blue Cascade Waterfall is an artificial waterfall and one of the world’s largest custom water forms. Visitors will also enjoy a 30-foot-tall indoor tree house which will be available for private parties; the water sports Adventure Pool, and a 6,500-square-foot Island Drift Lazy River.
The architect was SOSH Architects and interior work was done by Martin Aquatic, with each feature adding to the immersive tropical island experience.
Blatstein says: “Atlantic City has long been one of the most iconic destinations for entertainment geared for adults, but now the Island Waterpark at The Showboat Resort will open up a whole new world of family entertainment on the boardwalk.
“When people see this they will be blown away; it is truly like entering a tropical paradise and the best part is that people–both kids and adults–will be able to enjoy it all year round.”
Brandon Dixon, president of Tower Investments, says: “Island Waterpark, the largest indoor beachfront water park, is in a class of its own. No matter the weather nor time of year, every day will always be warm and sunny in the water park. At night it also will be hot year-round with nightlife entertainment for adults.
“This opening rides on the success of the Lucky Snake Arcade and Raceway, and Showboat is so proud to continue to deliver the most dynamic and exhilarating non-gaming fun on the Atlantic City Boardwalk.”
Unique features
Adults can enjoy craft beers, curated wines and signature cocktails at the water park’s six bars. They can also enjoy DJ sets in the 10,000-square-foot Paradise Adult Island, which overlooks the water park and ocean, and the adults-only Bliss Pool, with views over the Atlantic Ocean and Atlantic City’s only swim-up bar.
In the daytime, adults can use these spaces to relax and socialise while the children enjoy the water park. Island Waterpark then turns into an adults-only nightlife venue at night, in a water park industry first.
Other notable features at Island Waterpark include the Coconut Zero-Gravity Coaster, which is over 1,000 feet long and offers visitors amazing views as they are carried high above the park, and the RipTide Zip Line which is 300 feet long. This is the only water park in the US to include such rides.
A unique glass retractable roof by OpenAire will be open during the warmer months so guests can enjoy the sun and fresh ocean breezes. The roof can be closed in poor weather conditions so that the water park can welcome guests year-round. The innovative roof can also be used to display projected media, helping to develop the park’s theme.
Elsewhere, a £250 million water park and well-being resort was recently unveiled in the UK by Therme Group. The attraction in Manchester has been described as the UK’s first city-based well-being resort and part of the Trafford City retail and entertainment destination.
Image: ISLAND Waterpark, Atlantic City, NJ/Credit: Ruben Garcia
