OpenAire, a leading designer and manufacturer of retractable roofs and skylights, is celebrating the success of one of its long-term clients, Zehnder’s Splash Village Hotel and Waterpark. The attraction is located in Frankenmuth, Michigan, also known as Little Bavaria thanks to its roots as a German settlement in 1845. OpenAire has been working with the family-owned business for several years.
Frankenmuth is a picturesque riverside city that is home to fewer than 5000 permanent residents, but thanks to its status as a leading holiday destination it also welcomes 3 million visitors per year. A key attraction, alongside the city’s Bavarian architecture and an award-winning family restaurant that dates back to 1856, is Zehnder’s Splash Village Hotel & Waterpark, which also features an array of amenities including shopping, restaurants, golf, event venues and more.
Innovation drives success
This unique waterpark and hotel is breaking records and leading the way for construction innovation in a growing industry. Indoor waterparks now capture around 12% of the total market, mainly through privately-owned waterpark resorts, and it is locations like Frankenmuth that are continuing to drive innovation.
Developers, investors, and operators must be aware of a number of important factors when looking at a new build or significant renovation of a waterpark, and the owners at Zehnder’s have done just that. These key elements for success include the style of construction, demographics and the size and scale of the waterpark, as well as continual innovation, renovation, management and service.
Previously known as the Bavarian Haus Motel, Zehnder’s Splash Village Hotel & Waterpark was purchased by the Zehnders family in 1988. In 1992, the owners worked on a remodelling project that added more rooms and suites, alongside an indoor pool.
Then, in 2005, the family added a glulam wood-framed 20,000-square-foot indoor waterpark, built according to best practices at the time. At the same time, an arcade, dining space, meeting rooms and 63 new family suites were added, allowing the hotel and waterpark to cater to more families with young children. For nearly a decade, the resort grew in popularity with the indoor park meeting the needs of both visitors and the ownership team.
Retractable roof is long-term solution
In 2014, the operator added a 30,000-square-foot retractable roof “Atrium” waterpark next to the existing indoor park. This featured a drop slide, a family raft ride, an activity pool and an action river, allowing the waterpark to appeal to a new demographic of 12 to 15-year-olds, therefore enabling multigenerational families to enjoy extended holidays together.
The ownership team had conducted research to find the best solution for an aquatic venue that would last a long time, and so the new waterpark was built entirely from aluminium and included glass walls with operable windows and doors for air flow plus a large opening roof. Most waterparks are simply big steel or concrete boxes without (much) daylight and little fresh air, and with the corrosive moist air created by the splashing and fun activities, these structures tend to start deteriorating from day one.
As a result, waterparks built in this way often need a new roof every ten years or so, which is costly and labour-intensive. However, thanks to the new Atrium aluminium waterpark, the owners knew there would never be a new roof (or walls) required for their waterpark. The open roof creates a fresh and bright space and also allows for the mechanical systems to be turned off or down when it is open.
The new atrium waterpark was a hit, winning Zehnder’s Splash Village Hotel & Waterpark several Trip Advisor Travellers Choice Awards.
More updates
In 2019, there was a need for a gas line repair in the original glulam waterpark, and the repair work subsequently uncovered mould in the walls and the roof. So, in 2020/2021 the existing roof and walls were removed and replaced with an aluminium retractable roof and glass/aluminium curtain wall on the existing glulam structure. In 2022, the hotel’s indoor pool, which was built in 1992, was also renovated and had an additional retractable roof skylight added.
In spite of the pandemic, Zehnder’s continued to see good results in 2020 and 2021. In fact, strong average daily rates, the growth of “stay-cations” and US-centric travel led to the best year of business in recent history for the owners, even with the downturn of international tourists. This successful year has allowed the operator to continue to upgrade the property at a time when so many other attractions had to stop all improvement projects.
The waterpark industry continues to develop and grow in North America, and increased interest in the industry is due to businesses like Zehnder’s Splash Village Hotel & Waterpark leading the way. Thanks to its focus on demographics, complementary attractions and local tourism, as well as continual property upgrades, branding, theming, fiscal responsibility and a strong focus on management and service, the owners have been able to overcome typical industry challenges.
“For those looking to get into the waterpark resort sector, Zehnder’s Splash Village Hotel & Waterpark sets the bar high,” says a statement from OpenAire. “OpenAire continues to work with the ownership team and looks forward to future growth and expansion as part of the team.”
OpenAire will be exhibiting at IAAPA Expo 2022 in Orlando, from 15 – 18 November. Attendees can meet the team at booth #2644, inside the Orange County Convention Centre.
This summer, OpenAire shared details of how it has helped to break waterpark records at WaTiki Indoor Waterpark Resort in South Dakota, thanks to a dedicated improvement plan.
