US waterpark and resort operator Great Wolf Resorts has announced plans to open its first venture overseas, with the Great Wolf Lodge opening in Oxfordshire, UK, in 2022. Great Wolf, which currently has 18 locations across North America, will submit a planning application later this month, with construction on the £200m (US$242.8m, €217.8m) venture scheduled to start in 2020. The London office of EPR Architects is leading the design work

Architects who love Lego will be able to treat their families to a Lego holiday experience when a new Lego waterpark opens in Italy in 2020. Gardaland has announced plans to open Europe's first Lego-branded waterpark, designed by Merlin Magic Making, with the multi-million dollar development set to open its doors next year. Aimed at families with children aged two to twelve, the new addition to the Italian theme park

Marriott International has concluded the final phase of expansion and renovations at its recently rebranded South Florida property, JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort and Spa in Aventura, Florida. Formerly Turnberry Isle Miami, the resort is part of Marriott's Autograph Collection. The extensive works have seen a doubling of capacity to 685 rooms, extensive renovation of amenities and the overhauling of two golf courses. Central to the property's pivot to resort

Saudi Arabia's government has revealed plans to invest SAR50bn (US$13.3bn, €11.2bn, £9.9bn) into entertainment, health, sports and education initiatives, as the country attempts to modernise and improve its citizens' quality of life. Announced yesterday (3 May) by the Kingdom's General Entertainment Authority (GEA), it is understood that the investment will generate upward of 300,000 jobs by 2020. “Government spending on the initiatives will total around 60 per cent of the

The owners of Minnesota’s Mall of America are considering a US$200m (€162.5m, £144.7m) waterpark addition to the property, releasing a new rendering of the proposed project in the city of Bloomington. The plan has been submitted by Triple 5 – the company that owns the property – detailing a 225,000sq ft (21,000sq m) waterpark to the east of the existing mall. According to the submission, the city would finance and

One of Asia’s most anticipated waterpark projects is almost complete, with the Atlantis Sanya resort approaching its May 2018 opening date. The resort – like its sister Atlantis The Palm in Dubai – will boast a world-class Aquaventure waterpark with an array of twisting waterslides and theming inspired by the the ancient Atlantis civilisation. Atlantis Sanya is located at Haitang Bay in Sanya on the south of Hainan Island, China

ACTVENTURE, the multi-million-dollar leisure and lifestyle mega-destination underway on the Sunshine Coast of Australia, is eyeing a rollout to the United Arab Emirates. US practice Thinkwell Group designed the plan for the AU$400m (US$305m, €280.7m, £243m) Queensland venture, with Canadian waterpark specialist WhiteWater West working on the waterpark. Members of ACTVENTURE’s advisory board – including Talal Najibi, executive chair of Najibi Investments, WhiteWater CEO Geoff Chutter, Joe Zenas, CEO of

Liseberg CEO Andreas Andersen has provided an update on the park’s planned €200m (US$238.8m, £178.8m) expansion, with work on the project expected to start in 2019 as the park attempts to diversify its product offering to expand its operational season. The historic attraction in Gothenburg, Sweden, celebrates its centenary in 2023. In the build-up to this milestone, plans for a new indoor waterpark and hotel earlier were unveiled earlier this

Developer Nakheel and Thai hotel group Centara Hotels and Resorts have unveiled plans to open a hotel, beach resort and waterpark on Dubai’s Deira Islands. The two companies have formed a joint venture agreement for the “family-centric lifestyle destination,” which will be part of the newly-formed Deira Islands – a 15sq km (5.8sq mi) group of four reclaimed artificial islands currently under development. Set to open in 2020, the 600-bedroom

The developer of a proposed US$150m (€135.6m, £116.4m) waterpark development in Niagara Falls, New York, is eyeing a 2020 completion date for the long-touted project. A public-private partnership between the Uniland Development Company and the state, the updated Wonderfalls masterplan sees a glass-enclosed waterpark at the heart of a complex surrounded by restaurants and retail to “create a vibrant pedestrian experience”. “We have spent a lot of time with our

The government of Canada and Quebec municipality have each pledged to invest US$4.4m (€4m, £3.4m) for the construction of a large-scale aqua-gym complex in the town of Dolbeau-Mistassini, the government of which will fund the same amount. The facility will feature nn indoor waterpark, including a shallow pool, slides and water games; a six-corridor pool; two diving areas; a sauna; two mezzanines; and a gymnasium. "Cultural and recreational infrastructure helps

Plans have been unveiled in Nashville, Tennessee, for a US$500m (€471m £401m) development set to feature an 829-bedroom hotel and a host of new attractions. To be located in downtown Nashville, the World One Hotel would become the city’s largest, with architects Earl Swensson Associates (ESa) drawing up plans on behalf of the Big T Building Company (BTB). According to BTB, a four-storey video wall would be wrapped around three

One of the largest indoor waterparks in the world is coming to Copenhagen after Høje-Taastup Municipality revealed plans for a 360,000sq m (3.9m sq ft) mega-leisure development in the Danish city. Dubbed “Nordic Water Universe”, the development – which is four times the size of Copenhagen’s Tivoli Gardens – will be split into two parts, the first comprising a 11,700sq m (126,000sq ft) waterpark and amusement area, and the second

The Sanad Capital investment group is planning an AU$400m (US$302m, €271m, £245.6m) “active lifestyle” destination in Queensland, Australia. Sanad – the Australian offshoot of Dubai-based investment firm Najibi Group – is financing the “never-before seen in Australia” project, which will feature extreme water facilities and an Olympic-standard training centre. The mixed-use project will also have a 4-star hotel, conference and exhibition centre, restaurants and retail elements. The development is expected

by Kim Megson | 16 Aug 2016

Middle Eastern developer Nakheel and Spanish hospitality giant RIU Hotels & Resorts have officially kickstarted development on an 800-room resort and waterpark at Dubai’s artificial Deira Islands. Planning advisory firm Dar Al Handasah have been appointed to oversee the design, engineering and construction of the AED900m (US$268m, €219m, £190.3m) project. Nakheel and RIU signed a joint venture agreement in Palma, Mallorca, in February this year to develop an affordable family

by Tom Anstey | 11 Aug 2016

Waterpark supplier Polin will handle development of Russia’s largest indoor waterpark, with the planned all-season facility in Tyumen designed to handle a sub-zero Siberian winter. The waterpark will include large translucent domes overhead to allow sunlight in while keeping the -16.7ºC (1.94ºF) temperatures out. Within the domes, palm trees will decorate the landscape, while a number of Polin slides will offer thrill-seekers a number of experiences within the 10,000sq m

by Tom Anstey | 22 Jun 2016

Universal has offered a first-look at its “next-generation” Volcano Bay, promising to redefine the waterpark experience with everything from the queue line to the park’s immersive theming. Volcano Bay, which suffered a minor setback this month following a fire at the construction site, will open by 1 June 2017, according to officials.

The first renderings of the next Margaritaville destination resort – which will open in Orlando, Florida by the end of 2017 – have been released, shining a light on US singer Jimmy Buffett's ambitious plans for the US$750m (€664m, £526m) leisure scheme. Construction recently began on the 320-acre property, called Margaritaville Resort Orlando, which features interior designs from The McBride Company and is being developed by Encore Capital Management in

by Kim Megson | 12 May 2016

FaulknerBrowns Architects partner Michael Hall has described how the studio’s planned indoor waterpark project in Coventry, UK, uses elegant and community-focused design to create a “high octane” and “holistic” type of health and fitness facility. The practice has this week submitted its plans for the £36.7m (US$51.8m, €46.4m) Coventry Water Park – which will include a wave pool, six flume rides, a lazy river toddlers’ splash area, a 25m pool,

by Tom Anstey | 09 May 2016

The world-famous Whistler Blackcomb ski resort is expanding its offering beyond the slopes, announcing a US$345m (€300m, £238m) plan to revitalise and invest in its mountain facilities. To be rolled out in three stages, the ‘Renaissance’ expansion plan will focus first on a US$100m (€87m, £69m) plan to create weather independent, year-round attractions. Ecosign Mountain Resort Planners – who also prepared the first masterplan for Whistler Mountain and Blackcomb Mountain

by Tom Anstey | 30 Mar 2016

Coventry Council has unveiled the first images of the city’s new £36.7m (US$51.8m, €46.4m) waterpark – designed by a team including British architects Faulkner Browns – which will replace the existing Grade II-listed 1966 central swimming pool when it opens in 2019. The new building will house a waterpark, 25-metre swimming pool, gym, climbing wall, squash courts, dance studio and day spa. The circular building’s ribbon-like exterior, designed to reflect

by Tom Anstey | 23 Apr 2015

Merlin Entertainments – which is already building a Legoland theme park as part of the Dubai Parks and Resorts development in the UAE – has announced that the AED10bn (US$2.7bn, €2.5bn, £1.8bn) mega-development will also include a Lego waterpark. Lego is the number one global brand in 2015. The new Lego waterpark will include a wave pool, a Build-A-Raft River and Imagination Station – where guests can construct Lego bridges,

by Tom Anstey | 19 Dec 2014

A ship in Norwegian Cruise Line’s fleet will boast the largest waterpark at sea when it launches later this year, with the company unveiling a raft of leisure facilities on board. The investment comes as the cruise market continues to experience rapid growth and the broadening of its customer profile. The 4,200-passenger ship – Norwegian Escape – with interior design by SMC Design and Tillberg Design, will feature an Aqua

by Aoife Dowling | 12 Feb 2013

PortAventura theme park in Spain is to relaunch its Caribbean-themed aquatic park following a 11.6m euro (£10m, UD$15.6m) extension project, which features the tallest toboggan in Europe. The Costa Caribe Aquatic Park project has seen the addition of 14,000 sq m (150,695 sq ft) of new facilities, giving the park a total surface of 50,000sq m (538,196sq ft). Located in Salou near Barcelona, the park is slated to open in

by Pete Hayman | 04 Apr 2012

Florida, US-based audio-visual integration firm Technomedia Solutions has been appointed by Merlin Entertainments to work on the new Legoland-branded waterpark in Winter Haven. The firm has been awarded the audio-visual systems design-build contract for the waterpark development, which will be located adjacent to Legoland Florida - opened last October. Due to open ahead of this summer, the waterpark will comprise a wave pool; a Build-A-Raft lazy river; tube slides; body

by Pete Hayman | 16 Dec 2011

Barnsley Premier Leisure (BPL) has provided a first look at how the new themed Calypso Cove will look at the South Yorkshire town's Metrodome Waterpark. Due to reopen in February 2012, the theming and design of the aqua attraction is being led by 3D Creations and will complement the new flumes which are being installed. Calypso Cove will also offer interactive features in the pools, while the poolside diner is

by Pete Hayman | 30 Sep 2011

Construction work has now commenced on one of the world's largest retractable aluminium-domed indoor waterparks in Donetsk, Ukraine, which is due to open early next year. The 61,000sq ft (5,667sq m) Aquatoria attraction is being developed by Canada-based group, OpenAire, and is intended to help boost tourism to the Donetsk region. OpenAire's free-standing dome structure will comprise an aluminium truss and will be 86ft (26m) in height, with a retractable