A $100 million plan to bring a family-friendly waterpark to Atlantic City continues to make progress, as the hotel behind the proposal has selected a nationally recognized company to oversee the project.
Back in May, a plan emerged that would build a new indoor waterpark facility on a large parcel along New Jersey Avenue near the Showboat complex. The property is owned by Philadelphia-based developer Bart Blatstein, who acquired the non-casino hotel from Stockton University in 2016 for $23 million.
Jersey Digs was the first news outlet to reveal the look of the facility last month, which is designed by Atlantic City-based SOSH Architects with interior work from Martin Aquatic Design & Engineering of Orlando. The waterpark would feature a transparent, retractable roof and include approximately 100,000-square feet of amusement rides.
Plans for the indoor portion include water slides, pools, and lazy rivers to go along with amenities like food and beverage outlets, party rooms, locker rooms, retail stands, and lounge areas. Newly released renderings show an outdoor lazy river just west of the indoor portion, while the eastern section of the property looks to feature outdoor volleyball courts, an enclosed water slide, and a shallow wading area with sprinklers facing the city’s iconic boardwalk.
The waterpark would be connected to the Showboat’s Premier Lite tower, which would undergo a complete renovation as part of the project. A Family Entertainment Center featuring an arcade and other games would be constructed within the existing Showboat facility to support the project.
While Showboat is spearheading the endeavor, American Resort Management announced last week that they will be overseeing all aspects of the project’s development. The Erie, P.A.-based company operates various hospitality facilities around the country including Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark in Grand Prairie, Texas and Parrot Island Waterpark in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
American Resort Management, who have earned numerous industry awards from TripAdvisor and the World Waterpark Association, cited their team’s extensive experience in the hospitality, destination resort and attractions industries in a release announcing the news.
“This is a significant development for Atlantic City and the Showboat property, and we are beyond thrilled to play a role in helping to transform it into a world-class destination,” said Richard Coleman, American Resort Management CEO. “Our goal is to create the most unique indoor waterpark in the world.”
The waterpark, which has not yet been given an official name, could take a big step forward later this month. The New Jersey Casino Reinvestment Development Authority’s (CRDA) Board of Directors are slated to hear Showboat’s site application on July 21 and could approve the project during the meeting.
Representatives from Showboat previously presented preliminary plans to CRDA’s Land Use Regulation and Enforcement Division on June 18 and held a press conference afterward where Blatstein indicated his high hopes for the project.
“This will be the best, pound for pound, indoor water park in the country,” Blatstein said at the time. “We’ve spent many, many hours designing something that’s going to be completely unique, so that when you arrive here at Showboat, you’ll know that you’re somewhere different.”
If Showboat’s plans are approved, the waterpark would be on track to break ground in September.
