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Spotsylvania County, VA (Oct 20, 2023) – Kalahari Resorts and Conventions, home to America’s Largest Indoor Waterparks, broke ground in Spotsylvania County, Virginia — it’s fifth resort — on Friday, October 20, 2023. The ceremony marked the beginning of the construction of the 1.38 million-square-foot resort, estimated to open its doors to the public in 2026.
“Kalahari Resorts and Conventions is a welcome addition to Virginia’s ever-growing travel and tourism industry,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Caren Merrick. “Tourism development is essential to building our economy and positioning the Commonwealth as a premier travel destination. The opening of Kalahari Resorts and Conventions will attract more visitors and businesses to Virginia, which will generate hospitality jobs and create a significant economic impact for the region.”
Kalahari Resorts and Conventions is privately owned and operated by the Nelson Family and is renowned for its award-winning indoor waterparks, awe-inspiring family entertainment centers, beautifully appointed rooms and suites, best-in-class culinary experiences and beyond-expectations convention centers.
"Our family could not be prouder to call Spotsylvania County, Virginia home to our fifth Kalahari resort," said Todd Nelson, owner and founder of Kalahari Resorts. "County and Commonwealth officials and the Virginia people have been incredibly welcoming and supportive in helping us to make Kalahari Resort’s fifth location a reality in this beautiful state."
Years in the making, the groundbreaking marked a monumental step forward in the highly anticipated project that will contribute significantly to the Commonwealth’s economy, creating numerous jobs in the region.
The Spotsylvania County Kalahari Resort location will offer 907 guest rooms and suites, a 175,000-square-foot indoor waterpark (admission to the waterpark is included for all registered overnight guests) featuring thrilling waterslides, dedicated children’s areas, a massive wave pool and surfing simulator, ten acres of seasonal outdoor pools, a 90,0000-square-foot Tom Foolerys Adventure Park, featuring thrill rides, a ropes course, climbing walls, arcade games and more. The site will also include 12 on-site food & beverage outlets, including buffet and quick-bite options and four signature dining experiences.
“The new Kalahari Resort in Thornburg not only signifies a considerable investment of over $900 million in the county by the Nelson family, but also positively impacts our community in other ways,” said Berkeley Supervisor Kevin Marshall, Spotsylvania Board of Supervisors. “This is a direct investment in Spotsylvania that will generate jobs during construction, create over 1,400 full- and part-time permanent positions ranging from entry to executive level, and stimulate economic growth through increased tax revenue, which keeps taxes low while providing access to safe, family fun for our community, as well as visitors.
Spotsylvania County, known for its natural beauty and historical significance, with convenient access off I-95, and short drives from Washington D.C., Richmond, Baltimore, and many other large East Coast cities, was thoughtfully selected as the site for the new Kalahari Resorts location. “We have always loved Virginia,” Nelson explained. “We can’t wait to share the Kalahari experience with the people here.”
The resort will be nestled amidst picturesque landscapes and will provide guests an authentically African-themed experience. With a wide range of amenities and attractions, including over 150,000 square feet of meeting and convention space, the resort aims to become a premier destination in the region.
Marshall continued, “The Nelson family has a proven track record of being an excellent community partner, and we look forward to working with them through the construction and execution phases of the project, and for many years to come.”
For more information, including images and b-roll from the groundbreaking event, Kalahari Resorts, the Nelson Family and Kalahari’s Spotsylvania County location, please visit the Kalahari Resorts media site at kalaharimedia.com. For questions specific to the development, please visit the FAQ on the Spotsylvania County website at https://www.spotsylvania.va.us/2460/Kalahari-Project.
About Kalahari Resorts and Conventions
Kalahari Resorts and Conventions in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, Sandusky, Ohio, the Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania, Round Rock, Texas, and opening soon in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, deliver a beyond-expectations waterpark resort and conference experience all under one roof. The authentically African-themed Kalahari Resorts, privately owned by the Nelson family, are home to America’s Largest Indoor Waterparks. Todd and Shari Nelson, the founders of Kalahari Resorts, were honored with an induction into the Wisconsin Business Hall of Fame in 2023. All Kalahari Resorts feature well-appointed guest rooms and suites, the full-service Spa Kalahari, a fun-filled family entertainment center, on-site signature restaurants, unique retail shops and a state-of-the-art convention center. For more information, members of the media are encouraged to visit kalaharimedia.com.
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ASSOCIATED PRESS CONTENT SERVICES/KALAHARI RESORT GROUNDBREAKING, SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY, WOODFORD, VIRGINIA
OCTOBER 20, 2023
1. SLATE
2. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) – TODD NELSON, CEO AND OWNER OF KALAHARI RESORTS & CONVENTION, “We're here in Spotsylvania County uh to break ground on our fifth Kalahari, which is really a big deal for our family.”
3. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) – TODD NELSON, CEO AND OWNER OF KALAHARI RESORTS & CONVENTIONS, “I have pictures from all of our openings, our groundbreakings. And to see our first one when my kids were this little and and nowthey'll be on stage with me today, all five of our kids. And we're doing our groundbreaking for our fifth Kalahari in Thornberg, Virginia.”
4. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) – TODD NELSON, CEO AND OWNER OF KALAHARI RESORTS & CONVENTIONS, “Well, we opened up our first Kalahari in Wisconsin Dells in May of 2000, and very small, 305 units. And we're now over a thousand units. We've added on to the thing ten times um in, in 2005, we opened up in Sandusky, Ohio, another great market, uh right directly between Cleveland and Toledo. In 2015, uh we opened up in the Pocono Mountains, just a fabulous site, ninety minutes from New York, forty-five million people in that drawing radius. And then right in the middle of COVID in November 12th of 2020, we opened up in Texas, and now we're getting to Virginia. And we have wanted to open a Kalahari here since 2007. So if you can imagine what is that, seventeen years, sixteen years we've been trying to get here.”
5. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) – TODD NELSON, CEO AND OWNER OF KALAHARI RESORTS & CONVENTIONS, “We're an economic impact like you can't even imagine between the jobs. We'll have twelve to fourteen hundred jobs, full-time jobs. Um, the taxes that we generate are absolutely incredible.”
6. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) – TODD NELSON, CEO AND OWNER OF KALAHARI RESORTS & CONVENTIONS, “So we’re just a tax-generating machine, uh an employment machine, um, and and we’re good for the community. We’re very good community partners. Um, when there's when there's something goes on in the community, we're the first ones there.”
7. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) – TODD NELSON, CEO AND OWNER OF KALAHARI RESORTS & CONVENTIONS, “At Kalahari Resorts, when we open up at the end of November of 2026, here's what you can expect. Nine hundred beautiful guestrooms, large or small, all different sizes, a large indoor water park, a large indoor theme park, a large outdoor waterpark, large convention center, tons of restaurants. We've created six signature restaurants, uh convention center, retail, everything under one roof. It's a one stop shop.”
8. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Rita McClenny, PRESIDENT & CEO, VIRGINIA TOURISM CORPORATION, “We're so fortunate that Kalahari Resorts and Conventions has selected Spotsylvania County and the Commonwealth of Virginia as its fifth location for a resort.
9. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) RITA McClenny, PRESIDENT & CEO, VIRGINIA TOURISM CORPORATION, “It is the perfect location at the right time with the right company. Convention services is something that's lacking in this region, and we know that the strategic location of this resort will attract meetings from the East Coast, particularly between Pennsylvania and North Carolina.
10. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) RITA McClenny, PRESIDENT & CEO, VIRGINIA TOURISM CORPORATION, “The visitor economy in Virginia is $30.2 billion dollars in 2022. Visitors spend $83 million dollars a day in Virginia across our state. So effectively what that does is impact every single community across Virginia, and it creates a tax base for the Commonwealth to provide all the services that a government will provide for its citizens.”
11. SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) RITA McClenny, PRESIDENT & CEO, VIRGINIA TOURISM CORPORATION, “The last thing that I want to say to everyone is that Virginia is for Kalahari lovers. And we look forward to seeing everyone right here at this resort when it opens in 2026.”
12. SOT (ENGLISH) - KEVIN MARSHALL, SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY DEPT. OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM, “With Kalahari, as you can see, they like to do things big.”
13. SOT (ENGLISH) – TODD NELSON, CEO AND OWNER OF KALAHARI RESORTS & CONVENTIONS, “Hey, pictures! God bless.” Todd Nelson (fourth from right), and family, lifts shovels of dirt into air.
14. SOT ENGLISH) – Male announcer, “Sheriff.” Two police officers on motorcycles ride between tents.
15. SOT (ENGLISH) – Male announcer, “Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the Spotsylvania Marching Band under the direction of Brian Jacobs.” The Spotsylvania Marching Band marches from tents towards camera on grass.
16. The Spotsylvania Marching Band marches on grass past tents toward stage.
17. The Spotsylvania Marching Band plays in front of stage to audience, pan right to left.
18. Sign on right: “VIRGINIA WELCOMES KALAHARI.” Kalahari flags and people in background
19. Shovel handles with “Kalahari Resorts & Conventions” printed on them, rack focus to “Kalahari Resorts & Conventions” on bulldozer
20. Aerial shot from tent to audience to stage, Todd Nelson onstage.
21. Aerial shot from left to right – from grassy parking lot to fields to empty stage
22. Tilt down from four Kalahari flags to shovels planted in dirt.
23. “Virginia is for Kalahari Lovers” sign
24. “Virginia is for Kalahari Lovers” sign in front of Kalahari flag and bulldozer
25. Two people walking past Kalahari flags, caterer on left
26. Kalahari hard hats on chair
27. Tilt down to Kalahari hard hats on a row of chairs
28. Nelson family onstage, seven individuals
29. Todd Nelson talking to group of men
30. Woman taking bacon from food table
31. Kalahari flag, close up “Spotsylvania County, VA” on flag
32. Five men walking on grass past tent
33. Groups of people in front of stage
34. Woman taking food from table
35. Pan left to right of audience
36. Audience standing up and clapping. SOT Brian Jacobs, Music Director, Spotsylvania Marching Band: “Up and out, here we go.”
20 October 2023
