POCONO MOUNTAINS, Pa.
Kalahari Resorts and Conventions officially opened the doors on the company's grandest property to date, in the Pocono Mountains, Penn. Six hundred people were on hand for the historic event, including Pennsylvania state dignitaries, Tobyhanna Township representatives, construction development managers and various media outlets.
"Today is a big one for not only our company, but my family, as well," said Todd Nelson, owner of Kalahari Resorts and Conventions. "We have always dreamed of expanding to the East Coast, and there's no better way to do it than with our grandest resort to date in this historically prevalent tourist area."
The resort is home to Pennsylvania's largest indoor waterpark and also includes:
- 457 guest rooms containing one-, two- and three-bedroom suites.
- An outdoor waterpark with a huge outdoor pool, a large sundeck for relaxing, indoor/outdoor whirlpools and a swim-up bar.
- 30,000-square-foot family entertainment center with dry activities such as mini-bowling, cutting-edge arcade games, a 5-D theater and black light mini golf.
- Three full-service signature dining experiences.
- Spa Kalahari & Salon.
- 100,000-square-foot convention center.
- 6,000 square feet of retail.
The resort is authentically African themed, including the handcrafted artwork adorning the walls, the Rwandan coffee beans served throughout the resort and the souvenirs sourced from local artisan communities throughout Africa. All of this was obtained during the Nelson family's recent 23-day trip to Africa, where they went for inspiration that is reflected throughout the resort.
"We couldn't be more thrilled to bring the spirit of Africa to the Poconos," Nelson said. "We look forward to a successful property that will assist in boosting tourism in the area long term."
The project broke ground in October 2013 and has brought more than 1,000 jobs to the area. Phase II of the resort is currently underway, and when completed in Spring 2017, the addition will bring the resort to nearly 1,000 guest rooms, the distinction of America's Largest Indoor Waterpark (200,000 square feet) and an expanded outdoor waterpark.
