COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. – A new indoor waterpark is heading to the Golden Gate area. The first of its kind in Southwest Florida.
“Our funding closed so we’re locked and loaded and we’re going forward they’re gonna be doing the grading over the next few months and then you know by the end of your year you’ll start seeing some steel and stuff coming out of the ground,” said Steve Jacobsen, the Vice President of Development, Great Wolf Resorts.
The park features a more than 100,000 square foot indoor waterpark space, 500 suite hotel rooms, and an outdoor patio and pool for nicer weather.
“We’re excited about it and we looked at the overall map of the US, there was a hole in the market for us. So, putting a park in South Florida specifically Collier County checks a big box for us,” said Jacobsen.
That box was checked Thursday, as the team from Great Wolf alongside Collier County leaders broke ground on the project, tossing the ceremonial first scoop of dirt.
“The front end of this is a large construction project only adding on to what we already have going on with our Paradise Coast Complex, and this project can go on in perpetuity,” said Collier County Commissioner Bill McDaniel.
The park will be situated right off of City Gate Boulevard directly adjacent to the Paradise Coast Sports Complex.
“It’s going to be tens of thousands. As we go each one of these rooms has a capacity to 10 to 12 people, times 500 and most resorts run under 70-80% occupancy. You can do that math,” said McDaniel.
We also checked in on some nearby businesses that will be impacted by the construction and eventually final product.
“The entire area growing out we would love to see more restaurants out front along Collier Boulevard, something that’s within walking distance for our guests .. and for the locals that live in the area, cause I live very close to so I think it’ll be a great thing – kids birthday parties and things like that just another option,” said Victoria Walton, the Assistant GM for the Fairfield and SpringHill Suites Hotels, which are located directly next to the site.
Construction is set to wrap up by 2024.
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