Wisconsin Dells — the self-proclaimed Waterpark Capital of the World (and a popular destination for Twin Cities families) — has announced what’s in town for the summer travel season. Here’s a sampling:
Slideboarding: This ride at Wilderness Hotel & Golf Resort relies on a slideboard, which looks a bit like a short surfboard with handles. On the handles are four buttons — red, blue, yellow and green. Different colored lights appear in the tube of the waterslide as you slide down. The goal is to press the buttons to match the colors that light up as you pass under them. Leader boards at the bottom of the slide let you know how you rate against other players. (Riders must be 42 inches tall.)
Big pool: In June, the Mt. Olympus Water Park & Theme Park Resort opens their swimming pool (billed as the largest in the area), at a whopping 27,000 square feet. The 2,000-person-capacity pool — known as The Great Pool of Delphi — will include four islands with tanning decks, a 100-foot geyser, a children’s splash pad, a 50-foot waterfall, two zero-depth beach-style entrances and cabanas on the perimeter.
Treehouse lodging: The Wilderness Hotel & Golf Resort has 13 tree houses later this year. Each two-story space will sleep up to eight and will feature an indoor slide from the loft to the main level, plus multi-level patios with views of the valley.
New eats: The hugely popular MACS (Macaroni and Cheese Shop) is added a second location, this one near Kalahari Resorts & Conventions. Nearby, the area’s first Qdoba is opening, too, along with a new Panera Bread.
Trolley rides: Dells Trolley Tours is now offering rides on a historic trolley car — plucked from the Chicago burbs and renovated for Wisconsin Dells riders. Use the trolley as hop-on-hop-off transportation or reserve a ticket for a one-hour narrated tour of the town. Special tours every Saturday and Sunday take riders to three area wineries.
Learn more at wisdells.com.
