Indoor waterpark in Atlantic City will feature ziplines, retractable ceiling when it opens in 2023
Philadelphia developer Bart Blatstein’s vision is that next summer people will be frolicking in 85 degree temperatures inside his new $100 million Atlantic City waterpark at the same location guests gathered in freezing temperatures Wednesday morning to celebrate the city’s new upcoming non-casino attraction.
It was quite a show under a heated white tent alongside Showboat as political leaders and community members mingled with mimosas in hand, passing three brave souls playing in a small above ground pool while others, dressed more for July temps, showed off their skills on a mechanical surfboard.
It was a sign of things to come in a city that Mayor Marty Small Sr. said keeps on bouncing back.
“This is typical Atlantic City. Every single time that we’re counted out and they write the proverbial obituary, we bounce back bigger than ever,” said Small before the ceremonial shovels hit the dirt. The actual groundbreaking began Monday.
And according to Blatstein, CEO of Tower Investments, Inc. and owner of Showboat Atlantic City, ISLAND waterpark will be second to none.
The 100,000-square-foot year-round waterpark will have a retractable glass-pane roof, outlet shops, pools, lazy rivers, waterslides and restaurants.
“This will be Atlantic City’s first year-round family resort in the 168 years that Atlantic City has been here,” said Blatstein.
Also planned inside are ziplines, a gravity coaster and a boardwalk with the typical boardwalk games, and Blatstein’s favorite part, an adult area. “We have a 10,000-square-foot area dedicated to just adults.”
Who says waterparks are just for kids?
While the grandparents are taking the little ones around all the attractions, the parents can get a foot massage, a manicure or pedicure, and even sip on a beverage of their choice. And for those that want to escape the confines of the office but still have work to do there will be an area for that as well.
“There’s no waterpark in the entire world that will have the amenities that this waterpark does,” Blatstein said.
ISLAND waterpark will complement Lucky Snake, a family-friendly arcade and entertainment complex, on the former casino floor at the Showboat. According to Blatstein more than 200,000 have visited since it opened in May of last year and expects even better numbers once the waterpark is up and running in the summer of 2023.
Blatstein, whose company does transformational development to help distressed areas come back, said he heard about the public’s uncertainty over whether the waterpark was actually going to happen.
“There’s 100% certainty that financing is there,” said Blatstein. “The money going into the waterpark is all my money.”
According to Blatstein, another reason everyone was gathered in the parking lot during one of the coldest weeks in years was because of the city’s mayor who would call him every week to find out when he was breaking ground.
“This person probably is the most annoying person I have met in my 44 years. And that’s what leadership is. It’s about being annoying.”
Blatstein believes in Atlantic City and “puts his money where his mouth is.” He said that the city is going to change like it never has in its history and invites other developers to join in, and if they don’t they will regret it.
“I love this, being a part of the rebirth of Atlantic City,” said Blatstein. “For Atlantic City to re-envision itself as not just a casino town, but a family town too.”