Wisconsin water park fans should start getting excited for Kalahari’s new attractions, coming sometime in late October 2026. Kalahari Resorts & Conventions in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, is getting an $85 million expansion, adding seven new attractions, new dining options, cabanas, and a large video screen.
The 75,000-square-foot indoor expansion includes three main slide attractions, including Zambezi Rapids, the world’s first enclosed Boomerango waterslide.
The expansion also added a brand-new retractable-roof enclosure that can provide an indoor or open-air environment, depending on the weather.
While construction is still underway, Kalahari’s website has not announced an official opening date quite yet.
A Boomerang Slide Will Carry Six Riders
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The three most exciting new additions are Zambezi Rapids, Viper Venom and Nile River Racers. Zambezi Rapids will take riders down before traveling up a near-vertical wall. The slide company, WhiteWater, described the six-person raft ride as the world’s first enclosed Boomerango, which provides a zero-gravity feel.
Viper Venom is also a six-person raft water coaster, featuring winding enclosed turns and an uphill section. Part of the slide travels outside the main building before returning indoors.
Nile River Racers is a four-lane mat-racing attraction where up to four individual riders can race simultaneously.
The Roof Can Turn an Indoor Park Into an Open-Air Space
OpenAire designed and is building the new retractable roof. The all-aluminum structure is approximately 185 feet wide and 340 feet long. The glass-enclosed design can open or close depending on weather conditions, giving guests the option to feel the sun or stay protected from harsh weather.
It is being called the first retractable-roof waterpark in Wisconsin Dells.
New Pools, Kids’ Slides and a Swim-Up Bar Are Also Coming
Four additional attractions are coming, including a water playground for younger kids called Adventure Bay, a 10,000-square-foot pool called The Watering Hole, a hot-tub area called Dolphin Reef, and an adults-only swim-up bar called The Grotto.
The resort will also add new cabanas, including some with private hot tubs, a giant 40-foot-wide video screen, and several new dining options, including Zulu Grill and Shari’s Daiquiri Bar.
The first Kalahari resort was opened in Wisconsin in 2000 by Todd and Shari Nelson and currently holds the title for Wisconsin’s largest indoor water park.
While visitors can stay in the adjoining hotel, a hotel room is not required to visit the water park. Day-pass prices vary by date, and the water park typically operates daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., but hours can change.