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Kalahari Resort is big news for city, Celebrate Virginia Date published: 11/17/2007
BY EMILY BATTLE
Kalahari Resorts, a private family company based in Wisconsin, chose Fredericksburg over two other Virginia locations as the site of a $200 million water-park resort. The development, announced yesterday at the Fredericksburg Expo and Convention Center, marks Kalahari's first venture outside the Upper Midwest region. It also marks a huge turning point for the Silver Cos.' Celebrate Virginia tourism complex, an economic engine Fredericksburg officials are depending on to grow their tax base. The resort will be an enormous indoor and outdoor water-park complex, connected to a 10-story hotel that would include more than 900 rooms when completely built out. The water park will include surfing simulators, wave pools, slides and a specialized roofing system that lets in UV rays. "You will literally get a suntan right inside the indoor water park, in Fredericksburg, Virginia, in January," said Kalahari President Todd Nelson. The Fredericksburg resort would be Kalahari's third water-park hotel. Room rates at the original Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells, Wis., range from $200 to $400 a night. However, nonguests can also use the resort's amenities by buying a $39 day pass. Nelson said his company looked at Williamsburg and another location just north of Richmond as other potential sites. "We just felt the location here was better, working with the Silver Cos. was better and working with the City Council in Fredericksburg, it just meshed," Nelson said. Fredericksburg City Council members have approved the basic framework of a large incentives package that helped lure Kalahari. Council members gave their nod in a closed session Tuesday. "There was no way we were going to get this business from other localities if we didn't have incentives," Mayor Tom Tomzak said. "I am very comfortable with the incentives package." City staff members and Kalahari are still negotiating the specific terms of the agreement, but those numbers should be released in the next few weeks, according to Economic Development Director Kevin Gullette. Government incentives have become an important tool in building Celebrate Virginia.
Read more stories about Fredericksburg Date published: 11/17/2007
http://www.wiscnews.com/wde/news/257378
According to a November 2007 Economic Impact Assessment by Strategic Advisory Group, with almost 1 million guests per year Kalahari Waterpark Resort is expected to have a major, positive impact on the local economy, contributing $122.7 million to the Fredericksburg Regional area.
etc, etc. Wouldn't it be nice if our own LOCAL newspaper could provide details of what will affect our area rather having to dig in a Wisconsin newspaper??!?!?!
I have no problem with growth. What I do have a problem with is blind growth. I haven't seen anyone ask about how the excess traffic will affect the area. Will the current infrastructure support it? Will they widen the RT 3 exit on 95 or will they open another exit ramp (that is what they should do)? What's their expected daily visitation? It's not very often you hear about someone opening a theme park in the middle of a shopping center...
Over 1 million visitors a year are expected.
I've lived in this area for about seven years now and I can't believe that the people here thing that the business they are going to attract is High-Paying? Are you serious? I'm an area businessman and people want to pay wal-mart prices for everything. How are you planning to attract smart businesses with the low-budget mindset I've seen here for years?
This water-park is a good thing. Think of all the Northern Virginia people that can now come here instead of the part at Kings Dominion?
I find it very comical that a new waterpark is being built in a place where growth has presented a shortage of water in this area. What will they do? Truck water in for their daily needs? I would not enjoy being told that I can't water my yard or wash a car while this development flourishes! This is very funny!
Growth is good, in a controlled rational manner. We "old cronies" have witnessed growth. Can't widen Rt. 3 cause they built the stores right up to it. Growth is good if there is room for it and the infrastructure to support it. If you think this "Mega Water Park" will alleviate your tax burden, you had better think again. I am not against growth. I am against "putting the cart before the horse". We need to get ready to grow. We are still trying to solve too many growth problems now.
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