Round Rock Officials Celebrate Kalahari Project Groundbreaking

ROUND ROCK, TX — Kalahari Resorts and Conventions officials were among more than 250 people attending the Tuesday groundbreaking for the massive $550 million, 350-acre complex scheduled to be opened by 2020.

The African-themed water park and convention center is an economic boon for the city, nearly 1,000 guest rooms, the nation's largest indoor water park, a state-of-the-art convention center, five restaurants, expansive retail space and other job-creating elements. The sense of excitement over the potential of the site — just the fourth such development for operators in the country — was palpable at the May 15 groundbreaking ceremony.

“We’re delighted to have Kalahari break ground in Round Rock, Texas,” Mayor Craig Morgan said. “This will be an amazing destination for our citizens, as well as families and convention guests from across the state and across the country. We’re proud of the partnership we’ve forged with Kalahari and can’t wait for the grand opening.”

The groundbreaking formally kicks off construction of the project's various elements:

• Nearly 1,000 guest rooms including 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom suites, featuring residential suitesl
• The nation's largest indoor water park incompassing 223,000 square feet of space.
• State-of-the-art convention center with 200,000 square feet of space.
• Tom Foolery’s Adventure Park – spanning more than 80,000 square feet of thrill rides, ropes course, climbing walls, indoor zipline, bowling, laser tag, mini-golf and more
• Outdoor pools spanning three acres.
• Five restaurants including Kalahari’s signature steakhouse, Italian and Tex-Mex experience.
• Spa Kalahari and Salon.
• 10,000 square feet of retail space.

“Kalahari is thrilled to bring our authentic African resort experience to the South,” Todd Nelson, owner of Kalahari Resorts and Conventions, said. “As the Round Rock property begins construction, we look forward to contributing to the local economy and sharing our beyond-expectations approach to hospitality with area vacationgoers, conference attendees and local guests throughout the region.”

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A key amenity of the planned complex is is the envisioned convention center encompassing 220,000 square feet of space, including 40,000-square-foot and 27,000-square-foot ballrooms, 16 meeting rooms, a full-service business center and 50,000 square feet of outdoor event space.

The location will also boast attractions that will be open for locals to the Round Rock community, as well as resort guests, officials noted. These attractions include:

• Tom Foolery’s Adventure Park, Spa Kalahari and Salon.
• Double Cut Charcoal Grill, Kalahari’s signature steakhouse experience.
• Mondo Sortino’s, which includes an Italian Kitchen, Pizzeria and Gelato shop.
• 5 Niños Tex-Mex restaurant.
• As with other Kalahari Resorts and Conventions properties, day passes to America’s Largest Indoor Waterpark will also be available to local residents based on resort occupancy.

“We really pride ourselves on being good neighbors to the communities that Kalahari calls home,” Nelson said. “When we design our resorts, we stay focused on adding amenities that everyone can experience and enjoy – not only our overnight guests.”

The Round Rock resort marks the company’s entry in the South and its fourth overall Kalahari Resorts and Conventions location, joining successful properties in Wisconsin Dells, Wis.; Sandusky, Ohio; and the Pocono Mountains, Pa. "Since its inception, Kalahari Resorts and Conventions is a family-owned and -operated business with a focus on bringing the best of Africa and a beyond-expectations hospitality experience to all guests," company officials said.
For more information about Kalahari Resorts and Conventions, click here visit http://www.kalahariresorts.com/ or Facebook.com/KalahariResorts.

To see just how big this thing is going to be, take a gander at the footprint as illustrated in the map below provided by the City of Round Rock:

>>> Scenes from groundbreaking courtesy of City of Round Rock