
If you and your kids or grandkids love waterparks, you’re probably familiar with Wisconsin Dells.
Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, calls itself “The Waterpark Capital of the World!” Amazingly, through the combination of various indoor and outdoor waterparks, the area is home to more than 200 waterslides using more than 16 million gallons of water, according to the Wisconsin Dells Visitor & Convention Bureau.
That sheer number of waterparks – along with hotels, restaurants, amusement parks and rides, and other attractions such as golf courses and go-kart racetracks – helps explain why more than 4 million people visit Wisconsin Dells every year, according to the City of Wisconsin Dells.
If you’re planning a trip, the Wisconsin Dells Visitor & Convention Bureau has announced a number of new waterslides and other attractions will open this year. Keep reading for a look at what visitors can expect.
Waterslides
Rotating Waterslide At Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park
Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park Resort will open Medusa’s Slidewheel this summer. Billed as the first rotating waterslide in the U.S., Medusa’s Slidewheel, which is indoors, is set on a horizontal axis like a Ferris wheel to rotate guests as they slide through it.
By the way, Medusa’s Slidewheel is the centerpiece of the resort’s expanded indoor waterpark. The 22,500-square-foot addition is also set to feature a children’s splash zone, interactive water features, and a swimming area.
Dueling Waterslides At Wilderness Resort
The indoor Wild West Waterpark at Wilderness Resort plans to open two new “dueling” waterslides this fall. One is a two-lane tube waterslide while the other is a two-lane head-first waterslide. Each of them will feature numerous “rally” points where racers can see their competitor during the race.
Rainbow Stripes At Chula Vista Waterpark
Chula Vista Resort plans to open a unique waterslide in its indoor waterpark. The waterslide will feature a multi-hued rainbow-stripe light effect to create “dazzling visual movement inside the otherwise dark flume.”
Family Fun
Yeti Yard Next Level Adventure Park
Set to open in late summer, the Yeti Yard Next Level Adventure Park in downtown Wisconsin Dells will include the Himalayan Speedway, which features a 640-foot elevated racetrack for go-karts. The attraction will also feature an 18-hole mini-golf course.
Tom Foolerys Adventure Park
The indoor theme park Tom Foolerys Adventure Park at Kalahari Resorts & Conventions has added an axe-throwing area for adults. New attractions for kids include mini-bowling and a blacklight mini-golf course.
Restaurants And A Place To Gather
Elm Street Plaza
A new gathering spot in downtown Wisconsin Dells will open in late summer. The 35,000-square-foot Elm Street Plaza will include a covered stage and lighting and sound equipment for nightly entertainment. The plaza, which also will feature interactive water features including fountains and in-ground geysers, will host farmers’ markets and other events in warm months.
Latte Stone Brewing Co. Nano Brewpub
The Latte Stone Brewing Co., a small-batch, nano brewpub housed in a converted mansion in downtown Wisconsin Dells, will feature a tasting room-style bar serving crafted-in-house beers, local craft beers, and local and international wines as well as a tapas menu. Visitors can sit outside in a large beer garden that is pet friendly in the summer months.
Norwegian-Themed Koselig Garden
Koselig Garden, a restaurant with a taproom at the Norwegian-inspired Vennebu Hill event center, will feature a full bar and serve Norwegian and Wisconsin food. Koselig, which means “cozy garden” in Norwegian, provides hilltop views of the Wisconsin River and Baraboo Bluffs.
While you’re thinking about Wisconsin Dells, be sure to check out all of our Wisconsin content. And for more about Wisconsin Dells, pools, and an Airbnb with its own lazy river, be sure to read: