Wisconsin Dells is known as the “Waterpark Capital of the World” for good reason – this city in south central Wisconsin is home to a huge number of indoor and outdoor waterparks. With so many options to choose from, you may be wondering exactly how many waterparks there are in the Dells area.
Quick answer
There are currently 23 waterparks located in Wisconsin Dells and the surrounding area. This includes both outdoor waterparks that are open seasonally as well as indoor waterparks that are open year-round.
Detailed overview of Wisconsin Dells waterparks
Wisconsin Dells has an astonishing number of waterparks concentrated in one small area. Within just a few miles of the downtown area, you’ll find more than 20 different waterparks to choose from. Here is a detailed list of all the waterparks in Wisconsin Dells:
Outdoor waterparks
| Waterpark | Key Features |
|---|---|
| Noah’s Ark Waterpark | One of the largest outdoor waterparks in the U.S. with 51 water slides and attractions spread across 70 acres. |
| Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park | Huge outdoor park with more than 50 slides and rides including 7 roller coasters. |
| Wilderness Resort Waterparks | Three separate outdoor waterparks including Wild West, Klondike Kove, and Lost World. |
| Chula Vista Outdoor Waterpark | Part of the Chula Vista Resort featuring slides, pools, and a 750,000 gallon wave pool. |
| Kalahari Outdoor Waterpark | African themed waterpark with slides, a surfing pool, and rides like the Zip Coaster. |
| Great Wolf Lodge Outdoor Waterpark | More compact outdoor park with kiddie pools, tube slides, tipping bucket, and more. |
| Polynesian Resort Waterpark | Heated outdoor park open year-round with slides, kiddie areas, hot tubs, and more. |
| Timbavati Outdoor Waterpark | African themed outdoor park with pool, slides, splash pad, and more. |
Indoor Waterparks
| Waterpark | Key Features |
|---|---|
| Noah’s Ark Waterpark | America’s largest indoor waterpark with 51 slides and attractions across over 80,000 sq. ft. |
| Kalahari Resort Waterpark | 125,000 sq. ft. indoor waterpark, part of African themed Kalahari Resort. |
| Wilderness Resort Waterparks | Three huge indoor waterparks with combined 220,000 sq. ft. area. |
| Chula Vista Indoor Waterpark | Massive indoor park with slides, surf ride, spas, and play areas. |
| Great Wolf Lodge Indoor Waterpark | 84,000 sq. ft. indoor park with slides, treehouse area, wave pool, and more. |
| Mt. Olympus Indoor Waterpark | Smaller indoor park with waterslides, pools, and play areas. |
| Polynesian Resort Indoor Waterpark | Compact indoor park open year-round, connected to outdoor area. |
| Days Inn & Suites Indoor Waterpark | Decent sized indoor park with slides, hot tubs, kiddie areas, and more. |
| Hotel Rome Indoor Waterpark | Roman themed indoor park with waterslides, pools, splash play areas. |
Total waterpark count
After reviewing the list of outdoor and indoor waterparks in the Wisconsin Dells area, we can confirm that there are:
- 9 major outdoor waterparks
- 9 indoor waterpark resorts
This brings the total number of waterparks found in Wisconsin Dells to 23.
Waterpark density in Wisconsin Dells
With 23 waterparks concentrated within just a few miles, it’s clear that Wisconsin Dells has an incredibly high density of waterparks. To put the sheer number of Dells waterparks into perspective, here is how it compares to major theme park destinations in the United States:
- Orlando, FL – 4 major waterparks
- Southern California – 3 major waterparks
- New Jersey / New York City Area – 2 major indoor waterparks
No other region comes close to the waterpark density found in Wisconsin Dells. With more than five times as many waterparks as Orlando and almost 8 times as many as Southern California, the Dells is truly the waterpark capital.
Unique waterpark features in Wisconsin Dells
In addition to having an unrivaled number of waterparks, Wisconsin Dells is also home to some of the largest and most unique waterparks in the world:
- Noah’s Ark is America’s largest waterpark, with the most water slides and attractions in the country.
- Wilderness Resort has the world’s largest wave pool, Endless Surf.
- Mt. Olympus is one of the only parks with wooden roller coasters and waterslides.
- Kalahari Resort has one of the world’s largest indoor theme parks, over 125,000 sq. feet.
You simply won’t find waterparks of this massive size and scale anywhere else. The Dells offers waterpark attractions unmatched by other destinations.
Why so many waterparks in Wisconsin Dells?
So how did Wisconsin Dells end up with such an incredibly high concentration of waterparks? There are a few key factors that have contributed to the city earning its reputation as the “Waterpark Capital of the World”:
- Ideal location – Wisconsin Dells is situated along the scenic Wisconsin River, providing both beautiful scenery and easy access to water.
- Tourism destination – The Dells has been a popular Midwest vacation spot since the late 1800s, with an established tourism industry.
- Cold winters – Long, freezing Wisconsin winters create substantial demand for indoor waterpark getaways.
- Peak summer travel – Summers in Wisconsin Dells are ideal for outdoor waterpark fun.
- Family attractions – As more waterparks opened, it created a cluster of family fun in one area.
The combination of these factors has led entrepreneurial businessmen to open waterpark after waterpark in the Dells area over the past 50 years, ultimately creating the waterpark capital we know today.
Recent waterpark additions
Even with over 20 established waterparks, new additions continue to open in Wisconsin Dells. Some of the newest waterpark resorts and expansions include:
- Pirate’s Cove Adventure Park – New small outdoor park opened in 2020.
- Wilderness Resort expansion – Opened 2 new waterslides and activity pool in 2020.
- Mt Olympus expansion – Added 2 new roller coasters and 20 new slides in 2021.
- Kalahari expansion – Added second indoor waterpark location in Round Rock, TX in 2020.
As long as Wisconsin Dells continues to be a leading waterpark destination, new expansions and attractions will likely keep opening for years to come.
Conclusion
With 23 total waterparks – including 9 massive indoor parks and 9 sprawling outdoor parks – all located within just a few miles of each other, Wisconsin Dells has definitively earned its nickname as the “Waterpark Capital of the World.” Nowhere else can you find such an incredible density of world-class waterparks, from the behemoth Noah’s Ark to the African-themed Kalahari Resort. For families seeking nonstop aquatic fun and adventure, Wisconsin Dells is the undisputed waterpark mecca.
