A Wisconsin-based hospitality company is in talks to bring a massive waterpark resort and convention center concept to North Texas.
Kalahari Resorts & Conventions is advancing plans to construct over 900 hotel rooms, indoor and outdoor waterparks and a convention center at State Highway 121 and Stacy Road in Allen, WFAA reported. The move follows the city council’s approval this week to negotiate a land lease agreement.
The 1.2 million-square-foot development is projected to become one of the region’s largest hospitality investments, with an estimated cost of $950 million. The city is working closely with Kalahari to establish terms for the land lease and economic incentives, which could include tax rebates and state grants tied to development milestones.
City leaders touted the project as a potential economic catalyst for the region, expecting it to generate billions of dollars through tourism and job creation. The resort is projected to add up to 1,000 jobs and contribute an estimated $5 billion in spending within its first 10 years.
The resort’s construction timeline includes an estimated two years of design work and three years for building, putting the earliest possible opening date in 2030. The Allen Economic Development Corporation plans to present lease agreements and an incentive package at an upcoming city council meeting.
Kalahari operates a Texas location in Round Rock, which opened in 2020. That 223,000-square-foot development launched as the largest indoor waterpark in the U.S.
The Round Rock resort includes 975 hotel rooms, a 200,000-square-foot convention center and an 80,000-square-foot indoor entertainment complex. Amenities include restaurants, retail, a spa and a fitness center.
The proposed Allen development would add to other large-scale projects in the Dallas region.
For example, Venu Holding Corporation, a Colorado-based hospitality and entertainment company, recently acquired nearly 50 acres north of Allen for a planned $300 million amphitheater development. The 46-acre project will go up near U.S. Route 75 and State Highway 121 in McKinney.
— Andrew Terrell
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