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THOMPSON — The developers of the Camelback Lodge & Aquatopia Indoor Waterpark in Tannersville, Pa., are building a two-acre, four-season indoor waterpark and 324-suite hotel next to the soon-to-open Resorts Worlds Catskills casino complex in Thompson in Sullivan County.
Co-owners Ken Ellis and Arthur Berry III will operate the Kartrite Hotel & Indoor Waterpark, which is scheduled to open in early 2019.
Area residents are known to travel to the Poconos to visit Camelback Lodge & Aquatopia Water Park, Great Wolf Lodge and Kalahari Resorts. Now, this park, a sister park to award-winning Camelback, will give families looking for a waterpark experience an opportunity to do so much closer to home.
“We’re building upon the family-focused thrills and amenities that have made Camelback Resort & Aquatopia a premier destination in the Pocono Mountains,” said Berry. “The Kartrite’s location at the Resorts World Catskills property provides a unique opportunity for us to deliver a whole new adventure for guests as part of a true global destination.”
The waterpark is expected to be an additional draw to the resort casino experience – which includes an entertainment village and championship golf course - which could make it a new, desirable travel destination in the Northeast.
The waterpark project is named for Camelback Resort’s imaginary character Sir Kartrite Van Der Berris. Like Camelback, visitors to Kartrite will see his likeness throughout as an explorer and adventurer.
Aquatic Development Group (ADG) has been contracted to design and build the indoor waterpark. Inspired by the architecture of indoor waterparks in Europe, the Kartrite’s unobstructed column-free construction will feature a barrel-shaped transparent Texlon roof that will bathe visitors in natural sunlight throughout the year. This will also allow tropical plants to thrive inside the waterpark. It will also feature a mezzanine with luxury cabanas.
Officials called the décor “cheeky,” featuring a bold color canvas and furnishings.
“The Kartrite brand personifies global exploration, and the cheeky, contemporary design will put an entirely re-imagined Catskills back on the map for a new generation of family travelers,” added Ellis.
Resorts World Catskills is opening in mid-February. Currently, the casino continues to recruit to fill 1,400 positions.