PALM SPRINGS, CA, October 21, 2015 – Aquatic Development Group, Inc (ADG) is proud to announce that they are the 2015 recipient of the World Waterpark Association’s Leading Edge Award for their role as designer and developer of the new Aquatopia Indoor Waterpark at Camelback Resort, located in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. The award was presented today during the General Opening Session at this year’s WWA Show being held in Palm Springs, CA.
Camelback Lodge & Aquatopia Indoor Waterpark opened its doors in May of 2015, welcoming guests to the most innovative and largest indoor waterpark in the Northeast. Nestled in the Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains, a region that draws 28 million leisure travels annually, Camelback Resort has been a popular winter ski destination for more than fifty years and is home to Camelbeach, an outdoor mountainside waterpark which attracts over 400,000 visitors annually.
Aquatic Development Group (ADG), a leading designer and builder of water parks and recreational water and mountainside attractions across the US, was the lead designer and builder of Aquatopia. Drawing on decades of experience, ADG’s team designed the park to include exceptional attention to detail with innovative features and attractions that appeal to guests of all ages and interests.
Arthur Berry III and Ken Ellis, who is also President of ADG, purchased Camelback Resort in June 2005 with the vision to expand the mountain’s amenities and to one day build the most innovative indoor waterpark in the country, transforming Camelback Resort to a year-round destination.
ADG’s creative design and construction teams worked closely throughout the project with industry experts including The Weber Group, Vortex Auquatic Structures and White Water West in the construction and design of Aquatopia Indoor Waterpark. A unique partnership was formed with Stand Rock Hospitality, from Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, to manage the collosal 453-suite Camelback Lodge & Aquatopia Indoor Waterpark. Architectural Design Consultants, Inc. (ADCI) was charged with bringing to life the “mountain-modern” style architectural and interior design concept thatADG developed for the lodge and their expertise in detail is evident throughout the 453-suite lodge, with rooms available in 16 different configurations, three sit-down restaurants, grand lobby, spa/fitness center and conference facilities.
Highlighting ADG’s design philosophy of bringing the “best of the outdoors in” the 125,000 square feet of indoor waterpark is covered by their Texlon® Transparent Roofing System. Situated over 1.5 acres it is the largest install over a waterpark in North America and the innovative material and design allows guests to soak up the sun and get a tan year-round in a comfortable 84-degree setting.
Aquatopia features 13 waterslides, seven of the most unique adventure pools, and a multitude of thrilling water attractions including the Double FlowRider® and the nation’s longest indoor water coaster by White Water West. Through an extensive collaboration between ADG and design experts, The Weber Group, a worldly expedition theme is brought to life through fictitious, yet legendary explorer, Kartrite Van Der Berris, who has filled the lodge and waterpark with wonders from his travels.
“This has been an extraordinary project because of my own personal involvement and vested interest in Camelback,” said Ellis. “I’m extremely proud of the talented and diligent teams at ADG, ADCI, WhiteWater West, Weber Group, Vortex, our partners at Stand Rock Hospitality and the work put forth by so many others who brought our vision to life. Camelback Lodge & Aquatopia Indoor Waterpark is incredibly innovative because we had the full force of the industry’s best people behind it.”
ADG designs and builds waterparks and recreational water and mountainside attractions for all types of venues from amusement parks and resorts to ski mountains and small aquatic settings. We are the leading expert in recreational environments designed to draw diverse crowds, maximize revenue and increase guest satisfaction, having installed more than 90% of all wave systems in the U.S. and providing design/build and equipment services to more than 4,000 public, scholastic, leisure resort and amusement facilities worldwide. ADG is currently exhibiting at this year’s WWA Show and will be at IAAPA in Orlando, FL on Nov 17 – 20. For more about ADG and their products and services, visit www.aquaticgroup.com.
