The Challenge
Camelback Mountain, debuting in the 1963/64 ski season, was a popular destination for skiers from surrounding NYC and Philadelphia areas. Today, Camelback is not only the #1 ski mountain in PA, but a true adventure resort with over 42 lanes of snow tubing, a four-season outdoor adventure park, Camelbeach outdoor waterpark, and the largest and most innovative ski-in/ski-out resort lodge and indoor waterpark in N. America.
To accomplish many aspects of their growth, Camelback partnered with ADG to help develop a long-term plan for the resorts’ evolution and expansion, capitalizing on ADG’s areas of expertise in aquatic and mountainside development. A partnership was forged and together the companies embarked on a phased approach that would begin with the creation of the first fully developed outdoor waterpark at a ski mountain. For almost two decades, through multiple expansions and development phases, ADG and Camelback have worked as a team to build what is a truly unique destination experience for guests.
The Solution
(1998) Camelbeach Outdoor Waterpark
Developed as a phased expansion project, ADG designed the park to the existing mountain landscape and ski infrastructure for ease in transformation from winter to summer activities, overtime creating the largest outdoor waterpark in PA. Additional expansions over the years continue to add more unique rides and attractions.
(2012) ADG Mountain Coaster
The first of it’s kind in PA, the Mountain Coaster was introduced in 2012 as part of a $3 million Mountain Adventure Park expansion. ADG designed the 4,500 ft of coaster track to blend seamlessly with the wooded landscape, and for ease of accessibility to both ski and summer adventure activities.
(2015) Camelback Lodge & Aquatopia Indoor Waterpark
Opened in April of 2015, the $163 million Camelback Lodge and Aquatopia Indoor Waterpark is the largest and most interactive resort and waterpark ever constructed in the U.S. in a single phase of development. Conceived as a true ski-in/ski-out resort lodge, it offers a combination of adventure and leisure activities year round that no other resort in the world currently provides on one property.
(2017) ADG Mountain Slide
Camelback Mountain Adventure Park wanted to bring back an innovative take on an iconic Mountainside attraction, the alpine slide. Utilizing the mountain vistas and topography, ADG was able to build the slide to fit within the current infrastructure, minimizing building costs and maximizing ROI with the ever exciting, and newly improved, Mountain Slide.
The Result
Since it’s inception in 1963, Camelback Resort has grown from a mom and pop winter ski mountain to a 4-season adventure mecca that attracts more than 1 million visitors per year. Working in conjunction with ADG’s designers and planners, the phased approach to development and expansion has led to smart, manageable and profitable growth over the years.
