The Bavarian Inn Lodge in Frankenmuth, Michigan, known for its Bavarian hospitality and family-friendly atmosphere, recently completed its largest expansion to date: a $90 million transformation led by Aquatic Development Group (ADG). The result, Bavarian Blast Waterpark, is now recognized as Michigan’s largest indoor waterpark and family fun center, spanning 170,000 square feet of aquatic and entertainment attractions.
ADG provided complete design and construction services, overseeing concept development, master planning, and build execution. The expansion integrates a WaveTek® wave pool, a 300-foot action river, and Michigan’s first adult-only swim-up bar with a heated indoor-outdoor pool, along with 16 slides, 20 private cabanas, and an expanded family fun center featuring a ropes course, climbing walls, mini bowling, laser tag, and arcade. A custom OpenAire roof structure fills the space with natural light, while a multi-level layout ensures efficient use of space and smooth guest flow.
Every element of the park was designed to reflect the Inn’s authentic Bavarian charm, from themed tower facades to family play zones like “Puddle Platz.” Despite construction taking place around an active resort, the project was completed seamlessly, transforming the property into a true year-round destination.
Today, Bavarian Blast stands as a showcase of innovation and tradition, offering thrilling attractions, family fun, and relaxing retreats within a distinctly Bavarian atmosphere that continues the Inn’s multi-generational legacy.
Working with a multi-generation, family-owned business like the Bavarian Inn to help bring their once-in-a-lifetime vision to life was a truly rewarding experience for ADG. From the start, our team collaborated closely with ownership, who had a clear and heartfelt vision for how they wanted the resort to look, operate, and — most importantly — what they wanted to leave behind for the next generation.
By combining their aspirations with our deep-rooted expertise in waterpark design and development, we were able to craft a concept that seamlessly balanced creativity, functionality, and operational efficiency. The result is a thoughtfully designed resort experience that captures the spirit of the Bavarian Inn brand while ensuring that both guests and staff benefit from a layout that prioritizes ease of movement, optimized operations, and an exceptional guest experience.
As the specialty design/build partner, ADG was tasked with bringing the Bavarian Inn Lodge’s 170,000-square-foot indoor waterpark expansion to life — a dynamic attraction featuring 16 water slides, a wave pool, an action river, and Michigan’s only swim-up adult bar. The goal was to create a year-round destination that seamlessly blended guest excitement with operational efficiency.
From the start, ADG approached the project with a dual focus: ensuring the front-of-house experience delivered maximum guest enjoyment while the back-of-house systems operated with the same level of precision and efficiency. Mechanical spaces, filtration systems, and staff circulation were strategically planned to support smooth operations and easy maintenance without interrupting the guest experience.
Coordinating the integration of indoor and outdoor components posed unique challenges, especially in Michigan’s cold climate. Ensuring airtight transitions between slides and pools was essential to maintaining energy efficiency and guest comfort. Through careful planning, advanced engineering, and on-site collaboration, ADG delivered a waterpark environment that functions flawlessly behind the scenes while providing an exceptional, seamless experience for every guest.
ADG supplied and installed the waterpark’s key aquatic attractions, including a 5,130-square-foot WaveTek® wave pool and a 300-foot action river. Both attractions feature advanced WaveTek® wave generation systems that allow for customizable wave heights and patterns, delivering an engaging experience for guests of all ages.
Because ADG designed, manufactured, and integrated the wave equipment in-house, the team was able to engineer a highly efficient layout - positioning the wave pool as a central visual and activity focal point within the park while remotely locating the mechanical equipment. This approach maximized valuable guest space, simplified operations, and maintained easy access for maintenance without disrupting the guest environment.
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“At ADG, all of our projects are developed with a THOROUGH UNDERSTANDING of the end user experience and are designed to deliver a BETTER OVERALL GUEST EXPERIENCE”.
JIM DUNN, ADG President
