Kalahari Opens Virginia's Largest Indoor Waterpark in Spotsylvania

Kalahari Resorts opened its Spotsylvania resort on Thursday, November 12, 2026, with a grand opening and dedication in Thornburg, Virginia, off Interstate 95 near the Dominion Raceway. It's the family-owned chain's fifth resort, and it arrives at full scale: roughly $900 million invested, 1.38 million square feet of building on a 135-acre site, and 907 African-themed rooms and suites, from standard rooms to multi-bedroom suites.

The headline is the waterpark. At more than 175,000 square feet indoors, it's Virginia's largest indoor waterpark, and admission is included with overnight stays under the resort's guest rules, with day passes sold separately. Its signature ride is the Nile Crocodile, described in the company's release as North America's longest indoor Master Blaster water coaster, sending riders through climbs, twisting turns and drops. The park also carries the Zambezi River Rapids family raft ride, the four-lane Savannah Speedway mat slide and the Tanzanian Twister spinning bowl slide, plus a FlowRider surf simulator, a wave pool, a lazy river and Tiko's Watering Hole for the youngest guests. A 10-acre outdoor waterpark opens seasonally.

The dry side is nearly as large. Tom Foolerys, the indoor family entertainment and adventure park, covers 90,000 square feet. The convention center adds more than 150,000 square feet of meeting space, and the resort runs 13 food and beverage outlets, including Double Cut Steak House, Sortino's Italian Kitchen, Cinco Niños and B-Lux Grill & Bar. Waterpark hours at opening run 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday through Sunday.

The county's projections explain why Spotsylvania wanted it. The resort is projected to generate roughly $6.2 million to $7 million in annual county tax revenue and an estimated $3.5 billion in direct and indirect economic activity over ten years — projections, not results, and the county presents them that way. It's expected to become one of the county's largest commercial taxpayers, supporting approximately 1,400 to 1,500 permanent and part-time jobs after hundreds of construction jobs during the build-out.

The visitor math is the bet. The resort is projected to attract around 750,000 visitors in its first year, with an estimated 60 percent drawn from the greater Washington, D.C., and Richmond metro corridors, and an estimated 40 to 45 percent of room bookings targeted from conferences, trade shows and group events such as multi-year dance and cheer competitions. The anchor has already triggered planning for surrounding retail, restaurant and service development along the I-95 and Thornburg corridor.

For opening season, Kalahari is running an Opening Celebration offer from November 15, 2026, through March 31, 2027, including a $50 dining credit per night under the promotion's terms. Travelers should confirm current room prices, day-pass prices and military rates on the resort's own site before going, since all three vary by date. The resort is open. The projections now have to become receipts.