You heard me right, pardner: four indoor water parks. The waterparks are the main attraction at the Wilderness. Totaling about 200,000 square feet of slides, spas, spraygrounds, and other water-based fun, the resort can lay claim to the Dells'--and the world's for that matter--largest indoor water park resort (at least in early 2006, when this was updated). Then again, the "largest waterpark" title is a matter of some dispute. (See A Lotta Water: Who Has the Biggest Water Park?)
The Wilderness also has a huge outdoor water park area. Unlike the Kalahari and Treasure Island, the Wilderness keeps a lid on crowds by not allowing public admission to its water parks.
Giddy up and down the slides
The newest indoor facility is the Wild West Waterpark. It features the Fantastic Voyage family raft ride. Enclosed in a huge, meandering slide, the attraction is a lights-out, wild journey. Alongside the raft ride is a less-intense two-person tube ride. One level below, four body slides provide dark, disorienting, fun rides.
All of the slides extend outside of the building. They are enclosed and remain comfortable even when the mercury drops, as it is wont to do in the hinterlands of Wisconsin. I think the Wilderness (and all of the other indoor water parks I've visited) miss a great opportunity with its indoor-to-outdoor slides. How wild would it be to careen along in bikini-clad comfort while viewing a blizzard? Instead, all of the enclosed slides are opaque and keep riders in the dark. Rather than capitalize on the unique experience, the Wilderness appears to be sending the slides outside more as a convenience. (The more slides that go outside, the less the resort needs to add on to its indoor buildings.) If it's logistically feasible, I think at least part of the slides should be constructed of clear acrylic to allow riders to see outside.
The Wilderness bills its Surge wave pool as "interactive." Along two sides of the pool, guests can activate depth charges and shoot water cannons at the surfers. The wave cycles are generous, and the waves pack a pretty decent punch. The Wild West Waterpark also includes Ransack Ridge, an interactive play structure with tons of hoses, spray devices, smaller slides, and a huge tipping bucket in the shape of a stagecoach.
Giddy indoor-to-outdoor hot tubs
Among the Wilderness' greatest features are its indoor-to-outdoor hot tubs. You can grab a cold beer at the snack bar, plop into the spa, and watch the day's sporting events on the overhead televisions. Now, that's divine decadence.
Or you can head outside. Even in the dead of winter, guests can slip through the plastic curtains and go outdoors for an exhilarating experience. Shrouded in billows of rising steam, there's nothing quite like the giddy contrast between the hot spa and the 27-degree-below-zero-with-the-wind-chill-factor weather stabbing at your face. If it's snowing, so much the better.
The Wilderness' other main indoor waterpark, Klondike Kavern, is on the other side of the property. If it's cold outside, and guests want to remain indoors, it can take a good ten minutes to get from one park to the other. The resort could do a better job directing guests to the parks. While the water parks are clearly the main focus, many of the hotel's hallway signs don't list them.
Compare rates for Wilderness Indoor Water Park Resort Wisconsin Dells at About.com's booking partner, Kayak.
Next page: Way Down Along the Lazy River. More on the waterparks plus Wilderness restaurants and hotel info.
page 3: Wilderness Water Park Resort Tips. Ways to save $ and other tips.
Wilderness Fantastic Voyage Ride Review
Wilderness Profile Overview
Wilderness Photo Gallery
More Wisconsin Indoor Water Parks
