Kalahari Resorts & Conventions has confirmed a 12 November 2026 opening for its $900 million Spotsylvania resort, with construction running ahead of schedule.
Kalahari Resorts & Conventions marked a ceremonial steel signing at its fifth resort in Spotsylvania, Virginia on 4 June 2025, confirming what operators across the waterpark sector had been watching closely: a 12 November 2026 opening date, with construction ahead of schedule.
The $900 million development will deliver 1.38 million square feet of resort, entertainment and convention space – making it Kalahari’s most expansive property to date. Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin attended the ceremony alongside founder and CEO Todd Nelson.
“This moment is more than a construction milestone – it’s a testament to the collaborative spirit and momentum behind this project,” said Todd Nelson, founder and CEO of Kalahari Resorts. “We’re building more than a resort; we’re building a destination that will energise the region and bring unforgettable experiences to families and travellers from across the country.”
The Spotsylvania site uses the same blueprint and general contractor – Hensel Phelps – as the Round Rock, Texas resort, though at $300 million more in cost, which Nelson attributed to inflation. The structure is currently 45% complete. More than 500 workers are on site, with staffing expected to peak at 800 in the coming months.
When complete, the resort will offer 907 guest rooms and suites, a 175,000-square-foot indoor waterpark – Virginia’s largest – a ten-acre outdoor waterpark, a 90,000-square-foot adventure park and 150,000 square feet of convention and meeting space. The resort is located off Interstate 95 near Dominion Raceway & Entertainment, within reach of Richmond, Washington DC and Charlottesville.
The Spotsylvania resort is expected to create more than 1,400 full and part-time roles in hospitality, culinary, retail and operations. Governor Youngkin used the occasion to announce his administration has secured more than $100 billion in committed capital investments across Virginia.
Kalahari Resorts was founded by Todd and Shari Nelson, whose first property opened in Wisconsin Dells in 2000. The group now operates resorts in Wisconsin, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas. The Spotsylvania property is its fifth – and, when it opens in November 2026, its largest.
Image: Whitewater
