New North Texas Indoor Water Park Could Be One of the Largest in US

Everything is bigger in Texas, and the city of Allen is betting that its latest venture will be no exception.

Kalahari Resorts & Conventions recently announced plans to build a 1.2-million-square-foot resort at the southwest corner of State Highway 121 and Stacy Road in Allen. The development would include indoor and outdoor waterparks, a 165,000-square-foot convention center, a family entertainment center and a hotel with at least 900 guest rooms. The resort is expected to create up to 1,000 jobs in the area.

According to the Allen Economic Development Corp., a lease agreement and an incentive package are in the works and were presented at the Feb. 25 City Council meeting. All but one council member approved allowing the Allen city manager to negotiate a hotel land lease agreement with Kalahari Resorts.

City Manager Director Daniel Bowman presented the lease and an economic incentive package, noting this is just the first step in a process, including zoning, public comment and a final council vote. The proposed development would mean a total investment of $950 million.

This would be at least $375 million more expensive than the Round Rock resort, which opened in 2020 at $575 million. The increases are primarily due to inflation, rising construction costs and financing considerations.

The resort is expected to generate $5 billion in revenue over its first 10 years of operation, including direct and indirect spending in Allen businesses. The development will also create new property tax revenue for the city, county, school district and Collin College, according to a study by Hotel & Leisure Advisors as recorded by the city of Allen.

The city of Allen and the Allen Community Development Corp. are projected to collect $390 million in taxes from this facility during its first 40 years of operation.

The announcement marks a significant step toward what could become the second Texas location for Kalahari, following the opening of its Round Rock resort in 2020.

Allen Mayor Baine Brooks called the proposed development a “game-changing opportunity” for the city in a press release.

“This development aligns with our goals to expand Allen’s footprint as a regional hub for entertainment, tourism and business,” Brooks said.

North Texas already hosts large-scale waterparks, such as the Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine and Epic Waters in Grand Prairie.

According to Kalahari Resorts, its existing Round Rock location, which opened in 2020, spans 1.5 million square feet and includes a 223,000-square-foot indoor waterpark, a convention center and nearly 1,000 hotel rooms.

The planned location near The Village at Allen places the resort within proximity to shopping, dining and entertainment venues, making it a convenient destination for visitors looking for an extended getaway.

The project is still in its early stages, but the council is set to deliberate on agreements related to the resort’s development. Should they approve the plans, Kalahari would add to North Texas’ roster of large-scale entertainment and hospitality developments, following a trend of ambitious projects across the region.

North Texas has already seen other sizable water-themed attractions make headlines recently. The McKinney Community Development Corp. approved a $200 million surf and adventure park called Cannon Beach, which will feature a 4-acre surf lagoon, a resort-style hotel and a variety of dining and entertainment spaces.

Expected to generate over $2 billion in economic impact over the next 20 years, the Cannon Beach park will also create around 700 jobs. The first phase is slated to open by 2026, adding to the region’s growing reputation as a hotspot for water-based entertainment.

The goal is for the new Kalahari Resorts & Conventions park to open by 2030 or even earlier if possible. The Round Rock location, which opened in 2020, took about three years to complete. After all, in Texas, everything's bigger ... including the wait.