ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (KYW Newsradio) — Many people are getting an early start to the Fourth of July weekend.
AAA Mid-Atlantic is predicting a record-high for holiday travel. It estimates approximately 671,000 people from the Philadelphia area will drive 50 miles or more to get to their destinations this weekend — a 4% increase over last year.
One of those destinations, of course, is the Jersey Shore. In Atlantic City, a brand-new water park is enticing visitors with its 120,000-square-foot indoor facility.
Island Waterpark, a sprawling $100 million park at Showboat hotel and casino, is spearheaded by developer Bart Blatstein. Big, colorful waterslides emerge from the side of the glass building.
For those not interested in rides, there are also restaurants and three bars. Island Waterpark was set to host its grand opening on Friday but it has since been delayed. Officials did not say why or when it would open.
AAA said Friday will be the busiest travel day of the long weekend. Roadways could see a 30% increase in volume, as about 82.5% of local holiday travelers plan to drive to their destination.
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Years in the making
Island Waterpark is an effort that Las Vegas has used with great success in recent decades as that city emphasized resort amenities, entertainment and most recently, professional sports, in addition to gambling.
It is another big bet on non-gambling entertainment in the seaside resort. In recent years, Atlantic City, its nine casinos and some non-gambling businesses have unveiled attractions including a giant Ferris wheel, high-end restaurants and shopping and entertainment venues.
“Statistics show people will travel up to seven hours to go to a water park,” Blatstein said. “And it’s not just us here. We have nine casinos, 300 great restaurants and 20,000 hotel rooms. We all benefit from this.”
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Blatstein, president of Tower Investments, whose Keystone State projects include the mixed-use Northern Liberties development in Philadelphia, has been particularly active on the non-gambling front in Atlantic City.
He bought the Showboat, a former casino hotel, from Stockton University in 2016 and operated it as a non-gambling hotel. Since then he has added an indoor arcade and go-kart track there.
Another attempt at non-gambling attractions did not fare so well. Blatstein bought the former Pier Shops from Caesars Entertainment for $2.7 million and reopened it in 2015 as The Playground shopping and entertainment complex. But that project fizzled despite what Blatstein said was $52 million worth of investments, and he sold it back to Caesars five years later for an undisclosed price.
The project is the first in a long string of Atlantic City water park proposals to actually, well, hold water.
The Island Waterpark, built on a vacant lot between the Showboat and the Ocean Casino Resort, includes 11 slides, a 1,000-square-foot surf simulator, and a lazy river encircling much of the park. It also has a Kids’ Cove, a 30-foot-tall tree house that can be booked for private parties, cabanas and an adults-only nightlife section.
Tickets range from $69 to $119 per person depending on the time of year, with discounts available for military, first responders and seniors.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.